Michael O'Connor, PSQB, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL

[Reliable Source]

Originally from TN, Local kid now. Graduates early. Big Frame 6'5", 208# Good grades.. Good poise in pocket. Pretty accurate, may  need to work on reads, but that's not unexpected. Rivals has got him as a 4-star FWIW.. Really like his running ability when he breaks contain or on design.Biggest competition looks to be Vandy and Sparties, I'm sure he's hearing good things about Taggs in Bradenton. Can't hurt having him talking to Weinke.

 

 

[Hem]

Looks like more of a Dual Threat QB than Pro Style. Kid takes off all the time, reminds me of BJD. 6'6 210 is a beast!

[SRQ]

IMG academy could be a local goldmine for CWT!

[Reliable Source]

Looks like it's down to the wire. Vandy may be in the driver's seat but I keep hearing rumblings that we are in the hunt here. This would be a big deal for us.  247 tweets

 

Hearing QB Michael O'Connor will announce within the next 2 weeks. June 8th sounding likely. He will enroll in January at his choice school.

[ckparrothead]

Will be real interesting to see his final choice. He's a big dude that looks really fantastic athletically when scrambling and getting on the hoof. I can't really comment about his intelligence level or aptitude for the game as the Bulls will have a far better perspective on that.

[tony_stark]

Big Ten Conferenceâ€@247_Big_Ten22h

24 #CrystalBall predictions in for 4-star QB Michael O'Connor, all for #PennState. Locking up tonight if no change

[Reliable Source]

Michael O'Connor to PSU.

 

being reported by ESPN

Edited June 8, 2013 by Bullwinkle

[Hem]

/thread

[ckparrothead]

At the risk of pullng the typical jilted fan move, I'll go ahead and say what I wanted to say immediately on viewing his film, but didn't say because people here seem convinced that potential recruits could be reading message boards and the 'bashing' could affect them. I'm still not sure I believe that, but this is a different venue than I'm used to, so it's at least possible.

 

This guy's got a weak arm that tends to turn me off. The passes float, they lose energy over distance, you notice a lot of his completions especially deeper ones are underthrown and the receiver is always working back to the ball. Throws the ball too far inside where he needs to get it to the sideline, his video IMO bears all the earmarks of a guy who doesn't have a good natural arm, which is going to sap his accuracy as he is being asked to make throws.

 

And his scrambling ability is more running ability than true scrambling. He doesn't keep his eyes up for the pass. He's young of course and there's a lot of potential there. Athletically he already looks good, runs well, plays through contact really well, good agility, etc. But you're looking for a passer not a runner, especially when from a speed stanpoint that runner probably doesn't even run much below 5.0 in the speed department.

 

What I found interesting is that both CWT and Stanford were onto him, so there's something there mentally that attracts them to him. For that matter, Bill O'Brien being onto him also suggests he's got a head for the game. That's not something I can know without extensive background checks and interviews.

 

I watched him and I simultaneously watched the video for Tyler Harris, Chase Litton, Wanky Flowers and Sean White...and I came away probaby the least impressed with O'Connor. That's just the truth. O'Connor's passing skills are clearly more polished than Wanky Flowers but at the same time, to me if you are getting O'Connor then you are buying 'potential' anyway and if I'm buying 'potential' in a guy that can hurt with his legs as much as his arm I say screw it go with the guy who clearly has true speed and true ability to kill with his legs in Wanky Flowers. They're both projects and dual threat guys.

 

I would say that I doubt Michael O'Connor is going to perform superlatively but I guess it doesn't matter much because he just shuffled in behind Christian Hackenberg and so O'Connor isn't going to play much. Will be interesting to see what he does when he does play. Could easily be wrong. I'd still take him as a project, but I guess I would have other priorities first. 

Edited June 10, 2013 by ckparrothead

[Hem]

Always good to hear your reviews Chris!