Daniel Faalele

[pink shizzle]

I remember a year or two ago Sports Illustrated or ESPN had a piece on him. Something like 6'9" and 400 lbs, was moving from Australia and going to IMG Academy in Florida to play football. It was also stated he had low bodyfat. Kid had never played football but was a monster. I read he hadn't ever lifted a weight but had a greater power score than most NFL lineman (can't remember the test the used).

I see his teammate, a 4 star 6'5" 370 lb OG at IMG also signed with Minnesota. I thought he was originally either comitted to Florida or at least leaning there. That's a lot of beef between those two.

How did Minny get these two guys to come up there? Turned down offers from the Bamas of the country to go to Kinnick North. Not to create another Minny thread- but it just seemed interesting to me.

 

[Dick Rambone]

Note to Iowa DL , stay low and away from said players mouth, He may eat You. Guy has a future in WWE if He doesn't stick in football holy snickies .

 

[nu2u]

A great pick up for the Gophers. What college coach wouldn't want a guy with his size and potential on the roster. I have no idea how quick he is but assuming he plays OT, he may have problems with quicker DEs on passing downs. Also, he might be easily distracted if you throw a cheeseburger on the ground in front of him.

 

[MitchL]

This looks like a recipe for the run game, but there is a very big chance, imo, that average speed or better DEs will outquick the edge and eat the qb for lunch. Time will tell.

 

[paladinhawk]

Insert Samoan boat rowing joke?

 

[ANYCHawk]

Also, he might be easily distracted if you throw a cheeseburger on the ground in front of him.

To be fair, so am I

 

[Goldteam]

We'll be adding this guy out Edina, MN next year.

He's the number 5 rated offensive tackle in the country.

The offensive talent is going to be increasing just ever so slightly under Fleck(LOL)

 

[Dick Rambone]

We'll be adding this guy out Edina, MN next year.

View embedded media

He's the number 5 rated offensive tackle in the country.

The offensive talent is going to be increasing just ever so slightly under Fleck(LOL)

until that LOI is signed He has every chance to go elsewhere . First I would recommend getting the commit, You know like Iowa has with the 2 best OL in the state for next year

 

[nu2u]

We'll be adding this guy out Edina, MN next year.

View embedded media

He's the number 5 rated offensive tackle in the country.

The offensive talent is going to be increasing just ever so slightly under Fleck(LOL)

He hasn't committed to any school yet. Remember when you got excited when John Waggoner was set to visit Minnesota earlier this month....... and then he cancelled. He signed with Iowa today.

 

[Goldteam]

He hasn't committed to any school yet. Remember when you got excited when John Waggoner was set to visit Minnesota earlier this month....... and then he cancelled. He signed with Iowa today.

True, but then a bunch of posters here said they know people who saw waggoner and weren't overly impressed. We'll see if Waggoner sees the field.

The way some of your posters were talking about him, I'm hoping Quinn or Falele don't hurt him.

 

[nu2u]

True, but then a bunch of posters here said they know people who saw waggoner and weren't overly impressed. We'll see if Waggoner sees the field.

The way some of your posters were talking about him, I'm hoping Quinn or Falele don't hurt him.

We know that PJ Fleck was impressed ..... along with a couple dozen other major college coaches. For me, their assessments mean considerably more than "a few people who saw Waggoner play". He will play, the only question is how soon - Iowa is pretty well stacked at DE.

 

[reotto]

5-7 (2-7 Big Ten)

Row the boat.

 

[hawkinthelou]

A great pick up for the Gophers. What college coach wouldn't want a guy with his size and potential on the roster. I have no idea how quick he is but assuming he plays OT, he may have problems with quicker DEs on passing downs. Also, he might be easily distracted if you throw a cheeseburger on the ground in front of him.

 

[Iliketrees]

To the OP, Miny didn't beat out anyone for those 2 IMG kids. The UF commit got processed because from all accounts (mainly Florida 247) because he was too big. They had an expectation that he lose weight and he gained 20-30lbs. Faalele has supposedly gotten destroyed by some of his competition but it's not like I watch the kid's games, just me reading random forums.

Tldr Miny was probably the best offer they had on the table, their ratings are inflated because of being at IMG, and no one in the south wanted them. Maybe they pan out if Fleck motivates them.

 

[StallmanCurse]

We'll be adding this guy out Edina, MN next year.

View embedded media

He's the number 5 rated offensive tackle in the country.

The offensive talent is going to be increasing just ever so slightly under Fleck(LOL)

LOL that you think you're landing him.

 

[myteamcanbeatupyourteam]

We'll be adding this guy out Edina, MN next year.

View embedded media

He's the number 5 rated offensive tackle in the country.

The offensive talent is going to be increasing just ever so slightly under Fleck(LOL)

Yet says undecided. Probably another Minnesota OL that we'll land. If he wants to be an OL in the NFL, Iowa is where he'll go.

 

[GopherHusker]

We'll be adding this guy out Edina, MN next year.

View embedded media

He's the number 5 rated offensive tackle in the country.

The offensive talent is going to be increasing just ever so slightly under Fleck(LOL)

Not very many Edina kids with options go to schools like Minnesota or Iowa. He will end up at Notre Dame most likely or Stanford.

 

[pink shizzle]

To the OP, Miny didn't beat out anyone for those 2 IMG kids. The UF commit got processed because from all accounts (mainly Florida 247) because he was too big. They had an expectation that he lose weight and he gained 20-30lbs. Faalele has supposedly gotten destroyed by some of his competition but it's not like I watch the kid's games, just me reading random forums.

Tldr Miny was probably the best offer they had on the table, their ratings are inflated because of being at IMG, and no one in the south wanted them. Maybe they pan out if Fleck motivates them.

Considering Faalele's immense strength and lack of football experience and knowledge, he has a lot of potential. Here's to hoping that potential is never reached against the Hawks.

 

[Goldteam]

5-7 (2-7 Big Ten)

Row the boat.

Not very many Edina kids with options go to schools like Minnesota or Iowa. He will end up at Notre Dame most likely or Stanford.

Until Fleck came here that is true.

Quinn's dad played at Minnesota.

You will soon see.

 

[Goldteam]

5-7 (2-7 Big Ten)

Row the boat.

7-5 (4-5 Big Ten)

Pinstripe

Fleck can only hope to reach those lofty goals when he gets his guys in here.

 

[GopherHusker]

Until Fleck came here that is true.

Quinn's dad played at Minnesota.

You will soon see.

That’s why on his own dime he has visited virtually every top program in the country. He has better educational options than Minnesota and Edina kids tend to take those

 

[dbrocket]

I'm always skeptical of football players taller than 6-7". There are guys that have panned out, but football is a game that puts a premium on lateral quickness, explosive acceleration and vertical leverage - and most guys 6'8" and over don't have it.

The same goes for running backs much taller than 6'0". For sure, 6'3" and up is troubling at the position.

 

[Dick Rambone]

7-5 (4-5 Big Ten)

Pinstripe

Fleck can only hope to reach those lofty goals when he gets his guys in here.

7-5 with the schedule Iowa had and a new OC and starting QB was what most here thought would happen . Iowa would have gone 9-3 with the Floating Goofs schedule this year .

 

[nu2u]

I'm always skeptical of football players taller than 6-7". There are guys that have panned out, but football is a game that puts a premium on lateral quickness, explosive acceleration and vertical leverage - and most guys 6'8" and over don't have it.

The same goes for running backs much taller than 6'0". For sure, 6'3" and up is troubling at the position.

Also conditioning. According to Rivals, Falalala weighs 390 and the other ING commit (Dunlap) goes 6ft5 and weighs 368. Will they have the stamina to play every down? Just getting up off the ground and on their feet may be a major exercise by the 2nd Half.

 

[Hawk fan in MN]

7-5 (4-5 Big Ten)

Pinstripe

Fleck can only hope to reach those lofty goals when he gets his guys in here.

6 and 13 goldteam

 

[dbrocket]

Also conditioning. According to Rivals, Falalala weighs 390 and the other ING commit (Dunlap) goes 6ft5 and weighs 368. Will they have the stamina to play every down? Just getting up off the ground and on their feet may be a major exercise by the 2nd Half.

Right. And even if they can play, and they can get in shape, guys that size are more susceptible to their feet, ankles and knees breaking down.

Whatever the reason, very few guys that tall make it in football.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Not very many Edina kids with options go to schools like Minnesota or Iowa. He will end up at Notre Dame most likely or Stanford.

Cake eaters.

 

[sdchawkeye]

Faalele has supposedly gotten destroyed by some of his competition but it's not like I watch the kid's games, just me reading random forums.

I wouldn't be surprised if that's true, just watch his opening 'highlights'. He lost far more battles than he won. With that said, I'm sure he'll have a good career at Minnesota, good luck to him in every game except against Iowa.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-pfmrvFCjkI

 

[Baseballa33]

5-7 (2-7 Big Ten)

Row the boat.

7-5 (4-5 Big Ten)

Pinstripe

Fleck can only hope to reach those lofty goals when he gets his guys in here.

Will Fleck go 11-2, 10-3, 10-2 in years 4-6? Wasn’t Minnesota a 9 win team last year? Fleck sucks nuts.

 

[And1Hawk]

All this means is it took one season for Fleck to realize he’d better get a lot bigger on the OL. Genius.

PJs gonna get that boat a motor!

 

[nu2u]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-pfmrvFCjkI

Not bad foot speed for a guy his size but he gets thrown off balance too often by much smaller players and maintaining balance is a critical skill for any OL, especially OT. Straight ahead run blocking (goal line, e.g.) will be his best use. He is at least couple years away from college competition IMO. I could be wrong and I admit to viewing the tape with a more critical eye but he looks very raw.

 

[pink shizzle]

Not bad foot speed for a guy his size but he gets thrown off balance too often by much smaller players and maintaining balance is a critical skill for any OL, especially OT. Straight ahead run blocking (goal line, e.g.) will be his best use. He is at least couple years away from college competition IMO. I could be wrong and I admit to viewing the tape with a more critical eye but he looks very raw.

Makes sense after just a year of playing the sport. A redshirt season will be his best friend.

 

[cmhawks99]

I actually went and looked at that Minnesota class I'm kind of impressed. I thought they were that high just because of Raw numbers but they have some decent looking talent.

The Truth is the west needs to start pulling in better kids, all the way around at each school. Now don't get me wrong I don't buy into the "hype" that the West is the worst division in college football or that the east is that dramatically different. But there is a perception out there and higher ranked classes will help to change that.

 

[reotto]

All this means is it took one season for Fleck to realize he’d better get a lot bigger on the OL. Genius.

PJs gonna get that boat a motor!

Quicker than NE coaches who still haven’t figured it out.

 

[reotto]

Not bad foot speed for a guy his size but he gets thrown off balance too often by much smaller players and maintaining balance is a critical skill for any OL, especially OT. Straight ahead run blocking (goal line, e.g.) will be his best use. He is at least couple years away from college competition IMO. I could be wrong and I admit to viewing the tape with a more critical eye but he looks very raw.

Evidentially he thinks eating will anchor him and help with his balance.

I want to see him lead a screen play.