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An Interview With Tommy Doles
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Yesterday's big recruiting news was the commitment of Drake Harris to Michigan State, but Harris isn't the only Grand Rapids Christian prospect drawing attention in the 2014 class. Offensive lineman Tommy Doles participated in Michigan's camp and subsequently earned his first scholarship offer from the Wolverines last week. Doles stands at 6'5", 240 pounds—up from his sophomore playing weight of 220 lbs.—and he's been a presence on the summer camp circuit, also spending time at Michigan State and Notre Dame. I caught up with Doles today to discuss his recruitment, Michigan's camp, and getting his first offer:
ACE: Which schools are currently in contact with you right now?
TOMMY: Notre Dame, MSU, Michigan, and Central Michigan have talked to me the most along with a few other schools who I have met.
ACE: You've attended camps at ND, MSU, and U-M, right? What has the camp experience been like for you at each school?
TOMMY: That is correct. Each camp was a good experience and all had great instruction and great coaching. My team's offensive line also attended the CMU big man camp which was a good experience for our O-Line.
ACE: Talking about Michigan specifically, how did that camp go for you, and what was your impression of the coaching staff? Did you get to work with Coach Funk at all?
TOMMY: That camp went well. The linemen got to practice in the Big House, which was just awesome, and all of the coaches there really knew what they were doing. I did get to work with Coach Funk a fair amount and think that he is a great coach.
ACE: What was your reaction to getting the Michigan offer, and what does it mean to you that they were the first school to offer you?
TOMMY: It means a lot. Michigan is a great school and I was very excited that they were interested in me.
ACE: I know it's very early, but do you have any schools that you would consider favorites right now?
TOMMY: Not at this time. I am going to take my time, see what my options are and try to find the right fit for me.
ACE: When you look for the right fit, what factors are you looking for in a school?
TOMMY: Academics will be a large part. Once I have an idea of what I would like to do I will want to look at the programs the school has to offer.
ACE: Do you have any other camps or visits planned for the rest of the summer?
TOMMY: No, nothing planned. At this point I am more focused on my team and our goals for the season.
ACE: What would you say is your biggest strength on the field, and what are you working to improve over the summer and during your junior year?
TOMMY: I would say athleticism is an advantage of mine on the field and I want to work on my technique on the field as I move on. [Ed-Ace: I'd have to agree with Tommy on his self-assessment. He's got very impressive agility for a lineman, as evidenced in his highlights above. He could definitely work on getting his hands into position quicker to make that initial punch in pass protection.]
June 28th, 2012 at 2:20 PM | 
What's his frame like?
What's his frame like?
June 28th, 2012 at 2:30 PM |
I like this kid, I think he
I like this kid, I think he
I like this kid, I think he has a good head on his shoulders. If he really is looking for great academics then Michigan should have a great shot to land him!
Go Blue
June 28th, 2012 at 2:48 PM |
Harris
Harris
will be recruiting him hard for MSU. I don't like our chances.
2014 Offer List BOYCOTT ADIDAS
June 28th, 2012 at 3:20 PM |
I don't know...he speaks
I don't know...he speaks
I don't know...he speaks pretty intelligently, so I don't think he would be a good fit there.
June 28th, 2012 at 4:53 PM |
Does MSU even recruit linemen
Does MSU even recruit linemen
Does MSU even recruit linemen anymore?
June 29th, 2012 at 8:48 AM |
Only if they've been in
Only if they've been in
Only if they've been in trouble with the law.
The Team, The Team, The Team
June 29th, 2012 at 8:50 AM |
I like this kid's film. He
I like this kid's film. He
I like this kid's film. He seems to play bigger than 240, of course he's standing among other HS kids, but I like his motor and keeps playing to the whistle.
I wonder if he owns a bicycle?
The Team, The Team, The Team
At 6'5" 240# he sure can run around, his blocking on the 2nd level in the highlights looked good. Does it look like he'll be able to grow into a B1G sized tackle? I realize that he's only going to be a junior (and thus is 15-17 years old) but we've had a lot of BIG O-line recruits recently.
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"