Fowler is a big time pass rushing prospect. Really hope he can make it in for the fall at the very least.
Just placed my order for Notre Dame tickets: I have two pairs in Section 107 (Upper West side). One pair is in Row 48 and the other pair is right behind it in Row 49. Seats are about the 20 yard line and have a great view of the entire field. If interested shoot me a PM with your offer. Not trying to price gouge too bad so just send me anything higher than $150 a ticket.
If the freshman DL can hold their own this season, think it'll really open up some things for Malik and the rest of the LB core.
That's asking from freshmen but there is a lot of them to compete. None of them were early enrollees unlike Malik Jefferson and Shane Buchelle were so there isn't much time to adapt to the college game. I think fans in general are expecting way too much out of this class in their 1st year. Hudson is the only of the summer enrollees that I can see competing for a starting spot for Notre Dame even though he will be joining the team in summer 2. He is just so developed physically and the schemes for an offensive lineman are nowhere near as complex as a defensive lineman. It really comes down to his size and technique. Zach Shackelford won the starting center position in the spring.
I think Hudson is the most physically developed but one of the most raw in the offensive line class. That's not to say he won't play this year, but it is less likely than one would think. I think Denzel Okafor is the most likely to start out of the o-line recruits - watch for him. Of the summer enrollees, I bet someone like Duvernay has a chance to start immediately. Christmas-Giles and Wilbon are the most developed physically, and Jordan Elliott is really quick. I could see any of them starting relatively quickly on the defensive line.
Okafor has a 7 foot wingspan, can move really well from side-to-side, and fills gaps well. Hudson is similar in that regard. However, Okafor really pushes through the end of a play with great technique. That makes him more ready than Hudson in my mind.
I get you. I wonder how many guard pulls will be in the playbook. I wonder who ends up with a redshirt at the end of the year. I guess it depends on injuries.
I haven't studied Baylor's/Gilbert's system in depth but am pretty sure we will see a lot of pulls this season. Vahe seems like the perfect fit, blasting people out of the way for Foreman/Warren and just using his athleticism. We really need one of Delance or Hudson to redshirt though for depth purposes.
Unfortunately I think we'll all be asking from them this season, ready or not. The depth just isn't there. But like you said, this is a bigger DL class and most seem a lot more physically developed than what anyone we've seen since 2012.
Small Blurb from 247 about the fastest receivers in college football. Sophomore WR: John Burt This goes along with Freshman Devin Duvernay. Speed doesn't make a receiver but it puts you in a safer position if he can get past the DBs and the QB can just heave the ball downfield and make sure that the WR is the only one that can reach it. You need a QB that can be accurate on the long throw though. Under throwing a speedster is a guaranteed INT. I'm not sure how strong an arm Shane has. Some highlights from a recent 247 Article http://texas.247sports.com/Bolt/Can-Texas-make-a-jump-like-Strongs-2012-Louisville-team-did-46110256 Summer 2 starts next week.
The Football Brainiacs usually has pretty fair takes of UT football and has decent sources. I won't post these very often, though this one has a ton of information. Take it or leave it, you don't have to believe it. Not surprised that Brandon Jones and Denzel Okafor look good. A little surprised that Lil'Jordan and Wilbon are doing well. Also surprised that Christmas-Giles is out of shape physically; I thought he would be the most ready to go of the freshmen DTs. Spoiler: Long Spoiler Marcel Southall: In case you missed it, Texas 2016 DT signee, Marcel Southall has arrived in Austin. He made it to campus this past weekend. I spoke to someone about how Southall looked coming in and it’s pretty clear that while he wasn’t on campus, he was doing what he needed to do to be physically ready. “He looks better…right at 300 (lbs) and he looks like he’s even grown. Last year I would have put him at about 6’2. He looks a legit 6’3 now and is just more physically impressive” – (Super K) Erick Fowler: As you will recall, last month we reported that Erick Fowler received the necessary SAT score for qualification. I am told that Fowler also needed to take a summer course to replace a previous high school course. The course is complete. However, there still seems to be a hold up. I spoke to a source yesterday who let me know that Fowler’s SAT score was flagged by the NCAA. This can often occur when a student athlete dramatically improves on the previous test score. I have not received confirmation on what Fowler’s plans are moving forward but I can only assume that he will look to re-take the exam. – (Super K) Freshmen Linemen: This past weekend I spoke to a source regarding some of the freshmen with a bit of a focus on the linemen. Keep in mind that these notes are based on workouts. Obviously there will be a transition period for the young guys in learning how to be alignment and assignment sound. That transition can be a difficult for some because of the pace and the changing looks. So while some guys may be standing out in summer workouts, it’s important to note that we’ll know a lot more about how they transition their physical ability to the field come fall camp. Having said that, this is what I was told… * Most underrated defensive lineman, Gerald Wilbon…”Wilbon might be the strongest dude in the weight room” one source said. Source emphatically stated that Wilbon is the most underrated defensive linemen of the group. Most overrated player (physically), Christmas-Giles. “It may time him a while to get his body right”. Essentially source said that in terms of the eye test and strength, Giles isn’t quite there. However, we’ve seen his quickness on film and football isn’t a beauty contest. A sudden first step, especially in a ‘hat in the crack’ type front that Strong employs, is a quality that comes second to no other. Jordan Elliott, didn’t hear a ton on him other than that he’s making physical improvements as one would expect. Brandon Jones…”is going to be ready”. Source noted, “he’s not just athletic, he never gets tired”. The safety position is a challenging one in terms of learning to play various techniques, seeing what you need see quickly, and accounting for shifts, etc. If Jones can get that down, it sounds like he’s certainly physically prepared. Denzel Okafor, “yoked up and looks good to go”. Jean Delance, “isn’t as strong as you’d like but he moves really well” Jordan Humphrey, “will be a pleasant surprise. He’s gained a lot of muscle but kept his speed” Source also noted, not surprisingly, that the freshmen defensive linemen will play. “The freshmen are definitely going to play. They may not start but they’re going to get PT and a lot of it”. – (Super K) UPDATE (12PM): Bishop Dunne (TX) CB Chevin Calloway is expected to make his commitment this evening. He originally planned to make his announcement last week, and I expect Iowa to be his choice. – (Andrew) UPDATE (4:47 pm): I finally heard back from Erick Fowler who tells me his test was not flagged and said he will be enrolling in school, “soon”. I trust the source that mentioned the test was flagged so to be quite candid I cannot reconcile the clearly contradictory information. I apologize for that. However, I hope that my source was simply mistaken and that what Erick is telling me is accurate. – (Super K)
But he's listed on the UT Website!!!! Great post. Lot of good info. It would be nice to get a DL be as disruptive as daylon mack.
Hearing so many conflicting things on Fowler. Will be glad as long as he makes in on campus by August.
Well all coming from word of mouth so probably not breaking any laws. But I remember a mod from a recruiting site, possibly one of the Aggie sites, that posted some kids GPA on twitter or something. Don't think anything happened but don't think people were too happy about it.
I think it was leaked by a friend or family member as odd as that sounds. I wouldn't be surprised. Mad props to him if he can pull this out. Sure, he shouldn't have been at this point to begin with but it still showed dedication and hard work.
