A note on 2015 OL Jake Fruhmorgen

Not that this really means much, but I came across an interesting blurb last night that may only interest me. It's from a recruiting column by Jack Hariston, two days after National Signing Day, on page 1D of the Feb. 10, 1984 edition of the Gainesville Sun:

But Florida gets a high grade for getting the percentage it did, particularly when Nebraska said the mere story that Mike Rozier was paid by Husker alumni hurt its recruiting.

Coach Tom Osborne said of the Rozier story, which the All-America running back has since denied: "It's been very devastating to our recruiting." 

One of the players Nebraska lost was Tampa Jesuit offensive lineman John Fruhmorgen (6-5, 298 pounds). Fruhmorgen had earlier dropped Florida because of the impending NCAA charges, and after the Rozier story came out, he switched from the Huskers and signed with Alabama.  

Jake Fruhmorgen, now a junior at Plant High School in Tampa, is one of the top 2015 offensive line prospects in the Sunshine State and very much on the radar of Florida, along with many other schools early on. He's an Alabama legacy prospect, as the above selection notes. However, a different set of circumstances – those that didn't conclude with Florida being hammered by NCAA sanctions under Charley Pell, for instance – might have led his father to Gainesville instead of Tuscaloosa.

It should also be noted that Hariston didn't directly quote John Fruhmorgen in the piece. The information came second-hand. So this could prove to be a somewhat apocryphal story regarding Fruhmorgen's decision to attend Alabama over Nebraska. Only one man knows for sure.

This piece is worth nothing, however, just as a little something to keep in mind for the future. The younger Fruhmorgen appears to be on his way to being a top target of both Florida and Alabama (and possibly Nebraska as well) just a few short months from now. Thankfully for Jake Fruhmorgen, it's highly unlikely that any NCAA sanctions will play a role in his decision as to where he will ultimately decide to attend college.

Rohan Blackwood

Over each recruiting cycle, there are always prospects who are sort of on the periphery of the scene. Recruiting services know about them, rank them, but always end up undervaluing them for whatever reason. Lack of an impressive offer list, failure to hit the camp/combine circuit, or just a regular case of being overlooked by the people whose job it is to rate football prospects. I really enjoy trying to find and identify those guys each year and watch them succeed as time goes on.

A prospect who has caught my eye this year is Brooksville Nature Coast athlete Rohan Blackwood. This guy is a real marvel to watch on tape, and his upside appears to be through the roof.



It should be added that these YouTube highlights are from his sophomore year. For updated clips, check here.

Sure, I'm a bit biased. I've made no attempt to hide my preference for trying to recruit as many prospects in the 6-foot-5, 220-pound range as possible. Blackwood, after skipping the summer AAU basketball circuit to focus on football in recent months, has put on 15 pounds since last season and moved into that size range heading into his senior season.

It should be noted that Blackwood hasn't been entirely overlooked. He is a three-star prospect on all of the services. But Scout is the only guy who has really jumped on board the bandwagon so far, rating Blackwood as the No. 60 player in the state of Florida. I'm confident he's better than that.

There's still weight to be gained and technique to be learned, but you can't teach the natural gifts Blackwood has. He recorded over 60 tackles and 15 sacks as a junior. He also recorded eight receptions for 130 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2012 on offense. And let's not forget the fact Blackwood averaged 15 and 11 on a 25-4 hardwood squad at Nature Coast last winter. I'm always a big fan of football prospects who excel at basketball as well. Again, the versatility comes into play. He could be a tight end, he could be a primary pass-rusher. The key is getting him on campus and to let things fall into place from there.

Colleges have taken note. Minnesota, Nebraska, South Florida, West Virginia and Wisconsin comprise his current top five. I can't help but think this guy should be getting love from the cream of the crop in the BCS, however. The fact that none of the "Big Three" have offered him boggles my mind. I'm convinced Rohan Blackwood will be a really nice pick-up for somebody. With added weight, more offensive responsibilities and big expectations, he could be one of the guys to see his recruitment really explode over the course of the fall.