What I'm Hearing Re: Fotu ...
Comments
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Is it because he's a lock to TCU?
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No ... the Biggus bat signal needs to be litwhatshouldicareabout said:Is it because he's a lock to TCU?
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Allegedly it's because they signed Ben Burr-Kiven http://www.hudl.com/athlete/762806/highlights/80851384/v2
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After watching more of his film, he looks fantastic. I don't know why we're not offering him...
BBK is not a favorite of the DeYoung household. -
I'm not purpledawgfan but I don't see anything in Fotu's film that leads me to believe he would be a great college player. His film shows 2 plays:
1) Him blind-siding and blowing up 140 lb. special teams players who are pursuing a ball carrier
2) Him "going in motion" as a linebacker and blitzing between 200 lb. offensive linemen to hit the qb or running back.
The 2A SPSL is an absolutely horrible league. No one was looking at this kid DURING HIS SEASON and now all of a sudden he has offers from all over the country? Something doesn't add up -
Disagree. I would love for someone to break down the film play by play because he does a lot more than blow up guys on special teams and blitz. Leiato has football instincts that can't be taught. If the timing on those blitzes don't impress you, I don't know what will. It's a skill. He's a baller. The going in motion is called pre snap movement. It's good stuff that coaches JO about.bananasnblondes said:I'm not purpledawgfan but I don't see anything in Fotu's film that leads me to believe he would be a great college player. His film shows 2 plays:
1) Him blind-siding and blowing up 140 lb. special teams players who are pursuing a ball carrier
2) Him "going in motion" as a linebacker and blitzing between 200 lb. offensive linemen to hit the qb or running back.
The 2A SPSL is an absolutely horrible league. No one was looking at this kid DURING HIS SEASON and now all of a sudden he has offers from all over the country? Something doesn't add up
The only question is his size. Smart players who love to hit are valuable. Some guys tolerate being physical. Leiato obviously loves it. He was a great high school player on offense, defense, and special teams. It's a great highlight film. I honestly don't get how anyone could argue about it.
He's getting all these offers because nobody know about him because Steilacoom and the league suck. Guys fly under the radar all the time. The NFL is full of guys who got very little attention coming out of high school. Leiato got an offer or two, the tape got out and he blew up. It's not really that crazy of a recruiting tale. -
Are these offers confirmed? Has he been on a visit yet? Has an impressive offer list if true.RoadDawg55 said:
Disagree. I would love for someone to break down the film play by play because he does a lot more than blow up guys on special teams and blitz. Leiato has football instincts that can't be taught. If the timing on those blitzes don't impress you, I don't know what will. It's a skill. He's a baller. The going in motion is called pre snap movement. It's good stuff that coaches JO about.bananasnblondes said:I'm not purpledawgfan but I don't see anything in Fotu's film that leads me to believe he would be a great college player. His film shows 2 plays:
1) Him blind-siding and blowing up 140 lb. special teams players who are pursuing a ball carrier
2) Him "going in motion" as a linebacker and blitzing between 200 lb. offensive linemen to hit the qb or running back.
The 2A SPSL is an absolutely horrible league. No one was looking at this kid DURING HIS SEASON and now all of a sudden he has offers from all over the country? Something doesn't add up
The only question is his size. Smart players who love to hit are valuable. Some guys tolerate being physical. Leiato obviously loves it. He was a great high school player on offense, defense, and special teams. It's a great highlight film. I honestly don't get how anyone could argue about it.
He's getting all these offers because nobody know about him because Steilacoom and the league suck. Guys fly under the radar all the time. The NFL is full of guys who got very little attention coming out of high school. Leiato got an offer or two, the tape got out and he blew up. It's not really that crazy of a recruiting tale. -
I see the same thing @RoadDawg55 does. He looks like a beast to me. I think Pete has a bit of a stubborn streak in him and I think we're seeing it here... I think we saw it with Eason.RoadDawg55 said:
Disagree. I would love for someone to break down the film play by play because he does a lot more than blow up guys on special teams and blitz. Leiato has football instincts that can't be taught. If the timing on those blitzes don't impress you, I don't know what will. It's a skill. He's a baller. The going in motion is called pre snap movement. It's good stuff that coaches JO about.bananasnblondes said:I'm not purpledawgfan but I don't see anything in Fotu's film that leads me to believe he would be a great college player. His film shows 2 plays:
1) Him blind-siding and blowing up 140 lb. special teams players who are pursuing a ball carrier
2) Him "going in motion" as a linebacker and blitzing between 200 lb. offensive linemen to hit the qb or running back.
The 2A SPSL is an absolutely horrible league. No one was looking at this kid DURING HIS SEASON and now all of a sudden he has offers from all over the country? Something doesn't add up
The only question is his size. Smart players who love to hit are valuable. Some guys tolerate being physical. Leiato obviously loves it. He was a great high school player on offense, defense, and special teams. It's a great highlight film. I honestly don't get how anyone could argue about it.
He's getting all these offers because nobody know about him because Steilacoom and the league suck. Guys fly under the radar all the time. The NFL is full of guys who got very little attention coming out of high school. Leiato got an offer or two, the tape got out and he blew up. It's not really that crazy of a recruiting tale.
We'll see, but he looks damn good to my eyes. -
I don't mind not offering him. I just think it's pretty evident this guy is good. Saying he only blows up guys on special teams is kind of coogish. He's making all kinds of plays on that tape to go along with the big hits on special teams.
I wish he could take Manu or another guy's spot, but we know Petersen would never do that. BBK and Beavers are undersized LB's. Lewis from last year is another one. We have enough of those guys. -
So why take a guy who is smaller than all 3 you referenced?RoadDawg55 said:I don't mind not offering him. I just think it's pretty evident this guy is good. Saying he only blows up guys on special teams is kind of coogish. He's making all kinds of plays on that tape to go along with the big hits on special teams.
I wish he could take Manu or another guy's spot, but we know Petersen would never do that. BBK and Beavers are undersized LB's. Lewis from last year is another one. We have enough of those guys.
And I'm not sure you saw the picture of Manu on his visit, but he is far from undersized. -
I don't mind not offering him, either. You basically said exactly how I feel. I think Pete is the kind of guy that will just stick to his plan and sometimes that means not offering a guy who has 4* offers in your back yard.RoadDawg55 said:I don't mind not offering him. I just think it's pretty evident this guy is good. Saying he only blows up guys on special teams is kind of coogish. He's making all kinds of plays on that tape to go along with the big hits on special teams.
I wish he could take Manu or another guy's spot, but we know Petersen would never do that. BBK and Beavers are undersized LB's. Lewis from last year is another one. We have enough of those guys.
I, like you, am nonplussed at our tremendous bounty of undersized, hyphenated linebacking recruits.
Manu was only interesting to me given that he would pair with Rex Manu for the 'Manu Manu' defense.
BBK is not particularly inspiring.
Beavers looks okay on film, but is small and ultimately not impressive.
Bartlett is the only guy I think has a chance to be All Pac-12.
What do I know, though?
When Sark came in, he took about 25 undersized LBs too and I couldn't figure out why he was doing it. I think the real answer is that they are the easiest players in HS to find. 6-0.5, 195, 4.6 LBs listed as 6-2, 220, 4.5 are everywhere. Every now and then they pan out, but their ceiling is generally becoming Princeton Fuimaono. -
They have told Manu they want him to play 'Buck'. He seems a bit Andrew Hudson for that, but we'll see.HuskyInAZ said:
So why take a guy who is smaller than all 3 you referenced?RoadDawg55 said:I don't mind not offering him. I just think it's pretty evident this guy is good. Saying he only blows up guys on special teams is kind of coogish. He's making all kinds of plays on that tape to go along with the big hits on special teams.
I wish he could take Manu or another guy's spot, but we know Petersen would never do that. BBK and Beavers are undersized LB's. Lewis from last year is another one. We have enough of those guys.
And I'm not sure you saw the picture of Manu on his visit, but he is far from undersized. -
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B-B-K- and Fotu look like the same player except BB-K is bigger and played against better competition and did it for at least 2 years and was All-State in CA. And while I'll take Kidd Valley any day over In-n-Out, CA is a better a football state, no?
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Is that from an interview? Would be strange because Manu is only 6'1" right?
We just don't know what goes on behind closed doors and on recruiting boards. I actually like BBK and would love to have both players but could it throw the balance of the class out of whack? Reading between the lines, it seems like the staff is more concerned about the DL and WR positions than the LB position where we might be full.
I guess for me it's great if we can get Lotu aboard but I'd understand if the timing / fit just didn't work out.Dennis_DeYoung said:
They have told Manu they want him to play 'Buck'. He seems a bit Andrew Hudson for that, but we'll see.HuskyInAZ said:
So why take a guy who is smaller than all 3 you referenced?RoadDawg55 said:I don't mind not offering him. I just think it's pretty evident this guy is good. Saying he only blows up guys on special teams is kind of coogish. He's making all kinds of plays on that tape to go along with the big hits on special teams.
I wish he could take Manu or another guy's spot, but we know Petersen would never do that. BBK and Beavers are undersized LB's. Lewis from last year is another one. We have enough of those guys.
And I'm not sure you saw the picture of Manu on his visit, but he is far from undersized. -
BBK also plays in a terrible league according to Biggins and Huffman.AEB said:B-B-K- and Fotu look like the same player except BB-K is bigger and played against better competition and did it for at least 2 years and was All-State in CA. And while I'll take Kidd Valley any day over In-n-Out, CA is a better a football state, no?
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Hopefully he goes Oklahoma. His tape looks pretty friggin* impressive and the last thing the huskies need is a guy with a chip on his shoulder head hunting on special teams. Fragile Ross would be broken in half if he connected.
*edited for content -
Looks that way. However, his team did win the Central Coast Section championship beating Bellarmine in the process. There's a few teams in the playoffs that usually put PSA into college every year, Bellarmine (KJCS last year), Valley Christian, Los Gatos, Oak Grove for example. So while his league does look weak, the section looks decent. I don't have an ax either way regarding BBK and/or Fotu, and generally I believe in abundance. I just think Pete is taking undo flak on this one (plenty of ammo to go around on other topics which I'm happy to namely Jonathan Smith).RoadDawg55 said:
BBK also plays in a terrible league according to Biggins and Huffman.AEB said:B-B-K- and Fotu look like the same player except BB-K is bigger and played against better competition and did it for at least 2 years and was All-State in CA. And while I'll take Kidd Valley any day over In-n-Out, CA is a better a football state, no?
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BBK is two-time all area player of the year, and two-time state small school player of the year. One thing I would be curious about is what types of local league awards Fotu has won.
Just checked, Fotu won defensive player of the year for SPSL 2A -
SPLS 2A Defensive POYCokeGreaterThanPepsi said:BBK is two-time all area player of the year, and two-time state small school player of the year. One thing I would be curious about is what types of local league awards Fotu has won.
http://www.theolympian.com/2014/11/24/3444120_football-all-2a-spsl-teams.html?rh=1 -
The way Oklahoma offered Fotu immediately after the Turner commit suggests those two were linked in some way. I think Pete is balancing the more immediate need of a play right now safety vs. taking an undersized project. These are the sacrifices coaches need to make when plugging the holes of the former regime.
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Whether you think Fotu should get an offer, please retire the bullshit about him only blowing up guys on special teams. It's fiction.
He was first team all league on offense as an athlete, first team KR, and MVP on defense. He did everything for Steilacoom. He was a great high school player. -
Are grades an issue? Does he need to retake his SATs? Is there a risk that he might not qualify compared to some of the other prospects that UW and other schools are recruiting?
We've all seen his highlight reel, but what does the entire game footage show? Does he take plays off? Does he headbutt players like Peters? Is he actually a cyborg with bionic legs? What about his footage from his junior year?
The fact of the matter is, we have very little information to work on right now. Yes, Fotu is a great prospect who has the skills to play BCS-level football. Yes, he has offers from across the country, including Michigan State, Oklahoma, Oregon, and UCLA. But this is only part of the equation.
Petersen met with Fotu back in early December after he received his first D-1 offer (Wazzu) and decided not to offer him. Petersen probably wants Fotu, but we already had Manu, BBK, Beavers, Turner, Warren and were waiting on Bartlett. Oklahoma only offered Fotu after we secured Turner and Oregon offered Fotu once Bartlett committed to UW. Maybe, just maybe if we missed on one or both, we probably would've entered the Fotu sweepstakes. -
Of the LB prospects, I like Tevis and Manu best. I think BBK is undersized, but his game tape shows him everywhere. Whenever I see those undersized LBs I think of Garrett Gilliand.
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my favorite LB'ers for this class are Tevis and Beavers, BBK comes in 3rd. Agree with you about freaking out about small lb'ers, mostly because of how crappy they usually end up being for UW.AEB said:Of the LB prospects, I like Tevis and Manu best. I think BBK is undersized, but his game tape shows him everywhere. Whenever I see those undersized LBs I think of Garrett Gilliand.
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Here is how I see our linebacker situation
Black: Beavers
Poly: Manu
White: BBK, Bartlett
Unsure: Warren
In my opinion, you only take one guy a year at the white linebacker position. It's good to have those scrappy, unathletic, cerebral, lunchpail guys who will be your team leaders. With two, however, you are starting to run out of space for edgy guys with raw athleticism who is surprisingly well-spoken. With the Poly Linebacker position, you can put them pretty much anywhere on the field as long as they have long hair. I have no doubt that if Manu can start growing his hair out now, he will be either flying around the field as a safety or rushing the passer as a Buck, a torrential stream of hair flailing out from behind his helmet. The plus about bringing in Fotu is that his hair is already grown out and he appears to already play every position on the field. It will be interesting to see which position Warren fits into. -
I don't include Warren as a LB'er because I think he will be a BUCK for UW (I know they consider it a LB'er spot, but still). I really like Warren too, especially if he is rushing the passer.
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You guys are mostly all high on BBK and especially Beavers. Those guys are both going to be players.
Watch Beavers' film and see a fast, hard hitting, sure tackling LB who diagnoses what the offense wants to do, manipulates blockers, takes perfect angles, and always runs just as fast as he needs to. He's a bit small now but he'll be fine. -
That's some serious value added analysis. Do you think given where team GPA is right now do we need more cerebral types?bananasnblondes said:Here is how I see our linebacker situation
Black: Beavers
Poly: Manu
White: BBK, Bartlett
Unsure: Warren
In my opinion, you only take one guy a year at the white linebacker position. It's good to have those scrappy, unathletic, cerebral, lunchpail guys who will be your team leaders. With two, however, you are starting to run out of space for edgy guys with raw athleticism who is surprisingly well-spoken. With the Poly Linebacker position, you can put them pretty much anywhere on the field as long as they have long hair. I have no doubt that if Manu can start growing his hair out now, he will be either flying around the field as a safety or rushing the passer as a Buck, a torrential stream of hair flailing out from behind his helmet. The plus about bringing in Fotu is that his hair is already grown out and he appears to already play every position on the field. It will be interesting to see which position Warren fits into. -
I like Beavers too. He's probably my favorite of the bunch. Bartlett seems like a heady player who will tackle well. BBK and Manu are meh.chuck said:You guys are mostly all high on BBK and especially Beavers. Those guys are both going to be players.
Watch Beavers' film and see a fast, hard hitting, sure tackling LB who diagnoses what the offense wants to do, manipulates blockers, takes perfect angles, and always runs just as fast as he needs to. He's a bit small now but he'll be fine.
