Coach Convinced Sousa Is Real Deal for Real
You may have noticed that I’m not as big a recruiting buff as some other sportswriters. There are deep-seeded reasons for that. For while I agreed with Bill Dooley when he said over and over (and over and over) that ``recruiting is the lifeblood of a program,’’ I prefer to report on matters I know for sure. And in recruiting in general, and in football recruiting in particular, whatever information I have to impart is, at best, second-hand and more likely to be even less-reliable than that.
The best football player I ever saw at Wake, Riley Skinner, nobody wanted. Wake wasn’t even sure it wanted Skinner until the last scholarship of the class of 2005 was still available after the other 21 had been spoken for.
And the most honest comment on recruiting I’ve ever heard came from Coach Jim Grobe. When asked how good his class is, he will invariably say `I’ll tell you in two or three years.’‘
On the other hand, I recognize that fans and alumni do, understandably, want to know who is going to be playing for their teams. So when I get wind of a player committing to Wake, I try to get the player or his coach on the phone to a) confirm that the reports of his destination are accurate and b) find out something about the recruit worth reporting. I’ve yet to have a coach tell me the school was stupid for landing the player, and that he’ll never pan out. Of course he’s going to wax enthusiastically about his player. He is, after all, his player.
Having established all the disclaimers, there are times when a recruiting story can be a pretty big deal. Say if a player commits to Michigan, and then changes his mind and casts his lot with Wake Forest, that’s pretty juicy stuff. And say he’s a quarterback who also could have gone to Louisville or West Virginia, then that’s a bigger fish to fry than writing about a offensive guard who chose the Deacons over Presbyterian and Western Carolina.
Or say, I get the player’s coach on the phone and he goes on and on and on and on and on about the player’s ability and makeup and how he is absolutely certain that Wake pulled off one of the steals of the century, then that carries a bit more weight than the coach saying “Johnny is a great player and an even better person who is destined for great things at whatever he does.’’
I got a coach like that on the phone this morning. His name is Coach Andy Hamre of Lake Nona High School in Orlando, Fla., and given the amount of time we spent talking about Kevin Sousa, the quarterback who committed to Wake over the weekend, I feel like Hamre is my new best friend. Sousa did commit to Michigan before changing his mind during his visit to Wake this weekend. He was recruited by more than 20 programs, including Louisville and West Virginia. And Hamre did sound absolutely certain during our 15-minute conversation (during which he was doing the talking and I the listening) that Wake had scored big-time on this one.
“He still has to learn some things that he has not experienced yet,’’ Hamre said of Sousa. “When you get to the next level, the game comes at you at a different speed. And once he gets comfortable with that, the speed of the game, I think he’s going to blossom. I think he’s going to be one of those kids potentially, that we’re going to be talking about saying `How did this kid get under the radar of so many other schools?’
“Wake has had a great eye for talent that way and I think they’re right on the money with Kevin.’‘
Because Sousa didn’t start playing football until his sophomore season, he’s still somewhat raw. Because he played at a high school that wasn’t in existence until the fall of 2009, he played his junior season on a team without any seniors and his senior season on a team that wasn’t as good as most of the teams they played in talent-rich Central Florida.
“It’ll be real fun to watch him excel when he’s surrounded by some talented kids, some players who will give him some protection and some receivers that can get down the field and make plays and make him look even better by catching some balls – because this year if he didn’t put the ball right on the money or he didn’t get rid of it in three seconds, he was either going down or scrambling around for his life.’’ Hamre said. “There wasn’t many times that he got sacked because he’s just kind of guy. You just don’t take him down. Just all the things you would ever want, if you had to put the dream player together, he’s the one.’‘
Hamre gave me so much information that even after writing the bulletin for the Journal and another, fuller piece, that will run on tomorrow morning’s edition, there were tidbits I wanted to pass along. Two were anecdotes that told me something about Sousa’s desire to be something special.
The first dealt with his insatiable thirst for learning how to play quarterback.
“He’s probably the best student of the game I think I’ve ever been around,’’ Hamre said. “He’s the kind of kid that when we would come back from an away game, would be waiting outside our offices as coaches were looking at film. We’re looking at him saying `Kevin, why are you still here? You should be home.’ He says `Naw, I’d like to get a copy of the film because I want to break it down tonight.’
“I’m just saying, you don’t get that many kids like that. As a matter of a fact, that’s the first time I’ve ever seen that. I’ve had kids come to me over the weekend and say they would like something, but he wouldn’t even go home. He wants to start looking at it. And he’s the kind of kid that learns. And I think that probably the biggest upside to him, as far as I’m concern, is he’s still pretty new to the game.’‘
The second related Sousa’s willingness to do anything he can to make himself a better player and his team a better team.
“Kevin is the type of kid to say `Coach put me wherever you need me.’ ‘’ Hamre said. “He’ll say that. He told me many times `Coach, if you want me at offensive tackle for a situation, call me. I’ll go there.’
“And I know he meant it because this is Kevin: Kevin would get his drill done early in one of our first periods or second periods of the practice, and then I’d look up and Kevin would be gone. I’d go `Where’s Kevin?’ (They’d say), `He’s down there with the offensive linemen working with them.’ The kid’s running down there and doing some drills with them. I mean actually doing some of the drills with them. He’s like `Guys, if I can do this, you can do this.’ And the problem was he was better at it than they were.’ I’d say `Kevin you’ve got to stop going down there. They’re getting demoralized because you’re better.’ ‘’
So maybe, just maybe I’ve come up with a recruiting story worth the space it takes to print it. Check it out tomorrow morning and let me know.
Back to the main page.
By Dan Collins on 12/06/2010 (4:03 pm)
Comments
Dan,
I am still waiting on the real reasons we have a new Basketball Coach. Will we ever know the real truth? Will Ron Welman ever have the integrity to at least tell all of us Wake Alumni what really happened? I do not pretend to know, but it doesn’t take much to figure out it wasn’t about winning and loosing basketball games.
Tony C on 12/21/2010 (2:30 pm)
There is going to be a fine offensive coordinator available after January 4th if he is still interested in college football. He was successful at Ga. Tech with George O’Leary and really successful with Bobby Ross and he has always been respectful of Coach Grobe. Just wishful thinking…I suppose.
pensive1 on 12/21/2010 (10:05 am)
Why on earth woudn’t Coach Grobe not be trying to bring in Miami’s recently departed Defensive Coordinator; maybe he/they could really do something that is very much needed (like learning how to blitz/pressure) with our our “youth and talent” on defense.
“With the new hires, current UM defensive line coach Rick Petri, defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff and defensive coordinator John Lovett will be let go after the bowl game”
steven on 12/17/2010 (2:38 pm)
Dan,
Obviously we have to recruit where the talent is. And Florida high schools are known for turning out some incredibly fast and athletic players, so it’s great that we have established a good recruiting base there. We have also started to do better in Texas.
But how challenging is it for Coach Grobe and the staff to embark on a national-level recruiting strategy while also keeping an eye for solid North Carolina prospects? Would Aaron Curry even be on our radar today?
DC on 12/09/2010 (11:42 am)
Thanks for the info Dan. Fine job as usual. Kevin sounds like a class act. Let’s hope his commitment will entice other upper echelon recruits to join him Wake.
All the best Kevin.
Go Deacs!
Deac Fan on 12/07/2010 (9:50 pm)
Dan,
Thanks for the info re Kevin Sousa He sounds like the genuine article.
Somebody needs to throw a little rock in the punchbowl of this party. Might as well be me.
I will really celebrate on the first (or second?) Wed of Feb11 when we receive his signed Letter of Intent. Remember, he has already backed out of one verbal commitment. We can be sure other schools are not going to sit idly by and accept the commitment to Wake. Also, if there are some changes in the Wake coaching staff, Sousa might change his mind.
I really hope this works out. Thank you for the recruiting article.
Jerry on 12/07/2010 (4:08 pm)
Kevin, First of all congrats on your decision to attend Wake Forest. There are so many great points about Wake we cannot list them all on this blog. Come on up this summer for summer work-outs, and maybe nose around the football camps you will see some of the same faces hanging around the brick wall at the practice facility. Just one little bit of advice any sky blue button down shirts or t-shirts you may have—hand those down to the next pup. I’m sure Mr. Dan Collins can fill you on that prerequisite.
Doug on 12/07/2010 (8:00 am)
first of all congrats to Kevin for picking Wake and we sure are glad to have you. I was really disappointed when you picked Michigan since I really liked what I saw so when I heard you picked us I was really happy about that and this article just reaffirmed what I thought. Welcome to Wake.
Secondly Byrd didn’t redshirt. He actually greyshirted so he will be on campus in January. He stayed at him to recover and rehabilitate his knee. It will be interesting to see what we do with him since We have Harris, Pendergrass, and Nick Knott at RB next year.
Greg Magill on 12/06/2010 (10:50 pm)
Welcome to Wake Forest Kevin! I look forward to seeing you on the field in black and gold!
Dan, as always, thanks for your great work! It is second to none!
Ken Green on 12/06/2010 (9:43 pm)
Hi Chris. I agree, Sousa does sound like one worth getting. And it was Coach Elrod who got him. Kevin was right to point out the role of Coach Paradiso in the whole story. Apparently he is a renown quarterback coach who really knows what he’s doing. And Coach Hamre said that Coach Elrod and Coach Paradiso are very similar in manner, outlook and approach to coaching. Obviously a pretty strong bond was made. It’s quite a story with a number of interesting angles.
Dan on 12/06/2010 (8:21 pm)
Great stuff, Dan. I hate putting pressure on young kids that haven’t even walked on a college practice field yet, but I smell a Heisman!!
Seriously, sounds like a great get. Which assistant was responsible for his recruitment?
Chris on 12/06/2010 (8:07 pm)
Good job Dan!!! Kevin, welcome to Wake Forest. I am truly excited to watch you develop and see you do great things at Wake Forest. Thanks for deciding to be a Deacon!!!
Chad on 12/06/2010 (7:13 pm)
Kevin, First off, congratulations on your decision. I know you’re glad to have it behind you so you can enjoy your final semester of high school. From all I’ve heard, I do indeed need to talk with Coach Paradiso. Coach Hamre could not have been more complimentary of Coach Paradiso or emphatic about his role in your development. And I heard he was a pretty fair QB in his time as well.
One last thing. I appreciate the respect, but I’d feel better if you called me Dan. I see myself more as a Dan than a Mr. Anything. When you meet me, you’ll see why.
Looking forward to meeting you and watching you play, and I know I’m not alone.
Dan on 12/06/2010 (7:07 pm)
Great job as usual Dan.
Bob on 12/06/2010 (6:39 pm)
Thanks Dan for writing about an often ignored subject for Wake. Every ESPN article, and every quote from Coach Grobe, always suggests a foregone conclusion that Wake has and can never successfully recruit; rather we have to find “gems” who need a year of weight training, etc. to become good football players. That was the description of one Aaron Curry if I recall? I get so sick of hearing about that because other smaller schools do very well in recruiting.
But I’ve always wondered why a Dan Mullen at Mississippi State, or June Junes at SMU, and I can name many others receive credit for their “turnarounds”, the same way Coach Grobe has for what he’s done these past 5-10 years. Why is it that Bobby Petrino leaves Louisville, and they’ve been inconsequential since then, and he ends up at Arkansas and they’re right back to being relevant in the SEC again. Look how long it’s taken Steve Spurrier to get South Carolina back in the hunt? It’s got to be as much about recruiting as it is schemes and OC/DC hirings/gameplans, and that’s why landing Kevin Sousa is so awesome. I almost fell out of my chair last night watching that news come across the bottom of ESPNU last night.
Speaking of recruiting and Arkansas, do you remember last February we received another “coup” by stealing Joseph Byrd away from Arkansas. Do you know anything about his redshirt year, his knee, and what impact he may or may not have on next year’s Deacs?
What I’m driving at is that we SHOULD care about recruits, what they bring to the table, and types of recruits we are trying to bring, because that’s what ultimately drives the success of a program. Why else do other schools bring in who they bring in; it’s largely for their ability to recruit kids like this and to identify what type of athlete fits what scheme, etc.
steven on 12/06/2010 (5:57 pm)
Mr. Collins, please contact Coach Paradiso at paradia@ocps.net if you have any questions because he is my coach and mentor. He has coached and mentored me for each year I have played. He is the reason i am where i am and he has been on the journey with me from day 1. Thank you.
Kevin Sousa on 12/06/2010 (5:42 pm)
Dan,
Thanks for the updates. I completely understand your opinion on recruiting in general. It’s probably easier to speculate on basketball recruits than football, and even basketball recruiting can seem like a bit of a crapshoot.
However, I am excited to hear about Sousa solely because of the drive that you hinted at in your latest post. There’s really no way to tell whether he will pan out from a skills standpoint, but we can never have enough players on the team who are simply not satisfied with whatever success we experience and who believe that they can always get better. That is especially the case with our football team, which I think is composed of several individuals who don’t truly believe that Wake Forest can/should be a perennial contender in the ACC.
Thanks again for the update.
DC on 12/06/2010 (4:42 pm)
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