Tyrann Mathieu is one of my favorite players in college football. He's a legitimate Heisman candidate. If he stays consistent, he'll be a lock for the Thorpe award. ...because he's a true sophomore, the kid isn't draft eligible yet. He is the second coming of Ed Reed. His playmaking ability from the defensive back position is so incredibly rare - he makes the kind of game-changing plays that guys like Charles Woodson, Ed Reed, and Troy Polamalu made at the college level. Last season, he was considered on the best freshman in the country as a package DB behind Pat Peterson and Mo Claiborne. This year he's continued playing at an elite level again. Even though he doesn't have great size, Mathieu has to be the top defensive prospect in 2013's draft. Players like this don't come around too often. Mathieu is the type of player that can make non-college football fans pay attention to the game. Single game highlights against one of the nation's best offenses, Oregon: [youtube]w34SH62wedE[/youtube]
I was saying how bad I would want him at FS the thing is he's too small but boy is he a ball hawk if he was 5'11 I would say trade up for him in 2013 but sadly he's 5'9
There's no doubt in my mind that this kid can play safety in the NFL. His game's got ball-hawking center fielder written all over it. His weight could affect his stock a little bit, but he's only 19 years old. He'll probably get up to 185 before his draft time comes. If Jimmy Leonhard can start in the NFL at safety, Tyrann Mathieu can.
You said Cam Newton was the next Brad Smith after ONE of his games. You also called Ryan Mathews a bust. How are those two predictions working out for you? He's the front runner for the college football's best defensive back award and he's a legitimate Heisman candidate as a corner/return man. You can obviously see talent when it's there though. 5 tackles (.5 TFL) 1 Forced Fumble, which he returned for a TD 2 pass deflections That's a pretty damn good single game performance, especially against the Oregon Ducks.
I was wrong on Cam I admitted that. Mathews is a decent back but I was busting your balls because you're in love with him. I said I was unimpressed because the highlight video showed a few sloppy tackles and a dropped pick 6. Going for diving arm-tackles at someone's thighs isn't going to work in the NFL. Also, you're saying this guy is a fucking heisman candidate.
...because he is. I didn't make that up, he's in most predicted top fives right now. The sports media world is basically blowing this kid, because he's making big time plays and he's charismatic. If LSU runs the table, he'll be a finalist. Those aren't arm tackles. He's putting his head across the ball carriers body and driving his shoulder into them. When a player's 175 pounds, he's forced to throw his body around to make tackles. He's going low on bigger players - it's the best way to tackle. Oh by the way, he's leading LSU in tackles. All 41.5 of those tackles are sloppy fatz though.
Here you go, Rockefellatio: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/heisman?ttag=gen10_on_all_fb_na_txt_0001 I actually didn't give him enough credit by saying he's in most journalist's top five. He's actually #2 behind Andrew Luck right now. Do I think he'll win it? Probably not. It's probably going to a quarterback - Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson.
I don't know shit about him. All I've seen is the video you posted. From that video, I think he is a shitty tackler. Maybe it works against college kids, but he would get eaten alive tackling an NFL calibre RB with that technique.
I've been saying he'd could be a great Safety in the NFL. He's not the biggest players out there, but he's one of the biggest hitters. If he can make plays like he does from CB, imagine if the play was in front of him fulltime. You could also bring him down and cover the slot in certain situations, like Rolle in Arizona(not comparing them as players)...
I remember watching Ed Reed during Miami's dynasty years and just being amazed at how he'd get his hands on the football. Mathieu has that special ability. Strips, picks, return ability - ridiculous potential and he's got a great head on his shoulders.
Despite having the worst nickname in sports history he is a monster. The kid can ball, the kind of DB who can line up in a few different spots and have a huge impact. I just look forward to seeing him get even better the these two years before he makes it to the league.
If Steve Smith can be the best wide receiver in the NFL at 5'9", I don't see why this guy can't be another Ed Reed just because he's 2" shorter. If anything, it gives him a chip on his shoulder. The guy obviously knows how to get the ball.
