My Take: Rochester 2024 DE Lance Ingold commits to NIU
- By EdgyTim
- The EDGY Nation
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NIU adds Rochester DE Ingold
Rochester (Ill.) junior DE Lance Ingold (6-foot-6, 255 pounds) made a visit and committed to NIU tonight.
NIU hosted several of it's top prospects and recruits on Sunday and the Huskies offered and landed a quick verbal commitment from Rochester 2024 DE Lance Ingold. Ingold was the second in state commitment for NIU on Sunday and the 5th overall in state pledge for NIU in the Class of 2024.
Ingold who is also a multi sport athlete at Rochester (football/baseball) was starting to see increased football recruiting looks and attention from various FBS and FCS schools this spring. Ingold added offers recently from SIU and schools such as Illinois, Iowa, Purdue and others who like Ingold's upside but also held off on extending him an offer until they had a chance to see him in a camp and work out in pads. NIU once again was in early on a kid like Lance Ingold....was able to build up a relationship between his positional and also his recruiting coach coach at NIU before really any other schools showed interest and that timing again plays a huge positive for NIU in it's recruiting approach. This was also one of the key factors for Ingold in his decision to pledge to NIU.
Ingold has the look and physical tools that no question are a positive here. Ingold, at 6-foot-6 and currently at 225 pounds has an impressive frame, wide shoulders and he will be able to carry much more weight at the college level. I can see Ingold getting to day 250-260 pounds pretty easily while also maintaining his impressive speed and quickness.
I was able to see Lance Ingold play live as a sophomore in 2022 against SHG in the Class 4A semifinals. Ingold was an impact player on both sides of the line (tight end/defensive end) who at times was a real game changer who has good overall instincts and upside/potential. I was also able to see a kid like Ingold who still has a ton of development and learning ahead of him as well including improving his overall technique as a defensive end. It seemed like Ingold was playing more off instincts and natural ability and jsut was able to out physical opposing linemen.....which is great at the high school level but will fall short at the D1 level.
Room for improvement? Besides the obvious need to add more good weight and strength, Ingold will also need to improve his overall speed and quickness along with adding to his overall pass rush moves and technique. Yet like many other NIU pledges.....while Ingold might be a bit raw in places and need work in some places....his overall value and upside is really impressive and intriguing.
Rivals currently has Lance Ingold as a unranked name in the Class of 2024. I would recommend that Lance Ingold start off as a low to mid three star ranked player here and a name that could end up over playing this early conservative star ranking. Again I really like how NIU does it's own evaluation and advanced work and how they aren't afraid to project and take a chance on a kid....and Lance Ingold is another prime example of how NIU definitely marches to the beat of it's own drum.
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My Take: Tinley Park 2024 DL Carlos Hazelwood to NIU
- By EdgyTim
- The EDGY Nation
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DL Hazelwood commits to NIU
Tinley Park (Ill.) junior DE Carlos Hazelwood (6-foot-5, 255 pounds) has committed to NIU.
NIU hosted several of it's top prospects and recruits on Sunday and the Huskies offered and landed a quick verbal commitment from Tinley Park DL Carlos Hazelwood. Hazelwood, who is a multi sport athlete at Tinley Park was drawing recruiting looks and attention from various FBS and FCS schools this spring. Hazelwood is a big and a physically impressive kid who no question passes the all important eyeball test. Hazelwood also fits the NIU formula as a recruit in several regards. NIU formula? NIU under head coach Thomas Hammock and staff have been pretty vocal about doing it's own work and personal evaluations when deciding to extend an offer....sometimes they are in lock step with various evaluations and rankings...and in others they are not with the rest of the pack. NIU looks to recruit players who will continue to grow and develop at the college level ....and an NIU recruit also has speed, quickness and plays with a high motor and will look past at times profile fitting height/frame. NIU is not afraid to project on a potential player for them and so far in several cases the NIU way has worked well for Hammock and his staff.
I have not seen Carlos Hazelwood play live but have made several various evaluations based off his film and also seeing him in person last winter. Hazelwood was recruited and offered by NIU as a defensive tackle who also can and will get some reps at defensive end as well. Hazelwood has impressive length and reach, has the frame that will no question allow him to add much moire good weight and strength over the next few seasons. Yes, it will take a year or so for Hazelwood to get up to D1 level strength but his upside and continued development will be fun to watch. Hazelwood plays with a high motor and is also a kid who I felt had a real chance to add more serious recruiting looks and potential offers this summer at various one day camps. I also feel that the timing of this offer and commitment is by no mistake....NIU already knows that if Hazelwood wound up at say a Lindenwood Mega camp he could come back home with a half dozen plus offers....but now NIU has locked up this intriguing name and they will need to continue to keep several other schools away from Hazelwood this fall and beyond before they can lock him up with a LOI in December.
Room for improvement? Again I cover the various physical development that will need to happen here for Hazelwood over the next year plus along with just being able to adjust and get his overall game to a much higher level at NIU starting next fall.....but Hazelwood's overall potential and upside makes this a very worthwhile name to lock up here for the Huskies.
Rivals currently has Carlos Hazelwood as a unranked name....look for his initial star ranking to come shortly. I will recommend Carlos Hazelwood to be ranked as a mid level 3 star and a name who could no question surpass that very middle of the road star ranking over the next few years.
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NIU adds an in state commitment from DL Carlos Hazelwood
- By EdgyTim
- Edgy's Lost His Mind Free Football Board
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DL Hazelwood commits to NIU
Tinley Park (Ill.) junior DE Carlos Hazelwood (6-foot-5, 255 pounds) has committed to NIU.
My Take: JCA 2024 DT Dillan Johnson to Northwestern
- By EdgyTim
- The EDGY Nation
- 1 Replies
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Today Joliet Catholic Academy 3 star ranked DT Dillan Johnson gave Northwestern his verbal commitment. Johnson, who made an official visit to Northwestern this past weekend decided to accept an offer from the Wildcats after drawing multiple Power 5 interest and offers from the likes of Wisconsin and others. Johnson had an official visit set for Wisconsin in early June and many observers pointed towards the Badgers as a favorite. Johnson, who is also a two time state wrestling champion also was drawing a ton of interest and offers as a wrestler in college. One of the bigger questions I had for Dillan and his recruiting process was what sport would he chose....and up until recently I was say 50-50 between football and wrestling.
I've seen Dillan Johnson play live a handful of times over the past few seasons and I have a pretty good feel on him and his game. I've also gotten to know Johnson and his family over the last few years and I was able to cover his older brothers when they went thru the recruiting process. Johnson comes from a terrific, hard working family who value education highly so seeing Dillan Johnson landing at Northwestern just makes a lot of sense from the family mindset and standpoint.
So what is Northwestern getting in Dillan Johnson. Johnson is a high level athlete who has impressive speed, quickness and technique who will no question be very difficult to block at times especially at the high school level. Johnson, who has exceptional bend and leverage, way above quick hands and feet along with also possessing great strength and power can and will use his advanced technique to get past, around or through opposing offensive linemen. In all honesty, early on in his recruiting process I felt that Johnson in many ways could have also been a highly effective offensive center at the higher level. I still feel Dillan has the tools and ability to make the switch to either side of the line if needed. Johnson also brings a big blue collar/lunch bucket approach and mentality to the field along with an impressive intellect.
Room to improve? Johnson has always been a consistently strong player and a steady mainstay on the Hilltoppers defensive line.....yet I've also wanted to see him be able to take over a game at times which I didn't see much of when I've seen him in person. Johnson is also listed as 6-foot-2 285 pounds in the Rivals database but my guess is he's more closer to 6-foot-0, 285 pounds. His lack of ideal size and measureables no question has impacted his overall rankings here. Can Johnson handle the down in and down out pounding and punishment he will take inside on the defensive line from Big 10 sized offensive linemen?
Rivals currently has Dillan Johnson as a mid 3 star ranked name....and in many ways I'm on board with that ranking as well...at least for now. I'm also well aware that Johnson comes from a great family, a family with impressive athletic bloodlines. Johnson's older brothers have all had late growth spurts in college (Eric II Indianapolis Colts and Marcellus Johnson/Missouri) and if that's the case with Dillan than look out! So I'm also more than a bit gun shy with the mid 3 star ranking as well
Off the field? Dillan Johnson again comes from a hard working family and is a terrific young man with an impressive academic and athletic background who will be a great locker room addition.
Today Joliet Catholic Academy 3 star ranked DT Dillan Johnson gave Northwestern his verbal commitment. Johnson, who made an official visit to Northwestern this past weekend decided to accept an offer from the Wildcats after drawing multiple Power 5 interest and offers from the likes of Wisconsin and others. Johnson had an official visit set for Wisconsin in early June and many observers pointed towards the Badgers as a favorite. Johnson, who is also a two time state wrestling champion also was drawing a ton of interest and offers as a wrestler in college. One of the bigger questions I had for Dillan and his recruiting process was what sport would he chose....and up until recently I was say 50-50 between football and wrestling.
I've seen Dillan Johnson play live a handful of times over the past few seasons and I have a pretty good feel on him and his game. I've also gotten to know Johnson and his family over the last few years and I was able to cover his older brothers when they went thru the recruiting process. Johnson comes from a terrific, hard working family who value education highly so seeing Dillan Johnson landing at Northwestern just makes a lot of sense from the family mindset and standpoint.
So what is Northwestern getting in Dillan Johnson. Johnson is a high level athlete who has impressive speed, quickness and technique who will no question be very difficult to block at times especially at the high school level. Johnson, who has exceptional bend and leverage, way above quick hands and feet along with also possessing great strength and power can and will use his advanced technique to get past, around or through opposing offensive linemen. In all honesty, early on in his recruiting process I felt that Johnson in many ways could have also been a highly effective offensive center at the higher level. I still feel Dillan has the tools and ability to make the switch to either side of the line if needed. Johnson also brings a big blue collar/lunch bucket approach and mentality to the field along with an impressive intellect.
Room to improve? Johnson has always been a consistently strong player and a steady mainstay on the Hilltoppers defensive line.....yet I've also wanted to see him be able to take over a game at times which I didn't see much of when I've seen him in person. Johnson is also listed as 6-foot-2 285 pounds in the Rivals database but my guess is he's more closer to 6-foot-0, 285 pounds. His lack of ideal size and measureables no question has impacted his overall rankings here. Can Johnson handle the down in and down out pounding and punishment he will take inside on the defensive line from Big 10 sized offensive linemen?
Rivals currently has Dillan Johnson as a mid 3 star ranked name....and in many ways I'm on board with that ranking as well...at least for now. I'm also well aware that Johnson comes from a great family, a family with impressive athletic bloodlines. Johnson's older brothers have all had late growth spurts in college (Eric II Indianapolis Colts and Marcellus Johnson/Missouri) and if that's the case with Dillan than look out! So I'm also more than a bit gun shy with the mid 3 star ranking as well
Off the field? Dillan Johnson again comes from a hard working family and is a terrific young man with an impressive academic and athletic background who will be a great locker room addition.