We've got the latest important info in this edition of The Rundown. Recruiting has tapered off a bit with camp quickly approaching and the scholarship crunch but there are always things to talk about.
Freshmen could contribute
True freshmen play to some extent at almost every program in the country. The ideal is to redshirt every player coming into your program unless he's just an otherworldly talent, but that's not always going to happen.
We've spoken with sources and here's what we've heard. Oddly enough, Chris Lindstrom may be the most likely true freshman contributor. I'd still be slightly surprised but the player that was seen as a long-term project because he was undersized is now being talked about by those close to the program as someone that could sneak on the field.
Lindstrom is now 272 pounds so he would still be undersized as an offensive lineman if he were to play this year but apparently he's advanced in some other respects and the extra semester has really helped him. Don't get your hopes too high, and maybe it's best to just hope that this is a really good sign for him being a big factor in 2016, but one source we spoke with singled Lindstrom out as the most likely contributor among the incoming freshmen. Bear in mind that sources don't know so much about the guys that didn't enroll early, but those players are a little behind anyways.
I'm also hearing that Jimmy Martin could still sneak onto the field as a long snapper. He had been mentioned as a potential fullback or long snapper in addition to his ability at linebacker. The belief is he's still a linebacker long-term, even if he's slightly undersized there, but "long snapping might be his way to get on the field early," I was told recently.
Of course, Brendan Nosovitch could play right away. Not sure how many snaps he would probably log this year but for those wondering about the scholarship crunch and the decision to take him, H-Back is a position sources have wanted to address for some time. That they were able to add depth there as soon as this year is great. It's also helpful for next year when they'll have a very experienced, physically and intellectually mature player as a senior.
Nolan Borgersen has the potential to sneak onto the field because I'm hearing he has been impressive and has shown enough intangible qualities at receiver to become an option if he develops a rapport with the quarterback.
Speaking of quarterbacks, I'm pretty sure Darius Wade has the thing at this point. Not a shock. Elijah Robinson will still have fall camp to prove himself and surprise everyone, but it would be a surprise.
Finally, once again I asked a source about Mike Dereus and Tyler Coyle. Could be a grades issue with Coyle, as I've hinted in the past. Not like he's no longer an option but they will have to tread carefully. Dereus is just a confusing situation because he does have a committable offer, doesn't have much else going on with other schools, and BC thinks he's a great athlete.
I think ideally BC finds a way to sneak Dereus on board and also land either Alves or Niang on the offensive line.
Freshmen could contribute
True freshmen play to some extent at almost every program in the country. The ideal is to redshirt every player coming into your program unless he's just an otherworldly talent, but that's not always going to happen.
We've spoken with sources and here's what we've heard. Oddly enough, Chris Lindstrom may be the most likely true freshman contributor. I'd still be slightly surprised but the player that was seen as a long-term project because he was undersized is now being talked about by those close to the program as someone that could sneak on the field.
Lindstrom is now 272 pounds so he would still be undersized as an offensive lineman if he were to play this year but apparently he's advanced in some other respects and the extra semester has really helped him. Don't get your hopes too high, and maybe it's best to just hope that this is a really good sign for him being a big factor in 2016, but one source we spoke with singled Lindstrom out as the most likely contributor among the incoming freshmen. Bear in mind that sources don't know so much about the guys that didn't enroll early, but those players are a little behind anyways.
I'm also hearing that Jimmy Martin could still sneak onto the field as a long snapper. He had been mentioned as a potential fullback or long snapper in addition to his ability at linebacker. The belief is he's still a linebacker long-term, even if he's slightly undersized there, but "long snapping might be his way to get on the field early," I was told recently.
Of course, Brendan Nosovitch could play right away. Not sure how many snaps he would probably log this year but for those wondering about the scholarship crunch and the decision to take him, H-Back is a position sources have wanted to address for some time. That they were able to add depth there as soon as this year is great. It's also helpful for next year when they'll have a very experienced, physically and intellectually mature player as a senior.
Nolan Borgersen has the potential to sneak onto the field because I'm hearing he has been impressive and has shown enough intangible qualities at receiver to become an option if he develops a rapport with the quarterback.
Speaking of quarterbacks, I'm pretty sure Darius Wade has the thing at this point. Not a shock. Elijah Robinson will still have fall camp to prove himself and surprise everyone, but it would be a surprise.
Finally, once again I asked a source about Mike Dereus and Tyler Coyle. Could be a grades issue with Coyle, as I've hinted in the past. Not like he's no longer an option but they will have to tread carefully. Dereus is just a confusing situation because he does have a committable offer, doesn't have much else going on with other schools, and BC thinks he's a great athlete.
I think ideally BC finds a way to sneak Dereus on board and also land either Alves or Niang on the offensive line.
