Hot damn. He might have just signed the next Zack Thomas.
Joe
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not
sure about the former."
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pat Smoot" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, July 29, 2005 6:36 PM
Subject: [RollTideFan] Tide adds late linebacker signee
Recruiting Update
Tide adds late linebacker signee
July 29, 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proving that Mike Shula never stops recruiting, for the third year in
a row the Crimson Tide has signed a prospect just before the start of fall
drills. Two summers ago it was defensive end Wallace Gilberry. Last summer
it was defensive back Jeffrey Dukes. This week it's linebacker Eryk
Anders.
The past two seasons the 6-3, 223-pound Anders was a defensive end at
Smithson Valley HS, which is located in a suburb of San Antonio, TX. As a
senior, Anders racked up 115 tackles, 42 tackles for losses and 11 sacks.
"Alabama is getting a real jewel of a football player, especially
considering it's so late," says Smithson Valley head coach Larry Hill. "He
was an All-State Class 5A player in the state of Texas, which is pretty
good when you consider it's the largest classification in a state with a
lot of good football players."
During his career, Anders played in two state championship games. In
last year's title game, he blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown.
For all of last season, Anders blocked five kicks, two of which he
returned for touchdowns.
"He's got a hot motor," Hill says. "He plays wide open all the time.
Even though he's just over 220 pounds, he plays very strong. And he's a
great athlete who can run a 4.55 40. He anchored our mile relay team and
our sprint relay. The kid can really run."
Even though Anders played down at defensive end in high school, it's
believed he'll play outside linebacker for Alabama.
"They [Alabama] really haven't said for sure whether he'll play down
or at linebacker, but it will definitely be on the outside," Hill says.
"My guess is that he'll be an outside linebacker, because that's where he
would've played for us had we not needed him at end."
Similar to Gilberry's case two years ago, Hill believes that many
college scouts simply overlooked Anders.
"I think because he was an undersized defensive end a lot of coaches
missed him," Hill says. "I think they looked at him for the way he was,
rather than projecting him for what he could become. He's 6-3, 220-plus
right now, and he's still growing. He wasn't this big last season."
Hill says that Alabama, Texas Tech and Ole Miss had been keeping tabs
on Anders for several months.
"Originally he planned to walk on at Ole Miss," Hill says. "They
wanted him, but they were out of scholarships. They were going to give him
one as soon as it came open.
"Alabama had offered him the same deal. But then, from what I
gathered, Alabama had a scholarship come available here late and they told
him they wanted him to go ahead and sign now."
Anders is expected to report with the Alabama squad on Monday night,
August 9th.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics E-mail Discussion List
Welcome to RollTideFan - Wear a Cup!
To unsubscribe or make changes to your subscription, please visit
http://rolltidefan.net/mailman/listinfo/rtf_rolltidefan.net
_______________________________________________
RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics E-mail Discussion List
Welcome to RollTideFan - Wear a Cup!
To unsubscribe or make changes to your subscription, please visit
http://rolltidefan.net/mailman/listinfo/rtf_rolltidefan.net
