Hello: 2020 OL Andrew Gentry
No you didn't read that wrong. Andrew Gentry is a class of 2020 OT who originally committed to Virginia over Michigan. He then went on a LDS mission trip and is supposed to start playing college football this season. Looks like he opened up his recruitment after the coaching change at Virginia.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:37 AM ^
That is a big human. Love it.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:46 AM ^
Put him and Bounds at OT and I think you'd have the tallest set of Tackles in history?
6'8" and 6'7.5". First dudes off the bus.
December 8th, 2021 at 11:06 AM ^
I can picture that bus moving up a couple inches right after those guys step off.
December 8th, 2021 at 12:02 PM ^
When I was a student, I recall walking by a house one Saturday night and at least ten members of the football team (several O linemen) were standing on a porch at a party. That porch was sagging so badly I thought I'd hear about a porch collapse the next day. This was in the Jumbo Elliott days and he was definitely jumbo size.
December 8th, 2021 at 11:33 AM ^
How tall is Cade? :::thinking emoji:::
December 8th, 2021 at 11:57 AM ^
Time to start teaching them how to not only pass protect, but to also open up passing lanes through the line.
December 8th, 2021 at 11:44 AM ^
A very big human indeed. I have heard of the Landed Gentry, but never the Landmass Gentry!
December 8th, 2021 at 1:58 PM ^
ask the local Gentry
and Zach will say 'it's alimentary'
December 8th, 2021 at 2:07 PM ^
I'm old enough to get it.
December 8th, 2021 at 5:17 PM ^
December 8th, 2021 at 10:38 AM ^
I'm paywalled out of 247 but it looks like he's 6-8 and 310. That's a large gentleman, and I'd wager he'd be able to put on 20 more pounds without much trouble.
December 8th, 2021 at 11:28 AM ^
I bet he's got good leg strength and coordination after his mission. They walk and ride bikes a lot during their mission.
December 8th, 2021 at 2:12 PM ^
The article mentions that he needs to “firm up to football weight” which is expected after a two-year LDS mission so conditioning may be an issue but that’s a nice frame to work with for an OT.
December 8th, 2021 at 2:26 PM ^
Andrew this is Ben Herbert. He's going to be your best friend for the next year while you get back in football shape. Do everything he says and let him kick your ass.
December 8th, 2021 at 5:58 PM ^
Right - I mean it’s not like you have an opportunity to eat a ton on mission trips.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:38 AM ^
Why wouldn't he be able to reclassify as 2022? He wouldn't be the first to do that. Wasn't it Tyler Ecker who went on a Mormon mission and then was a 20 year old freshman?
December 8th, 2021 at 10:40 AM ^
He is effectively class of 2022 and has all of his eligibility left. I just put in 2020 because that was his original recruitment cycle
December 8th, 2021 at 11:52 AM ^
That's cool, it's just strange that 247 also lists him as class of 2020.
December 8th, 2021 at 12:07 PM ^
I'm pretty sure you don't lose your eligibility for a Morman mission even if it is taken after your Freshman year.
December 8th, 2021 at 1:06 PM ^
Thats true and it's why all the Utah schools often have guys who are like 6-7 years removed from high school. I think that electric punt returner Utah has this year is like 23 or 24
December 8th, 2021 at 1:40 PM ^
Yeah Utah's Britain Covey had 5 catches against Michigan in Harbaugh's first game as coach back in 2015.
December 8th, 2021 at 3:35 PM ^
Well, he is Class of 2020. That's when he graduated. He can't "re-classify" backwards and 247 wouldnt need to change it. Those refer to when they left high school, not when they start college.
December 8th, 2021 at 1:28 PM ^
Yes. Gentry can also be around to NOT LATERAL THE BALL TO A COMPLETELY UNCOVERED STEVE BREASTON.
December 8th, 2021 at 1:37 PM ^
Too soon.
December 8th, 2021 at 4:21 PM ^
Always too soon.
December 9th, 2021 at 8:09 AM ^
I'm more upset about the lack of penalty than Ecker not lateraling back to Breaston. I was 9 for that game so I don't remember the officiating throughout the game but I couldn't figure out why they just walked off the field.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:40 AM ^
The advantage of maturity is very real with OL.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:40 AM ^
I remember this recruiting saga. Welcome Andrew! Massive get!
December 8th, 2021 at 10:41 AM ^
Kid is a monster great get
December 8th, 2021 at 10:41 AM ^
Being that he has been on a Mormon mission for two years, was he allowed to work out at all? How long will it take for him to get his strength back up to playing strength?
December 8th, 2021 at 10:44 AM ^
I would assume he takes a redshirt year
December 8th, 2021 at 10:44 AM ^
Other players have gone and have been able to contribute immediately. The nice thing with Michigans current OL depth is that he doesn’t have to contribute immediately and can take a year or two to shore up his body and skill
December 8th, 2021 at 11:25 AM ^
I wonder when he got home. I would guess that he's been working hard since he got back. If he's been back 3 or 4 months he will have been working out for about a year before the season starts. He probably wouldn't be fine-tuned yet but could be in pretty good shape.
December 8th, 2021 at 12:54 PM ^
He is an interesting combination of a HUGE physical human, with now two additional years of age, but all of his eligibility including a RS year.
Unlike in many of the skill positions where a guy like this would be clamoring for immediate playing time, there is no expectation of that with lineman. So, big dude. A freshman, but an old one. We have a line this year that makes it perfect for him to RS a year and get caught up. Then maybe a four year plan? (Don't want to get too far ahead, but the stars align for this to be a special guy)
December 8th, 2021 at 10:49 AM ^
This is fantastic. We should park a recruiter in Utah and recruit all the LDS OL & DL prospects! 2 year advantage in growth and maturity. Here's his 2018 247 scouting report. They compared him to Michael Schofield of the LA Chargers:
Broad shouldered frame with thick lower half. Strong upper body at 310 pounds, with room to add some mass. Impressively agile for his size. Finishes blocks well. Repeatedly reaches the second level to open running lanes. Quick off the snap and maintains pad level through contact. Top-notch run blocker who seals his gaps. Room to improve as a pass blocker and with regard to his overall athleticism. Potential multi-year starter at Power Five level and NFL Draft Day 2 selection.
December 8th, 2021 at 11:26 AM ^
I like the impressively agile part, don’t want guys like that osu tackle s who could move his feet to save his life
December 8th, 2021 at 10:50 AM ^
This article does a pretty good job of documenting the experience of serving a full-time mission and returning to play college football.
https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/12/17/21811001/college-football-pandemic-covid-returned-missionary-lds-mormon-stanford-byu-football-arizona
December 8th, 2021 at 10:50 AM ^
The article I read said he’s able to work out 30 minutes per day but is definitely not in football shape. In particular he hasn’t been able to do heavy weights like squat/deadlift so he’s a redshirt almost certainly.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:53 AM ^
Might be a rough first year for him but the intangibles don't go away. With the right coaching, this kid could be a nice end piece to a new dominant OL. Obviously, projecting OL is difficult so time will tell. Regardless, it is a very NICE pick up.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:56 AM ^
It depends on his Mission President.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:59 AM ^
Dad said he gets to work out 1/2 an hour a day but not in football shape or football weight right now.
"Andrew does about 30 minutes of workouts every day, but he's not in football football shape, of course, having been away from the game for two years," Todd Gentry said. "He does have to firm up to football weight and it's tough right now on the lower body without doing heavy-duty squatting, but he's been able to maintain decent amount of weight."
December 8th, 2021 at 1:47 PM ^
I mean, jello, coca cola and home night casseroles would take their toll on anyone. Herbert will do wonders with him. Nice random pick up.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:42 AM ^
This is a great get for the offensive line.
I'm assuming he's 20 or 21...which is a huge advantage for an OL.
Hopefully he stayed in shape during his mission trip.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:42 AM ^
I'm assuming he'll have the normal 4/5 years of eligibility remaining?
December 8th, 2021 at 2:35 PM ^
Or 12 with COVID
December 8th, 2021 at 10:43 AM ^
He was a top OL recruit. Per 2020 report;
2020 4-star offensive lineman Andrew Gentry has scholarship offers to play football for the best programs in America. As the No. 6 offensive tackle in the country and No. 47 overall player, according to 247Sports’ composite, it’s no wonder teams are in hot pursuit of the 6-foot-8, 310-pounder from Littleton, Colorado.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:43 AM ^
That is a fun surprise. Takes some pressure off the Connerly recruitment