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Cooper DeJean (6'1", 200lbs) Will Star at Safety/Cash. Ran 10.66 in 100M. Adidas Nat'l Player of the Year & An All American + Video Highlights

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The Drake Relays features electronic timing for high school athletes, correct?
Correct me if I am wrong but I believe all HS meets are required to have electronic timing. I haven't seen timekeepers at a HS track meet in a very long time. Middle School meets are even electronically timed.
I do not believe track at any level in the state of Iowa does not use electronic timing.
 
Ran 11.07 in the 100. Came in 3rd
That 4/100 team was carried by Dejean. Good lord the 1st runner ran a 13.5 for a split. Which is slower than the slowest 100-meter Girls time today....BY FAR That horrible split is probably accurate because the split timing at drake stadium is exceptionally accurate. (its also probably why dejeans split was so incredible)
 
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Correct me if I am wrong but I believe all HS meets are required to have electronic timing. I haven't seen timekeepers at a HS track meet in a very long time. Middle School meets are even electronically timed.
I do not believe track at any level in the state of Iowa does not use electronic timing.
Just for records. I think hand timed results are adjusted for qualifying.
Electric is required for district meets.
 
Better all-around athlete for sure. I went to school with a guy like Cooper - HS QB, starting G and a top scorer in BB, top 400m finisher at State, BB pitcher with a major college fastball and could hit with power .... he just (seemingly effortlessly) excelled at whatever sport he picked up; a real natural athlete.

DeJean is one of those unique type athletes that come around only so often. Hard to say right now if he can play the Safety position better than Nwankpa but no doubt he was under-rated by the commercial recruiting services. The Iowa staff is good at evaluating these under-rated guys, Reece Morgan hauled in quite a few.


Strongly concur re: "evaluating under-rated guys."

I have always wondered who the genius was behind all that. Is it Reese Morgan, or somebody else, or some combination of Reese Morgan and someone else? I just have no real idea, but somebody sure knows where to find the diamonds in the rough
 
That 4/100 team was carried by Dejean. Good lord the 1st runner ran a 13.5 for a split. Which is slower than the slowest 100-meter Girls time today....BY FAR That horrible split is probably accurate because the split timing at drake stadium is exceptionally accurate. (its also probably why dejeans split was so incredible)
yikes
 
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Strongly concur re: "evaluating under-rated guys."

I have always wondered who the genius was behind all that. Is it Reese Morgan, or somebody else, or some combination of Reese Morgan and someone else? I just have no real idea, but somebody sure knows where to find the diamonds in the rough
I have no way of knowing specifically how the under-rated recruits come into Iowa's orbit but Fry and now Ferentz have established impeccable credibility with high school coaches in Iowa's prime recruiting areas. I suspect a number of under-recruited prospects get Iowa's attention because they were recommended by a high school coach who has a solid relationship with Ferentz and/or an assistant. Integrity goes a long way.

Iowa has a lot of alums and ex-players out there also and some prospects may get Iowa's attention through that network. Chad Greenway came to Iowa thanks to a telephone call from an ex-Iowa player living in South Dakota strongly suggesting they take a look.
 
Strongly concur re: "evaluating under-rated guys."

I have always wondered who the genius was behind all that. Is it Reese Morgan, or somebody else, or some combination of Reese Morgan and someone else? I just have no real idea, but somebody sure knows where to find the diamonds in the rough

Reese was really good at this and it appears that Niemann is as well
 
He was impressive today. I was struck by how big he is in person. Has the body of a 3rd year college player. I have a feeling he is going to be a demon on special teams this year
 
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Just for records. I think hand timed results are adjusted for qualifying.
Electric is required for district meets.
If you're talking about qualifying for the Drake Relays, that's incorrect. Hand timed results aren't allowed for that purpose, nor should they. The only time you'll see hand timing at track meets is if the host schools aren't willing to pay for it or they don't have the capability to provide it. Most serious track programs won't participate in a hand timed only meet because it's wasted effort with no opportunity to qualify kids for the Drake Relays.

My wife and I got to attend and watch these athletes live yesterday, it was our first time ever at the Drake Relays HS event. It was unbelievable watching the state's best athletes battle it out on the best track in the state. A really, really great experience. DeJean won the long jump on his final attempt, barely edging out (1/4 inch) Collins from Charles City (a junior) who just started long jumping for the first time about a month ago. Collins did win the high jump however.

So many talented kids on that track yesterday (including my "baby boy"), it was a real treat for a track & field fan like myself.
 
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I'm just guessing based on the Rival's stats, but I would think DeJean is a safety and Twedt will be a Linebacker in this class.

But we all trust the coaches, right? I reference all the handwringing several years ago when KF didn't offer Sean Foster, a supposed 4* out of illinois that is now an OLineman at ISU. How could Iowa not offer such a highly ranked recruit? Today... Foster is starting at ISU as a RS Senior and is arguably, their worst starter.
Foster was said to lack a mean streak, that's why Kirk shy'd away from him, and as you pointed out, Kirk looks like he made the right decision.
 
Fits in with my general prognosis ... multi-sport athletes are generally undervalued by many football recruiters (with one clear exception being Iowa). Then when the start to focus a little bit more on a particular skill-set ... then you can start seeing the crazy-heights they can reach.

The caveat of the multi-sport athlete is that sometimes they are very good at many ... but seemingly not elite at any ... that is, until they receive high-level instruction. That is essentially what Ferentz banks on ... they can get these high level under-recruited athletes ... help them to become skilled specialists (in football) ... and then the Hawk roster is populated with high-level starters.

The caveat of the approach is that not all guys successfully complete the training process ... and there is a "latency effect" since it usually takes a while for the guy to reach a high-enough level of play to earn his way onto the field.
 
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I cannot wait to see Cooper on the field in Kinnick. I have the same anticipation for him that I had for Tim Dwight. He is going to be a star!
Let's pump the brakes a scosh - dude hasn't played against anything but small schools yet. Andy Brodell had a more impressive resume coming out (and that's not a knock on Brodell - just context)
 
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Let's pump the brakes a scosh - dude hasn't played against anything but small schools yet. Andy Brodell had a more impressive resume coming out (and that's not a knock on Brodell - just context)
Having the best long jump and 100 time in the entire state of Iowa (all classes) puts the small school talk to an end. Adidas National player of the year. The best athlete out of the state since Wegher IMHO.
 
I think they need to figure out where he fits offensively. As Nick Saban said, all the best athletes play offense in the modern game.
 
I was there tonight. Kid is a ridiculous athlete. Maybe he does play "small schools", but that Van Meter team he absolutely shredded is constantly one of the best teams in 1A and has a long history of great defense.

He's legit for sure.
 
Having the best long jump and 100 time in the entire state of Iowa (all classes) puts the small school talk to an end. Adidas National player of the year. The best athlete out of the state since Wegher IMHO.
maybe if it were a T&F scholarship youd have a point, but this is football where he was only able to play against small schools due to the rona.
(FWIW, Varsity bound doesnt have him as having the highest/fastest in either of those events ??)
 
maybe if it were a T&F scholarship youd have a point, but this is football where he was only able to play against small schools due to the rona.
(FWIW, Varsity bound doesnt have him as having the highest/fastest in either of those events ??)
Argument for Adidas national player of the year ? Measurables matter considerably in the sport of football (see NFL combine). I’m gonna give you the benefit of the doubt and just assume you haven’t watched him play this year. No one with a football brain would watch him play and say the things you’re saying. He just ran and jumped those numbers I posted a couple of hours ago. Looks like someone took the number 1 spot in the hundred and he is now second. But now first in long jump.
 
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