Tag: scouting report

Scouting Report: Ty Isaac

Joliet (IL) Catholic running back Ty Isaac (#32)

Name: Ty Isaac
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 215 lbs.
Class: 2013
Position: Running back
School: Joliet (IL) Catholic

Notes: Holds offers from Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Purdue, Tennessee, Toledo, USC, Vanderbilt, Washington, and Wisconsin . . . As a junior in 2011, rushed 178 times for 2,114 times and 45 touchdowns . . . Caught 16 passes for 360 yards and 7 touchdowns . . . As a sophomore in 2010, rushed for 650 yards and 7 touchdowns . . . As a freshman in 2009, rushed for 675 yards and 6 touchdowns . . . ESPN 4-star RB . . . Rivals 4-star RB, #18 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star RB, 96 grade, #4 RB, #28 overall . . .

Strengths: Very good speed for a kid his size . . . Has clearly worked on running form to maximize speed . . . Very smooth runner in the open field who will be tough to track down from behind . . . Good vision . . . Knows how to set up blocks, when to follow blockers, and when to explode through hole . . . Naturally lowers hips to maximize cutting ability . . . Lowers pad level well when he sees contact coming . . . Good receiver . . . Catches ball away from body and high points the ball . . . Shows good hustle all the way through the play

Weaknesses: Not a particularly tough runner . . . Needs to improve lower body strength and leg drive . . . Goes down too easily when being tackled from side or behind . . . Probably needs to add 20 lbs. to be an effective power runner

Projection: Running back.  Isaac has all the tools to be a successful college running back.  There’s a reason many big-time schools are after him . . . but he plays against poor competition, so his high school statistics and highlights should be taken with a grain of salt.  The high school players he’s playing against are overmatched, and it’s not because Isaac is superhuman.  I have heard many concerns that he runs too high, but I don’t see that as being a problem.  He does have a very upright running motion, but that’s typically only when he gets in the open field and is running away from 5’8″, 150 lb. defensive backs; when he’s in traffic, he does a good job of running behind his pads.  I also have some concerns that in his misdirection, east-west high school offense, he might struggle to adjust to running from the I-formation and getting downhill immediately in college.  He takes advantage of a lot of overpursuing linebackers to get into cutback lanes, but that flow might not be there at the next level.  As Isaac grows and turns into a 235 lb. tailback, he seems to have a good future, especially if he runs behind a powerful offensive line like Michigan’s that can get him to the second and third level against smaller, sometimes slower players.

Reminds me of: Eddie George

For high definition highlights, click here or watch the low def ones below:

Scouting Report: Patrick Kugler

Patrick Kugler

I did a commitment post (Patrick Kugler, Wolverine) for Patrick Kugler (Wolverine) when he committed, but due to a lack of film on him, I only had background information.  Well, now he’s got a twelve minute highlight film on the ol’ Youtubes, so this week’s scouting report is on Kugler.

Name: Patrick Kugler
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 280 lbs.
Class: 2013
Position: Offensive tackle
School: Wexford (PA) North Allegheny

Strengths: Good drive blocker . . . Nasty player who finishes blocks . . . Good size with low center of gravity despite being 6’5″ . . . Athletic enough to pull when necessary . . . Drives feet extremely well, especially working his way out of stalemate . . . Determined blocker . . . Coach’s son who should be able to adjust well to college

Weaknesses: Not a great athlete . . . A little too stiff and slow-footed to play tackle at next level . . . Needs to be more consistent with his stance . . . Weight distribution in stance shows differences between drive blocks, pass sets, and pull/reach blocks . . . Plays a wee bit high at times

Projection: Center or guard.  I don’t think Kugler is athletic enough to play either tackle position, but he does show good enough athleticism to be a pulling guard.  He’ll reportedly come in as a center, but there’s room for versatility there.  He seems to be a tough, hard-nosed lineman who should be able to adjust well to college and challenge Jack Miller by 2014.

Reminds me of: N/A.  He doesn’t really remind me of any Michigan recruit since I started following recruiting, but he looks like some of those bigger, stronger Wolverines from the late ’90s or early ’00s.

TTB Rating: 83

Scouting Report: Su’a Cravens

Su’a Cravens

Name: Su’a Cravens
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 205 lbs.
Class: 2013
Position: Safety
School: Murrieta (CA) Vista Murrieta

Notes: Holds offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Boise State, Cal, Clemson, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC, Utah State, Vanderbilt, Washington, Washington State, Wisconsin . . . Rivals 5-star safety, #5 overall . . . Scout 5-star safety . . . 247 Sports 5-star, 98 grade, #1 safety, #9 overall . . . ESPN 4-star safety . . . As a junior in 2011, he had 100 tackles, 11 tackles, and 3 interceptions; also had 673 rushing yards for 15 touchdowns and 339 receiving yards for 4 touchdowns

Strengths: Solidly built . . . Looks like a college safety already . . . Not afraid of contact, both as a defender and runner . . . Reads plays well . . . Doesn’t get himself out of position . . . Keeps shoulders square when taking on kick-out blocks . . . Wraps up ballcarriers rather than going for kill shots . . . Strong tackler . . . Good top-end speed . . . Versatility to play multiple positions . . . Gets upfield quickly as a runner . . . High effort player who won’t settle for going down on first contact . . . Runs with great body lean

Weaknesses: A bit raw as a runner . . . Carries ball too loosely away from body . . . Good but not great speed for a defensive back . . . Makes some nice plays with ball in air, but also looks slightly uncomfortable catching ball at times

Projection: Running back, strong safety, or weakside linebacker.  I don’t usually hedge on projections, but he could play any of those three positions at the next level.  I’m afraid he might outgrow the safety position, but he would be perfect for Michigan at strong safety.  I feel that’s his best position if he doesn’t grow too much.  Michigan is reportedly recruiting him as a running back (EDIT: Cravens has stated that Michigan wants him primarily as a safety), and that’s his second best position.  Despite looking a little uncomfortable catching the ball, he’s a punishing runner who can get into the open field by breaking tackles, outrunning some linebackers, and overpowering defensive backs.  I could easily see him playing at about 220-225 lbs. as a college runner.

Reminds me of: Willis McGahee

Scouting Report: Kendall Fuller

Olney (MD) Good Counsel cornerback Kendall Fuller (image via Gazette.net)

Name: Kendall Fuller
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 185 lbs.
Position: Cornerback
Class: 2013
School: Olney (MD) Good Counsel

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Purdue, Rutgers, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia . . . Had 25.5 tackles and 3 interceptions as a junior in 2011 . . . Had 30 tackles and 2 interceptions as a sophomore in 2010 . . . Claims a 4.5 forty . . . Rivals 5-star, #4 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 96 grade, #3 CB, #20 overall . . . Scout 4-star CB . . . ESPN 5-star CB . . . Teammate of 2013 target Dorian O’Daniel (scouting report); 2012 targets Wes Brown (Maryland) and Stefon Diggs (Maryland); and Michigan cornerback Blake Countess . . . Older brothers Vincent, Kyle, and Corey all play/played for Virginia Tech

Strengths: Good but not great speed . . . Good acceleration . . . Shows excellent awareness of route combinations . . . Disciplined footwork from the cornerback position . . . Difficult to beat deep . . . Clearly well schooled in nuances of coverage . . . Shows good vision and change of direction with ball in his hands

Weaknesses: Tackling is an issue . . . Soft tackler and runner . . . Not a high effort kid . . . Seems to be on cruise control at times . . . Would like to see him sprint across goal line instead of jog

Projection: Cornerback.  I think Rivals ranks Fuller a little too high at #4 nationally.  He’s a good player, but he’s not the dynamic athlete you would typically see ranked that highly.  He’s a high 4-star prospect, in my opinion, but perhaps not 5-star caliber.  He could go to lots of schools, start as a true freshman, and have a very good career.

Reminds me of: A slightly faster version of Donovan Warren

Scouting Report: Dorian O’Daniel

Olney (MD) Good Counsel RB/LB Dorian O’Daniel

Name: Dorian O’Daniel
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 205 lbs.
Class: 2013
Position: Linebacker
School: Olney (MD) Good Counsel

Notes: Holds offers from Auburn, Cal, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina State, Ohio, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin . . . In 2011 he had 40 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks; also rushed 125 times for 901 yards and 17 touchdowns . . . Claims a 4.55 forty yard dash . . . Rivals 4-star, #37 overall . . . Scout 4-star . . . 247 Sports 4-star, 94 grade, #13 OLB, #102 overall . . . Teammate of 2013 target Kendall Fuller; 2012 targets Wes Brown (Maryland) and Stefon Diggs (Maryland); and current Michigan cornerback Blake Countess

Strengths: Excellent athlete . . . Good straight line speed . . . Fast enough to chase down plays from behind . . . Low center of gravity helps him bounce off tacklers . . . Can pack a punch when he squares up the ball carrier . . . Potentially devastating blitzer with his ability to attack and change direction

Weaknesses: A little clunky when running the ball . . . Doesn’t have great hips or footwork . . . Rarely uses his hands to shed blockers . . . Avoids too many blocks rather than attacking blockers . . . Does not consistently bring his feet with him when tackling . . . Gets a little loose with his tackling fundamentals . . . Could get better at diagnosing plays . . . Attacks the line of scrimmage a little tentatively at times

Projection: Weakside linebacker or strong safety.  He could also move to middle linebacker if he bulks up.  On athleticism alone, O’Daniel looks like a 4-star prospect.  But he doesn’t show the instincts or the fundamental base to rise much higher than that, in my opinion.  He could certainly improve at shedding blocks, but if that improvement doesn’t occur, he might be a candidate to move to the strong safety position.  He has good speed and can make plays when a blocker isn’t accounting for him.  I also think that I should mention a concern about his highlight video: when O’Daniel makes a good play, his teammates tend to ignore him or turn and jog for the sideline.  I did not see those same teammate reactions when Stefon Diggs and Wes Brown made good plays, so I guess that leaves me with a question of how well he gets along with his teammates and how much they respect him.

Reminds me of: Frankie Telfort