Casey Phinney Commits To Boston College: Scouting Report
Lost in the buzz around BC's big win yesterday over Duke was news that the Eagles landed a commitment from linebacker Casey Phinney. The Noble and Greenough School, and teammate of Drew Kendall, flipped to the Eagles from Michigan. To get a better sense of what kind of player Boston College is getting, SI's All American composed a scouting report on Phinney. Make sure to follow SIAA for national and regional recruiting news.
(note this was written when Phinney was committed to Michigan)
Frame: Burly. Adequate width across shoulders, chest. Thick arms. Big, solid thighs and trunk. Plenty developed already, with some room for additional weight.
Athleticism: Powerful. Packs major punch as tackler, and strong enough to knock back linemen at POA. Impressive initial burst. Long speed is average at best. Above-average short-area quickness; makes fast, decisive movements.
Instincts: Big hitter. Runs through ball-carriers and linemen alike, delivering major blow with shoulders square. Surprisingly good range considering physique; affects the game sideline to sideline for Noble and Greenough. Quick to diagnose, attack downhill in run support. Innate timing as blitzer.
Polish: Shows necessary patience while flowing to ball in run game; takes responsible angles. Already comfortable plugging gaps, anchoring. Needs more experience in coverage. Must continue developing quick-twitch athleticism.
Bottom Line: Phinney is a throwback middle linebacker, with the strength and instincts to contribute early at Michigan. The question is whether most of his snaps will come on special teams or as a cog in the middle of the Wolverines’ defense. If speed translates better than expected, Phinney boasts starter potential. Otherwise, could settle in as key special-teamer, depth piece.
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Editor and publisher of BC Bulletin. '06 graduate of Boston College, who has followed the program as long as he can remember. Has been covering the Eagles for the past nine years, giving expert analysis, recruiting news and breakdowns. Also the host of Locked on Boston College, a daily BC podcast that is part of the Locked On Podcast Network. When he is not writing or producing content on the Eagles, he can be found running, skiing, enjoying craft beers, or spending time with his family. You can follow AJ Black on Twitter @AJBlack_BC and our official site Twitter account is @BulletinBC
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