There is no comparison between Oliver and Vandeberg at this age. Martin is a well put together kid who's turning into an elite WR prospect.
Oliver Martin has as Becky offer
- Thread starter madmax1191
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There is no comparison between Oliver and Vandeberg at this age. Martin is a well put together kid who's turning into an elite WR prospect.
By what measure is he becoming an "elite" WR recruit? The last time I checked, elite recruits often are offered as FR or SOs in high school ... offered by the likes of the Ohio States and Alabamas of the world.
Oliver's recruitment is blowing up right now - that is without question. Is he overrated or underrated ... we won't know until he steps on the field.
As for there being no comparison ... how is that? They both played DB and WR in high school. They both play in regions that aren't perceived as being on the same "big time" level as the ball played in more populous areas. They both put up comparable numbers at WR.
The primary differences are that Oliver is less slight than VandeBerg ... however, on the flip side, while VandeBerg was a skinny high schooler ... he was also a gamer. The kid was lights-out on both sides of the ball for his team. I don't know the story of Oliver's play on D ... however, since nobody has discussed it, I would venture to guess that it pales in comparison to his play as a WR.
Therein lies the attraction that VandeBerg had in his recruitment ... Iowa traditionally recruits versatile gamers if they cannot land higher, elite-level talent. Such guys project at multiple positions and still provide the Hawks with value no matter where they end up landing.
Don't get me wrong, I have no desire to diminish Oliver's play. However, nor do I wish to overstate it. The kid is clearly a talent ... and I'd like to see him play for the Hawks. However, I won't talk him up at the expense of diminishing what Matt VandeBerg brought to the table.
So what if VandeBerg was undersized? Last time I checked, folks also thought that Bob Sanders was too short. Similarly, Shonn Greene was too fat (coming off his hiatus). There's a reason why Doyle is considered the best in the biz.
Being slight doesn't take away 21 INTs and 35 TD receptions through 3 high school seasons. That tells me that he's a kid who knows how to play FOOTBALL.
Dez King similarly was a guy who was good on both sides of the ball ... and he's turned out to be a pretty successful CB. How many folks would have pegged a marginally recruited kid like him to win the Thorpe award?
I'm easily entertained, so I appreciated this thread, but for once, I'd love to see someone come on and apologize for getting their panties in a twist over something like this, something they had NO CLUE as to what WAS REALLY HAPPENING behind the scenes, and now that the facts have come out, they would admit that these coaches actually had everything under control. There's one or two posters on this thread that qualify. 
Personally I think the Iowa staff realized one in the hand is better than two in the bush. If they waited for the more highly rated kids to make up their minds they may have lost Martin.I'm easily entertained, so I appreciated this thread, but for once, I'd love to see someone come on and apologize for getting their panties in a twist over something like this, something they had NO CLUE as to what WAS REALLY HAPPENING behind the scenes, and now that the facts have come out, they would admit that these coaches actually had everything under control. There's one or two posters on this thread that qualify.
They are really high on Eaton actually. I'll agree Martin looks like the better prospect but they know more than I do
Last time I read something about his "Elite-ness" he was voted the best receiver at the camp in chicago that had other "elite" WRs there.
Hope to see him in black and gold. If he does commit to Iowa, I think he will be a nice addition.
Watching Martin's tape you see that he is a strong tough kid with good hands. Doesn't have great speed. Sounds like he has worked with some receivers to be a better route runner but I wonder if FS would actually be his best position in college? And I wonder if any of these offers are for him being an athlete and not specifically a WR?
Great camp performances simply shows pieces of the puzzle. There is a huge difference between camp performance and game performance. Iowa's very own Tyler Nielsen was an elite camper too ... and yet, as solid of a Hawk as he was ... his play on the field never matched how well he camped. FYI, if you don't recall Tyler ... he was a freak athlete. He ran sprints as fast as track guys who were 50 lbs lighter.
Sorry but Morris didn't match the hype?
Just the sixth player in school history to record 400 career tackles . . . first linebacker to lead team in sacks since sacks became official statistic in 1986 . . . recorded 400 career stops, along with 26 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and six interceptions . . . tied for second in the Big Ten and ranked 18th nationally in tackles for loss (1.31) . . . tied for second in the Big Ten in QB sacks (8) . . . tied for third in the Big Ten with four interceptions . . . ranked eighth in the Big Ten in tackles per game (8.2) . . . ranked third in the Big Ten and tied for 31st nationally in tackles per game (9.4) in 2012 . . . ranked fifth in the Big Ten and tied for 37th nationally in tackles per game (9.2) in 2011 . . . one of six seniors named to 2013 Leadership Group . . . one of four juniors named to 2012 Leadership Group . . . one of four sophomores named to 2011 Leadership Group . . . one of nine true freshmen to see action in 2010.
Add in the majority of his years were behind some of iowa's worst DL's..
To be fair Morris didn't match the hype through most of his career but I think too much was expected of him after starting as a Freshman. His Senior year he definitely lived up to the potential.
The question wasn't whether Morris was an excellent LB, he was ... however, you might just not remember the extreme hype that surrounded him. It was ludicrous and unfair. After starting some as a true freshman, many fans (myself included, regrettably) thought that he'd potentially be in line to win awards as just a SO.
As for the DLs he played behind, you're going off of revisionist history. It's true that he played behind the 2012 Iowa DL ... that WAS arguably the worst Iowa DL under Ferentz. However, he also played behind the 2010 Iowa DL that was one of the best (a group that included Klug, Ballard, Daniels, Clayborn, and Binns). The 2011 Iowa DL was good when Alvis was healthy (a guy hailed by Norm as being cut from the same cloth as Roth and King) ... and that DL still had Binns and Daniels. 2013 Iowa DL was far from one of the worst. While the '13 DL wasn't exceptional at rushing the passer, they did a good job of keeping the LBs clean. That DL included Trinca-Pasat and Carl Davis in the middle and a pretty productive (but young) Ott on the edge.
Is there a known connection with Oliver or his family to the state of Michigan? I recall his first three offers were from Eastern, Western and Central.
He was a Freshman in 2010, getting his feet wet and learning (as he rotated in). 2011 He got dinged up (due to the line not playing to par) 2012 was dinged up from previous year. 2013 he showed what happens when you play an experienced LB behind a "good" line.
The awards he won and numbers he put up rank amongst the best in the Hawk uni (to include a top spot) - not sure what else you were expecting out of him (or what hype you heard to think he didn't live up to it with those stats\awards). Oh well.
So you think the Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Mich St. staffs don't know how to evaluate talent at WR? I didn't know Oliver Martin from Boo and after attending two camps and watching this guy there was no doubt in my mind he was the best receiver at those two camps. Why our staff didn't offer him earlier is beyond me. My fear is a couple of these young receivers from Texas don't play right away (see Willies) and they transfer. Oliver Martin, likely, would be patient if he didn't see the field his first season or two. In two camps I didn't see Oliver drop a single ball. His routes were crisp and he was very explosive and extremely athletic in catching some poorly thrown balls.
Just a question...why are you attending these football camps? Are you a HS coach? Or do you have a son playing at IC West?
I will be sick if we lose this outstanding kid in our back yard to several less certain prospects from out of state. I have zero confidence we will sign and retain all of the out of state kids. Martin seems like a bedrock kid WITH great talent. Whatever fractional difference in talent their MIGHT be with the out of state kids it doesn't seem to be worth the risk if losing Martin is the outcome. Really want him to be a Hawkeye.
Rocket has a good point. What if some of these Texas recruits that are being treated like celebrities on twitter and such get to campus and dont play for a couple years? I know Holmes said he expects to contribute right away. In state kids hardly seem to leave it seems
Neither, let's just say I give input to one of the recruiting services (Not rivals), so I try to get out to some of the open area college camps.
I'll be shocked if he ends up anywhere else than Iowa, but who knows. Maybe the kid is ready for a change in scenery other than living in Iowa City.
Very interesting I bet. Which of the local college camps are open that Oliver Martin attended?
Sorry, still waiting. Which of the local camps are open that you saw Martin participate in? Just curious for the future.
I've been to two camps and both were held in Kinnick and wide open to spectators. Linemen were in the indoor away from the heat and checked that out as well.
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