Recruiting on the High Seas // DT Coby Coleman
by Seth C on Aug 1, 2009 6:48 AM CDT
in Texas Tech Recruiting
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PrintThe third commitment in five days (WR Shawn Corker and OL James Polk) for Mike Leach as Frankston DT Coby Coleman committed to the Red Raiders.
The Measurables:
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Coby Coleman |
Join me after the jump for some video and thoughts on Coleman.
The Film:
Coby Coleman Highlights (via FBCFrankston)
Keep in mind that Frankston is a 2A team, and just by looking at the film, Coleman is physically dominant, in just about every aspect of the game. I'll get to some of my thoughts on Coleman below, but he looks like one hell of an athlete.
The Scouting Report:
As stated above, Coleman is just physically dominating players across the line from him as he plays defensive tackle. Obviously, the best form is not for a guy just stand up and simply push the opposing offensive line back and make the play, but whatever works. I did like the times on film where Coleman was getting low and shooting the gaps to make the play, and thought that this demonstrates Coleman's athletic ability more than anything else.
But perhaps the thing that got me excited more than anything else was the soft hands and ability to get down the field as a tight end. I'm not saying that I want Coleman at tight end at Texas Tech, but what I am saying is that he's obviously a talented guy that can do a lot of things. I love the fact that he's able to get down the field and catch a pass with his fingertips. At the very least, it demonstrates that he knows how to play the game on some level and from my very unprofessional eyes, he's got pretty good athletic ability for a guy that's tipping the scales at 280 pounds. Coleman may not be the guy that you read about next year that's going to make an immediate impact, but he certainly has the potential to be a Rajon Henley or Richard Jones type of player.
LAJ's Don Williams notes that Coleman emphasized the academics at Texas Tech (Who else thinks that the entire coaching staff is preaching this to all of the parents of any commitments?):
"The thing that really got me is when we went to the academic part,’’ Coleman said. "I really liked how they work their system. Then, of course, the tradition they have at Texas Tech (is a factor). I love their field. I just love everything about Texas Tech.’’
The 2010 Class
We're up to thirteen commitments for the year and notice all of the commitments on the defensive side of the ball.
| Position | Commitment |
| QB | Scotty Young (6-3/185) |
| RB | Aaron Spikes (5-10/185) |
| WR | Shawn Corker (6-1/189) |
| OL | Beau Carpenter (6-7/260) James Polk (6-7/290) |
| DL | Jaqwaylin Arps (6-3/230) Kedrick Dial (6-5/215) Jackson Richards (6-4/240) Coby Coleman (6-3/280) |
| LB | Zac Winbush (6-2/200) |
| DB | Desmond Martin (6-0/173) Russell Polk (5-11/200) Brandon Smith (6-1/175) |
Coby, welcome to Texas Tech, and Git Your Guns Up!
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Comments
I could be wrong, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard a recruit say that “the tradition they have at Tech was definitely a factor”. I’m assuming he meant football tradition and not the graduation rate. Sounds like another under the radar type kid that is very grounded and has his head on straight..I kinda like that;)
I like the fact that the last 3 commits have mentioned the graduation rates…they’re probably gonna get guys that are very stable by plugging that stat. I’m thinking that will add to the chemistry on the team as well, due to having less drama to deal with.
Great job Seth!! I’m sure your job here has taken alot more of your time lately. The rest of us are the beneficiaries;)
Thanks
and besides, I’ve got nothing better to do on a Saturday morning, besides a ton of yard work :).
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
Raiders show steady uptick in recruiting
Anybody else notice that the TTU "scheme" of recruiting has a strategy ? (blinding flash of the obvious they all do) I am reminded of the SMU program in the late 70’s and early 80’s before the NCAA death sentence. They initiated a recruiting drive to dethrone aTm and Ut. And with the exception of hiring athletes thru boosters they succeed. It is apparent the TTU staff keeps its moral compass in focus when making offers. I ‘m sure the coaching classes use the SMU mistake –as a flawed ethical model to drive home the point. When we discussed G Meyers earlier I think that this was one of the good points of his leadership in the AD. He cleaned up the violation messes and kept all the programs from wandering back to unethical or illegal models. Looks like the latest crew of folks getting football scholarship offers are (a.) excellent at their positions- stacking up to a reload stance by position( b.) a bit more mature (c.) being influenced by the steady success of the football team (d.) Flash – The rise to #2 in the polls plus guys going to the NFL got some people’s attention – All this goes to getting your foot in the door on the recruiting trail. Press on Coaches! We need more – legit – 4 stars!
I think the best play in the video is the 2nd to last play there where Coby is double teamed and the other team even has a fullback lead blocking and he manages to stop up everything and make the tackle behind the line. That’s probably not a play you see at the 5A level, but that kind of power is still evident at the 2A level.
I also see the good things being done
This is a great addition. Not only can he tackle and dominate inside, he is a smooth TE with good hands, a fact that could be of use later, especially around the goal line. He also can run pretty good as a FB. I am impressed with his speed, as he reminds me a lot of Gabe “Senior Sack” Rivera. He is a big man that has good speed, and that will be extremely valuable in the Big-12. Another very nice thing is he is very low-key. Never in his film did I see him act like a fool and flail about demonsrably after making a play; calm, cool and collected. Welcome to Texas Tech Coby Coleman.
TTpilk
Big Mo!!!
I can’t remember EVER having this much momentum this early in the recruiting season! I predict there are great things in store for many of us long suffering Red Raider Fans!!!
by ttu_porters on Aug 1, 2009 1:33 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
evaluating film
It is very difficult to fully evaluate Coleman purely as a defensive tackle based on this film b/c many of the tackles he is making are when he slants, i.e. he is shooting gaps and isn’t touched by an opposing blocker. Quite frankly, it looks like he benefits a lot from very poor blocking/poor coaching of the opposition.
However, we have plenty of film of him playing TE, and some film of him playing FB, so you can get an idea of what he looks like as an athlete. You can take a good athlete, put him on the line, and make him into a good player, especially if you have a good S&C program. Coleman definitely shows good body control as a receiver at TE and as a runner at FB. The one big plus on him as that he has really good hands; you see that in the few plays as a DT when he actually took on a blocker. He knows how to use his hands, he has a good base, and he uses leverage well. That fundamental technique bodes well for him as a lineman in college.
This is a kid who was lightly recruited, but obviously the Tech staff liked him and decided to jump on him early and get him to Lubbock. That is a good move for to snag an athlete, especially one you think will help your program.
Yes, he really does look pretty
athletic out there as a TE, and I wrote that Coleman’s ability to shoot the gaps is indicative of his athletic ability, but maybe a better way to say it is that the ability to shoot the gaps is indicative of his quickness. He looks to be getting there almost right after the snap, despite the poor blocking.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
Great Pickup
We beat out Grambling and Steven F Austin for this recruiting bonanza
Homer Tom
Calling my allegiance into quesiton because i posted what was on Rivals – Amazing
Just sayin'
You just became a member of this and ONLY this blog I think yesterday, on the “fan of” section of your profile there are no teams listed, and this comment just HAPPENS to be your very first one.
Alright, then
seriously, would he need to have 100 offers to be a good player or none? Are offers important to you, or is how a player plays important. Just curious what your position is and to get clarification as to when coaches should make offers to players.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
Rivals
Seth – I am just posting what was reported on Rivals – Draw your own conclusions Homer Tom sees a " tech commitment" and assumes future consensus BIG 12 pickup. I tend to be more objective and better prepared Btw > I dont need to see 100 offers, but perhaps another Division 1 school interest would be nice.
I don't think
I’m assuming anything about him. And again, what do you need to see, offers or how he plays. Who knows if he’s going to be superstar. Brandon Sesay was offered by every school in the nation (almost) and Colby Whitlock was offered by only a few schools. This isn’t an every case situation, but offers don’t always mean everything. I think I’m being objective, but I’m also not judging Coleman based on who offered him. He could come into school and not pan out, but saying this:
We beat out Grambling and Steven F Austin for this recruiting bonanza
doesn’t imply that you’re offering any sort of independent analysis.
I guess I don’t understand what you’re posting from Rivals. What’s your opinion and what’s the statement from Rivals?
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
When i came across this commitment and read the comments i googled the guy.
Texas Prep Insider
http://hstexas.scout.com/a.z?s=378&p=8&c=1&nid=4259499
Rivals
http://texastech.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?sport=1&pr_key=93560
I hope the guy does well, time will tell
Good to look at footage
Rivals & Scout and other recruiting services do a decent job of looking over prospects and saving the “casual” fan a lot of work, but their ratings are far from perfect and likewise, actual school recruiting choices are not 100%. I’d point out Tech previously grabbed a little recruited 2A prospect named Wes Welker, and he worked out pretty well for the program.
(I’m not saying this guy is a Wes Welker, I’m just saying lack of “major” program recruitment isn’t a perfect indicator of talent)
Offers
It seems to me that the better he plays the better the offers will be.
by allknowing on Aug 2, 2009 7:25 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Agreed
he was a 2A player in E. Texas that played both ways. At DT, he had 52 tackles and 11 TFL. He’s 280 pounds and he runs a 4.8. The looks pretty damned good catching the ball at TE. I’m not a scout nor a talent evaluator, I just watch football, but from what I can tell, he looks to be a pretty talented player.
I have no idea if he can play, but whether or not he has an offer from a ton of schools seems irrelevant, especially if he can play. This isn’t to say that any one is infallible in grading players. It’s not an exact science, but a big offer list isn’t always indicative of future success.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
by Seth C on Aug 2, 2009 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
…and Tech has proven, quite clearly, over the last decade that you don’t need a roster full of 4- and 5-star players to field a quality team and play in a bowl every year. The one, two and three star players are the core of any team (with the obvious exceptions of places like UT, USC, etc). I personally think the majority of the lower star guys work much harder to succeed than their ballyhood bretheren.
Because he is a 2A player
he is not going to pique the interest of the ‘elite’ schools. They prefer to seek players from top-level high schools. That is why Tech can get what may be under appreciated and under rated talent without much competition from a UT or an OU. It does not mean the player is not very good, just that the nose-in-the-air schools are blind to these guys in 1A & 2A schools. What the video shows is the player in question, Coleman, is a very athletic football player with good upside. I have no doubt that he will need a redshirt year to catch up on some things at the college level, but I also feel he will do so quickly, making his debut as a player in 2011 a big burst into the light.
TTpilk
That is an inaccurate statement
It does not mean the player is not very good, just that the nose-in-the-air schools are blind to these guys in 1A & 2A schools.
Coaches at OU, A&M, texas, anywhere, don’t care where a kid goes to high school or what level he is playing at if he can play. If he is a football player who projects to the next level, they’ll take him, regardless of what classification he played at in HS.
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