I want to start putting more videos in my posts. Today could be classified as overkill, so I'll watch it in the future, but have a good time.
We're looking at linebackers. I like this year's bunch a lot. Lot of star power below:
Dan Connor, Penn State - This kid is a true truckface. In fact, I'm now incorporating the word truckface into this blog as a staple. Confused? Well, I'll put up a post very soon explaining truckface, just know that it's a good thing.
Connor is a complete beast. I had just gotten into recruiting when I came across his info and I remember thinking, "he can anchor a program for four years." His high school stats? Connor was 56-3 and started in 59 straight games. He finished with 591 carries for 4,531 yards and 77 rushing touchdowns. On defense, Connor amassed 461 tackles, 38 sacks and 19 interceptions. It earned him the No. 6 overall player ranking for 2004.
He's lived up to the billing at Penn State. 274 tackles in three seasons is pretty solid. It'll be interesting to see how he does with Paul Posluszny now in the NFL, maybe he'll get 600 tackles this season…?
Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech - When the Hokies recruited 9-11 (Hall is No. 9 and Adibi No. 11) in 2003, you couldn't help but get excited about the future middle of the VT defense. I remember going to watch Adibi at Phoebus High when he was a defensive end and fullback and you knew he was going to excel in college. The duo amassed 210 tackles last season. Hall is a tackling machine (304 in three seasons) and Adibi can pretty much cover anybody coming off the line of scrimmage (see video, I was one of the people in orange). Expect VT's defense to be among the best for a fourth consecutive year because of these guys. Also, because it's my blog, I want to give some love to Corey Gordon, Tech's other linebacker this year. We've been waiting for Gordon's number to be called. No. 13 brings pain.
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State - His father was a member of the Legion of Doom. His mom was a power lifter. His sister plays hockey. His brother is in the Army. Can there be a bigger bruiser family out there? I think not. He's only a junior so you want to say he's the next great Ohio State linebacker, but you can't - he won the Nagurski Award (it goes to the best defensive player in the country). If I were James Laurinaitis, my resume would be seven words "James Laurinaitis: Nagurski Award as a sophomore." Doubt many could match those credentials. Actually, I'd probably add "Judge of the Jordan House Party Hot Body Contest." (See below)
Rey Maualuga and Keith Rivers, USC - I've been thinking long and hard about who will be the Campus Confidential preseason No. 1 and it's going to be hard to deny USC. These two are part of a wrecking crew that can pretty much do whatever they want on a football field. They're here to stay, if they so choose, because both of them are juniors. Throw fellow underclassman Brian Cushing into the mix and you have the best linebacking corps in college. To quote Ocean's 12: "It just…hurts." Want more video? I do.
Bo Ruud, Nebraska - Name award. Bo Ruud. Just say it. I would guess Bo Ruud means "giant pest for other teams on the football field" in Latin. I wouldn't know because I took Spanish, but that's what he is. He tackles, he picks off passes, scoops up fumbles and probably eats concrete while the offense is on the field. On a team that spreads the wealth on defense, Ruud defines consistency. He'll get you 7-8 tackles, force a few mistakes from the QB and probably be involved in a turnover in some form or another. I'm chomping at the bit to see he and Steve Octavien against USC in September out in Lincoln. If you could combine all the big hits in that game into one, it'd probably result in an earthquake.
Philip Wheeler, Georgia Tech; Jerod Mayo, Tennessee; Shawn Crable, Michigan; Alvin Bowen, Iowa State.
Since we're on a video kick, I'll leave you with a laugh. By the way, anyone give my number to that Arizona pitcher yet?