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Recruiting update 9-4

Posted on September 4, 2008

Both high schools and colleges are heading into week 2 of football (in Texas we call it week 1, the one after zero week) and recruiting generally on the backburner, but this is an unusual year for TCU recruiting and what better way to handle a slow period than to get another of the top linebackers as a commit.  Now 14 recruits out of 22 expected in the class of 2009 are committed and several on the verge so what is really left?

First the new kid:

Justin Isadore 6-0/205/4.6 Beaumont, TX (Ozen) Offers Aub & Ken, 1st team all-district, 112 tackles 4 picks in 2007

Scout Inc. Evaluation

Isadore lacks great size, but he’s an extremely explosive athlete and could develop into a disruptive perimeter player if he lands in a heavy pressure defense. He may lack great height but is rangy, athletically-built and has the room on his long frame for continued physical development. Fills hard with great speed and burst. A fast-twitched athlete who is very explosive in space. Generates great speed and power quickly in the short-area allowing him to play much bigger than his measurables. Redirects and mirrors well pursuing laterally and does a good job sifting between the tackles. Takes sharp pursuit angles and can hit the run seam inside-out with his first-step quickness and great burst. Anticipates the snap well and closes fast a blitzer. Relentless motor; plays fast and physical on every snap. Good pop as a tackler and his high impact hits can force turnovers. Opens, turns and runs fluidly in coverage. Has good instincts, ball skills and a knack for making the big play. However, size is a concern when projecting for the next level, and he lacks great speed. Can open up his whole body to the cutoff block and gets engulfed at the point of attack at times. Tends to get knocked off his pursuit lane and struggles keeping blockers off his body when scraping. Tackles high and flashes difficulty running through ball carriers due to his lack of size. Shorter strides hinders sideline-to-sideline range; speed and burst is more effective in short-area. Appears quicker than fast. Bottom line, size will come once Isadore attacks a fulltime weight-training program, and his explosive burst in space simply can’t be coached. Definite sleeper on the recruiting trail if he lands in a system that covers him up and lets him attack the football.

Travis Stewart DCTF on Isadore:

… he’s one of my top five favorite players in the state, regardless of classification. If he and Brock both hold true, it’s Jason Phillips and Hawthorne all over again in Fort Worth.

His blog comment:

Justin Isadore LB, Beaumont Ozen
Surprise! We had actually poked and prodded Ozen on info for massive WR Willie Jefferson, a 6-6 pass-catcher with great hands and awesome leaping ability (see how I worked another name in here?) But he sent us a laundry list of names in addition to the giant Panther, one of which included Isadore, a 6-0, 205-lb. linebacker who had my attention about 10 seconds into his tape. He’s fast — very fast, especially if he somehow gets the ball in his hands — and he hits like a meteorite from space. I’d love for him to make his reads a split-second faster, but his pursuit skills can make up for that for the time being, and with his 2007 stats in mind (4 INTs, 4 FFs, 4 FRs and 2 def. TDs), Isadore could soon be on everyone’s — and I mean everyone’s — radar.

So what is next?

With 8 slots left the most urgent needs are at wide receiver and defensive backs/safeties and with no wide-outs on the board the coaches will make that position a priority.  Some targets are a couple of Houston commits in former TCU commit A.J. Dugat and speedster Jared Pickett.  A tough challenge there, but others include East Texas speedster Chance Casey and Evangel’s Quinn Giles.  Also don’t rule out some very big teammates of a couple of commits in Brownwood’s Parker Taylor (6-4/190) and Ozen’s Willie Jefferson (6-7/205).  Another prospect is Houston Northbrook’s Derrick Rainey.

No real new names with the defensive backs as Desmond Gardiner, Trey Wilson, and Kerry Lewis appear to be the top choices along with Demontre Hurst. 

The WRs and DBs should take up 5 of the 8 slots available and leave the last 3 for the “best of” type selections.  If a certain QB from Witchita Falls wants to come to TCU he will take a slot.  Another close to commit is DE Spencer Nealy but he needs to act before that slot is taken.

Coaches will probably hold at least one slot until they get further evaluation on Jacob Lattimer. Lattimer is a 6-4/240/4.66 bruising linebacker originally from Fort Scott, Kansas.  Currently at Hutchinson, CC will have 3 to play 3.  Injuries are the biggest concern with him, but if he looks to be fully recovered he will be a beast.

A lot of talent still out there and the coaches may pull in one or two more huge surprises, but even if things go as projected this will be one of the best classes ever at TCU.

The complete list:

http://www.killerfrogs.com/blog/recruiting-pages/2009-recruit-list/

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