2010 Spartan Nation Football Profile: Tyler Hoover DE #91

 Expectation: Starting DE  Height:  6’7”  Weight: 278#  2010 Eligibility: Redshirt Sophomore  EXP: 1 Letter  Status: Starting

 

Expectation:Â Starting DE

 

Height:  6’7”

 

Weight:Â 278#

 

2010 Eligibility:Â Redshirt Sophomore

 

EXP:Â 1 Letter

 

Status:Â Starting DE

 

Strengths: Hoover has the physical tools to dominate. He cares about the game. Some players can make a mistake and blow it off. Hoover will worry about it because he truly cares. He is a player that doesn’t take his scholarship for granted.

 

He is very smart both football wise and normal intelligence and it helps him. For example, let’s go to the Montana State game for an example of a great play that showed his physical prowess and his intelligence.

 

With the Bobcats facing a second and eight in the second quarter with 10:12 to go, the Montana State QB wanted to make a quick slant. Hoover’s enormous size and heads-up talent forced him to go the other direction on a short pass. Most linemen would have quit. Not the high motor Hoover. He sprinted down field to tackle the man with the ball for an eight-yard gain. Had Hoover not stopped the initial slant read and made the tackle on the QB’s second read, it could have been a worse play.

 

Most fans would see an eight-yard gain and complain. What you would have missed is that tremendous impact Hoover had on it and how his high motor, heads-up technique, intelligence, and God-given height altered the play.

 

Weakness: I have talked about the big fella having to learn technique his first two years. It is incredibly hard as a big and tall man to play with a lower pad level. He has made incredible growth doing that. Simply playing “in technique” every play is his biggest weakness. He is forcing a tall and wide frame to do things that aren’t natural.

 

Here is an example of that weakness. In the Alamo Bowl, the Red Raiders in the first quarter with 9:24 left had a first and ten at the MSU 11. Hoover engaged the offensive blocker who he had the physical size advantage with, but came in too high. Unlike High School where he could dominate undersized young men, he can’t at this level.

 

Fortunately, the Spartan safety made a great read to save a touchdown. Hoover was in the right spot to stop it, but his technique took him out.

 

Final Analysis: Hoover is a very good football player. Covering him is a joy because he is an even better kid. He is kind and well respected by his teammates for how hard he works. He will be a very good DE when his time is done. 2010 will be a good year for this high character young man, and in 2011, I fully expect him to make the jump from good to great. He has come so far with his technique and in 2010 he will master it.

 

Next up:Â DE Colin Neely