Jason Pinnock - The Windsor, Conn., defensive back might have been seen as a surprise commitment to some but we've been hearing a lot about him for quite some time. I do know this: If you're looking at Pinnock's film and wondering, "Why did they take this guy?" then you probably aren't entirely off base in asking that question. I'm told that Pinnock's film was not what attracted the BC coaches to him. In fact, his film was a bit of a stumbling block for the staff, from what I've heard, because they seemed to not be all that impressed with it as well.
Pinnock was offered and his commitment was accepted because of his camp performance. He showed up as apparently a legit 6-foot-1 defensive back and he ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash. The way BC does times, those are really good numbers.
"He's the same kind of defensive back as guys like Justin Simmons, John Johnson and guys like that. He's got that same kind of body type," I was told. "He can play multiple positions in the secondary. He could be a corner, he could be a safety. He could play either one."
They like his versatility, and in the secondary that corner/safety versatility speaks to his ability to play man-to-man, to his hips, his ball skills, his tackling, etc.
Paul Pasqualoni was Pinnock's lead recruiter. He liked Pinnock, apparently, but Pinnock arrived at camp without a lot of hype. But apparently the whole staff was satisfied with how he played.
To add onto that: They were really impressed with him because at one point they were apparently thinking they would take three defensive backs, and Pinnock puts them at four. They didn't "need" to take another, as you'll recall we said that Tate Haynes might have been the last DB.
Hunter Long - So why did Boston College take another tight end? I know many of you are asking that. This is only what I've been told. First: I'm told they are not "over" the acceptable number at the position, although I guess that's very subjective.
Long was "the best fit, the best available player," I was told. "You can't have too many guys at one position if you have good players and you're taking the best available." People close to the program realize the perception about tight end recruiting, but: "These guys can flex, they can be tight. You can go into jumbo packages. They can be receivers. They can be offensive lineman. It looks like (BC) has a lot but there are so many packages you can use and so many things you can do with them." BC likes that Long is tall, that he can run and that he's at a prep school right now. He's repeating his senior year "which is basically like a redshirt year."
Few more notes:
-- Have confirmed that most/all official visits will be December/January.
-- They will keep one, maybe two spots available for graduate transfers.
-- They do want another running back.
Other positions they'll target? "It all depends on how the season goes," at this point, I'm told. If BC has a solid season they will be in a position to be very proactive in targeting some guys. If they struggle, it'll mostly be working to keep guys on board.
Pinnock was offered and his commitment was accepted because of his camp performance. He showed up as apparently a legit 6-foot-1 defensive back and he ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash. The way BC does times, those are really good numbers.
"He's the same kind of defensive back as guys like Justin Simmons, John Johnson and guys like that. He's got that same kind of body type," I was told. "He can play multiple positions in the secondary. He could be a corner, he could be a safety. He could play either one."
They like his versatility, and in the secondary that corner/safety versatility speaks to his ability to play man-to-man, to his hips, his ball skills, his tackling, etc.
Paul Pasqualoni was Pinnock's lead recruiter. He liked Pinnock, apparently, but Pinnock arrived at camp without a lot of hype. But apparently the whole staff was satisfied with how he played.
To add onto that: They were really impressed with him because at one point they were apparently thinking they would take three defensive backs, and Pinnock puts them at four. They didn't "need" to take another, as you'll recall we said that Tate Haynes might have been the last DB.
Hunter Long - So why did Boston College take another tight end? I know many of you are asking that. This is only what I've been told. First: I'm told they are not "over" the acceptable number at the position, although I guess that's very subjective.
Long was "the best fit, the best available player," I was told. "You can't have too many guys at one position if you have good players and you're taking the best available." People close to the program realize the perception about tight end recruiting, but: "These guys can flex, they can be tight. You can go into jumbo packages. They can be receivers. They can be offensive lineman. It looks like (BC) has a lot but there are so many packages you can use and so many things you can do with them." BC likes that Long is tall, that he can run and that he's at a prep school right now. He's repeating his senior year "which is basically like a redshirt year."
Few more notes:
-- Have confirmed that most/all official visits will be December/January.
-- They will keep one, maybe two spots available for graduate transfers.
-- They do want another running back.
Other positions they'll target? "It all depends on how the season goes," at this point, I'm told. If BC has a solid season they will be in a position to be very proactive in targeting some guys. If they struggle, it'll mostly be working to keep guys on board.
