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View Full Version : Laken Tomlinson, a BIG recruit for football



CameronBornAndBred
08-08-2009, 11:23 AM
This guy is big in more ways than one. Wanted by big name schools, he chose Duke because of academics. 6' 5", 300 pounds. He will be most welcome on the O-line.

http://yourseason.suntimes.com/football/1699868,080409-tomlinson-commits-to-duke.article

Devil in the Blue Dress
08-08-2009, 11:36 AM
This guy is big in more ways than one. Wanted by big name schools, he chose Duke because of academics. 6' 5", 300 pounds. He will be most welcome on the O-line.

http://yourseason.suntimes.com/football/1699868,080409-tomlinson-commits-to-duke.article

I hope he learned about the Bassett Society while he was being recruited. It's an organization unique to Duke University and a very visible legacy of Dr. Frank Bassett.

crote
08-08-2009, 09:40 PM
Rivals shows offers from Ohio State, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among several others.

Very impressive pick up for Cutcliffe and hopefully a great addition to the team.

Duke_92
08-02-2011, 12:19 PM
Just came across this after reading about Laken being ready to go after redshirting last year.


Hearing this kid talk about Duke nearly brought tears to my eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M5yfKuOs_U


I also think he will bring tears to the eyes of more than a few guys on opposing teams. He is a mountain of a man.

Devil in the Blue Dress
08-02-2011, 12:58 PM
Just came across this after reading about Laken being ready to go after redshirting last year.


Hearing this kid talk about Duke nearly brought tears to my eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M5yfKuOs_U


I also think he will bring tears to the eyes of more than a few guys on opposing teams. He is a mountain of a man.
Coach Cutcliffe's description of this young man on Signing Day was a testimony to someone who works hard to get a good education and take advantage of good opportunities... long bus and train rides each way, each day for hours to go to a technical high school in Chicago plus the additional hours late into the day during football season.

I've been looking forward to seeing Laken play since he signed up. He's a special guy!

Olympic Fan
08-02-2011, 02:00 PM
Tomlinson was the top-rated recruit in Duke's 2010 recruiting class.

It says a lot about the progress that Cut and his staff have made on the offensive line that they were able to redshirt him last season.

I saw him in spring -- he looked huge. When he and Tacoby Cofield (another redshirt freshman) lined up side-by-side on one side of the line, the field appeared to tilt. They looked great -- a clear upgrade in run blocking.

But again, it speaks to our depth that we don't HAVE to start these two kids this year. I do think that at some point Tomlinson will push and probably pass John Coleman at one guard spot, but Cofield is going to have a tough/impossible job to get past Simmons and Hill at tackle -- most likely he's the replacement in waiting for Hill (the only senior on the line).

And the really exciting thing is that as good as these two kids are, their are FOUR O-Line studs in this year's incoming freshman class. They'll probably all redshirt this season, but with Hill the only senior in the rotation (Jon Needham may see action in a backup role), the future for the O-Line is VERY bright. I'm telling you, in a couple of years, when Harding, Simmons, Coleman and Finison are all fifth-year seniors ... Tomlinson and Cofield are fourth-year juniors ... Aprahamian, Patrick, Robinson and Skura are third-year sophomores -- NOBODY in the ACC will be better than Duke on the OL.

Now if the D-line can just get on the same treadmill ...

Duke_92
08-03-2011, 11:27 AM
Thanks for run down of Laken and the prospects of the O-Line. I am definitely looking forward to seeing this team on the field in a few weeks.