My nephew, the football star - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #1 08-22-2011, 10:54 PM

He's not a major prospect but he was the star of his high school team. I really like this kid, I wish I could steer him in a good direction. He's not that big - 6'1", 210 but he played defensive line in HS. No way can he excel at that position with that size beyond HS.

He just entered the College of the Redwoods, in Eureka, CA, on full scholarship. It's a glorified CC (dormitories). He got a lot of offers but not from any division 1 schools.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccfDPQVgptA

This vid has some of the same footage but opens with his basic stats (#44):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=rouVfmHR1Gs

His old man is the stereotypical over-bearing sports dad. Dude was a washout in HS sports, I think my nephew's physical talent comes from my sister and our dad - he was one of those no-neck hunks. Fortunately my sister has better sense than her hubby, soon to be ex-hubby as after they dropped my nephew (their youngest) off at college she told him she wanted out. Being as I have no kids, and the young man does seem to look up to me, this puts some new responsibility on me.

I've told him he should work on sprinting, sprinting, and more sprinting. In HS track, he threw shot and discus. Good stuff but again, with his size, he'll need to be fast to go anywhere. Fortunately, his HS coach was smart enough to also give him time in running positions.

Anybody got any good advice for me?

75Sv1 · #2 08-23-2011, 06:59 AM

Yeah, there's a whole other world out there, besides sports. That includes Mercedes.
Tom

Daman858 · #3 08-23-2011, 07:36 AM

My nephew was 6'5", 250 lbs. and was recruited by several colleges. He choose William and Mary, not a power house, but a good program and a great school. His coach told him, "Son, we gotta put some weight on you!"

tyl604 · #4 08-23-2011, 07:49 AM

College and graduate school. Enjoy the sports for what it is - a game - do not let it define him as a person.

cscmc1 · #5 08-23-2011, 09:15 AM

Perhaps you'd do best to encourage his pursuit of sports as a form of self-fulfillment; encourage the discipline and physical benefits it brings rather than where it might get him if he "makes it big." No sense setting him up for disappointment if he's not one of the VERY tiny percentage who are lucky enough to play sports professionally.

I took up running in my early 30's, and absolutely love my alone time. Nothing better than an hour of chugging along at the end of my day, and it keeps me somewhat fit. Hopefully he can enjoy the same sense of satisfaction and enjoyment pursuing football, and maybe it'll pay for his school to boot!

chilcutt · #6 08-23-2011, 09:28 AM

Your nephew has to keep in mind that an injury can cut his athletic career short. (try not to put all his eggs in one basket).

Hopefully he will not succomb to the temptation of using 'performance enhancing drugs', such as steroids.

TwitchKitty · #7 08-23-2011, 10:06 AM

Kicker or punter, and maybe Dentist, yuk. I have a buddy who kicked a 54 yard field goal in High School. It's a record.

chasinthesun · #8 08-23-2011, 10:24 AM

Special teams requires speed and quick judgment .He reads the field well, thats a big plus,if he can get some time on kickoff special teams during play these highlights might spring a possible opening in the pros.My bosses son is 6' and 185 at 14yrs old ,he hopes for him to excell at sports with his ability and size ,it really needs to come from the heart when your a kid ,dads can only inspire but kids really have to love what their doing.Google football sports recruiting and gather up as much info for what talent their looking for in each aspect of the game ,He has talent.

cmac2012 · #9 08-23-2011, 02:44 PM

Good remarks all. This young man seems pretty sensible to me - I doubt he'll succumb to performance enhancing drugs. I seriously doubt he has the raw talent to go pro. Maybe if he was a 9.6 100 yard guy. My sister has been telling him that the chance of any one guy going pro are slim, especially if you're not a huge standout in HS, and that this is a golden opportunity to get a low priced education.

He does seem to read the field well. His dad showed me some video from a summer training camp in Oregon. The ball was snapped - he did some rushing but seemed to bide his time waiting for the moment, and all of a sudden shot in and sacked the QB, who was complaining about it. He then leaned down and touched his helmet against the QB's which really pissed him off.

raymr · #10 08-23-2011, 04:47 PM

College football has a lot of time demands that will conflict with labs and even meals. Given his size, at a D1 or 1AA school he would probably see a steady stream of new big talent coming in and going right past him. I know of a couple kids who spent most of their four years on the bench, despite their religious commitment to practice. Today they want big AND fast. If he's on the fringe and not in the coach's inner circle, it will be very tough for him. To play line he will have to be 230# or above.

He has to be allowed to try though, and set a balance for himself as long as the academics aren't too affected.

cmac2012 · #11 08-23-2011, 08:24 PM

I hope he doesn't try to bulk up for the line as he has a nicely balanced physique now. I'm really hoping his running, his speed improves. Some of running is natural but it can be honed too.

I too worry about the time demands on a student. My sister and I are going to try to meet up there for a game or two. I'll do what I can.

elchivito · #12 08-23-2011, 08:29 PM

The best thing you can do as his uncle is encourage him to have a plan B. Just saying...