With a flurry of commitments coming out of Florida's biggest recruiting weekend of the year, Florida now stands at 13 pledges for the 2015 recruiting cycle, with the potential to add upwards of about 10 more between now and Wednesday, when those commitments can be put to paper. Potentially a great finish for Jim McElwain and his staff, to be sure.
That said, what is really impressive about this group, is the work being down down the home stretch on both sides of the line-of-scrimmage. All three of the commitments made to Florida this weekend have come from linemen and with less than three days to go until National Signing Day, 8 of the Gators' 13 pledges are from linemen.
There's still work to be done, however. The target number I assigned for this group a couple of weeks ago was 12. That's 12 total linemen in this class, since some of these targets and commitments -- Luc Bequette, G.G. Robinson, and possibly even Andrew Ivie and Luke Ancrum -- could ultimately project on either side of the ball in college.
A weekend visit to Auburn by Florida pledge Mike Horton potentially has his status with UF on shaky ground. So the target number for McElwain and staff to land over the next couple of days is 4-5 linemen -- a number very much attainable considering the number of prospects still on the board for Florida.
TE/OL/DT G.G. Robinson
OT Martez Ivey
OT Tyree St. Louis
OG Nick Buchanan
OG/OC Quarvez Boulware
OC/DT Luc Bequette
DE Byron Cowart
DE Keivonnis Davis
DE/DT CeCe Jefferson
Ultimately Florida may not land four (or five) of the nine prospects listed above, but it's not out of the realm of possibility, especially considering Florida seems to be trending very heavily for several of these prospects.
And the board may be bigger than this. Florida has seemingly been a bit cloak-and-dagger about some of the visits being taken. Is it possible that a player or two snuck in under-the-radar? Is a player like DT Kahlil Welsh, a Wake Forest commitment out of Jacksonville Sandalwood who was scheduled to visit UF this weekend but went to Illinois instead, still a possibility? Could there be others in that vein on the board?
In any case, the late push on both sides of the line of scrimmage has been mighty impressive by McElwain & Co. Even if Florida doesn't get to 12 as I have suggested they aim for, they're going to get awfully close. As much as Muschamp stressed that the SEC was a "line-of-scrimmage league" during his time in Gainesville, the numbers on both sides of the ball were often leaving a bit to be desired during his tenure. While McElwain hasn't stressed those words quite as much when addressing the media, his actions sure are backing that notion up.
Showing posts with label End. Show all posts
Showing posts with label End. Show all posts
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Florida's run of success at the tight end position
Since 2000, the Gators have actually put together a pretty good record of placing tight ends into the NFL. As for how well they've stacked up with other teams over that time frame, here's the list of college programs to have at least five tight ends drafted over the last 14 years:
Miami, (Fla.): 9
Notre Dame: 8
Iowa: 7
Florida: 6
Penn State: 6
Stanford: 6
Virginia: 6
Wisconsin: 6
Georgia: 5
Oregon: 5
Tennessee: 5
213 tight ends been selected in the NFL Draft between 2000 and 2013. Among the interesting trends and numbers to develop over that time period:
– Nebraska-Omaha (2) has produced more picks than Nebraska (1). On a similar note, Texas A&M and Texas A&M-Kingsville have both produced the same number of draftees (1).
– Florida State hasn't seen a single tight end drafted since 2000. In fact, you have to go all the way back to 1994 (Lonnie Johnson) to find a tight end from FSU who was drafted into the NFL.
– Idaho (3) and Rice (3) have been surprising fertile grounds for developing tight ends in recent years as well.
The six Florida tight ends to hear their name called since 2000 are as follows:
2000 Erron Kinney (3rd Round, 68th overall, Tennessee Titans)
2003 Aaron Walker (5th Round, 161st overall, San Francisco 49ers)
2004 Ben Troupe (2nd Round, 40th overall, Tennessee Titans)
2009 Cornelius Ingram (5th Round, 153rd overall, Philadelphia Eagles)
2010 Aaron Hernandez (4th Round, 113rd overall, New England Patriots)
2013 Jordan Reed (3rd Round, 85th overall, Washington Redskins)
Miami, (Fla.): 9
Notre Dame: 8
Iowa: 7
Florida: 6
Penn State: 6
Stanford: 6
Virginia: 6
Wisconsin: 6
Georgia: 5
Oregon: 5
Tennessee: 5
213 tight ends been selected in the NFL Draft between 2000 and 2013. Among the interesting trends and numbers to develop over that time period:
– Nebraska-Omaha (2) has produced more picks than Nebraska (1). On a similar note, Texas A&M and Texas A&M-Kingsville have both produced the same number of draftees (1).
– Florida State hasn't seen a single tight end drafted since 2000. In fact, you have to go all the way back to 1994 (Lonnie Johnson) to find a tight end from FSU who was drafted into the NFL.
– Idaho (3) and Rice (3) have been surprising fertile grounds for developing tight ends in recent years as well.
The six Florida tight ends to hear their name called since 2000 are as follows:
2000 Erron Kinney (3rd Round, 68th overall, Tennessee Titans)
2003 Aaron Walker (5th Round, 161st overall, San Francisco 49ers)
2004 Ben Troupe (2nd Round, 40th overall, Tennessee Titans)
2009 Cornelius Ingram (5th Round, 153rd overall, Philadelphia Eagles)
2010 Aaron Hernandez (4th Round, 113rd overall, New England Patriots)
2013 Jordan Reed (3rd Round, 85th overall, Washington Redskins)
Although Steve Spurrier was not known for going to the tight end much during his time in Gainesville (aside from Kirk Kirkpatrick's All-SEC campaign during Spurrier's first year as coach at UF in 1990), the first three tight ends drafted (Kinney, Walker, Troupe) were all brought in during his tenure as coach.
The success of this group is a mixed bag. Despite playing just three seasons, Hernandez is actually the most prolific of this group. Kinney lasted the longest at the pro level, playing all seven of his NFL seasons in Tennessee. Walker and Troupe bounced around with multiple teams, never really catching on with any one squad. Ingram never played in a regular season game due to lingering knee issues resulting from his days at Florida. Reed is off to a good start, just four games into his rookie campaign in Washington.
Certainly, the tight end position for UF is a weakness that will have to be corrected in the following months. However, the good news for the Florida staff is that the statistics above provide an easy selling point to the top recruits they are pursuing (Bryce Dixon and Deandre Goolsby among them) that Florida has done a good job in recent years of evaluating and developing players at the position, and getting them in a position to move on to the next level and be productive as well.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Post-UK Recruiting Thoughts
First, a bit of week-in-review before we move on to other items:
– Jacksonville Ribault LB Jakob Johnson continues to establish himself on the recruiting scene during his first season of playing prep football stateside after coming over from Germany.
– Analyzing the trend of power forwards making the transition to tight end in college and the NFL. Could we see Will Yeguete or Patric Young make that move in the near future?
– Season-ending injuries are a fact of life in football. The Gators' recent spell is more the result of a string of bad luck, as opposed to anything Jeff Dillman and the strength & conditioning staff has done.
– How many high school prospects will Florida take in the 2014 cycle? What players are currently in the mix for the Gators? And how does "The Big Board" currently stand for UF?
– Some prep stars are establishing themselves in a big way over the course of their senior seasons in the state of Florida. Here are five names that you should get to know as they emerge on the radar of college recruiters.
Now, on to the new stuff ...
1. I've maintained for a few weeks now that Florida will not stop pursuing Jacksonville Providence OL David Sharpe until he commits elsewhere, nor should they. There's a reason for that. You never know what can happen in recruiting to make a kid sour on a school or change his mind in terms of perception as it relates to the decision-making process. That said, Will Muschamp and Tim Davis should probably start getting their back-up options in a row:
That's a tweet from Sharpe during his weekend trip to Athens to take in the LSU-UGA game, which included an overnight stay in Athens on Saturday night. He appears to be having a conversation with himself in which he decides to hold off on making a commitment to Georgia for now. In terms of the big picture for Florida, sure, there are names like Damien Mama and Jordan Sims on the board. Until either of those guys visit Gainesville, however, they should be consider long-shots for Florida to sign. The staff can look elsewhere as well, but with 30-plus offensive linemen in-state claiming at least one offer from a BCS program, I doubt the Gators really have to go too far to fill the remaining 2-3 slots on the offensive line they will likely project to take in this class. The one name I feel closely deserves monitoring is Weeki Wachee offensive tackle Marcus Applefield (6-6, 280). Despite claiming nearly 15 offers from BCS programs, Applefield has been somewhat overlooked in the recruiting landscape of Florida this fall. He currently claims a top-five list of Purdue, Rutgers, Vanderbilt, Virginia and West Virginia. He has scheduled official visits to all but West Virginia to date.
2. Florida fans continue to lament the offensive line recruiting under Muschamp and their failures to land elite in-state talent. There was Patrick Miller and Avery Young in 2012 (both of whom signed with Auburn, although Tim Davis can hardly be blamed for either miss) along with John Theus (who was lost long before Muschamp took the head coaching job at Florida). Last year it was Laremy Tunsil who headed off to Ole Miss. Now it appears Kc McDermott and David Sharpe will join that illustrious club. The Gators fortunes should turn around next year with Martez Ivey at Apopka, but of course his signing is still over a year away. Things can always change.
However, if you take a minute to stop and look at the offensive line, it is an upperclassmen-laden group and set up to be a strength of the squad over the course of this season and next. It's the 2015 class, where Florida is really going to have to hit on, in terms of both numbers and quality. Dipping into the JUCO ranks (or finding a talented transfer like Max Garcia and Tyler Moore) will likely be a major priority as well. To be frank, while I understand the frustrations of Florida recruitnik/fans, I would advise just to be patient, as the offensive line doesn't look to be an issue any time in the immediate future.
3. Something that interests me in looking over the stats: right now, only three linebackers on the roster have recorded more than three tackles on the season through four games. Antonio Morrison and Michael Taylor are tied for second on the team with 20 tackles. Then, go down a little further and there's Neiron Ball with six. Next, there's Jeremi Powell (who has mostly played on special teams) who has just three stops on the season. That's it. Darrin Kitchens hasn't recorded any stats on the season to date. The Florida defense has seen the field so little through four games, that some rotational guys aren't even getting on to the field. But in the bigger picture, I think this says something about the state of the linebacker position: it's not as critical in the recruiting process. That's not to say it isn't an important position. The contributions of Morrison, Taylor and Ronald Powell (who as a hybrid player, I don't count in the same vein as the others) clearly show that getting good players at the position remains important. But in terms of depth, the secondary is the position grouping that needs the numbers more than linebacker right now. This also explains why the Gators are being so picky about offering linebackers for 2014. Kitchens is the only expected loss for that unit, so why would there be a need to go out and sign a bunch of linebackers for next year if they frankly aren't playing a lot as it stands?
4. The Gators only have 12 scholarship defensive backs this fall. That's truly a low number in this day and age of spread/up-tempo offense. Even if you look at Urban Meyer's final years, Florida typically tried to carry upwards of 14 players on scholarship in the back end of the defense. Two of the current freshmen – Marcell Harris and Nick Washington – appear likely to redshirt as a result of injuries. In essence, UF is only playing with 10 scholarship guys in the secondary right now. But all 10 of them contribute in some form or fashion. With two seniors (Jeremy Brown and Jaylen Watkins) on the roster, as well as Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson continually being mentioned as possibilities to turn pro early, the Gators could be down to just eight scholarship defensive backs after the season. If that scenario plays out, I would expect the Gators to target as many as six athletes in the 2014 class as a counter to the potential numbers issues that could play out. Of course, with four commitments in tow already (Duke Dawson, J.C. Jackson, Chris Lammons, Quincy Wilson) for Travaris Robinson and two more highly-rated prospects looking very possible for Florida in Adoree' Jackson and Jamal Adams, I'd say the Gators are in good shape here moving forward.
5. None of Florida's freshmen defensive linemen played against Kentucky. All five of them (Jay-nard Bostwick, Caleb Brantley, Joey Ivie, Antonio Riles and Jordan Sherit) appear to be in line for redshirts this year. Assuming the Gators return both of their of elder defensive tackles with at least a year of eligibility remaining next year (Cummings and Orr), it would seem a JUCO defensive tackle would make a lot of sense in terms of providing a bit of built-in class separation. However, Florida has yet to make a pursuit of any junior college defensive linemen, despite a need for at least one more tackle in the 2014 cycle. Certainly something that bears watching over the coming weeks as college start to hit the JUCO ranks a bit harder for immediate-impact types.
– Jacksonville Ribault LB Jakob Johnson continues to establish himself on the recruiting scene during his first season of playing prep football stateside after coming over from Germany.
– Analyzing the trend of power forwards making the transition to tight end in college and the NFL. Could we see Will Yeguete or Patric Young make that move in the near future?
– Season-ending injuries are a fact of life in football. The Gators' recent spell is more the result of a string of bad luck, as opposed to anything Jeff Dillman and the strength & conditioning staff has done.
– How many high school prospects will Florida take in the 2014 cycle? What players are currently in the mix for the Gators? And how does "The Big Board" currently stand for UF?
– Some prep stars are establishing themselves in a big way over the course of their senior seasons in the state of Florida. Here are five names that you should get to know as they emerge on the radar of college recruiters.
Now, on to the new stuff ...
1. I've maintained for a few weeks now that Florida will not stop pursuing Jacksonville Providence OL David Sharpe until he commits elsewhere, nor should they. There's a reason for that. You never know what can happen in recruiting to make a kid sour on a school or change his mind in terms of perception as it relates to the decision-making process. That said, Will Muschamp and Tim Davis should probably start getting their back-up options in a row:
Don't do it David Just wait until the official(EDIT: The above tweet has since been deleted, it appears.)
— David Sharpe (@SHARPECITYY) September 29, 2013
That's a tweet from Sharpe during his weekend trip to Athens to take in the LSU-UGA game, which included an overnight stay in Athens on Saturday night. He appears to be having a conversation with himself in which he decides to hold off on making a commitment to Georgia for now. In terms of the big picture for Florida, sure, there are names like Damien Mama and Jordan Sims on the board. Until either of those guys visit Gainesville, however, they should be consider long-shots for Florida to sign. The staff can look elsewhere as well, but with 30-plus offensive linemen in-state claiming at least one offer from a BCS program, I doubt the Gators really have to go too far to fill the remaining 2-3 slots on the offensive line they will likely project to take in this class. The one name I feel closely deserves monitoring is Weeki Wachee offensive tackle Marcus Applefield (6-6, 280). Despite claiming nearly 15 offers from BCS programs, Applefield has been somewhat overlooked in the recruiting landscape of Florida this fall. He currently claims a top-five list of Purdue, Rutgers, Vanderbilt, Virginia and West Virginia. He has scheduled official visits to all but West Virginia to date.
2. Florida fans continue to lament the offensive line recruiting under Muschamp and their failures to land elite in-state talent. There was Patrick Miller and Avery Young in 2012 (both of whom signed with Auburn, although Tim Davis can hardly be blamed for either miss) along with John Theus (who was lost long before Muschamp took the head coaching job at Florida). Last year it was Laremy Tunsil who headed off to Ole Miss. Now it appears Kc McDermott and David Sharpe will join that illustrious club. The Gators fortunes should turn around next year with Martez Ivey at Apopka, but of course his signing is still over a year away. Things can always change.
However, if you take a minute to stop and look at the offensive line, it is an upperclassmen-laden group and set up to be a strength of the squad over the course of this season and next. It's the 2015 class, where Florida is really going to have to hit on, in terms of both numbers and quality. Dipping into the JUCO ranks (or finding a talented transfer like Max Garcia and Tyler Moore) will likely be a major priority as well. To be frank, while I understand the frustrations of Florida recruitnik/fans, I would advise just to be patient, as the offensive line doesn't look to be an issue any time in the immediate future.
3. Something that interests me in looking over the stats: right now, only three linebackers on the roster have recorded more than three tackles on the season through four games. Antonio Morrison and Michael Taylor are tied for second on the team with 20 tackles. Then, go down a little further and there's Neiron Ball with six. Next, there's Jeremi Powell (who has mostly played on special teams) who has just three stops on the season. That's it. Darrin Kitchens hasn't recorded any stats on the season to date. The Florida defense has seen the field so little through four games, that some rotational guys aren't even getting on to the field. But in the bigger picture, I think this says something about the state of the linebacker position: it's not as critical in the recruiting process. That's not to say it isn't an important position. The contributions of Morrison, Taylor and Ronald Powell (who as a hybrid player, I don't count in the same vein as the others) clearly show that getting good players at the position remains important. But in terms of depth, the secondary is the position grouping that needs the numbers more than linebacker right now. This also explains why the Gators are being so picky about offering linebackers for 2014. Kitchens is the only expected loss for that unit, so why would there be a need to go out and sign a bunch of linebackers for next year if they frankly aren't playing a lot as it stands?
4. The Gators only have 12 scholarship defensive backs this fall. That's truly a low number in this day and age of spread/up-tempo offense. Even if you look at Urban Meyer's final years, Florida typically tried to carry upwards of 14 players on scholarship in the back end of the defense. Two of the current freshmen – Marcell Harris and Nick Washington – appear likely to redshirt as a result of injuries. In essence, UF is only playing with 10 scholarship guys in the secondary right now. But all 10 of them contribute in some form or fashion. With two seniors (Jeremy Brown and Jaylen Watkins) on the roster, as well as Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson continually being mentioned as possibilities to turn pro early, the Gators could be down to just eight scholarship defensive backs after the season. If that scenario plays out, I would expect the Gators to target as many as six athletes in the 2014 class as a counter to the potential numbers issues that could play out. Of course, with four commitments in tow already (Duke Dawson, J.C. Jackson, Chris Lammons, Quincy Wilson) for Travaris Robinson and two more highly-rated prospects looking very possible for Florida in Adoree' Jackson and Jamal Adams, I'd say the Gators are in good shape here moving forward.
5. None of Florida's freshmen defensive linemen played against Kentucky. All five of them (Jay-nard Bostwick, Caleb Brantley, Joey Ivie, Antonio Riles and Jordan Sherit) appear to be in line for redshirts this year. Assuming the Gators return both of their of elder defensive tackles with at least a year of eligibility remaining next year (Cummings and Orr), it would seem a JUCO defensive tackle would make a lot of sense in terms of providing a bit of built-in class separation. However, Florida has yet to make a pursuit of any junior college defensive linemen, despite a need for at least one more tackle in the 2014 cycle. Certainly something that bears watching over the coming weeks as college start to hit the JUCO ranks a bit harder for immediate-impact types.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Featherston targets UF official visit
The Gators received some more good news on Thursday afternoon with the revelation that Greensboro (N.C.) Page defensive end Lorenzo Featherston is eyeing an official visit to Gainesville for the weekend of the Arkansas game.
Clemson is currently in the driver's seat for Featherston, but Florida has slowly been making some progress ever since they got the national top-100 recruit on campus for an unofficial visit over the summer. The in-state programs (UNC and N.C. State) also will factor heavily into the recruitment of Featherston as well.
Featherston is an intriguing prospect at 6-foot-7, 220 pounds with an incredible wingspan that's reported to be in the neighborhood of 87 inches. Although raw, his length and athleticism are undoubtedly intriguing, although he will obviously need to add a bunch of weight when he gets to the next level.
I can't envision a scenario where Florida would be able to take both Lorenzo Carter and Featherston. Carter is still the clear number-one option on the board for UF, while the Gators will continue to recruit Featherston quite heavily as well. With Brad Lawing's resume and traditional preference for taller defensive ends on the roster, I find it hard to believe the Gators won't be able to eventually reel in one of the two highly-prized pass-rushers before National Signing Day.
#ESPN300 DE Lorenzo Featherston official visit "tentatively" set to #Florida Oct. 4. Top 5: #NCState #TarHeels #Clemson #Georgia #Gators
— Gerry Hamilton (@HamiltonESPN) September 26, 2013
Clemson is currently in the driver's seat for Featherston, but Florida has slowly been making some progress ever since they got the national top-100 recruit on campus for an unofficial visit over the summer. The in-state programs (UNC and N.C. State) also will factor heavily into the recruitment of Featherston as well.
Featherston is an intriguing prospect at 6-foot-7, 220 pounds with an incredible wingspan that's reported to be in the neighborhood of 87 inches. Although raw, his length and athleticism are undoubtedly intriguing, although he will obviously need to add a bunch of weight when he gets to the next level.
I can't envision a scenario where Florida would be able to take both Lorenzo Carter and Featherston. Carter is still the clear number-one option on the board for UF, while the Gators will continue to recruit Featherston quite heavily as well. With Brad Lawing's resume and traditional preference for taller defensive ends on the roster, I find it hard to believe the Gators won't be able to eventually reel in one of the two highly-prized pass-rushers before National Signing Day.
Monday, September 16, 2013
A lack of production from the tight end position
Want to understand why Florida is struggling so much at the tight end position? Let me give you two reasons:
Of course, Leonard dug his own grave at Florida. If he keeps his nose clean, he's a major contributor on a team competing for a SEC crown. Although his numbers are not particularly impressive so far this season, keep in mind he did lead his team in receiving at Tennessee State a year ago with 51 receptions for 733 yards and six touchdowns.
Christian, on the other hand, is an unforced error on the part of the Florida staff. He should be a senior starter at tight end – a guy who could also line up at H-Back and fullback for the Gators as well.
This topic has been addressed previously in a post regarding the tight end position. Clay Burton is a solid contributor at the position. There's no reason he can't be a No. 2 or No. 3 tight end at a place like Florida. But he should not be a primary target in the passing game. The two guys who are no longer on the roster could have been, and that's the reason we've seen such a drop-off in production from the unit in light of Jordan Reed's decision to go pro.
Quite simply, the Gators have to get better at tight end moving forward. C'yontai Lewis appears as if he could be a good start towards improving the talent level at the position. But he's only the beginning. Florida has to go out and find some other guys in the 2014 and/or 2015 classes who can come in and allow the Gators to get more production out of this unit in the passing game. Period.
Former Dwyer standout Gerald Christian is playing well for Louisville. He's third on team with 10 catches for 129 yards and TD this season
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) September 16, 2013
Former #UF tight end A.C. Leonard with 11 rec. for 97 yards thru 3 games for Tenn. St. Tigers averaging just 124.7 yards per game thru air.
— Justin Wells (@justinlwells) September 16, 2013
Of course, Leonard dug his own grave at Florida. If he keeps his nose clean, he's a major contributor on a team competing for a SEC crown. Although his numbers are not particularly impressive so far this season, keep in mind he did lead his team in receiving at Tennessee State a year ago with 51 receptions for 733 yards and six touchdowns.
Christian, on the other hand, is an unforced error on the part of the Florida staff. He should be a senior starter at tight end – a guy who could also line up at H-Back and fullback for the Gators as well.
This topic has been addressed previously in a post regarding the tight end position. Clay Burton is a solid contributor at the position. There's no reason he can't be a No. 2 or No. 3 tight end at a place like Florida. But he should not be a primary target in the passing game. The two guys who are no longer on the roster could have been, and that's the reason we've seen such a drop-off in production from the unit in light of Jordan Reed's decision to go pro.
Quite simply, the Gators have to get better at tight end moving forward. C'yontai Lewis appears as if he could be a good start towards improving the talent level at the position. But he's only the beginning. Florida has to go out and find some other guys in the 2014 and/or 2015 classes who can come in and allow the Gators to get more production out of this unit in the passing game. Period.
Is this Tampa-area sophomore shaping up to be the next Dante Fowler?
Blake High School in Tampa has not been the most successful football program in recent years. However, they do churn out some talented athletes on the gridiron from time-to-time. Michael "Crow" McFarland signed with Florida in the Class of 2010, and now plays for USF. However, the most talented prospect to come out of Blake in years has already emerged for the Class of 2016 in defensive end Shavar Manuel.
As a freshman, Manuel was credited with 10 sacks. Now bulked up to 235 pounds on a 6-foot-3 frame, Manuel is wreaking havoc at an even more impressive level as a sophomore. Through two games (and a kickoff classic), Manuel has already notched five QB takedowns in 2013, including an impressive four-sack performance against state power Armwood on Sept. 6. One assistant coach who has already faced Manuel said this of his abilities:
"I really like him. He'd start for us right now at multiple spots."
No game film exists of Manuel on the internet. At least, none that I'm presently aware of. But all indications are this kid is absolutely a name to watch for the future. Certainly, his progress will be tracked by a number of colleges over the course of the season, and his two remaining years at the high school level as well.
As a freshman, Manuel was credited with 10 sacks. Now bulked up to 235 pounds on a 6-foot-3 frame, Manuel is wreaking havoc at an even more impressive level as a sophomore. Through two games (and a kickoff classic), Manuel has already notched five QB takedowns in 2013, including an impressive four-sack performance against state power Armwood on Sept. 6. One assistant coach who has already faced Manuel said this of his abilities:
"I really like him. He'd start for us right now at multiple spots."
Keep in mind, the kid still has two years to grow. He may end up a defensive tackle in time, for all we know. But the position versatility and ability to get after the quarterback are the most impressive assets of his still-developing game, to date.
No game film exists of Manuel on the internet. At least, none that I'm presently aware of. But all indications are this kid is absolutely a name to watch for the future. Certainly, his progress will be tracked by a number of colleges over the course of the season, and his two remaining years at the high school level as well.
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