March is 'just a football player'
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Danville High School head coach B.J. Luke has been around long enough to know a football player when he sees one. After 34 years of coaching, he said "you kind of see everything." And what he sees in senior linebacker Justin March, even if recruiters are a bit turned off by his size, is a "great" football player.
"I'd like to think I know what a ball player is," said Luke, who's had three former gridders play in the NFL. "Sometimes I wonder any more because sometimes I think people get hung up on size and profiles and that kind of stuff. That's all well and good, but I just want to have a football player on my team. Justin March is a football player."
Luke's statement is backed up by the results on the field. In 2009, March was a force on defense, making 200 tackles and helping lead the Vikings to the Class 6A semifinals. Despite the on-field production, Luke said some at the collegiate level are worried about size of March, who is 6-foot and 207 pounds.
"The biggest thing that keeps people from just knocking the door down is that he's right at 6-feet. He's not a 6-2 kid, he's not a 6-3 kid," Luke said. "But I can go on a lot of rosters and find some guys pretty good at 6-foot who are playing in college ball, playing in the NFL."
Luke said March could play inside or outside linebacker at the next level, adding that he'll get his weight up to "225 or 230 in a heartbeat. He'll be plenty big." For now, March, who is rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, has offers from Akron, Ball State and Illinois State, Luke said. He's also received some interest from Illinois, Iowa, Purdue and Minnesota in the Big Ten.
"He has that personality that he'd like to play against the best he can play against. I think he'd be looking to do something like that," Luke said of March's interest in competing in the Big Ten.
Luke said March will take his time and make visits this fall when he gets the chance. But for now, Luke is just happy to have the standout suiting up on his side.
"He cares. He's one of those kids who's going to work as hard as he needs to work to be one of the best kids," Luke said. "He has an outstanding work ethic, likes playing. He's not shy about contact ... He's just a football player."
The current NFL prototypical middle linebacker seems to be Brian Urlacher's size. About 6'-3" 240lbs with excellent speed. You can't teach height but they can train for speed. If March has college speed he'll be an impact player.
Cody - can you get the RECRUITING PAGE up to date for football? Seems Jim Rossow's in charge of it, but it must be last priority for busy editors. I think the 2009 recruits are still up there!
I think the Illini have 16 verbal recruits for FB in 2011, with Scott McDowell of Hinsdale Central (O-line 6'-4" 280lbs committing this week.)Source: ESPN
Also, Hayden Daniels of Naperville Central committed in Aug10 to play receiver. 6'-4" 180lbs will play QB this year. One brother in Pro's and another playing now at Princeton.
Go Illini!
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