TKR Pod: James Madison Transfer DE Eric O'Neill commits to Rutgers Football
Join the TKR pod as they react to Rutgers Football landing James Madison transfer defensive end Eric O'Neill.
Podcast Reacting to Rutgers landing James Madison Transfer DE Eric O'Neill
- Thread starter Richie O
- Start date
Schiano has done a great job in the portal, was really concerned about next yrs D-line, maybe one more tackle and another edge rusher and we are good to go.
Nice job on this by you and @mb5789 . Can't recall you guys being this excited about any recruit or player.
TKR Pod: James Madison Transfer DE Eric O'Neill commits to Rutgers Football
Join the TKR pod as they react to Rutgers Football landing James Madison transfer defensive end Eric O'Neill.rutgers.rivals.com
Wow, we know our offense is going to be good (as long as Tyler Needham can handle left tackle duties) and now the portal has been huge in retooling our defense. We are going to have a great front seven w/ Toure back. I was down about next year ,losing so many seniors, but Schiano has been a magician.
Is that the expected plan? Needham will shift to left tackle? I’d imagine we’re in the market for another addition to the OL. Big shoes to fill there but otherwise in good shape in the trenches.
Sorry, I should have said that is probably the plan, I don't see us affording a top flight left tackle, though Schiano might hopefully prove me wrong. Thank god the portal moves are helping deal with misery/disappointment of our basketball season. Maybe Pikiell will tell the press to give him their "best shot" like Schiano did and then win the B10 tournament.
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We are getting 2 top OL coming in this current class. OT Matthews can possibly start. Hope we go after the Michigan DT in the portal. Just got a stud Safety from UNLV. More on the way hopefully.
I’m already looking forward to next year. The portal recruiting and recruiting in general has been solid and player development on the offensive side has been good. Yes, the schedule is more difficult but I like how it’s spaced out.
Matthews is nowhere close to starting as a true freshman let alone play. Blackston and Wynn are the two closest to playing as true freshman.
Hollin Pierce was the exception, typically LT shift to RT not the other way around. They need someone serviceable to keep Athan clean, not a top flight guy. No guarantee that they find someone in the portal but if they don't we may have a large weakness at tackle.
Just curious, do you have inside scoop on Matthews or the current state of RU's OL? I know it is uncommon for true frosh OL to play but he is a big recruit with offers from Georgia, PSU, OSU and others and listed at 6'7" 337. RU OL recruting has been weak the last two years and the big 2022 class has had 3 of 7 OL's medically retire, including the only four star. Unless we reel in some transfers it wouldn't surprise me if he saw action.
You're really reaching with the last comment. Height and weight don't mean someone is ready to play OL as a true freshman. There's things like footwork, hand usage, blocking schemes, etc. that have to be learned at this level in addition to the S&C that many need to reshape their bodies and get stronger.
This.
We don’t know his specifics on his development (yet} but based on interest and offers from every blue blood program in the Country, Matthews has more upside than of our OL recruits. Freshman OL have started before …Anthony Davis… so it’s not out of the question.
Davis didn't start until mid-season his frosh year. And he played guard that first year, not tackle.
You shouldn’t make assumptions, many were uncommittable.
Why not? You’re making an assumption that this talented recruit can’t develop from now until the season and be on the two deep to earn playing time by year’s end.
No one knows but the kid is highly talented. We shall see.
GO RU
Anthony Davis was a much more heralded recruit than Matthews and he didn't even start at tackle his freshman year. And he wasn't playing in the Big Ten. They are two very different situations.
Freshman OL do not play unless they're next-level/generational talents. I hope to hell Matthews has a great career here, but expecting him to get any meaningful time next year is wishful thinking.
Also, I don't think he necessarily has more upside than either Blackston or Wynn. They're both very, very good.
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I think Bisontis the kid we lost from Bosco due to NIL started as a true frosh for AM but I agree generally it is rare. Can happen. But rare. I think Kaleb Johnson started at tackle as a true frosh for us. Maybe he was a redshirt.
Kaleb Johnson started at Tackle as a true freshman in 2011. Played HS football in Jacksonville. Was not as highly ranked recruit as Matthews. Those ruling out Matthews have no clue. Let’s see in August.
Yes, Bisontis is a whole different level and I'm not sure that he was expected to be a day one starter when he arrived at A&M.
Different scenarios, the post I originally replied to talk to him being the starting LT not getting some playing time by the end of the year. But the talented recruit had a lot of programs back off on him after subpar camp performances. He also lost his four star ranking. So there is a risk here. Can he work hard and see a couple of snaps as a true freshman? Anything is possible. Don't sleep on Blackston and Wynn, both are nasty OL that fans will grow to love if they develop as expected.
Anthony Davis was a generational talent and he got his first start mid season as a guard. It is highly unlikely Mathews or any other freshman get to start at tackle especially left tackle. Need a stud from the portal but good proven O tackles are very expensive.
Wonder if Felter could slide over?
Not disrespecting the incoming freshman just extremely difficult for 18-19yr old O lineman to start against 22-23 year old men
Wonder if Felter could slide over?
Not disrespecting the incoming freshman just extremely difficult for 18-19yr old O lineman to start against 22-23 year old men
I doubt that any of the incoming freshmen OL recruits will see much action in 2025, but all five of them seem like quality prospects. And this is clearly one of the most impressive groups this year.
We all know OL's generally don't provide meaningful minutes in their first year, I even acknowledged it in my post. If you had inside info like you knew the kid or the coach, or you knew info on our OL that was not in the public domain that would be new and helpful info. You are missing the point saying I am reaching as you picked one element of my post supporting the possibility of playing time. You need to look at the big picture. His size is a positive, as is his rating and offers from three current Top 10 teams. But you also need to consider the competition. Our best OL graduates, our second-best OL may come back on a surgically repaired knee or may not come back, the other starters may be legit B10 players or might not be but playing because they are the best we have. OL recruiting and retention has been poor the last few years which may force younger players to step in. I believe he will be the only 4* OL on the roster this fall. Based on NCAAF history the odds are he doesn't help much this year, which we all know, but it is not out of the question when all things considered.
We all want Matthews to succeed but you can't rush the process.
Needham is not a LT IMO. He struggles at times at RT with pass rushers, can't have that at LT. Not everyone can switch sides like Hollin Pierce did. We all saw how bad it went with Willie Tyler a few years ago. If there is no portal transfer then Taj White or Dominic Rivera will be getting looks at LT in the spring. With multiple years in the program and working with coach Flats they are way ahead of Matthews already.
Additionally, we knew on the premium side that:
1. Subpar camp performances going into his senior year led to lots of teams backing off Matthews. Those big offers were uncommittable at the time he choose RU.
2. He only officially visited RU, never officially visited any of those big names because of the above.
3. The writers for this site have stated that Matthews is only the 3rd or 4th best OL in this class. I've looked at the OL HUDL films and agree.
The only thing I don't think was discussed is whether PSU pulled the offer or he decided to move on from them on his own. Not sure if Richie ever revealed that to the premium side.
After the 2010 season, were RU led the nation is their QB getting sacked, any poster here would have been able to start on the offensive line & replace the turnstiles that played in 2010
