Prospect Profile: Sergio Kindle
by Peter Bean on Jan 24, 2006 9:19 AM CST
in Texas Longhorns Recruiting
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PrintBy Josh Austin, Recruiting Writer
The term "Linebacker U" was invented as a nickname for Penn State University. Webster might need an edit right about now because Texas is making a run at that title. Texas has seen some great linebackers in its history. Tommy Nobis, D.D. Lewis, Derrick Johnson, and Aaron Harris all come to mind as all-time great Longhorn linebackers. We should probably get ready to add a new name to that list, Sergio Kindle. The much-heralded recruit has signed his letter of intent to become a Texas Longhorn.
Physically, Kindle is not immediately a stunner. At 6'4" 225lbs, its his height that impresses more than his weight. Don't be fooled though, because of the 225lbs, 240 of them are muscle (the math doesn't add up, but trust me). His most impressive asset is his speed. He's a consistent 4.5 40 guy and could probably break 4.4 on the right track. That's one fast linebacker. At Dallas Wilson he started on defense at LB and just for kicks started on offense at running back. I don't seem him on offense at all at Texas, strictly because running back is the deepest, most talented position on the team. However, it would be fun to watch him tote the rock from time to time. District coaches in Dallas have been quoted saying he looks better at RB than Adrian Peterson did as a senior.
I won't sit here and list high school stats because they are boring and over-inflated. What I will tell you about is his dominance. Think LeBron in high school dominance. Man among boys. Rivals calls him the best player out of Dallas in over ten years. He is the consensus top player in Texas and most services have him ranked in the top five players nation wide.
Kindle will make an impact as a freshman. Most experts agree that he will probably start at OLB from the get-go and only get better as the season progresses. The most likely scenario for Sergio is a Derrick Johnson-like assignment. Basically fly all over the field and make plays. Chizik loves linebackers like him, so expect for him to grow a lot in the Chizik's scheme. Don't be surprised to see him sack a QB on one play then blanket Ted Ginn in coverage on the next. His athleticism and speed will give Texas a lot of options with blitzes and coverages. The one fault that people seem to have with Sergio is his size. If he were entering the NFL today, he would be projected at safety. It will be interesting to see what a summer with Mad Dog can do for Kindle. Don't be surprised to see him start next year at 230 or 235 lbs.
To sum it all up, Sergio Kindle is a bad, bad man. I would be willing to bet that he and Jules Winfield carry the same wallet.
Sergio Kindle and Jules Winfield may be carrying the same wallet.
--JA--
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I'm not convinced that the staff isn't going to consider this option.
Yes, I think the RBs are deep and talented, but I think Kindle might be a step above.
It's not like the LBs aren't deep either. There are plenty of bodies to rotate. Kelson was a phenom in the Rose Bowl and Kill showed sparks.
You have to consider that the number one priority for the team is finding that catalyst or momentum to score now that VY is gone.
Sergio could be that Maurice Clarett type freshman that gets things going.
I doubt it
Ramonce was able to shift over to RB last year because the WR's were starting to step up and become playmakers themselves. Being that LB and RB are so physical, I doubt he would see playing time on both sides of the ball.
Depth at LB is not nearly the depth that we have at RB next year. Killabrew and Kelson are going to be studs. But Sergio will likely be the 3rd LB. The only other LB that really made any impact last year was Rashad Bobino. He'll be fighting for the starting position as well.
There were 2 other stud LB recruits this year, but I would expect that one of them is going to red-shirt.
Mack
Mack didn't start the other freshmen right away because he didn't feel like they were ready, or mature enough, to start. Kindle will begin learning the LB position this spring and all through the fall and most likely start since he'll have the semester and spring game behind him. He'll have to learn too much on defense to pick up the offense right away. Or if he does go out for RB, then he'd have to learn the offense and not be able to concentrate on D.
Would you rather have him halfway knowing the offense and defense and playing in slimmed down playsets? Or would you rather have him totally dedicated to one side of the ball and be a complete badass?
He's the most talked about linebacker out of the Dallas ISD since Jesse Armstead went to Carter and won state in 1988. Carter was later stripped of the title based on an ineligible player. BUT, scuttlebutt around the DISD has Kindle openly saying he wants to play RB at Texas. Texas has a stable of running backs already and this kid coming from Longview is very solid. Public opinion says Kindle should play, and start at, linebacker.
He is fast, but not fast enough to cover Ginn man-on downfield like stated on here. He can cover just about anybody else, though. MadDog will help Kindle pack on some more weight and he'll go through a legitimate offseason like he never got at a money-strapped inner-city school where he also played hoops and ran track. And if you don't know, Sergio was a gamer. He was at his best in the big games in high school. As a junior, he led WW to a first-round win over the state's No. 3 team (Hebron) and he rushed for 240-something in the second-round loss to Wylie ... and this with nine guys in the box to stop him. So SOME high school stats do matter. (**FYI - that was Hebron's only loss in two years)
Put Kindle around all that other talent on the UT defense and we're bound to see something special when he puts on that orange jersey, helmet with dark faceshield, perhaps the neck roll and those mountain-pushing arms protruding from underneath his shoulder pads.
Oh, in case you didn't know: Sergio already bench presses about 375.
Dip
That was a pretty sexy post, I amn't going to renew my OBloods membership this year and just rely on your informative breakdowns.
I wonder if you could help me, I reluctantly bought the VY John Hancock Commemorative PigDermis for the bargain basement price of two fingers. Still as reliable as I remember getting my Calculus book two months into the semester, the Chicken COOP has conveniently posted no picture available on their site. Offering only this written description:
"This full-size football showcases Vince Young's image as well as his amazing college football stats!
Your ball will be autographed by Vince Young himself"
Despite the flagrant over use of exclamation marks in the full description and the clarification that VY amassed "college football stats," as opposed to a log of his High Scores on Joust; I am super worried that when I open my half year salary investment, that's its going to be this Tiger striped orange-white eye sore with a nude artist's depiction of Vince positioned like Rodin's The Thinker over a backdrop of gold leaf rushing stats.
Do you have the ball or have you seen one?
How much you think VY gets per signature, I'll take the under on $20.
Thanks
by Tbone Stallone on Jan 25, 2006 8:04 AM CST up reply actions
No way
by AdamDC on Jan 24, 2006 9:35 AM CST reply actions
Tough question
He is definitely going to play LB, though, and it just seems unlikely that he'll play both ways, except, perhaps in specific situations.
That said, everything you read says the guy is just ridiculous as both an RB and LB, so who knows. It's one of the questions I'm most looking forward to answering as things progress.
If nothing else...
Kindle video
Bad Mutha Goose
They were a funk band that used to play in Austin with Retarded Elf.
I remember this one show at Liberty Lunch were a member of the Bad Mutha Goose band married the lead singer of Retarded Elf. They had the ceremony right there up on the stage.
The pastor asked the couple, "Do you take this fiiiine lady, to be yo women?"
"Does this fiiiine lady, take this man to be your pimp?"
They were fully decked in outrageous costumes.
Good times in Austin man. Good times... good times
No
Stubbs bought out Liberty Lunch and they were going to build a new one next door, but for some reason didn't.
I think the last show at Liberty Lunch was the Pixies and Bob Mould.
So many good shows.
http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/vol18/issue25/xtra.live_music_guide/feature.liberty.html
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