Raise your handif u saw this one coming today...
I saw this one coming a month ago!
Seriously. There is a poster that people have gotten on for negative comments, that had a wonderful early post. I watched this thread and some regulars were damned outright pedantic, until the whole story about this kids ability came out.
Here is what I saw, and granted I am coming in late. This kid has pretty good upper body strength, and this kids explosiveness and closing speed is the second best I have seen in the classes of '13 and '14. And Jaylon is the fastest I have ever seen! *
Okwara was one of the top 'weight gainers' this offseason -
Physical development key to Irish offseason | Inside the Irish
This article says he's 250, up from 231. I think the point is, the staff is going to do work with these kids, whether that's bulking them up (KLM) or maintaining their weight (+/- 15-20lbs) while transforming their body (Romeo).
Can you imagine what Romeo will do with another twenty pounds of the right stuff? Better start learning his name; O-k-w-a-r-a!
That's my impression. From what I've gathered:
- Impressed our staff in pass-rushing drills against elite OL talent;
- Offered expressly as a ROLB; and
- Some (his coach?) have speculated that he could easily put on good weight.
So he stays lean and follows Shembo's path, or he bulks up and follows KLM's path. I agree with the comparisons to Okwara. Regardless, that kind of versatility is very helpful, and it sounds like he's got a high ceiling.
Spell this L-o-n-g-o. Paul looks at these kids early on and the conversation is had and the decision is made. That is why I disagree with the board sometimes. I go with what Longo says. He is a big part of the "Genius Staff", as OMM puts it. (And OMM is right!)
There was plenty to get up about in his film. How about that he caught up to a RB from behind within 10 yards. Or his ability to shove offensive tackles back into the LOS, jamming up holes. Not much to get excited about a kid athletic enough to be the starting TE on his HS team.
The kid is a hell of a player. His HS is about 15 min away from me so I'll check him out a few times this fall.
Also, with the recent transfers, we have a little room to take some 'projects' if need be. On that note, I don't think he's a project. He can be a solid contributor to ND football.[/QUOTE]
Zactly! That play jumped off the page. Tuitt made a play where he ran down a running back from behind, and I don't think the distance to be made up was as far, and it got all the oohs, and ahs! His closing speed and ability to set and keep the edge are almost as impressive as Jaylon Smiths. No one beat him on the edge!
* Among linemen and linebackers. Strength and Big skill.
and you will realize it's not too entirely different.
