My most impressive defensive watch today was GERALD HOGES/OLB/PENN STATE. If you’re like me I couldn’t bring myself to watch a lot of Penn State football after their rape by the NCAA. This guy is one of the most impressive combinations of football smarts and athleticism that I've seen this year at OLB. Most of the big names I’ve watched were noted for their sack totals. HODGES plays the whole game. And like HALL, he was also very vocal with his mates as offensive formations were recognized. He moves very well for a guy his size (6’2/250) and I expect some popping pads from him the rest of the week. ZACH SUDFELD/NEVADA. SUDFELD really caught m eye in the Nevada Bowl game as a downfield receiving threat despite his 6’7/255 size. He did it again today. He’s pretty quick off the snap of the ball, and his long legs really eat up yardage as he gains momentum on his routes. He’s a legit middle to long receiving threat, with good hands and is not afraid to block in-line. http://www.gbnreport.com/shrinereport.html
Hodges is awesome. He is such a good athlete, PSU used him a couple times as their punt returner in the earlier part of the season before settling on another player.
"But the best all-around LB for the West Squad is probably A.J. KLEIN/LB/Iowa State. The 6’2/244 lb. KLEIN is half of the KNOTT/KLEIN tackling machine duo that has dominated Cyclone opponents the past 3 seasons. I had projected KLEIN as a strong, hard charging run stopper in the past but I noticed him dropping more and more into coverage responsibilities watching Iowa State play in 2012. And indeed that is where he is shining already this week. In LB drop drills KLEIN was the first to demonstrate the different drop techniques and even seemed to show his position coach a new one this afternoon. He can still lay the wood, and hunts the ball relentlessly, but in today’s pass happy NFL a coverage LB is highly coveted. KLEIN can play 3 downs in the pro game. I also found it interesting that he and KNOTT both played a hybrid scheme with the Cyclones, which placed them both inside even though they had a 4-man DL in front of them. He’s playing primarily outside this week and appears to be directing a lot of traffic from there. I think he’ll fit best as a Mike in a 4-3 scheme." http://www.gbnreport.com/shrinereport.html
