Troy Pride Jr

[IrishInOntario]

I've been really high on Pride for a while and his late round of offers, combined with stellar performance at the shrine game, rankings bump and how hard Virginia Tech fought to keep h,im seem to verify what I (and others) thought.

At 5'11, he's got solid height for a corner, and he's well put together. His film show excellent instincts and timing when attacking the ball.

Now he's tearing it up on the track as well... Ran the following times recently per TOS.

100: 10.7
200: 21.46
400: 48.80

Very competitive times, just a shade below elite...

We know Studstill is going to be the real deal, I think Pride is going to have Russell (pre-suspension and injury) type of ability as well.

Edit Note: I can see this kid getting into the mix as a freshman (depth wise). He's my bet to be the Shaun Crawford of last year, relative to a freshman corner who impresses in camp.

As a unit, overall, I'm really excited about the possibilities ND has in the 2015 / 2016 combined "haul" at DB... I think Crawford, Elliott, Studstill, Pride and Vaughn are all going to be quality players and my "darkhorse" is Julian Love. If that kid's game translates, he could be the "diamond in the rough" of this class.

 

[BGI User 348]

Speed "kills"....nice!

 

[Bodizephax]

I've been really high on Pride for a while and his late round of offers, combined with stellar performance at the shrine game, rankings bump and how hard Virginia Tech fought to keep h,im seem to verify what I (and others) thought.

At 5'11, he's got solid height for a corner, and he's well put together. His film show excellent instincts and timing when attacking the ball.

Now he's tearing it up on the track as well... Ran the following times recently per TOS.

100: 10.7
200: 21.46
400: 48.80

Very competitive times, just a shade below elite...

We know Studstill is going to be the real deal, I think Pride is going to have Russell (pre-suspension and injury) type of ability as well.

Edit Note: I can see this kid getting into the mix as a freshman (depth wise). He's my bet to be the Shaun Crawford of last year, relative to a freshman corner who impresses in camp.

As a unit, overall, I'm really excited about the possibilities ND has in the 2015 / 2016 combined "haul" at DB... I think Crawford, Elliott, Studstill, Pride and Vaughn are all going to be quality players and my "darkhorse" is Julian Love. If that kid's game translates, he could be the "diamond in the rough" of this class.

Update on his times:

10.55 on the 100 meter dash ! 21.28 on the 200 meter dash ! 48.28 on the 400 yard dash !

 

[NDAFArly]

Is he playing DB or RB?

 

[IrishInOntario]

DB... Said on a recent Podcast that he keeps growing at that he's up 6'1, 177lbs. I kind of doubt he's 6'1, but even if he's 6'0 in cleats and the staff can add 5-7lbs to him over the summer I could see him competing to contribute as a freshman. Very, very good athlete. Best pure corner in the class, IMO and up there with Studstill for the guy who I think has the most impact at DB of the 7 ND signed.

 

[NDAFArly]

DB... Said on a recent Podcast that he keeps growing at that he's up 6'1, 177lbs. I kind of doubt he's 6'1, but even if he's 6'0 in cleats and the staff can add 5-7lbs to him over the summer I could see him competing to contribute as a freshman. Very, very good athlete. Best pure corner in the class, IMO and up there with Studstill for the guy who I think has the most impact at DB of the 7 ND signed.

Thanks.
With his speed is he a returner option too?

 

[IrishInOntario]

He may get a look but he doesn't have a history of being a great returner at the high school level. There isn't a a bunch of film of him taking kicks back... Could be a wildcard though!

 

[cgvr]

I've been really high on Pride for a while and his late round of offers, combined with stellar performance at the shrine game, rankings bump and how hard Virginia Tech fought to keep h,im seem to verify what I (and others) thought.

At 5'11, he's got solid height for a corner, and he's well put together. His film show excellent instincts and timing when attacking the ball.

Now he's tearing it up on the track as well... Ran the following times recently per TOS.

100: 10.7
200: 21.46
400: 48.80

Very competitive times, just a shade below elite...

We know Studstill is going to be the real deal, I think Pride is going to have Russell (pre-suspension and injury) type of ability as well.

Edit Note: I can see this kid getting into the mix as a freshman (depth wise). He's my bet to be the Shaun Crawford of last year, relative to a freshman corner who impresses in camp.

As a unit, overall, I'm really excited about the possibilities ND has in the 2015 / 2016 combined "haul" at DB... I think Crawford, Elliott, Studstill, Pride and Vaughn are all going to be quality players and my "darkhorse" is Julian Love. If that kid's game translates, he could be the "diamond in the rough" of this class.

CJ Sanders ran a 10.64 hundred and a 21.70 200 as a HS soph. He won state titles in both as a junior. I think he is our best return guy in a long time. Hopefully special teams will focus on getting him a crease..... Adding Pride's speed to special teams will be worth exploring. I have always liked reverse/fake reverse plays on returns. He and Sanders could be dynamic on the field together.

 

[IrishInOntario]

I'm praying Sanders is back in time to contribute with a clean bill of health this year. Hip injuries are notoriously tough to come back from and are really easy to aggrevate. Fingers crossed though because CJ is a huge piece of both the return game and should see minutes in the slot as well.