Patrick Utschinski, 2* 2019 OT, Walla Walla (HS), WA

Dennis_DeYoung

Dennis_DeYoung

New Fish
So, there's a kid on the East Side that Huff has gotten interested in. From what I understand, last year was his first year playing football.

He's 6'6, 270 and not at all fat. Probably would play close to 315 in college. His coach thinks he has a high upside, but is pretty raw right now.

I'm not sure we'll offer, but any time we get interested in local kids, I think it's noteworthy.

Here's his hudl:https://www.hudl.com/video/3/6018420/59ac20bb9a91a209e4e8d230
 
So the in-state O line class is Kalepo, Elder and this kid? They all look to have really high ceilings. It would be pretty crazy if our O line recruits all came from in state.
 
Man, I really like him. He even pass sets pretty well for a junior with not much experience. And he is nasty. This is the type of player that I hate missing on from in state. I always feel the majority of our OL should be from WA.

He bends really well in his stance, is athletic, really long torso and short legs. I love him. Fantastic name too. He reminds me of an advanced Kaleb McGary.
 
I hope he gets an offer if most of the offered OT's look elsewhere. This guy was made in a lab.
 
You'd love for a kid like this to stay under the radar enough to be a preferred walk-on ... I doubt that that happens.

This is where it becomes a really fine line with our recruiting:

I would NEVER advocate that we take an in-state kid that has some project in him just because he's in-state unless we are certain that after that project bears fruit that he's every bit as good as a higher end recruit that we could be getting.

I still think that you continue to swing for the fences with elite guys on the West Coast and into Texas and see how that progresses. At the same time, you continue building this relationship and be his biggest fan while he develops. If he hits the point where the gap between where he is and where he needs to get to narrows enough where the project isn't as sizeable, then I think you go ahead and offer. If you play your cards right, you can come in strong at the end and pull him if and as needed.

The reality is that we are big game hunting for national titles caliber players. While I love watching guys develop and turn into elite players, we don't have as much room for those players on our roster given that we're drawing increased interest from already elite players.
 
You'd love for a kid like this to stay under the radar enough to be a preferred walk-on ... I doubt that that happens.

This is where it becomes a really fine line with our recruiting:

I would NEVER advocate that we take an in-state kid that has some project in him just because he's in-state unless we are certain that after that project bears fruit that he's every bit as good as a higher end recruit that we could be getting.

I still think that you continue to swing for the fences with elite guys on the West Coast and into Texas and see how that progresses. At the same time, you continue building this relationship and be his biggest fan while he develops. If he hits the point where the gap between where he is and where he needs to get to narrows enough where the project isn't as sizeable, then I think you go ahead and offer. If you play your cards right, you can come in strong at the end and pull him if and as needed.

The reality is that we are big game hunting for national titles caliber players. While I love watching guys develop and turn into elite players, we don't have as much room for those players on our roster given that we're drawing increased interest from already elite players.
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I honestly don’t disagree
 
You'd love for a kid like this to stay under the radar enough to be a preferred walk-on ... I doubt that that happens.
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Idk I think there is a good chance. He does live in fucking Walla Walla....
 
You'd love for a kid like this to stay under the radar enough to be a preferred walk-on ... I doubt that that happens.

This is where it becomes a really fine line with our recruiting:

I would NEVER advocate that we take an in-state kid that has some project in him just because he's in-state unless we are certain that after that project bears fruit that he's every bit as good as a higher end recruit that we could be getting.

I still think that you continue to swing for the fences with elite guys on the West Coast and into Texas and see how that progresses. At the same time, you continue building this relationship and be his biggest fan while he develops. If he hits the point where the gap between where he is and where he needs to get to narrows enough where the project isn't as sizeable, then I think you go ahead and offer. If you play your cards right, you can come in strong at the end and pull him if and as needed.

The reality is that we are big game hunting for national titles caliber players. While I love watching guys develop and turn into elite players, we don't have as much room for those players on our roster given that we're drawing increased interest from already elite players.
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Don't disagree, but I do think there is room to use grayshirts to go after some of these types of local, raw projects that do have the ability to be high-end players, especially on the OL/DL where age/development is critical. Not necessarily every year, but every other year or so. I half wished we would have tried this last season with Cade Beresford, and I think it would be good this season with either this guy or Elder or somebody on the DL like Will Vea depending on how they show up in summer camp and during their Sr. year. If room opens up maybe they make it in this season, but if not you giving them an extra year/Spring session to develop.

I think there is also something to be said for having a couple of these types of kids on the team as far as team chemistry...local kids who's been dreaming of going to the UW for years.

 
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