2015 Spartan Nation Football Profile: LT Jack Conklin
2015 Spartan Nation Football Profile: LT Jack Conklin
Expectation: All American LT
Height: 6’6â€
Weight: 315
2015 Eligibility: RS Jr
EXP: 2 Letters
Status: Starting LT
Strengths: Watching Jack Conklin play on the OL is nothing short of a thing of art. His hand movement and feet placement are exemplary and you, while no one is perfect, NEVER see him make the same mistake twice. Many big men get worn down and when they get tired will make mistakes purely on fatigue. Conklin is well conditioned and fights through it often.
Let’s look at a couple of examples of his talent. Against Baylor in the Cotton Bowl there was 13:47 on the clock in the first quarter. The Spartans were facing a third and one at their own 34. No one had scored yet and Cook was under center with the Spartans in a traditional I formation. The FB came in motion and Conklin drove projected 1st round NFL DE pick Shawn Oakman off the ball and pancaked him. Jeremy Langford ran 65 yards to set up the Spartans for their first score.
Against OSU he manhandled and made Joey Bosa, arguably the nation’s best DE, irrelevant. His play was so astounding against those two stars that after the OSU game a dear friend who works in the NFL for an AFC team said to me, “That big left tackle made millions tonight showing off against Bosa.â€
Weakness: Let’s go back to the Cotton Bowl, 1st quarter and 8:11 on the clock. The Spartans had a first and ten at their own 44. Jack got too far extended and in driving the man he was blocking, he pushed him into the ball carrier. Essentially, Conklin made the tackle. Jack at times is so much more talented than the people he faces, that he can have occasional technique breakdowns. That is more of a growing process than heart, because he NEVER lacks effort.
Final Analysis: What makes Conklin special is that as talented of a football player as he is, he is a better person. He is just a salt of the earth All American human being. When he leaves, the NFL will accept him with open arms. I know last year he was stunned at the attention of his play. Many freshman arrive thinking they are ready for the NFL, when many in the NFL thought he was Conklin was shocked to learn it. He is humble. He was projected as a possible 1st round pick last year after his play in the OSU and Cotton Bowl games. Although there have been some amazing players at LT of Spartan history, Conklin has a chance to be the best. Not there yet, but pushing for it. Many feel he will go after this season, but if he should stay for fifth year progressing on the same route he has this far, he WILL be the best LT in Spartan history.
Next up: FB Trevon Pendleton
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