2010 Spartan Nation Football Profile: DT Kevin Pickelman #96

 Expectation: starting caliber Big Ten DT  Height:  6’4”  Weight: 283#  2010 Eligibility: Red shirt junior  EXP: 2 letters Â

 

Expectation:Â starting caliber Big Ten DT

 

Height:  6’4”

 

Weight:Â 283#

 

2010 Eligibility: Red shirt junior 

 

EXP:Â 2 letters

 

Status:Â backup DT fighting for a starting spot

 

Strengths: I love Pickelman’s game and attitude. He is driven and relentless. In practice, offensive players have told me they least like to face him. One former lineman told me, “Pick just comes at you in waves. You think you have him blocked and he is right back.  He makes you play until the whistle.” This is high praise for this young man.

 

Let’s look at two examples of his strengths and both are from the Alamo Bowl. In a first and ten in the first quarter with 2:08 left the Red Raiders had the ball at the MSU 49. He took on and beat two different blockers and when the play WENT AWAY from him he ran 23 yards downfield for the tackle. While most Spartan fans were throwing their popcorn they may have missed what was a high motor play that we can expect from Pickelman.

 

The other example was also from the first quarter. With 9:45 on the clock at the MSU 23, Texas Tech had a 12-yard gain and Pickelman had no shot at making the play. So, how can that be a strength? He ran over 20 yards in pursuit. Sometimes in football it is the plays you don’t make that show your coaches a lot. He never quits.

 

Watch him this year. He is like the energizer bunny. Pickelman’s work ethic and motor have endeared him to his teammates and coaches, and off the field he is a mild-mannered young man whose character matches his motor.

 

Weakness: Pickelman is in a deep playing rotation at DT. He simply needs more reps. He gets smarter and faster when he gets reps and his biggest weakness is simply time on the field.

 

Final Analysis:  He will be right on Jerel Worthy’s back looking for more reps. As good as Worthy is, Pickelman doesn’t take a back seat. You will see young Mr. Pickelman in a lot of plays this year. He gobbles up blockers that free the LBs to make plays.

 

Next up:Â P Aaron Bates