It would be an understatement to say that Texas Tech will need some help at defensive tackle in 2016 and I’ve taken the liberty to profile approximately 20 defensive tackles (or so) that are in the JUCO ranks. We’ve got part one this week and part two next week.
Photo via Charles Henry @ Flickr.
Handsome Tanielu (6-25/295) Snow J.C.
Two LDS missions later and Handsome is ready to get back into the world of college football. Offered by BYU, Houston, Kansas and Louisville thus far. It would be nice to have a Polynesian connection and with the Fehoko family firmly entrenched, maybe this would be a certain offer at some point.
Malik Hopkins (6-2/272) Butte J.C.
Maybe not the biggest kid, but a really terrific motor that doesn’t seem to stop. Probably more a defensive tackle than a nose guard. Does a good job of holding off his man while and makes the tackle.
Braxton Larmond (6-5/335) Dodge City
The first in a handful of Kansas JUCO defensive tackles. Really big kid with a ton of strength and maybe not a ton of technique. Doesn’t really need it. Just over-powers opponents, but he won’t be able to do that (most likely) in Division I. Still, he has a ton of talent simply because he’s a large man.
Greg Munford (6-3/345) Valley Forge Military
A large human being. Think Rika Levi more than anything else and maybe an unpolished version of Levi. Pretty big project here.
Deion Pope (6-4/280) Copiah-Lincoln
Pretty danged athletic for such a big man and Copiah-Lincoln is a JUCO powerhouse. Not a lot of film on Pope, but he’s a large athletic human and that’s always a good thing.
Brennen Massenburg-Walters (6-3/310) Ellsworth
Not a lot of highlights here, (see Granger’s comment below) and some other videos has Massenberg-Walters as an offensive lineman.
Oddie Granger (6-3/315) College of Dupage
Texas Tech might be a little more familiar with Granger since Texas Tech recruited Paul Stawarz at the same college in Illinois. I like Granger’s initial push into the offensive line (it being highlights and all) although there are not a lot of highlights out there, which may mean that he just didn’t play that much.
Alexis Johnson (6-4/295) Fort Scott
Love. Yeah, love this film. And he has a ton of it, which means that he’s probably pretty good, and he is. Plays up and down the line, tackle to end, and displays some terrific quickness. A Kansas JUCO, so hopefully Matt Brock is already on Johnson.
Isi Holani (6-3/318) Reedley
I think Holani is another Polynesian and he also plays tackle and end and plays it quite well. Really love his motor and the fact that they put him outside speaks to his ability to push and push and push. Also does really well inside and sheds his blocker pretty easily. Holani is in California, so fuel up the plane and go get this kid.
Patrick Belony (6-2/290) Antelope Valley
Another California kid who has some terrific athletic ability. A little slow off the offensive line at time,s but he has some serious power. The offensive line just seems to be backing up no matter what and has some terrific push.
Walvenski Aime (6-5/285) Fort Scott
Keep watching these Kansas kids. Plays a lot of defensive tackle and defensive end, but seems like a natural defensive end, strongside, in Division I. Really a terrific athlete.
Who is your favorite of the bunch?