Tobi Haastrup - QUACK

[StevensTechU]

Giving him his own thread. Somewhat of a surprise on signing day. As mentioned in another thread, Tobi is in his first year of football after moving to the States from Britain, primarily a track and field kid. But at 6'4, 240, and running a 10.7 100m, his one-year highlight shows he's not just a freak athlete but also has taken to the game incredibly well.

Here's a good story on him from the Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/colle ... spect.html

[greenyellow]

He might have the biggest potential of anyone in this class given how little football he's played so far.

[gogreen55]

Tobi and Nasir Wyatt getting after the QB on 3rd and long. Could potentially be a scary pass rushing duo in a few years.

[greenyellow]

Embedded Tweet

[UOducksTK1]

He might have the biggest potential of anyone in this class given how little football he's played so far.

So much potential. It feels like this dude could be borderline 5-star with a few more years under his belt.

[pezsez1]

Reminds me of Nurkic who didn't play basketball until he was older. Some dudes just have all the right gifts. Excited to see him grow, although something tells me it won't take long.

[StevensTechU]

His style of play is different, but I feel almost obligated to compare him to Oluwole Betiku Jr., who was a 5* that signed with USC but ended his career at Illinois. Betiku Jr. was similarly this ball of insanely athletic clay, 6'3.5 and 240 chiseled out of marble but with little football experience. He went on the camp circuit before his senior year and his athleticism and physique garnered him 5 stars despite no real accomplishments because of his perceived upside. Betiku Jr. barely played at USC and winded up at Illinois, where he had a pretty decent junior campaign with double-digit TFLs before declaring for the NFL but never gaining traction. Coincidentally, Betiku's family is Nigerian, as well.

Where I'm a little shocked is how well Haastrup uses his hands and BENDS. Being able to bend while running full speed is tough to do, and one of those things that separates pass rushers at the NFL level, and Haastrup doesn't look like the rigid player that Betiku Jr. was, so there are probably better true comps from a player perspective (Justin Hollins, perhaps, who ran a 10.6 in high school and is 6'5). The ceiling is 1st round but the floor could be low, too. Definitely worth the dice roll.