TomVH: Antonio Poole Excited for The Big 33
Defense was a huge priority for Brady Hoke the second he stepped on the recruiting trail for Michigan. That was made apparent when four of his first six commitments for the 2011 class were defensive players. Cincinnati linebacker Antonio Poole was one of those commitments despite not receiving an offer from the previous Michigan coaches. Poole was a name that frequently came up throughout the recruiting process and that fans were happy to see on the Wolverine commitment list.
As the days get closer for Antonio to step on campus and make an impact, he still has one more big game to prepare for. Along with Michigan signees LB Frank Clark and DE Keith Heitzman, Poole was selected to play in the annual Big 33 game that puts the best high school players from Ohio against the best that Pennsylvania has to offer. "You have to be nominated by someone like a coach, and then they choose the best players from the nominations," said Poole.
The game is his main focus right now, but it has given him a chance to connect with his future teammates Clark and Heitzman. "We've been focused on the game and trying to win, but we have been talking about Michigan too," he said. "Frank is actually playing defensive end, linebacker, and some safety; he's really athletic. Keith has been doing pretty good, too, they're both really good." Antonio will be lined up as a MIKE linebacker so there's a chance for all three to be on the field at the same time.
The Big 33 is an honor for Antonio and he's excited about being able to represent his state, but it's also an excellent opportunity for him to prepare for better competition at the next level. "I think this will help me get better, help me to go up against better competition and get myself prepared to make an impact once I get [to Michigan]," said Poole.
The preparation and competition is only one aspect of how he's getting himself ready to compete at Michigan. The biggest change for Poole was probably his new workout program he received once he signed his LOI. "When I first got the exercise book I didn't even know how to do some of them, so it was kind of hard," he said. "The running stuff I knew how to do that, and I think I've built up a lot of stamina from the workouts. I've gotten a lot faster and I'm up to 220 pounds now." The coaches will probably have him play around 225 as a freshman so he's almost at his ideal weight.
The Big 33 game has some great tradition behind it, and has seen some outstanding players in their past years. Both are aspects of Michigan that Antonio is recognizing by comparison. "This game is going to be on TV so it's a big stage. After this I'm just excited to get on the field and play in the Big House, even bigger stage. I want to bring the winning back to Michigan and the tradition back to what it was," said Poole. As a versatile linebacker that can play either WILL or MIKE, Poole will have every opportunity to compete for a starting spot to help Michigan back to prominence.
The Big 33 will be played on Saturday June 18th at 7:00pm EST. More information on the game can be found here.
Great that you are keeping tabs on incoming recruits along with your essential recruiting work. It will be interesting to see what position Frank Clark winds up playing - I'm guessing tight end.
Wow, the fact that Clark has been alternating between DE and S is impressive, it shows he has athletic versatility, and a head for the game. Safeties have to know exactly what is happening on the field so they do not end up out of position... A problem we know all too well as Michigan fans. If I had to guess though, I think he ends up as a TE for us with all these other defensive prospects coming in, especially if we don't give Moore a scholarship as a fifth year senior.
Signing an LOI locks them in so they can't decommit or anything. If you give them that book before hand they still have the opportunity to decommit or sign elsewhere. They then have all your workouts and plans for them and they're not even going to your school. It would be a waste to do that, and giving it to them a few months ahead of that wouldn't be that big of an advantage.
They sometimes do. My high school coach had a workout book that he ripped off from the Nebraska Cornhuskers sometime in the 90's. It was difficult for many highschoolers to use and in college you have an entire S+C staff helping you and checking your weights, in high school it was a bit over kill IMO.
As JensenCoach said above, high school coaches simply don't have the resources to implement college training plans. You're typically dealing with older equipment, small workout spaces, bad weather in the winter (unless you live in the south), a shortage of coaches, players who play other sports, etc.
There's only so much you can do when you have 50 players jammed into a 500-square-foot room with 15-year-old equipment, the girls basketball team taking up gym space, and snow on the ground outside.
@ LiveSportsVideo.com
trrrribly close to the site of the Big33, and yet I have never attended one. Exactly what is wrong with me?
...your first person report after this year's game.
MGoDeputized.
You know exactly why that's not gonna happen!! Maybe in the future
...I do.
i have been so wrapped up with 2012 recruits, i had lost touch with 2011's who will be on campus in just a few weeks.
time to relax with a few of my old favorite Hello: posts
That's exactly what I was thinking. I'm ashamed to admit I all but forgot the new guys coming in, and that right soon.
to play this fall? Who else has a chance?
Everyone has a chance, I guess, but Poole has a better chance than many. He could play special teams and we're pretty thin at linebacker this year, so he could get on the field if Mike Jones, Brandin Hawthorne, and Marell Evans can't get it done at WLB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSq_mCKY2P8
But so is Kellen Jones'. Do you have a preference at Will between Poole, Jones, and Morgan?
Well, Morgan looks like a MIKE to me, so that leaves Jones and Poole. But I did read that Mattison still wanted Jones to play MIKE despite the fact that Jones isn't very big, so I'm going to go with Poole.
If both Jones and Poole were headed for WILL, I would honestly be split 50/50 between them. I think Poole might be a little better of an athlete, but Jones looks like he really thinks the game (and is still a good athlete).
Damn I thought we were talking about a super conference to rule them all
I join in appreciating your reminding us of the guys who are almost here as a verified part of the team and letting us share their excitement. Alleviates some of the angst and obsession with the high school kids who may or may not join them a year or so from now.
but got a Brewersfest to attend this weekend.
been so consumed witht he 2012 commits that I lost touch with the 2011 commits that may make an immediate impace. In my mind Anotino Poole could be one, as could Kellen Jones. Here is a link to a nice read about 5 Freshman who could compete immediately:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/735214-michigan-football-top-5-impac…
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