Boise State's 2012 recruiting class: Christopher Santini is going to hurt somebody
by Drew Roberts on Jan 20, 2012 8:00 AM PST
in Recruiting
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Generally, being a good tackler and possessing a good football IQ is enough to make anyone stand out at a defensive position. The ability to bench press an economy car is considered a bonus. Well, the bonus checks came in this year and all are post-dated to February 1st and signed by Leland High star Christopher Santini. Santini has racked up at least 197 tackles in the past 2 seasons—99 of which came this past season...a season shortened by injury (freak injury no less). It goes without saying that Santini looks the part of another dominant hybrid 'backer...but how soon will we be seeing him pity fools on the blue?
More details on Christopher Santini after the jump ...
Signing Day arrives February 1. Until then, we're running down the full list of verbal commitments so you can impress your friends with your Bronco know-how.
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Other offers: Army, Cal-Poly, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Oregon State, SDSU, SJSU, UNLV, Utah, Utah State
Other Boise State players from the area: Adam Sheffield, Chris Tozer, Blake Renaud, Connor Peters, Charles Leno
Boise State player most likely to be mistaken for: Vinny Perretta for Italian-American heritage, Winston Venable for neck diameter and overall scariness.
Future nickname: The Great Santini
Where he fits on the depth chart: Nickel or OLB
Santini appears to fit the Bronco nickel mold to a tee. He started out his high school career as a dominating safety and finished it as a dominating OLB. It's the kind of skill set that made Ellis Powers the first nickel superstar at Boise State and continued with the development of 2-year standout Winston Venable. The Broncos love these kind of guys that have the temerity (today's $5 word) to come up and stuff the run and nail the QB, but also the cover skills to drop back and cover the slot. Santini got his first taste of playing LB just last summer, but exhibited enough skill at the position to garner a feature on ESPN (observe!). Now the big question is if Santini will land at nickel or at OLB—at least initially.
While speculating about playing time before LOI day has even arrived is a crap shoot, I'm going to do my best to make a case for Santini at OLB to start with, and here's why: it's the position where he's needed most.
Aaron Tevis and J.C. Percy had basically split the starting duties at OLB the last two seasons, and frankly, they did a pretty darn good job, but now Tevis is gone and Percy is a short-timer—it's time to shore up the position...and fast. Add to that the fact that the nickel spot is pretty loaded next year with Simmons, Brown, and Bell all returning and I think the case has been made fairly water-tight that Santini's best chance to play as a true frosh lies among the LB corps. Of course, Choate's heir apparent will surely like another big hitter on special teams and I think he'll make his mark there too before the year is up. First things first, though...let's get that fax on February 1.
Dustin Lapray scouting report:
Hits as if imbued with strength handed down from Olympus...Tackles as you'd expect a Proletarian in revolt against the Bourgeoisie to tackle...A lone running back claws, scrapes, yearns for extra yardage but Santini callously denies him of his quarry...The Italian Renaissance brought us Da Vinci, Boticelli, Caravaggio—the elegance of Santini's brushstrokes upon the gridiron are every bit as moving.
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Alphabet Soup wants him Broncos Have him! I'm excited.
Thank you and Thank you. Leadership on the edge. He will slice and dice offences. A smash mouth buffet is coming your way soon as a Blue Plate Special.
The only thing the BCS has to fear, is fear itself, and Blue is the color of fear.
Vicious vernacular today.
I always go full retard
ಠ_ಠ
by sczmbz on Jan 20, 2012 9:27 AM PST via mobile reply actions
i'm hesitant in getting to hyped up about future nickel/linebackers.
I was so stoked for Ioane to put a hurt on someone and i’m still waiting.
but there is an opportunity for everyone I suppose.
My QB has an AWARD named after him. How about yours?!
Twitter: @damienbsu
Dude...Ioane was a redshirt freshman last year behind two seniors.
Cut him some slack.
by Drew Roberts on Jan 20, 2012 10:34 AM PST up reply actions
Do you know if he was injured at all this year...
It seems like he missed a few games and didn’t really contribute much on special teams. To me, it seemed like he had a nagging injury that slowed him down a bit all year.
by ce'sped azul on Jan 20, 2012 11:49 AM PST up reply actions
didn't he start the UGA game?
that’s not snark, genuine question, i can’t remember right now.
My QB has an AWARD named after him. How about yours?!
Twitter: @damienbsu
Yes, Ioane started the UGA game
With Febis suspended for being Dutch, Ioane got thrown right to the wolves. He had an okay game…didn’t really get beat, just played kinda tentative and gave a lot of cushion to the receivers. By the end of the game, Stanaway was in.
by Drew Roberts on Jan 20, 2012 2:23 PM PST up reply actions
that's right!
for some reason i couldn’t remember.
My QB has an AWARD named after him. How about yours?!
Twitter: @damienbsu
Lapray hitting the Thesaurus like Samson hitting the pillars of the temple of Dagon
Do you suppose by the time his scouting reports get down to the one-star recruits he run out of similes/metaphors?
--To my brothers of FOOL (Fraternal Order of Offensive Lineman - Medio, turpis et arcu agro usque)
A Marine indeed
have seen that same look on the faces of many Marine Corps officers and men. its a good sign – a cross between respect and “I have a number of varied and interesting ways to send you to the afterlife.”
Another OKG who am reasonable sure will suddenly turn into a 4-5 star on the blue.
No worries on Ioane – just getting started.
UTAH?
I’ve anecdotally noticed that many of BSU’s recruits appear to have offers from Utah. I wonder whether their move to the PAC-12 has improved their recruiting.
Utah probably has some assigned to everything BSU. It saves them time.
If BSU is offering Utah is offering. Wannabees don’t spend much time in original thought they just try to rip off what they can. But it still comes down to coaching, training and playing that make a team great.
The only thing the BCS has to fear, is fear itself, and Blue is the color of fear.
by Trapperpk on Jan 20, 2012 12:58 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
Here's what ESPN insider scout report says on him:
Give Santini a bit more length and height and he would likely be considered a nationally recruited outside linebacker prospect. He’s a bit of a tweener S/OLB right now with great thickness, short-area power and functional strength. Speed is better in bursts than sideline-to-sideline but this guy can still cover a lot of ground and make plays in all three levels of the defense. Best production comes when filling and breaking downhill. Flashes very good plant and drive burst. In coverage, he is not overly fluid but reads the quarterback well in zone schemes and positions himself correctly to make direct breaks on the ball. Does a good job with collision of seam routes and limiting yards after the catch. Ball skills and overall athleticism for a compactly built defender are solid. We do feel like he would have difficulty if matched up over quicker college skill players in coverage and flashes a bit of stiffness through his hips opening to turn and change direction. Better playing forward in coverage than transitioning and flipping his hips to turn and run vertically which make outside linebacker or ideally a hybrid safety position a better fit at the next level. Gets downhill quickly on run support but reads and diagnosing skills are an area he can continue to improve to beat blockers to the point. Closes fast when running the alley and shows good strength at the point of attack when stacking the run in the box. Strong wrapup tackler who runs through. Thrives on contact, plays with good leverage but do feel like he is maxed out physically and may have difficulty at his current size holding his base at the point of attack as a true linebacker. Would like to see him work on his hand technique shedding and slipping blocks to avoid engagement. While Santini has some weaknesses at either position, there is no argument that this is a heck of a football player with an edge and fast and physical style of play that bodes well for the next level. Has the tools and demeanor to produce on special teams which adds to his value.
The ESPN Review is from his junior year
I remember when this review came out, it was done after reviewing his junior year film. Santini played Safety his first 3 years. I’d like to see an updated review from ESPN
BSU's recruiting class is sub-par, according to Bud Elliott
I don’t know who the hell Bud Elliott is (although to be fair, he probably doesn’t know who the hell I am, either), but I read his SB Nation analysis and rankings of the college football top 50 recruiting classes for 2012.
He attends only to 4- and 5-star recruits; therefore, of course (sarcasm, folks), Boise State doesn’t make the list. Here is his unbelievably condescending rationale, and just more of the same reason why Bronco Nation so enjoys beating the crap out of the teams he seems to adore:
Why wasn’t my team included?
Only the top 50 scoring teams were included. If your team isn’t any good, this is likely why. If your team is good and didn’t make the list, it probably plays a cakewalk schedule and snatches up a lot of talented recruits who are downgraded by the major recruiting services because they couldn’t make it in academically to the vast majority of schools on the list.
—Bud Elliott
I could excuse his assessment as youthful ignorance (he appears to still be south of the age of 30), but that would be an insult to those twenty-somethings with brains. I could excuse it as a result of the hubris of his apparently chosen profession (attorney?), but that would do a disservice to the fine attorneys out there (there are some, and a few of them are my friends).
His post reminds me of the description of Dr. Carrasco in Man of LaMancha: “A man who carries his own self importance as though afraid of breaking it.”
I see that he has registered as a member of OBNUG (in 2009), so I’m hoping that maybe he will read this.
Let’s just leave it at this:
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they, too, have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.
Note self: dooooo... Noooottt... Piiissss... Offfff... Thheeeee... Chiiieeeeef.
/journal slamming shut
--To my brothers of FOOL (Fraternal Order of Offensive Lineman - Medio, turpis et arcu agro usque)
Aww, I'm just a pussycat
Oh, wait—that’s not really a cat, is it?
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they, too, have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.
Why, do you agree with this Bud Elliot dude?
If you ever wanted to see Boise St play...may be a good chance. Love em or Hate em, they are always interesting; and now, no matter where you live, "They're Coming To Your City"
I have no idea if he's right or wrong.
I don’t know anything about evaluating high school football talent.
I hate to state the obvious, Pants
But Mr. Elliott makes it condescendingly clear that, in his opinion, “good teams [who] didn’t make the list . . . probably snatch up recruits who . . . couldn’t make it in academically to the vast majority of schools on the list.”
Since Boise State (the winningest FBS program over the past decade: http://collegefootball.about.com/od/history/tp/A-Decade-By-Decade-Breakdown-College-Footballs-Winningest-Teams.htm )
is a “good team,” and since they didn’t make Mr. Elliott’s list, this is simply—sorry, there’s no way to sugar-coat this—a stupid statement, in my opinion, and displays an appalling degree of arrogance.
But, since you asked, let me point out that, in 2011, Boise State:
1. Was awarded the American Football Coaches Association Academic Achievement Award for its NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 100% (shared with Miami, OH, the ONLY two schools so honored) http://www.afca.com/article/article.php?id=1199; and
2. Was recognized and congratulated by the NCAA for placing in the top 10% of all [that’s ALL, Pants] FBS schools for its outstanding Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 998.5, averaged over the past two years.
The Broncos posted a perfect score of 1,000 in 2008-09 and a 997 score in 2009-10 for a two-year average of 998.5.
Based on overall NCAA data between 2003-04 and 2009-10, [Coach Chris] Petersen has the ninth best average among FBS head coaches at 975.
The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation providing a measure of each team’s academic performance.
http://www.broncosports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=9900&ATCLID=205304545
And these outstanding student-athletes “probably couldn’t make it academically”?
I hope that satisfies your curiosity.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they, too, have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.
I HATE when that happens
The automatic hyperlink mechanism sometimes includes punctuation which might be adjacent to a URL. Such is the case above for the American Football Association link, which is actually
http://www.afca.com/article/article.php?id=1199
(Forget the blue semi-colon in my original post, which will take you to Nowhere Land.)
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they, too, have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.
I haven't seen any list where Boise State's recruiting class is above 50th
So it seems to me that he’s pretty much in agreement with the rest of the “experts.” No one would claim that Boise State has been successful because they have been loading up on richly talented blue chip recruits. Their success has been the result of excellent coaching.
I think his point about academics isn’t even relevant to BSU. They didn’t score in the top fifty because they don’t have any 4+ star recruits, not because they are poor academically.
Well, that's one interpretation
Glad you see it that way. Others don’t.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they, too, have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.
Dang Senior,
Pick on somebody your own (literacy) size, lol.
If you ever wanted to see Boise St play...may be a good chance. Love em or Hate em, they are always interesting; and now, no matter where you live, "They're Coming To Your City"
title: Santini is going to hurt somebody? Ya think?
I’d put money on about 20 broken hearts, at a minimum.
"Grateful to the friends and the circumstances that enabled me to be a Bronco. I'm just glad I lived to see these days." SeniorChief
Loved this part from the ESPN feature
Attempting to slow down ESPN 150 Watch List players, running back Robert Lewis (South Gate, Calif./South East) and receiver Davonte Neal (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral), was a challenge throughout and matching up against tight end Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick (Rocklin, Calif./Whitney), also on the ESPNU 150 Watch List, proved to be a daunting task from start to finish.
Nevertheless, Santini persevered against his top-notch peers.
A guy who can go out there and face some of the top recruits in the country with no fear has to be a good adition. This got me hyped up, hopefully we’ll be seeing him soon at the Blue.
Here is the video of the event ESPN covered
At 1:32 into the video you will see Santini mathed up against Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick the #4 rated TE in the country according to Scout.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB9s_VVXfyY
Santini looks so damn physical, I can’t wait to see him on the Blue!
by Fan83 on Jan 22, 2012 2:28 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Awesome video man
He’s quickly becoming my favorite recruit.
by Lucas Freitas on Jan 23, 2012 4:11 AM PST up reply actions
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2012 Boise State Football Schedule
@ Michigan State  |
Fri 08/31 | 6:00 p.m. MT |
| Miami (OH) | Sat 09/15 | 2:00 p.m. MT |
| BYU |
Thu 09/20 | TBA |
| @ New Mexico | Sat 09/29 | TBA |
| @ Southern Miss | Sat 10/06 | TBA |
| Fresno State | Sat 10/13 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| UNLV | Sat 10/20 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Wyoming |
Sat 10/27 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| San Diego State | Sat 11/03 | 8:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Hawaii | Sat 11/10 | 5:00 p.m. MT |
| Colorado St. | Sat 11/17 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Nevada | Sat 12/1 | TBA |
