Breaking Down the Latest Class
1. Shaydon Akuna: A long-time silent verbal, Akuna is the prize of this class. That he’s been a Beaver commit since October made his signing somewhat anticlimactic. Ideal frame and speed for a LB.
2. Thomas Molesi: Second best player in this class. The two questions are (a) whether or not he takes his mission, and (b) if he does, will he return to see the field for the Beavers? Already has the size to be in the mix come spring. Wish this player weren’t LDS because he’s special.
3. Fred Thomspon: Another kid who already has the size to play at this level. It’s great to see the Beavers recruiting some athletes who look the part right out of high school. When you don’t have to spend 3 years developing a guy, that’s when you know you’re on to something. Thompson will be all-conference sooner rather than later. And donning the sweater vest, major style points.
4. Sean Mannion: Great height, great arm, great accuracy, and a coach’s son. Reminds me of Tom Brady. If he has moxie, poise, and other intangibles…watch out.
5. Donnell Welch: This guy has an NFL body and great speed. Only drawback is he tackles somewhat upright–a correctable problem. My major concern is that ~20 schools had a look and passed–usually a sure sign of (uncorrectable) academic issues. If he enrolls and maintains his grades, we’re looking at a guy who will play on Sundays. He’d be higher on my list were it not for the uncertainty and my gut feeling that he won’t see the field.
6. Scott Crichton: I don’t know what it is about this guy…I want to dislike him since he only had 1 offer (from WSU no less) and a lukewarm rating, but 6″4, 225 with 4.6 speed sounds pretty good. Gut tells me he will wind up being a very good player.
7. Trevor Romaine: I’ve been vocal about recruiting special teams players. Needless to say, I am beyond stoked that we landed the best kicker in the country. This is a scholarship extremely well spent and will single-handedly win us games.
8. Ryan Murphy: Versatile player, great speed. If he has good hands, maybe he moves to WR since we have a logjam at safety and signed two other RBs in this class.
9. Tyler Perry: When we signed this guy I thought he might be a cornerstone. Now I have him as the 9th best player in the class. It’s not a knock on him, but a testament to the quality above.
10. Mana Tuivailala: Let’s be honest, do we know anything about this guy? All I know is he has the exact same background as Stephen Paea, rumored to be just as strong, and he’s bigger. Intriguing to say the least…
11. Michael Bibbee: I envision Bibbee as a jack of all trades, chipping in on special teams, back up LB, and even running the ball in a pinch. Good, versatile pickup that adds depth to several positions.
12. Roman Sapulo: We’re told to be excited about the Sapulo pedigree, but I just can’t get over this guy’s lack of size and explosion. Obviously he’ll move to center where his height will not be as disconcerting, but where do the explosion and power come from? Major project. Will need to be carefully groomed to take over the Center job by his Junior year. Potential to be serviceable to good if he overcomes his current drawbacks.
13. Malcolm Marable: ESPN lists Marable’s 40 time at 4.66. And I thought his Rivals time of 4.52 was slow. Saw this kid in-person. Not an every down DI back, probably more of a change of pace guy. So many people are high on him that I continue to watch game film and in an attempt to discover something to get excited about. Just don’t see it. Even at CB, for which I think he’s better suited, he is just too slow. Runs like Jovan Stevenson in that he’s somewhat upright and lacks the breakaway speed. Small, but not shifty like Quiz. Maybe a punt returner if he has good hands?
14. Dominic Glover: A 4 star Duck recruit out of HS, so he has the talent. Juco players are always crap shoots, though. Everything I’ve read says that the guy is in terrible shape. He was also highly unproductive at the JC ranks. It’s players like this who help define whether you’re an optimist or pessimist. Funny story is how excited Beaver fans were when he didn’t qualify for the Ducks…now the same fans are excited he’s a Beaver.
15. Will Story: Good player who will add depth at LB or safety. These local kids always seem to have heart and play with a chip on their shoulder. Those two intangibles make up for the lack of talent and usually lead to success when said player does see the field. For those reasons, I can see this guy having an impact on special teams and other minor roles.
16. Connor Hamlett: One word comes to mind…SLOW. Possibly the slowest offensive player I’ve ever seen recruited. Even for an OL he’d be slow. I guess the idea here is to have a huge/tall target in the redzone, but…no. This is a huge waste of a scholarship. This guy will get blown up at the next level.
Not yet signed
Happy Iona: Will never don the orange and black.
Terron Ward: Intriguing prospect. Excellent speed. Does he have much else? Does he have the right attitude? A lot of valid questions and uncertainty. Good gamble in offering a greyshirt.
February 7, 2010 at 12:08 pm
I don’t quite get the Hamlett pick up either. I can see the good skills he has as an O-line project. He has enough quickness with his first step and a great reach on blocks to be a good or better tackle. But as a TE I see him playing too specialized a role. If he puts on 20-30# his hands are good enough that he can be a long snapper/short yardage blocker/red zone target.
I really can’t argue with the list except for Sapolu. The only note on his pedigree would be that his father helped him with his transition from RT to C this year. And the switch was great. He struggled at tackle due to his size, but he was technically the most sound of the lineman on a good team even while struggling. His skills translated perfectly to center. Whoever suggested that was brilliant.
And I’m intrigued with Murphy. He’s good enough that Mike Riley offered him on the spot while recruiting Thompson. And the Riley quotes have him excited as a RB prospect. If he turns out to be a downhill back with major speed then we could be set for years at the RB position.
February 7, 2010 at 12:18 pm
How do you feel about Marable?
February 7, 2010 at 12:52 pm
The Marable comparison to Quizz reminds me of the routine comparisons that used to be made of of “slow”, smaller WR’s to Steve Largent; people focus too much on the size comparison and not enough on the extraordinary abilities and skills of the reference player (e.g. Largent or Quizz). Just because Marable is short in stature, does not necessarily make him similar to Quizz. How many “Largent” type receivers ever had the career that Largent had?
Obviously I hope Marable pans out, and maybe he gets faster, but I don’t think he’s an impact running back in the manner of Quizz, and probably not Yveson Bernard either.
I am intrigued by Ryan Murphy at RB, and think he could turn out to be the main man. Riley said he’s “tenacious,” and will likely get his first look at RB before potentially moving to WR or Safety.
February 7, 2010 at 2:53 pm
I know…first thing people said was, “the next Quiz!”
Err, Quiz has ankle breaking moves akin to Barry Sanders. I mean, that kind of skill comes around once per decade.
February 7, 2010 at 9:39 pm
I’ve only seen the one tape on Marable. To be honest, he reminds me of Matt Forte only five inches shorter. I can see why Riley likes him. He’s patient and has good vision. He also has nice feet while stepping through clutter. He reaches his top speed quickly, but he’s going to need to cut the corner angle when he bounces it out because his top speed isn’t great. He also loses speed when changing direction, so he lacks any real second level moves. He’s pretty much a one cut back who can catch it out of the backfield.
He’s not a ‘get it to him in space’ kind of back.
February 7, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Oh, and if the likes of Welch and Doctor perform at OLB positions, I think Akuna would make an intimidating strong safety which OSU. If Molesei and Thompson prove out in the middle, and Welch and Doctor on the outside, and Akuna at SS….I think we’d see a highly effective run defense.
February 7, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Not sure I get your criticism of Hamlett:
“One word comes to mind…SLOW. Possibly the slowest offensive player I’ve ever seen recruited. Even for an OL he’d be slow…”
Rivals has him listed with a 4.75 40 time. Maybe you know something the rest of us don’t? Joe Newton and Joe Halahuni ran a 4.7 40 and Howard Croom and John Reese were both close to 5 flat. Slow? Maybe. TOO slow? Possible, but not likely. But he’s absolutely NOT slow if he’s an OL project, as I suspect he is.
February 7, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Did you see his game film? He runs like a wooden indian.
February 7, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Hmmmm…I don’t see why you’re knocking Hamlett so much. The thing is, thanks to Halahuni/Prince/and others in the mix, we’ve got time to develop Hamlett- and I think if Cavanaugh gets his hands on him we’ve got an incredibly large and brutish blocking TE, who by the way, can make one-handed grabs. Yes, he looks a little slow, but I think he’s not the worst project player I’ve ever seen.
February 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
I don’t get the knock on speed. What I see is someone who doesn’t get open against tight coverage. He relies too much on his height and not enough on his routes. Running good routes is a ‘feel’ thing for TE’s, and he doesn’t look like he has that feeling.
He does look like he can drive block a defender into the bench though.
February 7, 2010 at 3:02 pm
I am NOT a person who breaks down football film so this is under the “what does he know column”, but I like the film from Hamlett more than the written descriptions. If he is old man slow, why was no one catching up to him as if he were standing still. Now I am not saying he is breakaway speed fast or even WR fast, but as a lineman or even a tight end he may have promise. We got film that he can catch some of what is thrown at him, and a credit to him, he did not got down immediately on first contact. Might be a non-event scholarship, but let’s be fair, on an 85 man roster, there are many non-event scholarships out there.
February 7, 2010 at 6:00 pm
I think Terron Ward will be the main guy in 2 years. The kid has breakaway speed, unlike Jacquizz or any other RB OSU has had for a long time; he also has the single season rushing record at the best high school football program in the country against some of the best competition and was named MVP of California for his High School Division.
Ward is the Diamond in the rough from this years class.
As for Marable, I think he will end up at #2 or #3 on the depth chart behind Ward after Jacquizz is gone. He is very slow. I’m hoping that Riley can land one of the top Texas RB prospects for 2011. I’ve been reading that a couple highly regarded prospects are considering OSU right now and our main competition so far is Baylor.
February 7, 2010 at 6:18 pm
That doesn’t look like legit 4.4 speed. I wonder who took that reading. Maybe that’s the problem…he looks more like 4.5.
February 7, 2010 at 8:49 pm
“he looks more like 4.5″
Haha, give me a break!
This kid is a stud.
He runs track in High School, too… Posted a 10.8 in the 100m… he is fast, and will get faster in college,
February 7, 2010 at 9:36 pm
I wish Rivals and such showed how and where the times were recorded. They just write 4.4…is that taking the kid’s word or what?
February 7, 2010 at 11:29 pm
He timed it last May at the Nike SPARQ Combine in the East Bay.
I think he looks fine with speed. He’s beating people who run 4.5′s and have an angle.
He also makes people miss at top speed. He’s definitely not a stop and start runner. He has one thing in mind when he gets the ball. I like that he has the speed he has with 190# on him. He could easily end up 5’10″, 210# in three years.
The only downside I can find is that he put the ball on the turf 10 times last season… losing two. Teach him to hold the ball correctly, and we’re in business.
February 7, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Which highly rated TX backs are you talking about?
February 7, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Brandon Williams is one of them:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/texas/football/recruiting/player-Brandon-Williams-105895
He doesn’t have a star rating listed, but he is moving up fast on the list of top Texas RBs for the class of 2011,
Of course the Ducks have to put their scuzzy little card in the race too.
February 7, 2010 at 8:50 pm
brandon wright is another one, hes from nevada. theyre both espn150 watch list players for next year. Texas is interested in williams though so he seems like a bit of a long shot
February 8, 2010 at 11:29 am
Well, if a kid wants playing time in an offense that gives the RB almost 30 carries a game, and in a recruiting year when the programs star RB could potentially enter the NFL draft early or only has one year left with no clear cut replacement, I think a top prospect might favor the chance to play right away instead of waiting 3 years burried in the depth chart to play at a school such as Texas.
February 8, 2010 at 11:42 am
Valid thought process, but a lot of schools besides OSU and Texas well offer opportunity.
February 8, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Does anyone else think we should go to a 3-4 defense?
We seem to find good DT’s and LB’s, but DE is a prima-donna position.
February 8, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Mix some of these guys in with the red and grey shirts from last year, and we’re gonna be having some fun in the years to come.
Here’s why I haven’t really complained too much about DE recruiting.
He’s said to have a 40″ vertcal.
It’s madness I tell you.
And did Taylor Henry red shirt this year? I know playing a couple plays doesn’t necessarily burn the year depending on importance of the time played, etc.
February 9, 2010 at 4:47 am
Jack says: “I know playing a couple plays doesn’t necessarily burn the year depending on importance of the time played, etc.”
LOL… it makes me laugh at what you think you ‘know’.
If you play a single snap, no matter the “importance of the time played” you don’t have the option to redshirt.
February 9, 2010 at 8:50 am
Medical redshirt.
February 9, 2010 at 9:29 am
That’s what I was thinking. But BF is also correct. There is no ‘importance’ attached to time played for the rule to take effect. It has to do with the amount of games a player participates in. They have to play in less than 20% of their team’s games. I came to the wrong conclusion because most medical redshirts occur after having played in meaningless games.
I don’t honestly know what the rule was originally. I know there were three different versions of it within the first ten years.
February 9, 2010 at 7:19 am
I haven’t showered in a week. Fuck I love you, angry. Never stop reading this blog.
February 9, 2010 at 9:56 pm
I’m excited about Terron Ward…I hate the Ducks as much as the next Beaver, but TJ Ward was a great Collegiate athlete; a great competitor. From what little I’ve seen on tape, little bro looks like he plays an angry, passionate brand of footall as well. Maybe just being hopefull, but for what we are offering (grayshirt) I think we are getting a steal.
Yeah…Conner Hamlet…don’t see it. We’ll find out I suppose. In 5 years. And that’s the problem with these “projects.” When/IF they turn out, we tied up a scholly for FIVE FREAKING YEARS.
Happy will go the way of Smiley. Just hope we don’t have to endure 5 more of these fictional characters.
LOVE Shaydon. His high school did a pretty good job of marketing him, but his tapes have me excited to see him in the orange and black…the kid looks like a beast. Love the fire in his eyes. By far the most exciting prospect we managed to land.
Nice blog Angry…infrequent poster, but frequent reader. Sometimes I think you’re full of crap. But it’s mostly good.
February 9, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Good point about tying up a scholarship for 5 years for what’s likely one year of production.
February 10, 2010 at 11:25 am
AWESOME!
http://cliffkirkpatrick.mvourtown.com/2010/02/10/cliff-breaking-mens-track-news/
I like Jordan Bishop that much more.
It’s interesting that the sprinters join the traditional field event strength of the OSU T&F tradition. In the past it was the distance team.
And kudos to Mike Riley for allowing his athletes to work on strength and speed conditioning in the off-season. We all know how supervised training outside of football only leads laziness.
February 10, 2010 at 1:09 pm
I would say that we have some speed on our team right now. I’ve heard that Zeke Sanders runs a 10.7 100m as well.
http://www2.registerguard.com/cms/index.php/track-and-field/comments/osu-football-players-enter-husky-classic-indoor-track-meet/
And… yes… Obum Gwacham will not be a DE if he’s going to still be competing in the high jump or triple jump. I am no longer convinced of this idea.
February 10, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Does anyone think Akuna may be getting some early playing time?
http://cliffkirkpatrick.mvourtown.com/2010/02/10/cliff-major-football-injury/
February 10, 2010 at 3:58 pm
I’m not at all a Keith Pankey, the football player, fan. I’d love to see someone else, whether it be Akuna or Tony Wilson take on that job.
February 10, 2010 at 4:29 pm
I know you’re not. But Riley likes to develop players as much as he likes to play to win. And red shirting guys is one way in which he does this. It’s the only reason I think people like the o-line hosses and Rosa red shirted last year. I’m sure they all benefit from a year of practice at the D-I level, but the games themselves are really the only measure to really gauge the players’ abilities.
I think Akuna may have made the transition without a red shirt year, and I think he probably would have pushed Pankey off the starting line-up. But history has proven that Riley usually rewards experience more than skill.
With the experience being hurt by what is effectively a one year injury, there becomes a need for skill to fill in. If Akuna is as good as he looks on tape, his skill will lead to more playing time and probably a starting spot.
February 11, 2010 at 9:13 am
I see Akuna making the two-deep this year. His lateral pursuit looks like like it’ll translate into some PT vs. the spread, although that offense relies heavily on over-pursuit and his discipline in space remains to be seen – way more athletic than the high schooler he’s blowing up on film.
I’d be willing to bet that he’s headed for specail teams stardom next year – a great place for young LB’s/S’s to cut their teeth. Guys like Kristick for instance…although I’m not sure he ever got rid of the kamikaze approach when he stepped into the full time LB posistion to the detriment of the team, e.g. late hits (Barkely) that cost us yards and games.
February 11, 2010 at 3:43 pm
“His lateral pursuit looks like like it’ll translate into some PT vs. the spread”
Agreed.
My prediction is that this Pankey injury puts a spotlight on him, and much like last season with Phillip, Riley states he’ll either redshirt him or start him. I think he learned his lesson with Kristick and won’t put Akuna on ST. Ultimately he starts due to an impressive fall camp.
We’ll know more in just over a month. Doctor could steal the job in the spring. That’s the other scenario I can see playing out.
February 14, 2010 at 10:30 pm
relax its why do you freak out over someone else opinion? the comments weren’t even negative. how many of the posters on this site are you?
March 14, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Interesting note in the Seattle Times about Hamlett:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/highschoolsports/2011340830_boynotes14.html
I agree, he looks slow. And 3A is obviously not the highest level of competition, but if he’s doing that well in basketball and going to run the 200 and 400 events in track to work on his speed, there’s maybe reason to attach at least some hope to his athleticism and work ethic.
March 19, 2010 at 7:23 am
Beavs offered a RB who runs a 4.78 forty and is 5’8.
Don’t have time to do a write up right now but let that sink in for a while.
March 19, 2010 at 9:22 am
I saw the ‘breaking news’, and I went looking for the kid… Malcolm Agnew of DesMet Jesuit in St Louis, Mo. Blitz has his measurables all wrong. I wonder if they’re trying to get people to sign up just to ask “Whaaa?”
He’s not 5’8″, 165, 4.78. He’s 5’9″, 185, 4.41. He’s actually a nice looking runner with good second level moves and great balance. But I can tell you right now that he needs to work on leg strength. A solid tackle brings him down quickly, and his speed is lost at the end of a long run. If he dedicates his off-season to squats and ham curls he could be really good. If not, then oh well.
March 19, 2010 at 9:40 am
I’m still wondering what the hell Bishop Sankey sees in Wazzu other than lots and lots of playing time. I didn’t think we’d get him, but Wazzu?
June 28, 2010 at 5:57 pm
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