Let the D-lineman parade continue! We've got 94 days left until the Broncos arrive in Hot-lanta, so today I'll be highlighting the player with jersey No. 94—Sam McCaskill
#94, Sam McCaskill, RS Sophomore, DE
Stats
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 246 lbs.
High School: Sheldon High School, Eugene, OR
How'd he get to The Blue™?
McCaskill was a standout two-way player for Eugene's Sheldon high school playing both defensive end and center. As a senior, McCaskill was named first team All-State and the Southwest Conference defensive player of the year after registering 115 tackles and 16 sacks—also leading Sheldon to the Class 6A title game. As a junior, McCaskill was similarly productive, notching 110 tackles and 12.5 sacks—again, earning him first team All-State honors. McCaskill had offers from Portland State, Montana and Oregon State, but chose the Broncos.
Nickname
Yosemite Sam
Look-alike
Late wrestling icon Owen Hart
Career Highlights
As a senior, named first-team all-Class 6A selection at defensive end and center, and also named the Southwest Conference's defensive player of the year. Earned first-team all-league honors at defensive end, and second-team honors at center as a junior. Helped team to a state title as a sophomore in 2009.
Played in 11 games as a freshman, mostly on special teams. Recorded a sack against Southern Miss, like we all did I think.
2014 Prospectus
Could we be singing McCaskill's praises seven months from now as he's become one of our favorite defensive players, a veritable Ryan Winterswyk-in-the-rough? It's quite possible. The kid's got talent and opportunity, and when those two elements combine, you've got yourself a meatball sandwich of potential. McCaskill came on in spot duty last season and was one of the many talented freshmen among the front seven (technically, front six, but who's counting). He'll have a chance to ascend the depth chart this fall amid the tough competition from his classmates (holla Gabe Perez) and his jucos (Antoine Turner Up the Heat).
I like the idea of McCaskill, maybe because he reminds me of Winterswyk (oh no, I am becoming Mark Johnson) and maybe because he seems like the type of under-the-radar, chip-on-his-shoulder kind of guy that hearkens back to the days of Boise State glories past (oh no, I am becoming Tom Scott) (becoming Tom Scott wouldn't be all that bad). I'll keep my fingers crossed for him, as I do for all Bronco players. I have so many fingers.
Completely made up fact
McCaskill is an Irish name meaning Master of the Cat Skillz.
Ed's Note: Thanks for your patience with some technical difficulties this morning. Memorial Day is a holiday for web servers and PHP as much as it is for us humans.