Another DT candidate

[Otto]

There's a guy up here (actually Flower Mound) who had a heck of a season and I hear he's really interested in SMU .... and I think SMU's really interested in him. His name is Chase Smith, and he's a defensive tackle. He flew a little under the radar, I think, because at the end of the spring, he was maybe 250 pounds, if that. But I saw him play this year, and let me tell you, he's grown. He's probably 270 or more, and he looks scrawny - he can get bigger. He's really strong, too (I saw him play twice this year, and he threw around some pretty big OLs). I gather he's getting more attention lately from a bunch of schools, but man, I'd love to see him at SMU. He's a heck of a player. And for an interior guy with his size, he is really quick. He really dominated a bunch of games this year - I think he'd make a nice replacement for Adami.

[Pony-Up]

Otto, you're right on. I happened to see this kid in week 4 or 5 and he was all over the field. I tend to watch more of the skill guys but this kid really stood out. He lined up in the middle and held is ground when the ball came his way. On sweeps he hustled sideline to sideline and made a couple of good tackles downfield. His size and speed made him a presence on the pass rush as well. Chase appears to be a good target for SMU. If he is interested in us then we should pay attention

[MustangFan]

I hear he is very interested, and I gather we are, too. Don't know if we're going to offer him, but word is there's some serious mutual interest.

[BUS]

Stack 'em deep and make them EARN playing time. Get this BIG MAN in an SMU jersey.

Read the footnote.

[Recruiting Guru]

This is a very intriguing player. I have him at 6'4" and 260 pounds, but that weight is almost two months old. He reminds me a great deal of a guy who used to play at Nebraska named Jeremy Slechta. Like Smith, Slechta was thought to have marginal size when he signed with the Cornhuskers, but what he had is unusual toughness and strength that belied his strength. Same deal with Smith - he's extraordinarily strong for his size, basically living in the weight room. He's a very smart player who understands opponents' blocking schemes, and plays with very good leverage. He also has a high motor and will chase plays from one sideline to the other. As lean as he is, he could add 30 or more pounds, making him a possible OL candidate down the road. He's one of those players who didn't garner a lot of preseason attention, but the word is spreading quickly about this guy.

[Roach]

Didn't Slechta end up making the Philadelphia Eagles, or at least their practice squad? I'll take a guy that good any day.

I don't know if this guy can replace Adami (I always hate it when someone's called "the next so-and-so" .... which also isn't fair to either the young player or the player he's being compared to). But how big and how good would Adami have been if he'd gotten to SMU already weighing as much as this kid? I remember Allan as a skinny guy when he showed up, and he busted it to add all that weight. If this guy commits and joins the Lankford guy from Waco, that's two DTs with some real size on them. Much different starting point for Coach Faucette and his staff.

[PerunaPunch]

This kid actually reminds me of Adami quite a bit... at least to look at him. He's a big, blonde, good ol' boy who lives in the weight room. But he's as big at 18 as Alan is now. He's also supposedly faster (not necessarily quicker, but faster on the track).