True statement. However, as fans, we are allowed to guess, speculate, make stuff up, bloviate, bull*****; and yes, sing the blues. xdrunkyx
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This kid definitely falls into the article I posted.
I can't find him as a 4* anywhere.
Rivals has him a 2*.
247 has him at a 3* on their site and composite. Also outside of the top 800 in the country - far from a 4*
Scout has him at a 3* and outside of the top 100 at the WDE position in the 2019 class.
Anything that does link him as a 4* is from 2016 or 2017 - his sophomore and junior seasons. All of those major offers came before his junior year of high school - 2017. For real - this article is from June 2017 when Michigan "offered" him.
These "offers" after his sophomore year a hell of a lot more like camp invite offers that were never committable than anything else. Hell, they were 2 years ago at this point.
I would put a hell of a lot of money I don't have on this kid keeping his 3* status simply because of those "offers" 2 years ago, rather than actually being a full 3 or 4 star kid.
The funny thing is, I can't find a single other D1 offer for him outside of Portland State I would consider real. If I were him I would keep the 4* thing on his Twitter bio too - but he had only D2 offers as of December.
December 21st, 2018 - D2 Central Washington
April 3, 2018 - Utah State - which was 100% uncomittable even in December from what I can find.
That's the entirety of his recruiting in 2018 that he made public. Before that you have to go all the way back to when that article I posted was written - even on his social media - which is June 2017
I'm also a Michigan fan, and I'm calling his Michigan offer bull****. It was 1000% one of those bull**** offers Sports Illustrated highlighted. Why do I know this? Kids who get "real" Michigan offers have official Michigan branded graphic offer letters to post on social media. He has a generic homemade 3 picture graphic he made on PicCollage using a logo Michigan doesn't use, an old ass photo of the Big House and a generic Jim Harbaugh photo. That isn't how Michigan actually offers kids. I also ran a search through the most connected Michigan recruiting blogs. His name never once appeared.
Again - this kid seems like the epitome of that SI article.
IF he truly was a 4* kid he wouldn't be signing with Portland State with the only other active offer a regional D2. I'm sorry, he wouldn't. He could be a baller. He could be an All American at Portland State. Maybe he goes on to get drafted and become the next FCS name player in the NFL.
I just...I mean....just no.
We'll see what happens. Myself, I don't put a lot of stock in these "stars". Once they get on campus, it usually is evident right away if they can play or not. Every time I watch the Blazers play, I have to remind myself that Lillard was a 2-star recruit coming to Weber. It does seem that Portland State gets the talent. The problem has always been to get the talent to mesh together on the field.
This is FUBeAR's 'write-up' of Mercer's signing class. Same Players as in Mercer's Official Release, but different info...just felt like it....Grouped 'em by position...I think the Bears did well this year. 247 Sports, Hero Sports, and Southern Pigskin all have Mercer's class as #1 in the SoCon.
* Dylan Fromm (yes - he's the younger brother of UGa's Jake Fromm) - QB, 6-0/204, Warner Robins HS, Warner Robins, GA - 3 Star; offers from UTC, Penn, South Alabama, SEMO
* Brandon Marshall - RB, 5-9/184, Raines HS, Jacksonville, FL - 3 Star; offers from NDSU, Charlotte, NC A&T, Charleston Southern
* Fredrick Davis - RB, 5-10/196, Northside HS, Columbus, GA - offers from Army, Navy, Columbia, Dartmouth, Davidson, Jacksonville
* Yahsyn McKee - WR, 5-10/172, Stockbridge HS, Stockbridge, Ga. - Offers from Hawaii (yes, that Hawaii), ETSU, and Charleston Southern. Though not 'reported,' non-Mercer 'inside sources' tell me he was also offered and highly coveted by at least one Sun Belt Team (FBS G5), which shall remain nameless
* Richie Coffey - WR, 5-10/170, Baldwin HS, Jacksonville, FL - offers from UMass, Alcorn St., Charleston Southern, FAMU, Idaho, New Hampshire, The Citadel
* Justin Bray - TE, 6-4/210, St. George’s Independent School, Collierville, TN - 2 Star; offers from GaSou, GaSt, Princeton, UTM
* Pedro Rodriguez - TE, 6-2/225, Lake Mary HS, Lake Mary, FL - offers from FAMU, UTM
* John Thomas - OL, 6-3/300, Hillgrove HS, Marietta, GA - 3 Star; offers from AF, APSU, Colorado St., ECU, EKU, Elon, Illinois St., SEMO, SIU
* Aidan Higgins - OL, 6-1/285, Mountain View HS, Lawrenceville, GA - numerous D2/NAIA offers; older brother was 4-year Starter at Center for Elon (2015-2018); oldest brother played OL at Tulane & TTU
* Colton Dingmore - OL, 6-4/255, Mary Persons HS, Forsyth, GA - offer from TTU
* Richard Benton Jr. - DL, 6-2/243, B.E.S.T Academy, Atlanta, Ga. - 3 Star; over 30 offers; 17 FBS, including 1 P5/ACC offer; rated as #1 SoCon Recruit by HeroSports
* Pat Rogers - DL, 6-2/290, Wayne County HS, Jesup, GA - Former Commit to The Citadel
* Chris Hill - DL, 6-2/260, Statesboro HS, Statesboro, Ga. - Offers from The Citadel, Savannah State, & Stetson
* Solomon Zubairu - DL, 6-1/240, Archer HS, Lawrenceville, Ga. - Offer from Stetson
* Luke Szabados - LB, 6-2/230, Moeller HS, Cincinnati, OH - offers from JMU, Eastern Mich., Duquesne, Holy Cross
* Zach Hopkins - LB, 6-1/215, James Clemens HS, Madison, AL - offers from Jacksonville St., Alabama St., GaSt, EKU, Furman
* Gavin Hughes - LB, 6-3/210, Coosa HS, Rome, GA - Very early Commit; offer from Liberty
* Joel Girtman - DB, 5-11/191, Westlake HS, College Park, GA - 2 Star; offers from Wofford (decommit from Wofford, actually), APSU, ETSU, FAU, Morgan St., Tennessee St.
* Lance Wise - DB, 5-8/183, Hillgrove HS, Marietta, GA - offers from AF, Army, Columbia, Kent St.
* Kendall Bohler - DB, 5-11/170, Ocoee HS, Ocoee, FL - offers from FAMU, Jacksonville, Stetson (older brother started @ CB for Mercer in 2018)
* Devin Folser - K, 6-2/170, Ola HS, McDonough, Ga. - Offers from Kennesaw & JaxSt; Kohl's Kicking ranks him 4.5 Stars & #52 in US. 12 Kickers that were ranked below him by Kohl's signed with FBS Teams (signed...NOT walk-ons or PWO's, signed). His school-record 51 yard FG in 2018 appears as if it would have been good from 70+ yards. It's still OVER the top of the uprights when it crosses past the crossbar!! BIG LEG
* Zach Lassiter - LS, 6-1/193, Bleckley County HS, Cochran, GA - Very early Commit as a Long Snapper; offer from GaSou
FUBeAR, typically, is highly skeptical of any OLmen over 6’4” with no FBS offers, but I see a young man that likes to finish blocks, likes to run, and enjoys the game of Football on this video. Lists himself at 6-8 though. I found other info saying he is 7’....6’8” looks more accurate. He’s all right though...from what I see here. I’d sure as heck take a chance on him. He’s as good or better than a lot 6-5 guys I see signing. If you’re going to sign a big galoot to play on your OL, why not sign the biggest galoot...and one that really looks like he wants to be a Player. Still probably can get speed rushed by...but the way he looks pulling, in some O’s, he would be a nice OG.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/3878874...9bf10c48fd128a
He...mostly can't. D1 speed ends will have little issue with him. Even if he catches that first burst one move and his direction change isn't going to be great.
Overload his side of the line. He won't be able to help on blitzes. He will only ever be able to handle his one assignment. He isn't going to help his guard. He isn't pulling. He isn't getting out front on screens.