'13 CA OT Aaron Cochran (Cal Verbal)

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Offensive Tackle
Atwater, CA
Buhach Colony HS

Height: 6'8
Weight: 350

Rankings:
247: #15 OT #122 Overall
Rivals: #98 Overall

Offers:
Cal
Auburn
Colorado
Notre Dame
Washington State
Washington

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[GoldenIsThyFame]

Offered today. Mammoth human being. Will add the rest after dinner.

 

[Emcee77]

holy eff 6'8'' 350?? What a behemoth

 

[Buster Bluth]

His brother Matt plays at Cal.

Aaron's offers:

California
Colorado
Notre Dame
Washington
Washington State

 

[Irishnuke]

Dude makes Zach Banner look tiny.




edit: Rivals has him at 6'6, 320. Still a big boy.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Offered today. Mammoth human being. Will add the rest after dinner.

After your dinner or his?

 

[beryirish]

After your dinner or his?

If GITF has been eating dinner this whole time then he will be up there with him in no time...

 

[BeauBenken]

You eff'd up your fourth star, brother.

This is one big, big boy...

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

247, Scout, and his highlight video list him at 6'8 and 350 so I am going with that for now.

Cal is obviously one of his favorites because his brother is there but has a relationship with Hiestand because his brother was being recruited by Tennessee and also has family in Kokomo, IN.

 

[BeauBenken]

Good ol' Kokomo...

I hate the wildcats.

 

[greyhammer90]

God that picture of him with the DE is terrifying.

 

[greyhammer90]

If we do get him, even when he red shirts, he needs to be the first guy out of the tunnel. I don't care if I'm a proud senior 3 year-starter at Pittsburgh... there is a little bit of pee going down my leg when I see him run out.

 

[jimmymac]

I know you cant teach size... But his tape was pretty lackluster IMO and I don't think he really fits our system well. But thats just me, and Im sure we could coach him up if he comes here.

 

[TerryTate]

I know you cant teach size... But his tape was pretty lackluster IMO and I don't think he really fits our system well. But thats just me, and Im sure we could coach him up if he comes here.

System is changing. We are going after big interior guys rather than the light, quickfooted guys we got under Warriner.

Seriously, he's 17, and he's 6'8" 350 lbs.

 

[irishknight35]

System is changing. We are going after big interior guys rather than the light, quickfooted guys we got under Warriner.

Seriously, he's 17, and he's 6'8" 350 lbs.

What's the reasoning for this system change? Is this an offensive mentality change or just simply the coaching change with Heistand?

 

[Kanye West]

What's the reasoning for this system change? Is this an offensive mentality change or just simply the coaching change with Heistand?

Its a mix, I also think we are recruiting more guards to run the ball.

 

[irishknight35]

Its a mix, I also think we are recruiting more guards to run the ball.

That makes a lot of sense. Kelly and staff need to get those high ranking OL back to ND. If they can sell the running game aspect of our offense (which most linemen tend to prefer vs. pass blocking) they should see improvement in OL talent but its tough competing against schools that run a straight pro-style offense. Regarded by many as having the top three OL classes of 2012 were Stanford, USC, and Michigan. All three are considered or are selling themsevles as pro-style offenses. We need those type of O-linemen.

 

[Kanye West]

That makes a lot of sense. Kelly and staff need to get those high ranking OL back to ND. If they can sell the running game aspect of our offense (which most linemen tend to prevere vs. pass blocking) they should see improvement in OL talent but its tough competing against schools that run a straight pro-style offense. Regarded by many as having the top three OL classes of 2012 were Stanford, USC, and Michigan. All three are considered or are selling themsevles as pro-style offenses. We need those type of O-linemen.

I thought our line classes for the last two years were really good. O-line is the one position where stars really don't matter as much. It's mostly development. (See Wisconsin and Weis era recruits)

 

[Bogtrotter07]

We are going to run the ball.

You have a problem with this guy?

He made contact with db's as well as anyone I have seen. He runs twenty, thirty yards downfield, even if he doesn't have to. His footwork looked damn fine on a couple of those plays with a pass rush. Nobody should get there hands up against this guy.

From what I can see this guy's biggest draw back is if Evertt Gholson keeps hitting him in the a$$ with the ball.

 

[irishknight35]

I thought our line classes for the last two years were really good. O-line is the one position where stars really don't matter as much. It's mostly development. (See Wisconsin and Weis era recruits)

True, ND has guys like Lombard, Cave and Watt who came in highly ranked but also a guy like Z. Martin who proved to be much more than just stars after his name. What I guess I'm more concerned about is consistency in recruiting and in development which has to do with the revolving door that has plaqued the OL coaching spot the past 6 years. I just want to see a OL coach stick around for 4 years to actually see the kids he recruited perform at a high level. Also more numbers need to be used in acquirering O-linemen each class. 3-4 each year would be preferred IMO. I think we really missed out on a good OL class this past year but luckily it appears an even better class is coming behind it so its time to seize the moment and get those talented big uglys to ND!

If this mammouth of a human being is a sign in the change of OL recruiting philosophy than I'm all for it. Like someone previously said you cant teach that kind of size mixed with athleticism.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

A) Do you think we really missed? (or that next years class, after this years has anything to do with luck?)*

B) HH is probably that guy under Kelly, 53 and where he wants to be, an old friend and student of Joe Moore.

C) 12 for 12 with senior O-Linemen at IL. I will take it. (Recruiting is a lot harder there.)

* I think getting the players we actually needed, while reeling in the smallest class possible because of size restrictions this year shows brilliance.

 

[irishknight35]

A) Do you think we really missed? (or that next years class, after this years has anything to do with luck?)*

B) HH is probably that guy under Kelly, 53 and where he wants to be, an old friend and student of Joe Moore.

C) 12 for 12 with senior O-Linemen at IL. I will take it. (Recruiting is a lot harder there.)

* I think getting the players we actually needed, while reeling in the smallest class possible because of size restrictions this year shows brilliance.

I'm excited about every single player coming to ND from the 2012 class. From the most heralded player (Kiel or Jones) to least (Daly) I love this class because it is filled with kids who want to be at ND. But there is a difference between being excited for what you have and being satisfied. I don't think the coaching staff would say they were totally satisfied with their recruiting results this year.

A) Too many battles were lost late and I think some of the biggest loses were at the OL position with guys like Joshua Garnett and Taylor Decker. I think just adding one of those two completely changes the dynamic of the entire 2012 class. Now the staff needs to load up on OL this year which consiquently may have been by design as they felt the 2013 class had more talented OL players than in 2012 but since I'm not in on the staff meetings I just get to speculate and talk about the results that are right in front of me. I don't think anyone on here would argue that adding another highly ranked OL from the 2012 class who wanted to play at ND would be a bad thing.

B) Thats what I would like to hear but again no can predict the future. Only time will tell as is the case with the answer to A)

C)I really like those odds, especially with the boat load of OL talent in IL this year. Like ive said before Heistand will get his chance early to prove himself on the recruiting trial. This OL class is prime for the the taking.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

A) Too many battles were lost late and I think some of the biggest loses were at the OL position with guys like Joshua Garnett and Taylor Decker. I think just adding one of those two completely changes the dynamic of the entire 2012 class. Now the staff needs to load up on OL this year which consiquently may have been by design as they felt the 2013 class had more talented OL players than in 2012 but since I'm not in on the staff meetings I just get to speculate and talk about the results that are right in front of me. I don't think anyone on here would argue that adding another highly ranked OL from the 2012 class who wanted to play at ND would be a bad thing.

We'll have 14 OL for 2012, which is OK. 15 or 16 is ideal, but 14 is fine.

We'll only need 3-4 OL next cycle to hit ideal depth again, which isn't out of the ordinary. I'm not sure how this idea took hold that we're dangerously thin at OL and will have to overload next cycle for long-term stability.

 

[Buster Bluth]

We'll have 14 OL for 2012, which is OK. 15 or 16 is ideal, but 14 is fine.

And to think, when Weis arrived there were seven scholarship lineman after Willingham's damage. That is true right? That's what I had always heard.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Yes, sonny, them was the good old, bad old days!

 

[Irish2155]

Good ol' Kokomo...

I hate the wildcats.

Kokomo is the worst city I've ever drove through. It takes like 45 minutes to get through Kokomo on 31 up to South Bend. You hit like every light three times before getting through...and they have like 700 lights through the town.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Kokomo is the worst city I've ever drove through. It takes like 45 minutes to get through Kokomo on 31 up to South Bend. You hit like every light three times before getting through...and they have like 700 lights through the town.

16 stoplights actually, at least last time I counted.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

And you have to worry about getting run over by airplanes, near the Chrysler plant, which is, thank god, painted a bright blue, or I may have run into it. Between the drinking and railroad tracks, I don't know what's worse. It's been a few years, but I hope they put some of that road money into those roads in Kokomo . . .

 

[Me2SouthBend]

I'm excited about every single player coming to ND from the 2012 class. From the most heralded player (Kiel or Jones) to least (Daly) I love this class because it is filled with kids who want to be at ND. But there is a difference between being excited for what you have and being satisfied. I don't think the coaching staff would say they were totally satisfied with their recruiting results this year.

A) Too many battles were lost late and I think some of the biggest loses were at the OL position with guys like Joshua Garnett and Taylor Decker. I think just adding one of those two completely changes the dynamic of the entire 2012 class. Now the staff needs to load up on OL this year which consiquently may have been by design as they felt the 2013 class had more talented OL players than in 2012 but since I'm not in on the staff meetings I just get to speculate and talk about the results that are right in front of me. I don't think anyone on here would argue that adding another highly ranked OL from the 2012 class who wanted to play at ND would be a bad thing.

B) Thats what I would like to hear but again no can predict the future. Only time will tell as is the case with the answer to A)

C)I really like those odds, especially with the boat load of OL talent in IL this year. Like ive said before Heistand will get his chance early to prove himself on the recruiting trial. This OL class is prime for the the taking.

Don't be shocked if Jarron Jones ends up on the OL before all is said and done in his career at ND. He was very highly touted as an OL prospect, some services may have had him higher there. If that is the case, we are in even better position after landing 2 studs and a very solid M Harrell who provides versatility and great depth. I think Coach Kelly has done a remarkable job loading up the lines on both sides in his recruiting efforts. Adding some combination of Elmer, Pocic, Bivins, Bosch, Cochran, Logan-Tulley, etc. just continues the opportunities for extended excellence along the OL. How could QB's and RB's not be very attracted to having an opportunities to play behind these studs.

 

[NDhoosier]

Don't be shocked if Jarron Jones ends up on the OL before all is said and done in his career at ND. He was very highly touted as an OL prospect, some services may have had him higher there. If that is the case, we are in even better position after landing 2 studs and a very solid M Harrell who provides versatility and great depth. I think Coach Kelly has done a remarkable job loading up the lines on both sides in his recruiting efforts. Adding some combination of Elmer, Pocic, Bivins, Bosch, Cochran, Logan-Tulley, etc. just continues the opportunities for extended excellence along the OL. How could QB's and RB's not be very attracted to having an opportunities to play behind these studs.

3 of those would be amazing and not completely unrealistic...