Sometimes the eyeball test can play tricks on you.....Some guys pass the eyeball test and everyone makes assumptions they can play (Ryan Leaf comes to mind). Others don't pass the eyeball test and colleges miss out on a gem (Russell Wilson) OR that player goes to a smaller school and then ends up in the league 4-5 years later (Brad Hoover was a great example coming out of Ledford and WCU). I personally love it when the underdog or the "little guy" gets that chance and makes it. I see this in my own son, who in truth is not the biggest kicker in the world. I know for a fact he uses it as motivation, all the way to being ranked the #1 kicker in the country in the class of 2018. The Dispatch once referred to him as "the tiny kicker" (in a game he made 4 FGs , 2 of them 40+ yards) and he still uses that one as fuel. Now kickers are different from DEs, but the same principle of the eye ball test applies. He still enjoys going to these national level kicking camps and beating the snot out of bigger, older kickers who some might assume are better just because they are bigger. I guess what I am saying (in my humble opinion) is that the young man, KJ, has unlimited potential as you can't teach size or speed. These things are God given gifts that can sometimes be supplemented or increased, but for the most part you either have or you don't. Some coach at the next level (let's be honest, he will end up somewhere at a P5 conference school) will give this young man a chance to shine. He already has the tools you can't teach. I am willing to bet he will have success at the next level and everyone on these forums should hope the same. Worst case scenario....he gets a college education/degree and great life experiences as a student ATH. So whether the DE is 6'5" and you think he is over rated or the PK is 5'9" and he feels like he is under appreciated, everyone finds motivation from different sources. No one goes into the NFL because of how good/bad they were their junior year of high school. Good luck KJ, looking forward to seeing you suit up on Saturdays (just don't ever block a FG if you play against the tiny kicker)!
