'11 PA TE Ben Koyack (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

Polish Leppy 22

Polish Leppy 22

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Great news. Still floored that he lives 2 hours away from state college and they aren't even in the mix.

Can't wait to see this kid put on some pounds like Rudy did before he got to south bend
 
Polish Leppy 22

Polish Leppy 22

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I caught this article from a newspaper in york, which is about 3 hrs from oil city. Seems like a good, quiet, humble, talented kid. Just didn't want to go to a huge school and absolutely hated the recruiting attention. Good read

Top tight end Ben Koyack chooses Notre Dame over Penn State
The Lions recruited him heavily, but the Oil City tight end wanted to go to a smaller campus.
By FRANK BODANI
Daily Record/Sunday News
Updated: 04/27/2010 09:16:59 PM EDT


In the end, Oil City's Ben Koyack -- the No. 2-ranked high school tight end in the nation -- really wanted a smaller college campus.
And he just wanted to get his recruiting finished as soon as possible.

So arguably the top junior football prospect in Pennsylvania has decided on Notre Dame.

He chose the Fighting Irish late Monday night over Ohio State.

Penn State, which was rumored to be among his top choices for months, if not longer, was basically eliminated last week, said Ray Beers, his former high school coach who handles his recruiting.

"Penn State did a great job recruiting him, though it's been said otherwise that they didn't put the time into it. They did," Beers said. "They just tried to give him his space because he didn't like the recruiting process."

Nittany Lion coach Mike McQueary, the team's recruiting coordinator, "put two years of his life into recruiting Ben," Beers said.

"I just believe he didn't really want to go to Penn State. It was always said they were in the picture because his father was a huge Penn State fan, and he didn't want to disappoint his father. But, for Ben, his interest just lay elsewhere."

Koyack had written scholarship offers from 20-some schools, including top powers such as LSU, Oklahoma and USC. He is coveted for the combination of his size (6-foot-5, 238 pounds) and surprising speed -- a similar package to Penn State's Andrew Quarless, a fifth-round draft choice by the Green Bay Packers last


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weekend.
Koyack also is a strong student and a gifted musician, who plays the piano, trombone and sousaphone.

And he's a quiet kid from a small town who doesn't like the spotlight.

Which means that he detested the publicity and constant phone calls, text messages and Internet reports about his recruiting status.

"After a while, the pressure of schools just got to the point where he couldn't stand it anymore," Beers said.

Koyack apparently wrapped up his decision after attending Notre Dame's spring football game last weekend. It didn't hurt that the Irish "threw to their tight ends left and right. He saw what Notre Dame was capable of," Beers said.

He also "fell in love with the campus. He likes the idea of a small college campus with big-time athletics. He just felt like he fit in," Beers said.

So around midnight on Monday, Koyack sent his former coach a text message that read:

"I want to go to Notre Dame."
 
FightingIrishLover7

FightingIrishLover7

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THIS IS HUGE!!!

The more elite TEs the better, glad to see Kelly continue the awesome TE tradition at ND.

Hopefully Rudy will stick around for his senior year, that way Koyack can learn the ropes from one of the country's top TEs.

Looks like Charlie isn't the only Coach who can bring in some big recruits.
 
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DirtySecret said:
Becoming!??? We've always been Tight End U all the way back to the Holtz era..
Click to expand...

Long before the Holtz era.

Leon Hart was the prototype TE, 6-4 245 and won the Heisman, only lineman to do so back in 1949. Jim Winegardner in the 60's. Dave Casper and Ken Macfee in the 70's. Dean Mastek,, Tony Hunter and Mark Bavaro in the early 80's all preceeded Holtz.

Holtz recruited some great TEs but used them more as blocker's like Tressel at OSU and was frequently criticized for underutlilizing another pass catching weapon. There were a number of Hotlz TEs that had great hands but got few opportunities to catch passes. Derek Brown had 62 receptions in 4 years. Rudolph already has that many after two seasons and he missed a couple of games due to injuries.

One of my favorite Holtz stories was when the Stadium expansion was under progress. One day Holtz climbed all the way to the top of the new upper ring, sat down alone, and gazed solemnly down on the field. Suddenly he jumped up and bellowed, "THROW IT TO THE TIGHT END!"
 
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WabashFalcon said:
I can see it now...

Next year... the Four TE spread. ...
Click to expand...

We laugh but at 6-5 230 4.6 he's a big WR. He won't be available next season for that formation he'll be a HS senior.

Have to make do with Rudolph, Ragone, Eifert, and Golic or Welsh or use them all in the Five TE Spread.

Five TEs Spread and Crist takes off on a QB draw with all that muscle heading downfield stalking DBs.
 
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dyrtdogg

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BGIF said:
We laugh but at 6-5 230 4.6 he's a big WR. He won't be available next season for that formation he'll be a HS senior.

Have to make do with Rudolph, Ragone, Eifert, and Golic or Welsh or use them all in the Five TE Spread.

Five TEs Spread and Crist takes off on a QB draw with all that muscle heading downfield stalking DBs.
Click to expand...

To paraphrase you, BGIF, I don't know a Welsh, but I know a Welch.
 
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dyrtdogg said:
To paraphrase you, BGIF, I don't know a Welsh, but I know a Welch.
Click to expand...


<DD>For 'tis the sport to have the enginer <DD>Hoist with his own petar; and 't shall go hard

<DD>
<DD>
<DD>
</DD>
The appropriate reps have been deposited in your account.
 
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Bogtrotter07

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Since I am the original “Welsh” versus “Welch”, I thought I would jump in here. I a have heard one thing consistently from the people I know, that seem to know in Cincinnati; Alex Welch’s development in high school is ahead of Kyle Rudolph’s. Let’s give Alex a chance!

Also, I mean I am far from an expert, but with you being hard and most; I think that you may be watching football wrong.
 
chyrspchuck

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Rudy will be gone after next year, so that 4 TE set will have to consist of Welch, Koyack, Golic, Eifert in 2011


I think Koyack is BK's biggest get yet. Super excited about this.
 
DoverShores

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rocket31 said:
if floyd and rudolph dont stay healthy neither are going anywhere next season...
Click to expand...

And for Floyd it's very important in respect to his draft stock. The Junior class is too good at the top this year...

Our '11 class is startin' to look real good.
 
Ben E.

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does anybody know what division Oil City plays in? I grew up spending my summers in a old hunting camp around there(tionesta, pa) and I realy dont remember alot of residential areas. Of course it might be a school district with a massive area feeding it or a sprawling area i dont know. just wondering what kind of competition he is facing there because as i recal it was pretty much in the middle of nowhere?

(disclaimer: not bashing the kid's numbers just interested in what his learning curve or physical adjustment may be?)
 
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Polish Leppy 22

Polish Leppy 22

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Oil City plays AA ball in Pennsylvania (out of four groups with AAAA being the largest), but they do play one or two non league games every year in AAA and/ or AAAA
 
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ISD Freebie

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Notre Dame Football - In the Film Room: Ben Koyack

Detailed review of Ben Koyack by Coach D.

Needs work in weight room to deal with Div 1 blocking assignments. Great hands, room for improvement in some areas.

The other day we joked about Kelly using a 5 Wide TE alignment. Interestingly, Koyak's coaches use him in a down TE set, split wide, and in the Slot. He's ready to go.

Brian Driskell's description of Koyack's fleet feet and ability to move in space gave me visions of Carlson splitting the seam for long gains.

GRADES
Size: 86 (Very good frame, good height, should be 250+)
Strength: 85 (Good natural strength, tough player – needs work in the weight room)
Speed: 92 (For a TE his speed is top notch, he’s a big play threat and can explode past defenses)
Athletic Skills: 90 (Very good athlete – Fluid, agile, good leaper, can make plays after the catch)
Route Running: 83 (Solid right now, needs work but the potential here is high)
Catching Ability: 89 (Soft, quick hands – Has to be more consistent catching away from his body and catching the ball high on jump balls)
Blocking: 84 (Solid blocker right now, great effort – Additional strength will make him even better)
Intangibles: 83 (Coming off knee injury – Tough kid, high effort, versatile tight end)
Upside: 5
Overall Grade: 4
Click to expand...

A lot of good stuff at the Link.
 
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Rivals gave him 4 Stars and a 5.9 Rating. They have released Position Ranking yet.
 
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