Dakota Royer, one of the best in-state products we signed in this past year's class is the third of seven early enrollees that we are talking about. Royer is just a naturally gifted athlete that will add to the legacy of "Linebacker U" in the coming years.
Dakota Royer is listed at 6'3" and 210 pounds. He possesses great strength and speed for his size with a 4.6 speed in the forty. Dakota is what you would call a freak of an athlete for someone with his frame. He has the ability to put on another 30-50 pounds on that frame of his without losing his speed and flexibility. This is why Royer is a bit of a puzzle piece as to where he is going to play in college.
Royer possesses great hand technique and burst off the line. With added muscle and strength Royer could become a force off the edge for years to come. He is very aggressive, great at getting off of blocks, and has a relentless pursuit of the ball carrier, as was on display during the Under Armour all star game. You see that he possesses these skills and wonder why its so difficult to make a decision as to where he plays, well there's a kicker.
These are not all of Royer's intangibles, as Royer is a very intelligent player. He is very sound in his fundamentals and makes one great decision after another everytime he is on the field. He also possesses great lateral movement and is a great tackler in the open field. His hips are very fluid, as he can change his direction with ease and excels in pass coverage.
Out of all the players that we have coming in from the class of 2010, Dakota Royer has the most upside and potential. As long as he continues to grow into his frame and develop at the rate his developing, I would not be suprised to see him on field for special teams and working his way into the rotation as the year progresses. My guess would be that Royer ends up at the linebacker position, but I wouldn't expect to see much of #32 this weekend at the Blue and White game as he is nursing an injured hip.
Up Next: Evan Hailes
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Monday, April 19, 2010
Kevin Haplea
We are now moving on to our second of seven early enrollees. Today we are going to take a look at tight end Kevin Haplea. Kevin was a much needed recruit, especially with the losses of Mickey Shuler and Quarless at the tight end position.
Kevin was highly recruited tight end in the class of 2010. Some recruiting services had Kevin ranked as high as the sixth ranked tight end in the class of 2010. Standing at 6'4" and listed as much as 240 lbs, he seemed to have build to contribute and strengthen the depth chart almost immediately. However, Kevin has been officially listed at 210 lbs on the Penn State roster and has some room to grow.
Taking a closer look at Kevin, he certainly has the frame to grow into a great division I tight end, and the skills to go with it. Kevin has a great knack for the ball. His on the ball skills rival that of most receivers, possessing great hands, boasting a 32 inch vertical, and does a great job of using his body to box out defenders and high point the ball. Kevin also has a relentless motor, almost always going to the whistle, and does a great job blocking.
Though his upside is great, Kevin will need to grow into his frame before he can contribute at this level. Even though he is extremely talented and possesses a great amount of potential, Kevin will need to improve his size and speed in order to contribute. Currently, he is a little undersized to play on the end of the line and will most likely be out muscled by many defensive end and linebackers at this level. Linebackers at this level will be able to match his current speed, so he will need to bulk up to be able to use his frame to his advantage.
Haplea is a work in progress, but with his work ethic and raw ability, I would expect him to develop into a great player in a couple of years. It would definitely be a shame if a player of his caliber does not develop into a top tier player at this level. With the coaching and the facilities at Penn State, I say that he will do just fine. Just keep an eye open for number 82 this weekend at the Blue and White game.
NEXT UP: DAKOTA ROYER
WE ARE..................
Kevin was highly recruited tight end in the class of 2010. Some recruiting services had Kevin ranked as high as the sixth ranked tight end in the class of 2010. Standing at 6'4" and listed as much as 240 lbs, he seemed to have build to contribute and strengthen the depth chart almost immediately. However, Kevin has been officially listed at 210 lbs on the Penn State roster and has some room to grow.
Taking a closer look at Kevin, he certainly has the frame to grow into a great division I tight end, and the skills to go with it. Kevin has a great knack for the ball. His on the ball skills rival that of most receivers, possessing great hands, boasting a 32 inch vertical, and does a great job of using his body to box out defenders and high point the ball. Kevin also has a relentless motor, almost always going to the whistle, and does a great job blocking.
Though his upside is great, Kevin will need to grow into his frame before he can contribute at this level. Even though he is extremely talented and possesses a great amount of potential, Kevin will need to improve his size and speed in order to contribute. Currently, he is a little undersized to play on the end of the line and will most likely be out muscled by many defensive end and linebackers at this level. Linebackers at this level will be able to match his current speed, so he will need to bulk up to be able to use his frame to his advantage.
Haplea is a work in progress, but with his work ethic and raw ability, I would expect him to develop into a great player in a couple of years. It would definitely be a shame if a player of his caliber does not develop into a top tier player at this level. With the coaching and the facilities at Penn State, I say that he will do just fine. Just keep an eye open for number 82 this weekend at the Blue and White game.
NEXT UP: DAKOTA ROYER
WE ARE..................
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