| 16 March 2010
Fans have been complaining about no commitments. Now we have two in the same day, including one kid so off the radar that not even Bill Kurelic was aware of what was going on.
Antonio Underwood is a DT/G from Shaker Heights that to my knowledge was offered and committed on the spot. He was not on anyones radar. His only offer was Toledo. I had not heard a thing about him. Mark Porter had not mentioned him to me. I don't know about people on other boards but I can say this one took me by surprise. I did get a look at him on film. He does not have measurables of Carter but he is very light on his feet and has long arms. Nasty attitude. I think guard but he could have enough to get a look at DT first. Anytime I get an athletic big like Underwood who could play DT, he gets a shot at playing DT first. DTs are special. Always highly sought after. Guards are guards. On the measurables I go with Carter but this kid may be the better player. Underwood has great feet. He comes off the snap very well and packs a punch. A little taller and I would surely stick him at tackle. He runs really well. I like both Carter and Underwood better than Walker.
I know there is some frustration that these are not the elite tackle types that we have been recruiting in this class. I am having a hard time disagreeing with the staff right now despite my
belief in recruiting tackles. I will state my reasons. One, there is no elite tackle in Ohio this year. I try to tell fans recruiting from out of state is hard. We do not have the history with developing tackles that is crucial to drawing the interest from out of state players. Two, we are is desperate need of guards. Boren, Browning and Smith are seniors. That leaves us with four scholarship players to fill three spots for 2011. Another thing to think about is that two other players are juniors, Brewster and Blankenship. Not getting anyone this year means heading into 2012 with two third year sophmores. We have to make sure we get some players in here this year to get them acclimated. We don't want to get into 2012 and be looking at starting a true freshman. Get guards in here. Don't mess around. Put them at guard and let them learn how to play the position. All these guys are really nice guard prospects. Three, last year I was very critical of the staff for not securing a few sure things before going after the big fish nationally. Make sure you get something. That is what I see them doing with these moves. Love it. Wish we would have done it last year. Now we can go out and try to nail down a national left tackle. This is very sound recruiting by the staff.
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