Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, December 23, 2013
On Thursday's #BTNLive, at 6 p.m. ET, it will be all about the seniors. The show will release its 2013 All-Senior Team, which is littered with big-time talent all over the field, and include interviews with select senior stars. See the show's complete team in this post.
To preview the show, I found each player's Scout prep scouting report and star ranking. Lots of interesting stuff.
A look at the All-Senior Team is enlightening.
- Jared Abbrederis arrived as the least ballyhooed, coming to Wisconsin as a walk-on before earning a scholarship.
- Two-star recruits include Darqueze Dennard, John Urschel, Tyler Scott, Chris Borland, Denicos Allen, Anthony Hitchens, Christian Kirksey, Cody Webster and Brock Vereen.
- 4 stars include Nathan Scheelhaase, Carlos Hyde, C.J. Fiedorowicz, Taylor Lewan, Corey Linsley, Isaiah Lewis, Jack Mewhort, Ra?Shede Hageman, Da?Quan Jones and Max Bullough.
#BTNLive ?All-Senior? Offense
QB: Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois (2nd team All-Big Ten by Media)
4-star
Prep scouting report: Nathan Scheelhaase helped lead his team to a perfect 13-0 junior season and the state championship. He completed 86 of 137 for 1861 yards, 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions. On the ground he also rushed 120 times for 917 yards and 14 scores. Scheelhaase reports a 3.7 core GPA and is taking the ACT on April 12. Scheelhaase played safety as a sophomore and admits that some schools are still talking about the possibility of him playing on defense, but under center is where he wants to be.
Scheelhaase, as a prep: "I have the ability to run as well as pass. I'm a dual threat and I catch the defense off guard. I scramble well and can throw on the run. Most everybody is recruiting me at quarterback and that's what I think I'm gonna play. You can never perfect your mechanics. I work with a quarterback coach about twice a month to work on all the little things. I also play basketball and lift a lot. I also run track to improve my speed."
RB: Carlos Hyde, Ohio State (AP 3rd team All-American, Big Ten Running Back of the Year)
4-star
Prep scouting report: Hyde is part of an excellent 1-2 punch in the Naples backfield this year. He's the bigger, power back of the two. He lines up at fullback often times and can smash people when blocking or he can go between the tackles and pick up the tough yards. He's not a home-run threat and isn't going to make too many people miss but in a downhill ground attack, he's a major weapon.
RB: James White, Wisconsin (2nd team All-Big Ten by Media & Coaches)
3-star
Prep scouting report: White is not the tallest RB, but he has quality size on that frame, excellent feet, and runs with power between the tackles. He has a plus pair of hands, he makes adjustments to passes, and will be a weapon in the passing game. White has some wiggle, but is more of a player that looks to run through defenders than around them. He is a fundamentally sound blocker that excels in pass protection.
WR: Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin (1st team All-Big Ten by Media & Coaches)
No stars
Prep scouting report: Arrived as a walk-on.
WR: Jeremy Gallon, Michigan (2nd team All-Big Ten by Media & Coaches)
3-star
Prep scouting report: He plays both QB and RB in high school and does an excellent job of running the option. He's an ideal RB or slot receiver for a spread option style offense in college. He makes a lot of people miss and once he gets a crack, he can take it a long ways. Don't expect him to break too many tackles or run between the tackles a bunch but he's a threat with the ball in his hands, especially in the open field.
TE: C.J. Fiedorowicz, Iowa (1st team All-Big Ten by Coaches)
4-star
Prep scouting report: Is a matchup nightmare with his combination of size and pass-catching skills. Has excellent hands and ball skills and shows the ability to go up high and use his frame to out-position and out-body would-be defenders. He splits out a lot for his high school team, so blocking from the tight end spot will be something he has to gain more experience with, but he has the size and strength to do so.
OT: Taylor Lewan, Michigan (AP 2nd team All-American, Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year)
4-star
Prep scouting report: Lewan did not play much OT until his senior year but has progressed rapidly and has turned into one of the country's most coveted OTs. Has long arms, great athleticism, great feet and will finish blocks. Can pull and get to the second level. Still thin at 270 pounds but at 6-6, can easily add weight to his frame.
OG: John Urschel, Penn State (AP 3rd team All-American)
2-star
Prep scouting report: No bio.
C: Corey Linsley, Ohio State (1st team All-Big Ten by Media & Coaches)
4-star
Prep scouting report: Explosive offensive lineman with impressive ability ? team captain for Coach D.J. Ogilvie?s Spartans ? first team all-Federal League, all-NEO ? second team all-Ohio ? Big 33 team ? Super Prep Midwest Top 30 ? Rivals 250 ? also the regional and league champion and a state medalist in shot put ? son of Laurie and James Linsley
OG: Ryan Groy, Wisconsin (AP 3rd team All-American)
3-star
Prep scouting report: No bio.
OT: Jack Mewhort, Ohio State (AP 3rd team All-American)
4-star
Jack Mewhort, as a prep: "Right now I'm working on my quickness. I started working out as soon as my season ended and I'm focused at getting better. I want to get bigger and stronger, too. I played basketball before, but I'm strictly concentrating on football now. I need to get smarter in recognizing defenses. I just need to be better at all phases of the game."
***
#BTNLive ?All-Senior? Defense
DE: Tyler Scott, Northwestern (2nd team All-Big Ten by Media)
2-star
Prep scouting report: No bio
DT: Ra?Shede Hageman, Minnesota (AP 3rd team All-American)
4-star
Prep scouting report: Signed as a tight end, Hageman is a fine athlete who shows the ability to make acrobatic catches in traffic. He has a long frame, long arms and uses that size to make catches over would-be defenders. He does not have super speed, but is athletic enough to get separation. As a blocker, he shows good aggressiveness, as he gets into his man quickly and shows the ability to drive defenders.
DT: Da?Quan Jones, Penn State (1st team All-Big Ten by Coaches)
4-star
Prep scouting report: Jones has an ideal combination of size, quickness, leverage, and tenacity. He has a quick first step that lets him penetrate a gap between offensive linemen. He also has excellent strength and can occupy a double team or control a single blocker and dispatch him as the ball carrier arrives. He only needs to keep improving on what he does well to be a dominating force on the college level – Scott Kennedy, Scout.com.
LB: Chris Borland, Wisconsin (AP 2nd team All-American, Big Ten Linebacker of the Year)
2-star
Prep scouting report: During his junior year at Atler, Borland was the team?s punter, running back, wide receiver and kick returner. At running back, Borland averaged over 7.0 yards per carry, over 21.0 on kick returns and 37.0 yards per punt.
LB: Max Bullough, Michigan State (AP 3rd team All-American)
4-star
Prep scouting report: Has a great feel for the game and instincts for the position. Finds the ball and is a sure tackler. Has a knack for making plays and is solid in coverage. Is able to take plays head on at his high school level, but will need to add size and strength to do the same in the Big Ten. Max is also a high character, motivated, hard working kid.
LB: Denicos Allen, Michigan State (AP 3rd team All-American)
2-star
Prep scouting report: A special player you would be hearing more about if he was just a little taller. Allen can go sideline to sideline and shows great quickness and instincts. Not afraid to explode into ball carriers and can shed a double team.
LB: James Morris/Anthony Hitchens (2 star)/Christian Kirksey (2 star), Iowa
Morris 3-star
Prep scouting report: Excellent football player who shows good instincts and smarts. Has good up field quickness and arrives to the ball carrier with impact. Has good natural strength and shows the ability to take on and shed blocks, but still needs to add more size.
CB: Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State (AP 1st team All-American, Thorpe Award Winner)
2-star
Prep scouting report: No bio.
S: Isaiah Lewis, Michigan State (1st team All-Big Ten by Coaches)
4-star
Prep scouting report: Has great instincts and a feel for the game that allows him to always be around the ball. His forte is run support. He reads and diagnoses plays well and closes quickly. Despite not being particularly big, he is a strong hitter and a sure tackler. In coverage, he can play man to man or roam. He has excellent timing as a blitzer. Needs to get bigger and stronger. Is also not a pure burner with great makeup speed.
S: Brock Vereen, Minnesota (1st team All-Big Ten by Coaches)
2-star
Prep scouting report: As a 2008 junior at Valencia (Calif.), had 64 tackles and six picks and averaged 30 yards a return on kickoffs.
CB: Ciante Evans, Nebraska (1st team All-Big Ten by Coaches)
3-star
Prep scouting report: Great size for a cornerback, likes to play physical football with the bump and run. Keeps his head toward the quarterback allows him to make some interceptions and knock the ball down. Has the size and physicality to match up with the biggest of receivers. Good on run support, he has good instincts which allows him to get up field on the run and be in good position on the pass.
***
#BTNLive ?All-Senior? Special Teams
K: Jeff Budzien, Northwestern (AP 3rd team All-American, Big Ten Kicker of the Year)
3-star
Prep scouting report: As a junior, Budzien had 71 of 98 kickoffs reach the end zone. He converted 66/67 PAT's and 6/11 FG's, including a long of 55-yards. He was named 1st Team Associated Press All-State. He is also currently ranked as the nation's top kicker by Kohl's Kicking. He is ranked 14th nationally by Chris Sailer.
P: Cody Webster, Purdue (Big Ten Punter of the Year)
2-star
Prep scouting report: No bio.
About Tom Dienhart | BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section. |
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