Because NCAA rules prevent college coaches from speaking publicly about recruits, it's often difficult to get an inside-look at how coaches actually scout high school players. At a glance, every highlight reel looks good. But what exactly matters to college scouts? What type of traits do they look for when trying to predict success at the next level? Coach X is an active coach at the FBS level. Over the years, he has evaluated thousands of players. In this series, Coach X gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how he breaks down high school prospects.
Prospect Name: Matthew Roberts
Height/Weight: 6-2/210 pounds
Position: DE/OLB
School/Class: St. Thomas Aquinas, 2020
Current Offers: Kansas State, Kansas, Pittsburg State
Coach X Breakdown
- Gets full extension out of his hips and hands
- Explosive first step in pass rush
- Uses his hands well
- Consistently beats tackles around the edge
- Very active feet
- Moves well laterally
- Plays the mesh-read technique very well
- Despite the size difference, he holds his own at the point of attack vs OL.
- Does a good job sticking a foot in the ground to plant and retrace for plays downfield
- Somewhat of a "Tweener" frame currently
- Has shown ability to rush the passer, but with current frame, needs to also show the ability to cover and make plays in space
Player Comparison: Eric Striker, OLB, University of Oklahoma. "Some coaches may see him being a tweener or undersized, but there have been a lot of high-motor guys with good instincts who have been productive players at the FBS level."
Who would you like to see Coach X evaluate next? Submit the prospect's name and film to CoachPotts@topspeedtraining.com. Prospect must have a current FCS or FBS offer to be considered.
Photo Credit: Susan Goodwyn
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