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Darien Porter Question

milehighhawkeye24

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Jun 20, 2013
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Was there any interest from Iowa in this in state Bettendorf WR that verbaled to ISU? He appears to have all the boxes checked for being a good receiver and Iowa generally cleans up the good Bettendorf players but doesn't even have Iowa listed on his teams interested profile.......not that it is the end of the world, maybe he isn't an Iowa fan (or hates Iowa) so the coaches moved on? Just curious that we have a WR in Eastern Iowa that seems pretty good and an obvious need for WR upgrade but seems like no interest either way.
 
This is 100% speculation.

With the relationship Iowa has with the Bett staff I have to believe they either learned some things that made them want to pursue other options or they truly believe they have identified players with more potential and will land them.
 
I think he's more of an athlete than a football player at this point. If I recall, his football stats aren't really that impressive. I think he plays three sports (FB, BB & track) and hasn't focused on any, hasn't gone to many camps, hasn't put up any numbers during the FB season that jump out. I think Iowa had interest but didn't consider him an early offer candidate/must get and likely wanted to see him in camp or wait until they saw him more in action during his SR season to pull the trigger Of course, I could be completely wrong on all of this.
 
It just seems odd to me- Nebby, Minny and ISU all offered (than again ISU and Minny offer everybody with a pulse) Not saying we should or should not offer, just odd to me
 
I have never seen film or seen this kid play but to steal a line from an Iowa State assistant coach looking at his measureables "I am underwhelmed".
6'3''-167lbs
4.65 40 yd dash
4.22 shuttle
31 inch vertical

Forget that the 40 yard dash and shuttle are not that impressive. It is the vertical (or lack of in this case) that "jumps out" (pun intended) to me. Vertical leap is a measurement of explosiveness not just how high a kid can get. Obviously coaches are seeing something from on the field they like. Could be he has a great work ethic, catches everything thrown his way, great body control, good football IQ, but certainly appears to be a "project" that may take a while to contribute.
 
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I have never seen film or seen this kid play but to steal a line from an Iowa State assistant coach looking at his measureables "I am underwhelmed".
6'3''-167lbs
4.65 40 yd dash
4.22 shuttle
31 inch vertical

Forget that the 40 yard dash and shuttle are not that impressive. It is the vertical (or lack of in this case) that "jumps out" (pun intended) to me. Vertical leap is a measurement of explosiveness not just how high a kid can get. Obviously coaches are seeing something from on the field they like. Could be he has a great work ethic, catches everything thrown his way, great body control, good football IQ, but certainly appears to be a "project" that may take a while to contribute.
Spot on with Vert being best indication of athleticism, that and broad jump. Actually 31 inch is well above average for HS athlete
 
Spot on with Vert being best indication of athleticism, that and broad jump. Actually 31 inch is well above average for HS athlete
For a division 1 WR...that is probably very average at best. My 2A high school football team in Iowa had several kids with a vert over 30” 20 years ago.
 
according to this site the avg NBA vert is only 28 inches... i'd say 31 is pretty good.

It’s a little different...basketball players tend to not be as strong in the lower body, and thus are usually one foot jumpers as opposed to two foot jumpers. This means their standing vertical isn’t going to be as high, and their max vertical is typically much more impressive. The NBA also has a lot of big, unathletic guys that being that number down.

A 31 inch vertical is fine, but it’s nothing to get excited about. Given his 100m dash times (which are really fast), I am surprised Porter tested so poorly.
 
I have never seen film or seen this kid play but to steal a line from an Iowa State assistant coach looking at his measureables "I am underwhelmed".
6'3''-167lbs
4.65 40 yd dash
4.22 shuttle
31 inch vertical

Forget that the 40 yard dash and shuttle are not that impressive. It is the vertical (or lack of in this case) that "jumps out" (pun intended) to me. Vertical leap is a measurement of explosiveness not just how high a kid can get. Obviously coaches are seeing something from on the field they like. Could be he has a great work ethic, catches everything thrown his way, great body control, good football IQ, but certainly appears to be a "project" that may take a while to contribute.

Needs some Doyleazation.
 
according to this site the avg NBA vert is only 28 inches... i'd say 31 is pretty good.


There are different protocol for a vertical test and different test methods can give much different results. I'm going to assume that while the Nike camps test may be different than what the NBA uses the most fair way to compare are player to player results from Nike camps. That said here are some Hawkeye offer results of vert. Lance Dixon=35.6 Marvin Grant=38.2 240 pound DE Michael Fletcher's is about the same as Porter's!!!!! Abdur Raseen 34'', and while WR offer Maliq Carr's is about the same he's over 40 pounds heavier at 208!!!! You know who's WR measurables I REALLY like? CR Prairie's Jace Andregg 6'2'' 186 lb 4.65 40 (same as Porter) but 3.97shuttle and 40'' verticle !!!!!!!!!
 
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Land of 10 says 42" as of a month ago*.

"Fant’s athletic marvels are rare even among top-flight tight ends. Even as he gained 12 pounds this offseason, Fant set the school record for tight ends in the vertical jump at 42 inches, according to L.J. Chaney of Pacific Scouting. Iowa officials chose neither to confirm nor deny the number.* If accurate, only two other tight ends in NFL combine history have jumped higher. Nobody at any position jumped higher than 41.5 inches at the NFL combine this year."

https://www.landof10.com/iowa/iowa-football-te-combo-noah-fant-t-j-hockenson-best
 
according to this site the avg NBA vert is only 28 inches... i'd say 31 is pretty good.


I'm going to add to my post above that after researching the NBA most certainly uses a different test method than Nike camps. Found this: 2006 best measured vertical in NBA was 1. Dwayne Mitchell 37.5'' 2. Ronnie Brewer, Curtis Weathers, Will Blalock at 35'', and David Noel at 34.5. The NBA use a "no step" test while I'm guessing Nike uses 1 step which would explain the pedestrian 28" average for NBA players.
 
For a division 1 WR...that is probably very average at best. My 2A high school football team in Iowa had several kids with a vert over 30” 20 years ago.
Not for a 6' 4" athlete........although his weight is down
I'm going to add to my post above that after researching the NBA most certainly uses a different test method than Nike camps. Found this: 2006 best measured vertical in NBA was 1. Dwayne Mitchell 37.5'' 2. Ronnie Brewer, Curtis Weathers, Will Blalock at 35'', and David Noel at 34.5. The NBA use a "no step" test while I'm guessing Nike uses 1 step which would explain the pedestrian 28" average for NBA players.
28" inch vert is fantastic for players that are super tall, this kid is 6'4" so 31" is certainly above average. In fact, several WR at the NFL combine jumped 31"- so I stand by my statement that 31" for a 6"4' Junior in HS is above average if not considered good
 
Land of 10 says 42" as of a month ago*.

"Fant’s athletic marvels are rare even among top-flight tight ends. Even as he gained 12 pounds this offseason, Fant set the school record for tight ends in the vertical jump at 42 inches, according to L.J. Chaney of Pacific Scouting. Iowa officials chose neither to confirm nor deny the number.* If accurate, only two other tight ends in NFL combine history have jumped higher. Nobody at any position jumped higher than 41.5 inches at the NFL combine this year."

https://www.landof10.com/iowa/iowa-football-te-combo-noah-fant-t-j-hockenson-best
That is impressive, however; I think his vert was like 33" coming into Iowa- JJ also had a 40" vert
 
Not for a 6' 4" athlete........although his weight is down

28" inch vert is fantastic for players that are super tall, this kid is 6'4" so 31" is certainly above average. In fact, several WR at the NFL combine jumped 31"- so I stand by my statement that 31" for a 6"4' Junior in HS is above average if not considered good

Not by Nike camp vertical protocol. Just compare to other Nike camp participants. He's barely out jumping Olinemen. lol
 
Not by Nike camp vertical protocol. Just compare to other Nike camp participants. He's barely out jumping Olinemen. lol
I would assume their are different protocols, bc not many NFL OL jump over 31" like maybe 5 or 6, not to mention they are grown ass men and not 16-17 year old. If he is at 31" now, he would be at 37+ by the time he gets out of college
 
I would assume their are different protocols, bc not many NFL OL jump over 31" like maybe 5 or 6, not to mention they are grown ass men and not 16-17 year old. If he is at 31" now, he would be at 37+ by the time he gets out of college


Again I was comparing him to the other Nike camp participants NOT NFL lineman. And I was exaggerating, most the 300 pound lineman at the camp were around 24''. The lowest non lineman I saw listed was a QB at 26". I'm guessing they use the sargent method to measure which allows a step and arm swing. Some methods of measure require arms to be kept at side and no arm swing so obviously there would be HUGE differences. Porter could certainly improve to 37". With a 6'3'' frame only carrying 167 pounds now there is ALOT of frame to add muscle which SHOULD increase Power which =explosiveness.
 
Again I was comparing him to the other Nike camp participants NOT NFL lineman. And I was exaggerating, most the 300 pound lineman at the camp were around 24''. The lowest non lineman I saw listed was a QB at 26". I'm guessing they use the sargent method to measure which allows a step and arm swing. Some methods of measure require arms to be kept at side and no arm swing so obviously there would be HUGE differences. Porter could certainly improve to 37". With a 6'3'' frame only carrying 167 pounds now there is ALOT of frame to add muscle which SHOULD increase Power which =explosiveness.
LOL my bad I misunderstood your post
 
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I'm neither pro nor con about the kid, and I appreciate the vert conversation, but for the original intent, help me out.
Can the kid play or not?

There are many "looks like Tarzan/plays like Jane" fellas. (Not saying that is the case here) For those of you who have watched him play, can he play? Athleticism is key, but...
 
Not for a 6' 4" athlete........although his weight is down

28" inch vert is fantastic for players that are super tall, this kid is 6'4" so 31" is certainly above average. In fact, several WR at the NFL combine jumped 31"- so I stand by my statement that 31" for a 6"4' Junior in HS is above average if not considered good
The worst vertical for a WR at this year’s NFL combine was 30.5”
 
I would have to think that Darien Porter has not been offered because of similar reasons that WDDT stated earlier. We either have other options or there is something character or attitude wise that has been communicated to the staff that holds back interest. As a personal anecdote, there was a kid on my team in the mid 2000's who was an athletic specimen. He was one of the better players on the team, but had a negative attitude toward coaching and instruction and didn't keep up academically. He went to Tennessee on scholarship, washed out, then transferred to Cincinatti and washed out there. No wonder why the home state Hawkeyes never pursued him. I'm sure they asked but were informed that he was not an Iowa type prospect.
 
I'm neither pro nor con about the kid, and I appreciate the vert conversation, but for the original intent, help me out.
Can the kid play or not?

There are many "looks like Tarzan/plays like Jane" fellas. (Not saying that is the case here) For those of you who have watched him play, can he play? Athleticism is key, but...

At 6’3’’ 165 pounds he would be more of a look like Jane play like Tarzan.
 
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What would you "sell" to a WR recruit if you were the Hawks? Honest question...who was the last high profile receiver in the state to choose Iowa?
 
What would you "sell" to a WR recruit if you were the Hawks? Honest question...who was the last high profile receiver in the state to choose Iowa?

Probably Keenan Davis. I agree, unfortunately there are other programs that are able to better feature WRs right now. If our passing attack can more closely resemble that of 2010 and 2011, that might be enough to lure in some better receiver prospects like David Bell.
 
What would you "sell" to a WR recruit if you were the Hawks? Honest question...who was the last high profile receiver in the state to choose Iowa?

New OC looking for playmakers, lack of depth and pt available, b10, connections of coaches to NFL, stability of staff, (local kid) chance to be the one that chose to stay, kinnick renovation, kinnick "at night" and the giant killer we have become, west is decided by wiscy Iowa game every year, family and that's just off the top of my head not including any specifics I would have from the "sale" in front of me.
 
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What would you "sell" to a WR recruit if you were the Hawks? Honest question...who was the last high profile receiver in the state to choose Iowa?

Porter is NOT high profile. I don’t think there is any question he has a ways to go physically to be ready to play D1 football. Development of players that are not high profile has been a strong suit of the Iowa program. While WR has never been a strong area for recruiting the Iowa program has had several walk on or players that did not even play WR in HS develop enough to get shots at the NFL.
 
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By high profile I did not mean the ability to play right away... not many can do that. I meant the consensus best WR prospect in our state. I am probably too close to this one to be totally objective but the insinuation that he has some sort of work ethic or discipline issues as the reason we didn't offer him is laughable. You want to know why we didn't offer him? Because Iowa State identified him as their type of player first and recruited him hard while we were deciding. By the time we decided, he had already decided that he wanted to go there even if Iowa offered... which they would do in a second if they thought he would flip. Iowa is not historically a great WR school.. period. That doesn't mean we suck, actually we've been pretty good and I like they brand of football we play.. it's just not a great WR brand. That's why guys like Porter, Martin, Darbo, Arrington, etc. go other places... it's that simple.
 
By high profile I did not mean the ability to play right away... not many can do that. I meant the consensus best WR prospect in our state. I am probably too close to this one to be totally objective but the insinuation that he has some sort of work ethic or discipline issues as the reason we didn't offer him is laughable. You want to know why we didn't offer him? Because Iowa State identified him as their type of player first and recruited him hard while we were deciding. By the time we decided, he had already decided that he wanted to go there even if Iowa offered... which they would do in a second if they thought he would flip. Iowa is not historically a great WR school.. period. That doesn't mean we suck, actually we've been pretty good and I like they brand of football we play.. it's just not a great WR brand. That's why guys like Porter, Martin, Darbo, Arrington, etc. go other places... it's that simple.

Well I have no idea about his attitude or work ethic. You may be right on Porter but when you say that’s why we missed on the players you listed I can tell you it’s a FACT that is not the case on more than one of them. When I know how wrong you are about two of those players it makes it a little more difficult to know how accurate your statements are.
 
Just want to make sure I know what I am wrong about: My statement was that receivers such as Darboh, Martin, and Arrington (and now Porter) choose to go to other schools, even though we wanted them. My presumption is that they chose to do that (at least in part) because they know we don't have a great track record with receivers.. we are not a pass friendly (WR friendly) scheme... and most receivers would like to be known as big play receivers who can also block.. not good blockers who can catch the ball.
If you are saying Iowa didn't want those guys... then we are idiots. So what am I wrong about?
 
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