OT: 2018 center Tyrone Sampson, Jr. to Fresno State
Detroit (MI) East English Village center Tyrone Sampson, Jr. signed with Fresno State today. He had been committed to Syracuse for a while before rescinding that pledge.
It's been a strange odyssey for Sampson, whom many Michigan fans wanted the Wolverines to offer. He's a 4-star, the #7 center in the country, and #346 overall. Indiana, Louisville, Michigan State (okay, I can't blame him for not signing with that dumpster fire), Ole Miss, and others all offered him, but his recruitment dragged out over a week past National Signing Day. Now he's headed to Fresno State, which doesn't exactly get much of a national spotlight.
Something is funky with that recruitment. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the kid, but the offers don't really match the ranking, and the ranking doesn't match with Fresno State, whose next highest ranked signee is #776 overall in the 247 Composite. I'll be interested to see how his career plays out at Fresno.
February 16th, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
I ll take Grades for 1000 Alex
February 17th, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^
The NCAA minimum academic requirements apply at Fresno State. I doubt this is the explanation.
February 16th, 2018 at 9:38 PM ^
A) it’s Cali ... good weather all year round ... tho it gets hot in Fresno
B) As a Cal alum ... it’s the Tedford effect. Kid is gonna play for a good coach who has put a ton of kids in the NFL.
February 16th, 2018 at 10:08 PM ^
Fresno has good weather? Fresno is like if you put Gary, Indiana on the sun.
February 16th, 2018 at 10:25 PM ^
But my kids live, with their whore mother, (kidding) in Clovis. Fresno is quite a few steps up from Gary, in my humble opinion.
February 17th, 2018 at 12:19 AM ^
Are you really kidding?
February 17th, 2018 at 1:08 AM ^
Compared to Stockton...maybe
February 17th, 2018 at 4:21 AM ^
.........yeah, yeah I’m kidding. ;)
February 17th, 2018 at 12:22 AM ^
is a fucking shithole. They have amazing seafood trucks and taco trucks
February 17th, 2018 at 4:24 AM ^
To Toledo, soooooo me thinks Gary is closer to Toledo and Clovis is pretty nice. I’m not saying it’s paradise, but seemed nice enough to me. In all seriousness I’m looking to relocate closer to my kids this summer. I would be interested in getting the opinions of those familiar with that part of the state on the best landing spots.
February 17th, 2018 at 12:18 PM ^
Clovis is OK. Fresno is not a bad town once you get used to it. Suprisingly, there are many cultural activities in Fresno.
February 17th, 2018 at 1:15 PM ^
So they don't really live with her?
February 16th, 2018 at 10:59 PM ^
raisins?
February 17th, 2018 at 12:11 PM ^
Also, close to Kings Mountain and Sequoia National Parks. Kings Mountain, particularly, is a must see.
February 17th, 2018 at 1:42 AM ^
Fresno is NOT like California. More like Arizona, except less to do.
February 17th, 2018 at 10:46 AM ^
...the produce!
February 16th, 2018 at 9:46 PM ^
So, he's an elite prospect at center, and no high profile programs offer him. Even weirder, he has P5 offers and he winds up at Fresno State? Something is definitely happening off the field here.
February 16th, 2018 at 9:58 PM ^
Academics
February 16th, 2018 at 10:10 PM ^
Fresno State is the last phone call you make before you starting looking at JUCO’s. I just remember some of guys Tark got in there back in the day.
February 16th, 2018 at 10:10 PM ^
If the offers dont match the skill its either academics or “other”
February 16th, 2018 at 10:29 PM ^
Always liked the V on their helmets. Valley baby.
February 16th, 2018 at 10:36 PM ^
he can't read
February 16th, 2018 at 10:40 PM ^
The scouts at Michigan on this one. Then again it seems like just now they’re starting to actually recruit Dobbs so...
February 17th, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^
We don’t need anymore “Elite” interior linemen, if such a thing exists. Just focus on recruiting Tackles, early and often. That’s been the gaping hole of Michigan recruiting for too long.
February 17th, 2018 at 1:21 PM ^
In fairness, getting some elite interior guys might give a swing player like Bredeson, Honigford, or Filiaga a chance to stay outside. I agree that tackles are more necessary, though.
February 16th, 2018 at 10:48 PM ^
He took a couple of official visits recently. In order to do that, he would have to get through the NCAA clearinghouse requirements and send his transcripts to the schools. They wouldn't have learned anything about his grades after a visit that they wouldn't have already known.
There's definitely something in play. Decommitting from Syracuse on the day he was planning to sign, with no other schools lined up, is the type of thing that rarely happens. It honestly looks like it was Syracuse's decision, even though he was their top ranked recruit.
His HS coach said some of the schools that were interested decided to go with a grad transfer instead. Take that for what it's worth.
February 16th, 2018 at 10:57 PM ^
He would land at WMU
February 17th, 2018 at 2:44 AM ^
He's looking for opportunities in other places. The article on DetNews specifically mentioned Lexington, which is oddly specific. He also coached Brandon Graham at Crockett.
February 17th, 2018 at 7:02 AM ^
Fresno State produced Paul George so at least there's some history of an NBA star coming from the school. Not sure how centers work in their system tho. Maybe he'll just be in there to set screens, rebound and protect the rim.
Syracuse, Louisville, Indiana, and Michigan State is a great offer sheer for hoops. Even more perplexing that he would choose Fresno. Anyone know why Beilein didn't offer? Maybe he can't shoot very well.
Oh well, best of luck to the kid!
February 17th, 2018 at 7:55 AM ^
But in case you were being serious...this is for football.
February 17th, 2018 at 10:17 AM ^
I'll be honest I only realized that they were talking about a football center as opposed to a basketball center about 3 posts before this one.
I was so confused and figured this guy would get negbanged for randomly talking about the 303rd ranked basketball recruit when our entire class is higher than that.
February 17th, 2018 at 10:56 AM ^
Yup didn't realize til your post.
February 17th, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^
I was 95% sure it was football because Magnus is the OP, but there wasn't a mention of football anywhere in the post so..I thought I'd get out my trolling motor
February 17th, 2018 at 12:57 PM ^
It is kind of interesting to watch others post on a subject like this. It is fun to respond with a little more info on the subject,
Actually ESPN and others have highlighted the fact that some of the more recent FS athletes who are prominent in Sports begins with the following:
Paul George
Aaron Judge
Derek Carr
Davante Adams.
When it comes to the O-line you will find folks like
Logan Mankins
Ryan Wendell
Cody Wichmann
Others of note and the list is long, but a few would be
Trent Dilfer
David Car
Ryan Mathews
Billy Volek
Stephan Page
Henry Ellard
and many others.
Pat Hill is very close friends with Bill in NE. If you look over the years you will find a lot of FS players have actually played and been on the 53 man rosters for New England as well as other NFL teams. A number of years ago when NE had their record year of wins I believe there were 6 former FS players on the 53 man NE roster.
Jeff Tedford, former FS player, took FS last year from a 1-11 team to a 10-4 record and beat Boise once and should have beaten them twice.
His new O-line coach is probably one of the best in the country. He took the previous year's group which was considered to be very bad and turned it into one of the best around. We lost, but in reality held our own against Bama and Washington last year. FS's LG, Muti, man handled the Alabamd All American D-lineman.
The rest of Jeff's staff are not slouches either. FS was fortunate to keep its staff intact for 2018. He has hired coaches who are masters of their subject and master teachers.
Jeff has the same thoughts about Academics as Pat Hill did. They coach players up academcally as well as football wise. The first meeting Jeff had when he arrived was with the academic coordinators. He wants all of his athletes to get meaningful degrees. He is a breath of fresh air.
All you have to do is look at who Jeff has put in the NFL and it is impressive. In addition parents and players who talk to Jeff come away very impressed with what he says and his sencerity.
Jefff is very much like BIll. He has an amazing football mind.
Obviously Fresno does not get the P5 players that big schools get, but in the final analysis we do produce some very good athletes who earn a lot of money.
Heck, the MSU baseball team is in town this week-end for a 4 game series. They lost last night, but they do love the 70 degree weathrer Fresno is currently experiencing. Heck the trees do as well as they are all coming into full bloom.
Am I biased? Yes, but I have watched 50 years of FS sports. Jeff is one of the best I have ever seen as a player and a coach. I thinkk Aaron Rogers and Derek Carr are of the same opinion.
Pat and Jim put FS on the map. I wouldn't be surprised by anything Jeff does over the next several years. FS is Jeff's home and it is his final gig for however long he wants it to be.
February 17th, 2018 at 1:05 PM ^
That's quite a first post.
Welcome to the blog!
February 17th, 2018 at 1:16 PM ^
Until a few posts above your I thought we were talking basketball too. There was no football mention in the title or thread, the kid is a center, and it's basketball season.
Edit: There were Tark references too.
February 17th, 2018 at 8:02 AM ^
You got to talk to Sampson
February 17th, 2018 at 10:48 AM ^
Have you seen his recruiting photo on 247? He looks like the son of the Blue Blocker Rapper.
In other news, the following crystal balls have been put in for Ohio State: any fucking player they want.
Makes me want to puke and cancel 247.
February 17th, 2018 at 10:57 AM ^
Daily Double! This this letter begins the verb that describes what I did to your mom last night AND Sampson's average letter grade on his Math tests.
February 17th, 2018 at 11:34 AM ^
...some early fallout from this whole FBI thing that is supposed to engulf all of college basketball?
EDIT: no... because this is football. Lol.
February 17th, 2018 at 11:35 AM ^
It has to be grades, right? I wish him luck, but I doubt he's going to Fresno because it was his dream team.