Recruiting guru--you da man!

[jacklewis]

kid from Southlake has been mentioned on this board....Derek Tomlin....Rivals has him at 6-0, 200 OLB....tremendous speed...in fact a 3.94 short shuttle and 38 vertical.....very impressive video....seems like a playmaker.

I know he de-committed from playing for his old coach at North Texas. I know Dodge was quoted as saying he was the best football player on their team when they won state last year, which is saying a lot, what with all the D-1 recruits they've had the past two years.
What's your assessment of him? Is he someone we should be looking at?

[SMUFan]

Guru is "da man." Love hearing from this guy each year.

I'd be interested to hear his take on Tomlin, too.

[Recruiting Guru]

Tomlin, to me, is "invited walk-on" material. He does move very well, but your report is bigger than any listing I have for him. Theoretically he could slide back to safety, but based on the film I've seen, he doesn't have a frame that suggests he could bulk up a lot. He makes a lot of plays, there's no question about that, so he could be a Wilton McCray type if he ends up in the right system. He plays bigger than he looks against the run — he sometimes fights through blocks to make plays, but he is much more comfortable running forward than laterally. He can run with tight ends, but his size creates huge advantages for opponents with an accurate quarterback, and if he doesn't run clean when rushing the quarterback, he gets blown away by bigger blockers. He should be valuable on special teams, and could be a walk-on backup on defense, but he's not of the caliber of some of the other linebackers SMU is reportedly looking at. Alex Odiari and Victor Jones are in another league.

[George S. Patton]

Derek Tomlin is NOT going to play college football. He is going to A&M and be a student. The injuries he suffered last year convinced him there was more to life than football.

You can end this talk now.

[planomustang]

Guru, how does a player's size (6-0, 200) create a huge advantage for an accurate QB? Seems like his speed, quickness, athletic ability would have more to do with it. Also, how do you run a 3.94 short shuttle and not have good lateral speed?

Have you ever seen Tomlin play in person? I asked a high school coach yesterday about Victor Jones, and he said the best defensive player in that district was Tomlin (#35, right?)....he said if he walks on at A&M, as has been reported?, he'll earn a scholarship in no time....he went on and on talking about him....said he went to Southlake playoff games the past two years just to watch #35 play.

[George S. Patton]

Guru, how does a player's size (6-0, 200) create a huge advantage for an accurate QB? Seems like his speed, quickness, athletic ability would have more to do with it. Also, how do you run a 3.94 short shuttle and not have good lateral speed?

Have you ever seen Tomlin play in person? I asked a high school coach yesterday about Victor Jones, and he said the best defensive player in that district was Tomlin (#35, right?)....he said if he walks on at A&M, as has been reported?, he'll earn a scholarship in no time....he went on and on talking about him....said he went to Southlake playoff games the past two years just to watch #35 play.

Derek isn't considering walking on at A&M at this time! That could change. But as of now, no. And I'm not making this up. I know this for a fact.

[Stallion]

experienced recruiting followers soon learn that "best LBer in his District" doesn't mean jack when projectiing players to the next level unless they have the physical tools to play Division 1A Football

[utkgbro56]

Just watch the Southlake Carroll vs. Miami Northwestern game and you will see. Not to knock on the kid but besides his short fumble return for a TD in which he was in the right place at the right time, Northwestern's speed killed that game. Angles that SLC's defense was taking would have gotten other people, but this team was just way too fast and not only Tomlin, but others on defense were missing tackles and getting beat to the outsides and things of that nature due to the tremendous difference in speed between Northwestern's offense and SLC's defense. But I will say that you can't knock this kid's heart. Very well-rounded kid as well. Hate to see him not continue on as a football player