June will start my ACC recruiting class series and I couldn’t be more excited to evaluate the ’24 recruiting classes and see who I think will be early contributors or even playmakers in this coming college football season. When evaluating the players, I look for certain traits and techniques aside from the “highlight” plays. Here’s what I look for at each position.
Quarterback: This is by far the hardest position to evaluate on film. Number 1, I never played QB so I don’t see the game the same way a QB does and number 2 there are so many things to take into account that you don’t see on film when evaluating a QB. But enough of the excuses:
• Mobility: can the player move. I’m not saying he needs to be a track star by any means, but how do they navigate the pocket, how do they throw on the run, and can they make plays in the running game.
• Arm Strength: does the ball have zip. This doesn’t necessarily mean deep ball strength, but can they throw someone open, can they fit the ball in tight windows, and how much effort does it take for deep balls.
• Touch: does the QB change the velocity of the ball based on the type of throw. You don’t need a fastball for a screen pass, and you don’t want to lob the ball over the middle.
• Ball Placement: where does the ball end up on the receiver’sbody? I don’t want to see the ball behind the receiver (unless it’s a back shoulder ball), I don’t want to see a lollipop over the middle, and I don’t want to see a receiver being hung out to dry.
Running Back: Running back is a very fun position to watch – between the speed, breaking tackles, and the playmaking, the RB is a treat. Here’s what I look for with these gems:
• Homerun Speed: when he hits the hole and sees daylight, can he caught or run down from behind?
• Yards After Contact: what happens when he’s hit? Do defenders bounce off, does he out physical people, or is he so elusive that defenders can’t finish the tackle?
• Catching: I don’t care if the running back catches with his hands as much as I do with a receiver, but I do care if he catches the ball and is thrown the ball often.
Wide Receiver: Probably the position that I get the most excited for his WR. Not only are these players living, breathing, highlight reels, but a lot of the time they can come in and contribute immediately.
• Catching with Hands: I want to see the player catch the ball away from their body, the ball should never get to their chest, and they should have extended arms – attack the ball with soft hands.
• Routes: Specifically, foot work. Elite wideouts in high school sometimes overly rely on speed to win. I want to see them work their way open with their footwork and route running ability.
• High Point: Does the player meet the ball at its highest point rather than wait for it to get to him? This plays along with the catching with the hands, but the high point focuses specifically on the jump ball and timing of the players jump.
• Willingness in the Blocking Game: If a WR has blocking on their highlight tape, I get hyped. If that blocking isn’t just a patty cake match in the screen game but a rock fight down the field to help break a big run or a body leverage positioning to help a ball carrier make a move, you’ll have a great WR early.
• Yards After Catch: The fun part, the sports center ability, the plays that put butts in seats.
Tight End: This is my favorite position in all of football and naturally I love to watch the film of these guys. Tight Ends are your jack of all trades, swiss army knife players that can be matchup nightmares.
• Where is He Lined Up: Does the tight end lineup out wide majority of the time? If so, he’s a heavy receiver. If not, you get a true tight end who’s willing and ABLE to block.
• Catching with Hands: just like the wide receiver, I want to see the TE catch the ball away from their body.
• Blocking: Does the tight end being on the field tell the defense it’s an obvious pass play? If he can block it does not. I want to see a mean streak and a nastiness at all levels blocking – sealing linebackers, scooping defensive ends, decleating a DB – give it to me!
Offensive Line: If you want to get hyped to workout or do something physical, watch some offensive line game tape. These big boys are some bad jokers who are willing to punish people in their way. Not many play early in college, but they are still a treat to watch.
• Mean: I want to see the OL finish blocks with the defender on the ground. I want to see the OL block one man and move to the next level and get some more. I want to see the pull and kick the defensive end out the club.
• Footwork: How well does the OL move in their pass set. Are they wide or narrow? Are they contained or sloppy? Are they taking wasted steps? On power pulls, does the OL follow the ass to the asshole (stay tight to the OL) when kicking out the end?
• Punch Power: I call this shocking the defender. When the OL punches does the defender stop in his tracks or get misplaced.
• Out in Space: Can the OL block in the screen game? Can they pull and be the lead blocker at the second and third level?
Defensive Line: Similar to Offensive Line, you see some intense physicality here paired with elite athleticism. You see everything from finesse pass rushers to big, burly space eaters.
• Hands: Does the defender shock the OL when attacking and is he able to create separation in the run game to shed the block.
• Hips: Can the defender flip his hips around the OL or change direction on when in pursuit?
• First Step: When the ball is snapped are they gaining ground or wasting time?
• Motor: Does the defender continue the chase when the ball is away from them? Do they continue going after getting blocked or double teamed?
Linebacker: Linebackers are the type of players that can make it a long day for you when you lineup on offense. They are fast enough to run you down and strong enough to ring your bell. Not many linebackers play early in college, but they can still contribute to a team in multiple ways.
• Thump: Does the linebacker tackle or hit the offensive player like a brick wall? You’ll know the difference when you see it.
• Passing Game: Can the linebacker make a difference in the passing game? Can they stay in the hip of the route runner or make a break on the ball in zone?
• Meeting the Blockers: When run fitting, do they dodge the blocker or displace them?
Cornerbacks: Corners are athletic freaks and are fun to watch do amazing things on the gridiron. They usually aren’t the poster children of humility as they tend to err towards the Globo-Gym method – “we’re better than you, and we know it.”
• Length: How long are the players arms and how do they use their length in the passing game? Can they use their hands to as well as athleticism to break up passes?
• Playmaking: Can they find the ball in the air? Can they cause tipped balls (tips lead to picks)? Do they lay out to make the play?
• Run Game: Is this corner a pretty boy business decision tackler (stays on the ankles like an ant bite) or are they willing to attack in the run game?
Safety: This is the turnover tape as you can see interception after interception while sprinkling in a couple of big hits.
• Ballhawk: Do they find themselves around the ball and turn opportunities into turnovers?
• Tackling: Like Corners, do they meet the runner, or do they make business decisions? I also want to see if they do meet the runner, like a linebacker, do they tackle or THUMP.
• Field Coverage: Can they go from hashmark to hashmark on a ball in the air to make a play?
