Spartans Get Their 2014 QB

It looks like the Spartans have found their quarterback for the 2014 class.  They received a verbal commitment from Ohio QB Chris Durkin.  It looks like Durkin is generally considered a 4-star quarterback, with good size (6'4").  He also continues the trend towards mobile quarterbacks.

Durkin has good speed, and better yet, he runs tough like a big running back or tight end. His arm strength is not as impressive as some of the other guys the Spartans were looking at, but he has time to work on it.  His athleticism and running style also lead me to believe that if Durkin is not able to beat out some of the other excellent quarterbacks the Spartans have recently recruited, he could easily make the transition to tight end.

Upshot: Durkin is another impressive quarterback recruit.  This coaching staff is doing a great job of hoarding quarterback talent. The unfortunate thing is that some of these guys are not going to get to play.

Curious about Kodi Kieler

Analysis of the NFL draft is in full swing, and one pattern I think I've detected got me thinking about freshman offensive tackle Kodi Kieler.  I keep hearing about these guys who used to play quarterback or tight end (in high school or early in their college careers) and now are likely to go in the first round of the NFL draft. You got guys like possible number 1 pick Eric Fisher and possible top-10 pick Lane Johnson who played positions like quarterback and tight end at some point and are now considered elite offensive tackle prospects.  Heck, former first-rounders Riley Reiff and JJ Watt were tight ends at one point.

This pattern reminded me of this story about how Kodi Kieler had been a quarterback in high school and it got me thinking about his potential.  Man, it sure would be nice if Kieler goes down the same path as guys like Fisher and Johnson.  Unfortunately, the info stream on Kieler has gone disappointingly dry.  In fact, we're hearing more about other freshman o-lineman like Jack Conklin - not that this is a bad thing at all, quite the opposite.  

Well, no need to panic on Kieler, at this point.  Guys like Johnson and Reiff  didn't establish themselves until later in their college careers.  Perhaps at this point it's just best to just keep an optimistic eye out for Kodi.

Update: I noticed that senior tight end Derek Hoebing is now listed as a back up left tackle on the spring roster. Of course, that got me fantasizing about Hoebing rising up draft boards a year from now.  Unfortunately, it's not likely to happen because: a) Hoebing may only be switching to left tackle for the spring, b) the switch comes very late in his college career, and c) there are probably at least 3 guys ahead of him, including Fonoti, Conklin, and France.