Excellent, comprehensive report from vppolo.
Some added random tidbits:
- From the horse's mouth, Harrison Phillips is "full go". He'll begin Fall practice on Day One, no lingering issues of any kind with the knee. Says he's ready to end the PT torture. Btw, that boy is big.
- I asked HP who would be the 3rd DL. . 1st guy he mentioned was J Watkins. And I got the impression there was some separation. 2nd guy he mentioned (I prompted with Jackson, btw) was Cotton. Said he's really coming on.
- Sean Barton (echoing vppolo) got several mentions from other players and coaches. I spoke with him last year at this event: the physical transformation after a year with Turley is incredible. Dude is yoked.
- Spoke with several Freshmen. As if folks don't already know this, but these young men are so impressive. Also got a much better appreciation for "Taking the Rope". Stewart, Pryts, Herbig's hands were shredded. I hadn't seen that before. I mean, multiple layers of dermis.
- Based on comments from J Caspers/M Bloomgren, I guessing the starting OL will be Tucker, Bright, Burkett, Caspers, and Hall.
- We're (surprisingly, at least to me) thin at TE. Shultz is a stud, and Taboada is going to be a real factor this year. However, he's recovering from hernia surgery, and is a bit iffy for the K St. game. After that, it's a walk-on, and then true Freshmen. And Kaden Smith is not going to be ready. He didn't say that specifically, but it seemed clear that he'll be in rehab on his knee for another couple of months.
- Per RB Coach Taylor, Trevor Speights is the real deal.
- Finally, vppolo mentioned that Caspers, Palma, Rector, Thomas, and Ukropina were the 5 players interviewed. Who got, by far, the biggest ovation? Conrad Ukropina. Very cool moment, and in my opinion, very much deserved. As Husak commented, "I guess that's what happens when you kick a game winner against Notre Dame."
Some added random tidbits:
- From the horse's mouth, Harrison Phillips is "full go". He'll begin Fall practice on Day One, no lingering issues of any kind with the knee. Says he's ready to end the PT torture. Btw, that boy is big.
- I asked HP who would be the 3rd DL. . 1st guy he mentioned was J Watkins. And I got the impression there was some separation. 2nd guy he mentioned (I prompted with Jackson, btw) was Cotton. Said he's really coming on.
- Sean Barton (echoing vppolo) got several mentions from other players and coaches. I spoke with him last year at this event: the physical transformation after a year with Turley is incredible. Dude is yoked.
- Spoke with several Freshmen. As if folks don't already know this, but these young men are so impressive. Also got a much better appreciation for "Taking the Rope". Stewart, Pryts, Herbig's hands were shredded. I hadn't seen that before. I mean, multiple layers of dermis.
- Based on comments from J Caspers/M Bloomgren, I guessing the starting OL will be Tucker, Bright, Burkett, Caspers, and Hall.
- We're (surprisingly, at least to me) thin at TE. Shultz is a stud, and Taboada is going to be a real factor this year. However, he's recovering from hernia surgery, and is a bit iffy for the K St. game. After that, it's a walk-on, and then true Freshmen. And Kaden Smith is not going to be ready. He didn't say that specifically, but it seemed clear that he'll be in rehab on his knee for another couple of months.
- Per RB Coach Taylor, Trevor Speights is the real deal.
- Finally, vppolo mentioned that Caspers, Palma, Rector, Thomas, and Ukropina were the 5 players interviewed. Who got, by far, the biggest ovation? Conrad Ukropina. Very cool moment, and in my opinion, very much deserved. As Husak commented, "I guess that's what happens when you kick a game winner against Notre Dame."
