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'14 TX ILB Grant Watanabe (Signed to COLORADO)

Quattro

Quattro

Banned
BANNED
Rivals
Scout
ESPN
247 Sports

i

William J. Brennan H.S. (San Antonio, TX)

Ht: 5'11"
Wt: 215
40: 4.87(ESPN)

Rivals rating: 3*-5.5rr; unranked ILB
Scout rating: 3*; #38 MLB
ESPN rating: 3*-77 grade; #69 OLB
247s rating: 3*-84 Rating; #45 ILB

Reported Offers: COLORADO, Utah
 
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Interesting. Not the best size/speed combo, but will need to dig up some highlights.
 
Looks like a very good player, and yes that 40 time can be worked on with College level strength and conditioning coaching.
 
bigbang2 said:
Looks like a very good player, and yes that 40 time can be worked on with College level strength and conditioning coaching.
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The "40 time can be worked on" is about as flimsy a statement you can make. Of course, it can. The issue is how much. We need to be looking at LBs in the high 4.6/low 4.7 range IMO.
 
While this kid is probably smaller and slower than what we'd ideally be looking for, I love the violence with which he strikes people. Fun highlights to watch.
 
'14 TX ILB Grant Watanabe

It looks like a relative of his is an alum.
 
Duff Man said:
The "40 time can be worked on" is about as flimsy a statement you can make. Of course, it can. The issue is how much. We need to be looking at LBs in the high 4.6/low 4.7 range IMO.
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^^Agree^^

We need to be recruiting athletes who can compete on a PAC 12 level. Last couple years we have put teams on the field that on a man for man basis were smaller, slower, weaker, and less skilled than the guys they were playing against.

40 times are a good reflection of a kids game speed. I don't worry if a kid is a 4.5 or a 4.6 which is the kind of difference that "coaching" can make. What I am worried about is if a kid has the speed to play at this level. When you are looking at LBs if you put guys out there who run 4.8 or slower on a track you can be pretty sure that they aren't going to keep up with a 4.5 RB or a 4.6 TE running through his zone on third and 6.
 
Can't really trust that reported time. But just for sake of argument, if the likes of Kevin Minter 4.81, Mantei Teo 4.83 can succeed in College, I see no reason why Watanabe can't play in the low 4.8 in College. 4.8 40 for a MLB is about right. I am more concerned about the first 20 yards time for MLBs.
 
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The like this kids film. No false steps. Seems to play the game with a high football knowledge. Would like to see a whole game instead of just a highlight reel.
 
How much of an issue is the reported height of 5'11, seems too small to me for MLB, but I'm not sure how critical height is for the position.
 
SuperD said:
How much of an issue is the reported height of 5'11, seems too small to me for MLB, but I'm not sure how critical height is for the position.
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Height for a MLB is an issue but not a deal breaker. Been quite a few very good ILBs who weren't very tall. Al Wilson of the Broncos and out of Bama was listed at 6'1" and was probably closer to 5'11" and was an all-American and all-pro.

My concern here would be that if he is listed at 5'11" what are the chances that he is really closer to 5'9" which would be an issue.
 
MtnBuff said:
Height for a MLB is an issue but not a deal breaker. Been quite a few very good ILBs who weren't very tall. Al Wilson of the Broncos and out of Bama was listed at 6'1" and was probably closer to 5'11" and was an all-American and all-pro.

My concern here would be that if he is listed at 5'11" what are the chances that he is really closer to 5'9" which would be an issue.
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Al Wilson went to Tennessee
 
Size at MLB doesn't matter as much if it's a 4-3 and the DTs are huge and can eat up blockers.

Sam Mills was like 5'9, Dat Nguyen was around 5'10 or 5'11, Dexter Coakley was around there, Zach Thomas was 5'9 or so. All pretty damn good linebackers in their time.

I personally think height is a pretty overrated measurement for football. Some positions it's pretty important, but LB isn't one of them.
 
London Fletcher is a good example, he's around 5'9" 5'10". Geez it seems like he's been in the NFL for like 25 years.
 
Based on the Rivals article, it sounds like we're in the early lead here.
 
With the Watanabe name, I expected a Japanese American, but he's clearly very, very Poly. Has a lot of relatives (cousins and uncles) that played in college and higher, all with Samoan/Tongan surnames. Stan Havili is Tongan. Tony Moeaki is Samoan (I believe). Paul Soliai is definitely Samoan. I would guess his surname came from Japanese lineage, living in Hawaii at some point in the past. Just some interesting background (to me).

There appears to be a strong bond to Utah as several of these guys played at Utah or BYU, or went to HS in Utah. Havili went to HS in SLC before going to USC.

More than a little resemblance to a former LB recruit? At any rate, I'd LOVE to have this tackling machine.

130316_RIVALS_DALLAS_0132_8564555791_O405.JPG
 
I have had two acquaintances, bith surnamed Watanabe. Both were of Japanese decent FWIW. But who cares, looks to me like the kid can play.
 
I don't care if he's North Korean! I just find genealogy to be very interesting. I'll bet you his Dad's family was from Hawaii!
 
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