Home Recruiting Big Recruiting Weekend (Updated)

Big Recruiting Weekend (Updated)

By
angry
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153

The 14th and 21st are being dubbed as the biggest recruiting weekends in school history. The list for the 14th is somewhat impressive.

These are the Grade A recruits:

  • Vi Moala (scratch, reportedly visiting the next weekend)
  • Byron Moore
  • Juda Parker
  • Todd Pete Jr.
  • Richard Mullaney

Next level:

  • Marvin Hall
  • Earl Foster
  • Marcus Peters
  • Vi Teofilo
  • Michael Thomas (scratch, reportedly not visiting at all)

Then the rest:

  • Rudolf Fifita
  • Peter Ashton
  • Justin Addie

Ashton, Mullaney, and Addie are already committed, so that leaves just Rudolf Fifita as the one dog in this group (watch him be the one guy we land). Nowicki canceled his visit, and Akeem Gonzalez has reportedly called off his visit due to the Beavs wanting him to play defense.

We need to land some of these guys. I don't want to hear stories on Sunday night or Monday about a surprise 0-star recruit who was in town and committed. That's what seems to always happen on big recruiting weekends. Then the big fish cut off contact and sign elsewhere a month later. I want to see some real change.

Biggest need of the group is Vi Teofilo. He's a solid OL, and we definitely need at least one more, especially a guard. After that, the two monster DTs. If we could get one I'd be thrilled. If McClure is going to Colorado, then we need Peters. There isn't a single true corner in this class. Juda Parker and Byron Moore are both excellent prospects. While not at positions of need, I'd take either/both in a heartbeat.

On a side note, the commitment of Lavonte Barnett went relatively unnoticed two weeks ago. He is a major talent, landing 16 sacks last season and passing Angry's eyeball test. Barnett is a 4-star prospect in my opinion. On the flip side, the Jabral Johnson is once again wavering (Texas Tech). He's the best LB prospect in this class, so this would be a huge loss, and he might take Zimmerman with him.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see if the staff made any progress in recruiting. In past seasons, a weekend like this would yield no results. Let's let them do their thing and see if it's more of the same ol' disappointment, or if they've actually learned how to pitch the program. I'm planning for the former, but hoping (ah, there is that word again) for the latter. The pressure is on.

153 COMMENTS

  3. I don’t know why Johnson would leave. TT already has 3 OLB’s in this class. Also, to my knowledge, Zimmerman doesn’t have a TT offer.

    Reply

    • Rivals and Scout don’t always show all the offers. There are contingent offers (many times these are verbal and based on some other not committing etc). Also, if Johnson says, “I’ll go to Texas Tech if you offer my pal Zimmerman” I’m sure TTech will do so–it’s not as if Zimmerman is bad. He’s a high 3 or 4 star talent.

      Reply

  4. I really like Earl Foster. Reminds me of a Derrick Doggett type. The staff told him we are recruiting him as a rover. Last I knew, we didn’t have this in our defense? Or is Banker starting to change some things up?

    Reply

    • Too many safeties in the program, not enough corners. I don’t have anything against Foster other than he’s not at a position of need.

      Reply

      • Do you know anything about the CB’s behind Poyer and Hardin. Reynolds seemed to have good speed in kickoffs but don’t recall watching him at CB. Is Parker any good?

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        • Reynolds would be my pick to start opposite Poyer. Hardin as a backup.

          All I’ve heard about Parker is he’s fast outside of pads. I think it’s a James Jett deal with him. I doubt he’ll ever play CB at OSU.

          Reply

          • I hope someone beats out Hardin… either that a light miraculously goes off in Hardin’s head this off-season. Looking at scout.com there is also Ryan Handford who was a JC transfer last year… not sure if he is any good.

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  5. I’m hearing that Moala is solid at Cal, and he’s only coming to Corvallis for moral support of Lopa and Paulo. I personally think Lopa is a steal if we can get him. He’s just a monster on the D-line. I realize he’s getting some help from Moala to the inside, but how did that work out for anyone playing with Paea?

    Paulo isn’t any Michael Bibbee, but he takes good angles and has good form. He’s better than some we have recruited at MLB.

    Reply

  6. Angry, I’m registered! I really think your site would grow if you created a facebook fan page of ANGRYBEAV.COM! That way we could all “like” your fan page and people could spread the word/ copy the link to angrybeav.com and share with friends. Or what might be even better is create a twitter account? That way you could tweet all of your latest articles and thoughts! I don’t know? It’s just a thought and they’re both free advertisement for you!

    I think the number of Beaver fans whose expectations have risen beyond 6-6, crappy bowl games/seasons is growing. Mediocrity will kill our program if we let it.

    Reply

    • Angry: Ignore the post above…avoid the evil empire!

      Next y’all will be getting Farmville updated from Hans. Shoot me now.

      F*&! bookface. Too many people giving up their lives to live a fake one online.

      Reply

      • GWH,
        I understand what you’re saying, but you are completely missing my point. Social networking is one of the cheapest forms of advertising, and social networking has a huge market audience. Scout/rivals .com. won’t allow it and the are very limited. O-live has a bunch of 11 year old idiots, and 99% of the articles are about the true “evil empire”, whoregon. I think twitter could do wonders for Angry’s blog! Just my opinon! I know. I know. Everyone has one.

        Reply

        • I’m giving up on the strange nicknames for UO other than one. The guys over at Uni Watch have given them the moniker “Nikegon”. They explain that this moniker is neither good nor bad. In their minds it encapsulates the relationship between UO and Nike that both entities worked very hard to promote.

          So the whore reference is not really appropriate. The Ducks aren’t giving it up for money. They’re married to their sugar daddy.

          Reply

  8. Of the players not committed but are visiting, my gut says the Beavers get commitments from Moore, Teofilo, Parker, Peters and Thomas. The other guys just don’t appear to be going to commit. Getting Moala and Peat would be great just don’t see it hap
    pening now.
    Puka Lopa though, I think would be a great pickup. He’s a beast and is underrated. He could do some big things for OSU in the future.

    Here’s hoping for the best.

    Reply

  9. I would be happy with one of those top 10 guys committing, anything more than that would be a very pleasant surprise for me. I know this recruiting weekend is being talked up a lot but my expectations are very low. I do feel that even getting some of these guys to come visit Corvallis is a good step forward for the program. Eventually, one would hope, they will not only visit but also commit.
    Also, what’s with Texas Tech stealing our recruits this year? First Reynolds and now maybe Johnson and Zimmerman, I think losing Zimmerman would be very bad, even with all the other WR recruits.

    Reply

    • I like this kid as a project. Actually, I don’t think he’ll be as big a project as some believe (at DE). I think he’ll be a stud when all is said and done. I sure hope his grades are good enough.

      Reply

    • I don’t know what to think of this. No opinion. Bad sign that we’re signing him with ~6 slots left and two huge weekends upcoming, though.

      Reply

      • I don’t know what to think of this pick-up either, where does a 6 foot 8 guy project in football? Defensive end or tight end are the only possibilities. He won’t be counted for this years class if he takes a two year mission right?

        Reply

        • No… he’s going on mission this year. He’ll be back in 2013. At least that’s what I’ve heard, and O-live mentioned the same.

          We’re not talking about a 6’8″ stiff here. The kid’s very agile, and he’s only been playing ball for four years–at QB. He has room to put on 30 pounds of muscle and retain (or increase) his speed and quickness.

          What would you do with a fast, strong and agile 6’8″, 290# Samoan?

          Hell, maybe Cav claims him for the line. I can see Noa at 310 without pudge.

          Reply

          • I guess what I was trying to get at was that he won’t be one of the six remaining players for this class because he won’t be on the roster for the next two years, like a being greyshirt for two years.
            You bring up a good point with him playing offensive tackle, but still a huge project if he’s never played or practiced at that position. I am skeptical because there have been very few NFL or college players at 6’8″ or above. Football is a game of leverage, at 6’8″ you don’t have much. All that being said, I would very much like to see him pan out into a star for OSU.

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          • I’m skeptical too. 6″8 now, and men don’t completely stop growing until they’re ~21. Just looking at his frame, TE seems like the best fit.

            Reply

          • Getting underneath for leverage is more important on the interior line. And height doesn’t hinder that. It’s all about agility and power. A tackle is the same, except they also need to be more powerful with their punches and quicker laterally. Height helps with the lateral quickness and size helps with the power and reach a tackle could have. But being a stiff gets you to the same place at any height… on the bench.

            Anthony Munoz – 6’6″
            Tony Boselli – 6’7″
            Jonathan Ogden – 6’9″

            Reply

          • Height can actually help leverage if an athlete can use it. Remember, give me a big enough lever, I can move the world. I had a wrestling coach that always used to tell me that. The taller a person is, the bigger the lever.

            Reply

    • Nice project to gamble on I think. Plus I always like to see PIL guys in the program, However, when is the last time a player came back after a mission and was a major contributor? There may be someone I am forgetting, but I don’t recall one. I don’t know if they lose interest, competitiveness, or fall out of shape (even with all the bike riding).

      Reply

        • Correct me if I am wrong but I don’t think we have to offer hi in 2013 if he is out of shape. Basically all we did was build some good will, which is a smart move in my opinion. Like offering a JC-bound kid out of high school… it just gets a foot in the door.

          Reply

  12. I know many various defensive alignments and alternatives have been discussed on this site, but given the high number of DE’s recruited, and the lack of depth at DT, is a 3-4 something that might be in the works?

    Chronically, OSU is unable to land the highly talented DTs that make the difference. Paea is an exception and a legitimate example of Riley’s staff “unearthing a gem.”

    But, if OSU can’t get the DT’s it needs for a 4-3, it seems like having a number of fast linebackers (Akuna, Doctor, Welch, Collins), a boatload of DE’s who might play either DE or inside LB, could lend itself to a 3-4.

    I find it difficult to believe OSU’s Banker would make such a fundamental shift, but the recruiting of so many DE’s and LB’s is curious to me.

    Imagine sticking one or two of those DE’s in at an ILB position to provide some bulk, and rotating the other DE’s to keep them fresh. Throw in the speed of the outside linebackers, and it seems like it could be very effective. Hell, even play some zone coverage like Cal and you can probably generate more TO’s than OSU does with its man-to-man coverage. And TO’s is something OSU is going to need more of….

    Reply

    • It seems to me Banker and Riley may actually be making a change. It on the surface looks like they might switching to a 3-4 due to the amount of linebackers they have compared to DT. I think the 3-4 would work effectively with the type of linebackers that will be starting next season and the linebackers coming in next season.

      Reply

    • I really like this idea, and it’s not because I’ve been saying we should do it for years. It’s not even because Stanford proved it could be effective without speed. It’s because these are the players we know how to recruit and ‘coach up’.

      Every defensive player we have in the NFL that I can think of has switched from their college 4-3 positions to play in a 3-4 system. That’s what NFL scouts think of our coach’s position evaluations apparently.

      You have something backwards though. The OLB’s line up more often as a DE would in the 4-3. The ILB’s are the speedy types who play inside out. That’s why we should go to the 3-4. Every DE OSU gets is this hybrid type 3-4 OLB. Just about every DT we get is a 3-tech.

      Watching last year, I thought Masaniai would make a spectacular NT with Paea as a 3-tech. Those two seemed to have a natural feel for each other, and Castro has some bulk for the 0-tech. If Masaniai is indeed the type of player I think he is, then we would be in good shape for a shift to that defense.

      If Tuivailala is half of what many have said he is, then he would be an excellent NT on the two-deeps. That would leave Fred Thompson free to roam as a 3-tech.

      If we’re going to a 3-4, we need one more HS tackle type though. Moala is a NT prospect. Peat Jr. is a 3-tech prospect. And Isaac Seumalo (2012) is a 3-tech prospect. Molesi and Iona would have fit this mold as well.

      Now that I’ve spent 10 minutes of my life wishing and writing about the Beavs and a move to a 3-4 defense, I realize it’s a waste of time. It’s change. It’s innovation. That makes it an impossible solution to any problem OSU.

      Reply

      • We have viable DT options in Thompson, Castro M, and Frahm. The latter worked his way to respectability last year.

        The problem is depth. I’ve been hearing rumblings that Manny has a way to go before being game ready.

        For this reason, a 3-4 should be explored. There is much more depth and skill at LB next year. The weakness this season could and should be a strength next…

        Reply

  13. Do you guys see Moore as a potential CB? I see him only at safety, but there’s a lot of talk that if he commits we land a lock down corner. Disagree with that.

    Reply

      • I really like this kid’s swagger and instincts. I don’t think he would be that great of a safety in our current system though. Our safety position is basically another LB as they do a lot of run support. This kid tackles at the ankles like Pankey did, he would be maddening to watch at safety. Now if we switched to having a true SS and true FS, he would be money at the FS position, especially in a cover 1 scheme. He also can blitz very well, Moore on a FS blitz would be an exciting play.

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      • I agree. He intercepts the ball far too often to be an effective CB in our system. He needs to practice turning his head away from the ball once he sees it in the air.

        How else could he run over the receiver when the ball’s thrown short?

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      • I just think he looks too thick (and gasp, a step slow) to play CB. He looks to me like a prototypical “ball-hawking” safety. Some of those interceptions were on HORRIBLE throws…

        I want the guy, I’m just not sold that he’s our answer to the CB problem in this class. We need Peters at least, and really we need both Peters and McClure.

        Am I the only person seeing Moore in this light?

        Reply

        • I don’t think there is anything wrong with him being a CB at all BUT I think he is actually a better safety than he is a CB. He would be a fantastic ball-hawking safety. I do think OSU is recruiting him to be a safety.

          Reply

        • You’re probably going to have a hard sell because most of us have seen a S play CB for a year, and we know this S would be a better one. From a purist standpoint I can see your concern. But I think he plays the ball nicely.

          I would rather have McClure than him, but that ship might be sailing to Berkeley as well.

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          • I figured people were comparing him to Hardin rather than an ideal corner. Losing the CB to Texas Tech really hurt…that’s been the biggest disappointment thus far for me.

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    • I think Ward will have a slight edge over him, simply because he’s enrolled in school now and will have winter and spring in the program. It looks to me like Ward has better speed, although it may not be significantly better.

      Anyone think Ryan Murphy might get a look at RB?

      Reply

      • For the first 1:30, he’s just playing like LaMichael James; hit huge holes and sprint away, never to be touched.

        But that run at 1:30 was excellent; juking, breaking tackles…he has potential.

        But that uptight running style is not good for a smaller back. Eric Dickerson could pull it off because he was huge. Adrian Peterson is the same. A smaller back makes me worry, but it can be fixed.

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    • I worry that this kid is benefiting from a very talented team. His film was not as impressive as Quizz. I remember watched the Quizz film and saying, “Good Lord, his legs don’t stop moving, can anyone ever bring him down.” Woods doesn’t seem to do much after the first serious contact. He also doesn’t seem to run angry/look to deliver a blow at the inevitable tackle point. He seems like a Ryan McCants type runner. Honestly, we need a S. Jax type guy with our offensive line.

      Reply

      • Man stop the hate. His tape is very impressive. His 2 runs from 1:30 to 1:56 were phenomenal. Then his catch for a TD after that 2 guys jumped on his back and he shed them. Then look at his at about 2:15, guy came flying at him and just bounced off him. He will be a big time player at OSU.

        He’s far from McCants. He uses his power and speed well and can make guys miss. Once he becomes a starter at OSU he will put up big numbers.

        Reply

        • I am not hating, I am just saying that he may be benefiting from a very talented group around him. Someone alluded to James at UO, they may be onto something here. I am saying that I think that we need a bruiser to succeed in our system, a guy that consistently gets yards after contact, is Storm that guy?

          Reply

          • I think he is. He has some runs where he runs over guys. Based off the run scheme of the Beavers, they don’t necessarily need a bruiser. Think back to guys like Simonton and Bernard they weren’t bruisers. Storm Woods can be a bruiser and has some good speed. I look forward to him in a Beaver uniform. He will be a good one.

            Reply

  19. Rivals still lists Moala as visiting this weekend. According to a Cal blogger who sent me an email, this is not happening.

    scout.com says all 4 Grants are visiting next weekend, which could be a blessing in disguise as the weather should be much improved on the 21st.

    Reply

  20. The GT in a story today (Friday, Jan 14) mentions a new commit:

    “Noa Aluesi, a defensive end out of Portland’s Jefferson High, committed to the Beavers. The 6-foot-8, 255-pounder was also the Crusaders’ quarterback.
    Utah, Portland State and Idaho were his other primary options. Aluesi plans to go on a two-year Mormon mission before joining the Beavers, so he won’t be at OSU until at least the 2013 season.
    Aluesi was second-team 6A last season. Rivals.com ranks him as a two-star athlete.”

    I saw Aluesi play this past Fall in a game against my son’s high school team. I would rate this kid at 3-stars. He’s a legit athlete. He’s huge (looked to be all of his listed 6’8″ and 255 lbs) and surprisingly fast and agile for his size. Hopefully he’ll come back in two years, after his mission, as a man rather than a boy. Stay tuned on this guy….

    Reply

  21. Here is a list of potential running backs to replace Jacquizz Rodgers. I also attached each players highlight video for those that had one, or whatever I could find for those who didn’t. If anyone can find highlight videos for the players that don’t have one, please post a link if you find one.

    Ryan McCants: http://dddwww.oregonstate.rivals.com/cviewplayer.asp?Player=84526 http://oregonstate.scout.com/a.z?s=182&p=8&c=1&nid=2415710

    Jovan Stevenson: http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindbeaversbeat/2009/08/oregon_state_frosh_tailback_jo.html

    Jordan Jenkins: (Jenkins is #22, Bishop is #1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx5W7nSAZJ0 http://cliffkirkpatrick.mvourtown.com/tag/jordan-jenkins/

    Malcolm Marable: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVUP0vwRwg4

    Terron Ward: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7-DtOPY9fI&feature=player_embedded

    Malcolm Agnew: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5WoMUo39RU

    Storm Woods: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB0jXRwJwDA

    Reply

      • I really hope you are wrong! If anything, I hope Riley decides to go running back by committee, maybe even changes up some offensive formations for more of a 2 back type of offense. More zone reads, pitches and sweeps with a mobile Katz as our QB.
        I better stop, because I’m getting too creative here, lol.

        Reply

      • Didn’t someone here during the season say that Riley was going to incorporate more spread elements in his offense this coming season? Maybe, Riley will move to an Air Raid offense with a 3-4 D… One can dream right? It seems with our personnel that this are our optimum schemes. A little bit of option in the Air Raid to utilize Katz’ mobility. This limits the need for a dominant RB, if Jenkins is our guy it won’t hurt that much. Maybe this is why we played football out of the gun so much this year.

        Reply

        • If I remember right, Jenkins does pass block pretty well. McCants with his size should also be able to pass block. Air Raid with RB’s who pass block and are delayed outlet backs… Set this up the whole game then put Stevenson in there for a wheel route and a TD… Sorry I love to dream.

          Reply

  22. With Cal and UW getting major stadium upgrades I think the new west side is a priority for recruiting. I heard we may start spring 2014. Let’s hope so. I personally would LOVE to see a double-deck in the south endzone just built at the same time and a completely bowled in horseshoe with seating for 55K. With just a new west side I am thinking only 49K seats max would result. Workable but I really believe if we “build it then they will come” and think BDC should go for it with improved marketing and attractive price levels including plenty more Valley View seats which were a smashing success this year after BDC listened to the fans. This program can be great if we all unite to build it together!

    Reply

  23. I don’t know if I’m the first to come up with this. Angry, if you are going to market the site on the Internet then you are going to need street solidiers as well. We all need hoodies or t-shirts for games and well just about any day with the website on it. I could see a lot of good and bad traffic but more than anything our voices could be heard by a bigger beaver audience. Just an idea, I’m ready to buy my hoodie. XL please!

    Reply

  27. My bet is that Lucien picks between Colorado and UCLA. Colorado can offer early PT. Doubt he’ll pick OSU with the stable of WRs we have this year.

    Marvin Hall is rumored to have grade issues…not sure how bad though. Colorado canceled his official visit this weekend after an academic review.

    Reply

  28. Assuming OSU has 6 spots left, and knowing what we know about Moala, and excluding the pipe-dream of McClure, Peat, etc., here is my list of who I want to fill those spots:

    1. Rahmel Dockery
    2. Byron Moore
    3. Torian White
    4. Marcus Peters
    5. Juda Parker
    6. Vi Teofilo

    Reply

    • Not much yet, but I’ll post stuff as soon as stuff appears. If anyone can got to the USC game, I’d saggest doing it to impress the recruits. Roberto Nelson already said he wants people loud and to get there at 6!

      Reply

  31. The gem in this group may very well be Rudolf Fifita. I follow all the southern cal recruits and this guy is a winner. A freak injury resulted in him flying under the radar this year as he only played in half the games. He started for two years on the Junior College National Champion Mt. Sac team and his performance in the national championship game turned a lot of heads. He dominated USC recruit David Garness — two sacks and 2 tackles for loss in a dominating win. Physically gifted, a legit 6’3.5″ with a recorded sixty time of 4.6 makes him a great get. More importantly, he can drop back into pass coverage better than most outside linebackers and nobody gets outside on this guy. He will be a starter and could easily put on weight and move inside. More highly ranked Byron Moore is also a great get and better than advertised. I am optimistic about this class.

    Reply

  32. Thanks SC Guru. Fafita is an animal and dominated everybody he played against. Every Mt. Sac defensive starter earned a scholarship and Fifita is the best of the bunch. Hawaii is after him now with requests for more visits are coming in. The Beavers will be lucky to get him. Fifita and Barnett would be unstoppable and the thought of them going after PAC-12 QB’s is awesome.

    Reply

  33. “win or lose, we still booze”
    “1st the worst 2nd the best, Beavers 3rd in the PAC-10 with hairest chest”
    “At least we are going bowling”

    Reply

      • But Earl Foster is already commited to Houston… why not list Houton Football on FB?

        If he tripped to Corvallis while a verbal to Houston and only has OSU listed on FB… there’s a good chance he becomes a beaver… see Daryl Jackson.

        Reply

      • Scarlett was way overrated. I could care less about him going to Cal (or anywhere else)–he will be a bust.

        Earl Foster is intriguing. He looks like a better CB than Safety. Great in run support and plays the ball well. I’m not sure if his speed is lacking…? Maybe that’s why he’s projected at S.

        I feel as if Moore and Foster should have their positions reversed.

        Reply

  39. Paul Buker tweet:

    “Add, recruiting: was told tonight that the four Grant HS of Sacto FB players (all being wooed by OSU) may be coming NEXT week”

    So Sample is back in?

    Reply

    • Yes, I made a comment above this above. If they do all visit next weekend it’s a blessing in disguise as the weather is supposed to be beautiful.

      Reply

    • Dockery, Peat, and Teofilo would be guys I’d classify as surprises. I didn’t even know Dockery was visiting this weekend…I’d say Foster would be a minor surprise.

      Reply

          • Just rewatched his film…he is huge and hits like Ronnie Lott. Some of the throws by those QBs make me question the level of competition.

            Since he’s a 3×2 or 2×2 guy (not sure which) he’s probably looking for immediate playing time, and the Beavs offer that with Collins moving to LB. That would make the safety who transfer from BYU a backup…I’d be happy with that lineup. Even if McGill goes elsewhere…I think that BYU guy might be a player. I’m not at all worried about safety.

            Reply

          • I think they moved the BYU tranfer (Teo) to linebacker. Might have been reported by Cliff a month or so ago. You think Moore or McGill would start over Watkins next year? I thought he played well this past season.

            Reply

          • He did play well, but he’s a bit undersized. I’d think if the Beavers sign Moore he’ll be a CB (that’s the word right now). If they sign McGill, I imagine they’ll duke it out in practice and may the best man will win.

            I suggest people look at Earl Foster’s film and tell me with a straight face that he’s not the most promising CB prospect we’re interested in…if he’s 4.5 or lower you have to make him a corner instead of safety. I like his film more than McClure, Peters, Moore, McGill, etc.

            Reply

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