Brian Cole having himself a night.

So as i stated i was going to the game initiating the other post (but its off the page) i will report back with what i saw from Cole.

Stats were already pretty much provided so i won't delve into it, but lets just say that in the first half, he was absolutely special and had about the best possible half a recruit could have.  He exceeded my expectations. 

I already watched enough clips of him to get a decent idea of his size, speed and strength.  One thing that i never could get a handle on was his often talked about agility.  Everyone raved about it, but i just never seen it in his videos.  I needed to see it live.  The other thing i wanted to see was his endurance.  Kid plays every snap both ways, punts and returns punts.  He does not do kickoffs and only came out of the game maybe twice on defense for rests.  I have stated a few times i think Mikey Weber wins player of the year because he only plays RB and is fresh.  I wanted to see how exhausted Cole would get in the 2nd half.

Before i get started on Cole's agility and endurance, let me back up and state that before the opening kickoff, the eyeball test stated that Saginaw Arthur Hill would win this game.  They were MUCH bigger.  When they lined up, it was very noticeable.  I figured SAH would simply smash it down Heritage throat and wear them down.  And they did pretty much own the line.  It was just that Cole was special all over the field.  Take Cole away from this game, SAH wins, probably rather easily too.  Its amazing what one difference maker can do at the high school level. Cole was Heritage tallest player at 6'3" listed.  There was one more at 6'3" but he was injured and not dressed.  Next biggest was 6'2" on Heritage.  Arthur Hill had a FRESHMEN Jimmy Bell Jr. at 6'8" and 310 lbs (didnt play much, but lets keep an eye on him going forward), a Junior who is a top 200 recruit next year and #2 player in state of Michigan Lawrence Gordan at 6'6" and 255 lbs, another Jr. at Jaylen Browder at 6'5" and 255 (i wont go on, you get the idea)....

So Cole....

AGILITY

Off the charts.  This was my big question coming into the game.  I knew his straight speed and strength, but questioned this.  Kid had the quickest spin move ive seen in the hole, has unbelievable vision and feel for the hole, great hop step, one cut and multiple cut ability, and does it naturally.  It is just something you cannot teach.  He had unbelievable plays all day, but his best was a simple 11 yard run between the tackles.  Should have been stopped behind the line twice, stopped at the line, and no more than a 5 yeard gain.  But hey, this is Brian Cole.   His agility, speed, acceleration is off the charts.  Just like Peppers, he could excel at RB at the next level even at this height.  There is absolutely no doubt in my mind.  By the 2nd quarter, when Cole touched the ball, every fan in the stand stopped eating their popcorn, held their breath, and just had the instinct of standing up.  No player on the field did that to you except him.  It was like watching Barry Sanders all over again.  You just expected something special, because thats what he was giving the crowd.

ENDURANCE

This was as expected.  He was absolutely exhausted by mid to late 3rd quarter and started taking plays off.  WHen lined up at WR and the play was away, he would just stand their sometimes.  Not run a 'fake' route.  Not go downfield and try to block.  Just stand there.  On defense, when the play was away from him, he would slow-jog towards the runner.  On one play, the SAH RB broke a few tackles about 5 yards down the field, and Cole was just slowly running to him.  After Cole saw him break the tackles, he then sprinted to him and make the tackle about 15 yards down the field, but if he would have hauled ass the entire time the RB would have been tackled at that 5 yard spot, or maybe an additional yard or two.  I guess this is what i expected, but i would rather see him take himself out of the game when tired.  I like to see a player run HARD every play, and when they cant, come out and get another guy in there who can.  Small potatoes though, he wont be this overused in college. 

About midway to the end of the 2nd quarter, my buddy and i looked at each other and laughed.  Coles name was being called for like 4 consecutive plays - it was like he was superman. It was ridiculous.... Cole with the TD catch.  Cole with the takle.  Cole with the Fumble Recovery.  Cole with the First down run...... We were thinking what is he going to do next?  Cole with the pass, cole caught it, cole touchdown, cole extra point, cole cures cancer?

In a nutshell, i came out of this game with a MUCH higher opinion of Cole than i previously had, and i previously was very high on him.  He really truly is a special athlete that can play multiple positions at a very high level just like JP.

 

** EDIT **

I forgot to mention.  This kid is an absolutely VICIOUS blocker.  When he didnt take a play off and actually blocked, holy $hit.  He as smashing guys and making multiple solid blocks on the same play - very Chesson like.  I LOVED seeing this.

Who would've thunk it.