TOP HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT TAPES

1. Noel Devine- North Fort High School HS

Noel (Noelle as Brent Musburger would say) didn't really pan out to be the next Barry Sanders or Walter Payton but we can still appreciate the greatness of his High School highlights. This guy was so balanced at times it seems as if he was magnetically attached to the field. If nothing else watch the run starting at 1:57, it's just ridiculous.

2. Reggie Bush- Helix High School

There is no explanation needed for how Reggie landed a scholarship from U$C and an eventual Heisman Trophy after watching his High School clips. The scary part is he may have dominated players even more in college then he did in high school. After reviewing just how great Reggie was, there is only one conclusion for why he didn't pan out to be great in the NFL: Kim Kardashian.

3. Nate Robinson- Ranier Beach High School

We all know Nate is scary athletic. Any guy that can win the NBA dunk contest two years in a row, convincingly, at 5'7 has to be. What most people don't realize is that Nate was a 3 star football recruit (could have been higher if it wasn't for his height) out of high school with scholarship offers from U$C, Oregon and Washington. Nate originally accepted a football scholarship from Washington and played his freshman year (recorded 34 tackles and 2 interceptions at CB) before making the full time transition to college hoops. Still a part of me would have loved to see Nate Robinson play four years of college football and enter the NFL at the ATH position. He could have given Darren Sproles a run for his money for best small guy in the league.

4. Adrian Peterson- Palestine High School

Think about Adrian Peterson running the ball in the NFL. Now picture that same man running the ball against high school kids. Of course Peterson has put on some bulk since his high school days, but he was still running the football at 6'2 205 lbs with 4.4 speed. If I saw that running at me in the open field, I would just be praying that he tripped before he turned me into road kill. The first three guys gave you the "wow" factor via shifty moves and uncanny abilities to slip out of tackles. Peterson gets your attention by his unbelievable speed (seriously looks as if guys are standing still at some points) and his power. I strongly believe that if Peterson had stayed healthy through his years at Oklahoma he would have had a chance to win not one, but two Heisman Trophies. He was that good.

Video of the Day 4/28/12

Sparty gets a carry in Michigan State's annual spring football game. He starts off with a solid head of steam but sees big William Gholston coming at him as soon as he gets the ball, panics, and fumbles. I can't really judge Sparty's efforts here, because I'm pretty sure I would do the same thing if I saw 6'7 275 coming at me, wouldn't you?

Spartan Spring Game Recap

       After a second straight 11 win season (11-3), a Big Ten Legends Division crown, an Outback Bowl victory (over an SEC opponent), and finishing ranked 10th in the final AP poll, it's easy to say there are high expectations for Spartan football this upcoming fall.

Guest substitute running back, Sparty, fumbles; William Gholston recovers

       The Spartans officially kicked off their 2012 campaign with their annual spring game Saturday. The White team prevailed over the Green team, 14-2.

       The biggest question mark for the 2012 season is projected starting quarterback Andrew Maxwell. The redshirt sophomore will be taking over the rein after graduated senior Kirk Cousins lead the Spartans to their most successful four years in program history. Unfortunately for the Spartan faithful, Maxwell sprained his right knee during a practice on April 14th and was left out of the game. Redshirt freshman Connor Cook started in Maxwell's place and took the majority of the snaps for both the green and white squads.

        Cook struggled early and often. He completed 20 of his 45 passes for 294 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He had his most success for the White team (11-for-19, 134, one TD). The biggest play on the offensive end was a 45-yard pass to Johnny Adams who was subbed in at wide receiver from his usual cornerback spot. The play eventually led to a 97-yard scoring drive capped off by a 32 yard run from freshman Nick Hill. It was one of two scoring drives for the White team. 

       A couple scary moments in the game were when sophomore William Gholston went down with an apparent knee injury and Nick Hill hobbled off the field late in the third quarter. Neither injury appeared to be serious. Team doctors assessed Gholston's injury as a bruised knee and they are not too worried about it. Nick Hill looked to have rolled his ankle and later re-entered the game and had a 25-yard burst.

Nick Hall runs the ball and is tackled by redshirt freshman RJ Williamson

        Majority of the game was dominated on the defensive side of the ball. Part of the reason Cook struggled throughout the game was due to the amount of pressure he faced in the backfield. The defenses finished with 14 tackles for loss and four sacks combined.

       A large allotment of that came from the sophomore Gholston, who was the first pick for the green team. Everyone knows the kid can play, but some of the plays he makes never cease to amaze you. In the second quarter, he had two dominating plays in a row. The first one he flew off the line and dropped the running back Hill in the backfield on a counter play that was run to the opposite side of the field. On the very next play Gholston got up high and batted down a Cook pass on third down. Later in the quarter he brought down Hill once again in the backfield, this time in the endzone for a safety giving the green team their only 2 points of the game.

        "They're going to forget my name when he emerges." former Spartan and Green Bay Packer draftee Jerel Worthy said about Gholston after his safety.

        Gholston should be a pre-season all Big Ten 1st Team player, but I don't think he will stop there. There is a strong chance he will make a case for an All American spot. Alongside Gholston, the Spartans have Marcus Rush, Rashad White, and Tyler Hoover to round out a strong defensive line. With this depth along the line, teams will have a tough time double teaming Gholston leaving him with one on one coverage meaning trouble for opposing quarterbacks. Michigan State fans can only hope if Gholston does in fact have a break out season in 2012 that he doesn't leave his last year of eligibility and declare for the NFL draft. I think that could be end up being very wishful thinking.

Other Game Notes

• Running backs Larry Caper, Jr. and LeVeon Bell, Soph. saw just one possession each in the game. Caper was said to have a slight concussion
• Senior Denicos Allen led all tacklers with seven tackles and swatted down two passes
• Mark Dantonio says he'll consider flipping Johnny Adams round a little bit in the fall.
• The Michigan State mascot, Sparty, had his first career carry going for -2 yards and a fumble
• Quote of Day: "I'm not in trouble for hitting Sparty, am I?"-- William Gholston to Mark Dantonio

Video of the Day 4/27/12

       With Delmon Young's recent struggle to hit baseballs, he decided to go out and find an easier target. Young made front page news this morning for being arrested outside of a club in Manhattan last night after allegedly shoving a man to the ground and making anti-Semitic remarks. From his history, anger issues and Young shouldn't come as a surprise as we see in this video. This ones for you Delmon.

 

(I will give him one thing and say the pitch did look outside.)

Who is Brad Eldred?

        Brad Ross Eldred just might be a Rod Allen dream come true. Standing at 6'5 275 pounds with the nickname "Big Country", Allen will be extra giddy at the opportunity to bring back one of his infamous slogans, "He's some kind of country strong!".

        The 31 year old has been tearing up the International League this year, with a .388 batting average, 13 home runs, and 35 runs batted in just 20 games for the Tiger's Triple A affiliate the Toledo Mudhens. He might feel some pressure from Detroit fans to live up to those jaw-dropping numbers, but luckily for Eldred, the pressure ends there. Eldred is taking Brandon Inge's spot on the Tiger's roster, who was 2 for 20 on the season before being released earlier today. Skipper Jim Leyland said he was going to run him out there at designated hitter and let him show what he can do. Another good sign for Eldred as the production from the DH spot this year for the Tigers has been abysmal (.182 average, no home runs and three RBIs).

       The slugger attended Florida International University, where he was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year as a senior and led the NCAA in home runs that season with 29. He has been in this position before as he has made big league appearances in the three separate seasons with three different ball clubs. In 2005, he made his MLB debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he hit .221 with 12 home runs and 27 runs batted in before finding himself back in AAA the next season. In 2007 he made a short 19 game appearance with the Pirates and struggled hitting .109 with 2 home runs and 3 runs batted in. In 2010, Eldred once again found himself on a Major League diamond this time with the Colorado Rockies. This would be his shortest stint of all, lasting 11 games hitting .250 with 1 home run and 3 runs batted in.

       The power numbers have always been there for Eldred, but throughout his career has never fallen into a comfort zone where he was seeing good pitches and capitalizing on them every at bat. The Mud Hens have noticed a difference in his approach this year and recognize that he is seeing the ball extremely will.

       "He goes up there and looks for a pitch," Mud Hens manager Phil Nevin said. "When he gets it he doesn't miss it." 

       Tiger fans can only hope he sees a lot of similar pitches in the coming weeks and that the power hitting righty has finally developed an ability to hit for average to go along with his raw power, proving that his season thus far has been no fluke and he is ready to finally become a consistent MLB player.

        The team's lineup may be struggling early on, but it is filled with proven players that will come around and will hit the baseball this season. If Eldred can come in a be a consistent threat in the lineup it would be an unexpected bonus that would make this team that much stronger heading into October.

      The only thing that would make Tiger fans happier than Eldred continuing to hit the baseball like he has been would be for him to die his hair red, because who doesn't want to hear "Watch out Big Red!" on a consistent basis the rest of the year.