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SMU offically offers DB/WR Marcus Trice.

http://smu.rivals.com//viewprospect.asp?pr_key=81769

http://smu.rivals.com//content.asp?cid=813175

Loved this kid on that highlight clip someone posted.

This is one of my favorite players in the entire state of Texas. The more tape I see of him - and I've seen quite a bit - the more impressive he is. (I have yet to see him play in person, but in addition to tape, I've also talked to several colleagues who have seen him in person, and they have helped me form my opinions, so take that for what it's worth.)

Physically, he's very impressive. I've seen reports that have him listed anywhere from 5-7 to 5-9, and I've been assured (by two people whose opinions carry a lot of weight with me) that he's closer to the latter - just a hair below 5-9. The most recent weight I have on him is 170, and I've got countless reports of legit 4.5 speed, including one electronically timed. I don't have a vertical leap measurement on him, but he's very explosive, and has made a lot of plays on balls that look like they've been air-mailed toward the sideline or lobbed over him - the guy can really run and really jump.

Beyond that, he's extremely quick. He accelerates to his top speed in just a couple of steps, and is as good as anyone I've seen in years at changing direction at top speed (try running 10 yards and turn 90 degrees and keep running without slowing down significantly - it's not easy, and while it's impossible to maintain top sprinting speed, Marcus is among the very best at that. He backpedals smoothly and explodes toward the ball, either straight up in the air or forward if the ball is underthrown or a receiver is coming at him.

Perhaps the most surprising part of his game is his power. Marcus is already pretty low to the ground, but even for a guy his size, he stays low, and that coupled with his powerful legs make him a powerful tackler. He delivers blows that can double a ball-carrier over. He's a violent tackler who repeatedly takes down players much bigger than he is, in part because of the speed with which he hits, and in part because he has extraordinarily strong hands - I've seen a lot of tapes where he'll run up on a guy going past him, grab a handful of jersey on a guy substantially bigger than he is and fling him down to the ground (including a couple of players where he did it with one hand). Finally, he has that swagger that some smaller players have and thrive on. When he makes a play on a pass, or makes a huge tackle, he struts a little. He seems to play with a chip on his shoulder, and when he whips a player bigger than he is, he's not afraid to let the guy know about it. He doesn't taunt, from what I've seen, but he seems to have a very short memory (vital for a cornerback) if he gets beat deep and a confidence that he always is going to make the play. He also is an electric punt returner. He has speed, elusiveness and toughness, and the acceleration that makes return specialists effective when in the open field or when trying to wriggle through traffic to create separation.

If this guy was 6 feet tall, he'd have offers from everywhere, and before it's all through, I think he's still going to collect a lot more offers. Will be a very good college player.

Keep in mind that it is a longshot that Marcus ends up with a Pony on his helmet.

Last I looked, he had offers from Arizona and Nebraska. Hopefully we will one day compete with those schools for players, but just keep reality in mind about Trice.

That said, I'd LOVE to see Coach Jones add Marcus to our 09 class.

GO PONIES!

Trice is listed in Texas Football's Top 20 Defensive Backs list. Obviously would be a very nice commitment for us!

Recruiting Guru wrote:
Perhaps the most surprising part of his game is his power. Marcus is already pretty low to the ground, but even for a guy his size, he stays low, and that coupled with his powerful legs make him a powerful tackler. He delivers blows that can double a ball-carrier over. He's a violent tackler who repeatedly takes down players much bigger than he is, in part because of the speed with which he hits, and in part because he has extraordinarily strong hands - I've seen a lot of tapes where he'll run up on a guy going past him, grab a handful of jersey on a guy substantially bigger than he is and fling him down to the ground (including a couple of players where he did it with one hand). Finally, he has that swagger that some smaller players have and thrive on. When he makes a play on a pass, or makes a huge tackle, he struts a little. He seems to play with a chip on his shoulder, and when he whips a player bigger than he is, he's not afraid to let the guy know about it.

Sounds like a Bob Sanders-type to me. I'd love to see some punishing DB's on D. I thought he looked awesome in that tape someone posted earlier too.

There is a good article about Trice on Scout today. How his recruiting is going etc. Here is the quote you might be interested in.

The only other school that he has already visited is SMU. "They weren't really a school I was interested in at first," he admitted. "But they are definitely moving up. I'm getting to know the coaches pretty well and I like them a lot.

"The coaches (at SMU) are real honest and I like the experience they have," he said. "They have NFL experience and know what they are talking about."

Guys, getting Marcus Trice would be HUGE!

Just imagine a secondary with Trice, Banjo, McElroy and Bennie Thomas.

I'm not counting any chickens, but we all know how Coach Jones and Coach Reinbold can be mastrefully persuasive.

Wow.

GO PONIES!

Easy there - let's not dismiss Bryan McCann and Derrius Bell and Tim Crosby so quickly, not to mention Rock Dennis (if he's as good as advertised), Bryce Hudman (if he is reinstated), De'Von Bailey (if he matches his pedigree as one of the premier players in Oklahoma...)

Frankly, none of us knows which players from that group stand out above the rest. But it sure would be nice to have some quality depth back there.

For what it's worth (which admittedly is nada), Scout has bumped Trice up to four stars.

Wasn't McCann a 4 star guy before his injury in high school?

I don't have a rivals/scout subscription, but I remember he was a beast, got hurt, lost a bunch of offers, then we took a chance on him, now he's a beast again.

Yes. Had an offer from OU.

Trice now has offers from us, Wisconsin, Iowa, Arizona and his newest suitor: Oklahoma.

I think he has about 15+ offers and he hasn't mentioned SMU in awhile while stating he wants to play in a BCS conference. OU had been his stated "dream team" growing up.

Stallion wrote:OU had been his stated "dream team" growing up.

It puzzles me how a kid growing up in Texas can have OU as their "dream team/school"? Oklahoma is the armpit of America.....don't these kids have any state pride??? To me, going to OU is like give the entire state of Texas the finger. Yes, OU has a very good program, but if you're going to leave your state, at least go to California (USC or UCLA), or Florida (FSU, Florida or Miami)

LA_Mustang wrote:

Stallion wrote:OU had been his stated "dream team" growing up.

It puzzles me how a kid growing up in Texas can have OU as their "dream team/school"? Oklahoma is the armpit of America.....don't these kids have any state pride??? To me, going to OU is like give the entire state of Texas the finger

I grew up in Ohio and a lot of Ohio athletes went to Michigan and vice versa. Similar situation and rivalry. I consider myself a Texan having lived most of my life in Texas and I give UT the finger every chance I get. When UT plays OU there is no question who I root for. I have a lot of state pride but when it comes to UT I love seeing them get their butts whipped by a school that can pay their athletes as well as the 'goons' in austin.

GO PONIES!!!