Dandy Don's Dec 9th update: According to my source, LSU leads for Barkevious Mingo, but that is still not a done deal
After being at the Dome last night, I wasn't impressed with Sentimore as the great 4-star beast he is ranked as, but I was impressed with the other 4-star I saw this weekend, West Monroe's Mingo. Athletically, Mingo looked like something out of a video-game, as big and fast as he was. Granted, Mingo looked like something out of a video-game that was poorly controlled by the video-game player... the guy really is raw. In the plays that went his way, all the other guys seemed to know what to do, and were a part of the play, while Mingo was still standing up confused looking at them while they were all on the ground after tackling the ball-carrier (nobody would say that Mingo "has a nose for the ball"). However, as an athletic specimen, Mingo is a freak. Much of the time, West Monroe lined him up on the outside like he was a DE (usually on the right side from the defensive standpoint), and whenever West Monroe did that... Destrehan called a run to the opposite side of the field for a good gain. However, it was impressive seeing how athletic Mingo was. Remember, the guy never played football until a year or two ago, so of course the game is still confusing to him. I was only focused on about 75% of the game, and I saw Mingo get this huge sack that cost Destrehan some massive yardage. Also, when Destrehan was in scoring-territory for the first time in the entire game, Mingo busted up right through the right-center of the line (from the defensive standpoint), forcing Destrehan's QB to throw it away instead of taking the sack... this play was huge in the game at that time--Destrehan's superstar kicker ended up missing the easy FG. Other comments on Mingo: Dandy Don: at times I was very impressed with linebacker Barkevious Mingo from West Monroe Lots of people that were there said he looked "soft". I thought he looked pretty good but didnt shed blocks like I expected him to. He had 1 sack about 3 tackles and a pass deflection. he didnt play as well as I expect him to ,but he still made plays. I give credit to the Desty oline. They had Mingo drop back into coverage alot. looks pretty fast for his size. Just made a good tackle, but hasn't done much thus far. Saw him struggle to shed one block, then the rest of the game they seem to be working the opposite side of the field that he is on. The qb keeps rolling away from him on pass plays. He has to, Mingo may very well be the fastest person on the field. Dominate. They are obviously afraid of him. They may as well line up Mingo and play man coverage on any WRs on his side of the field with everyone else on the other side. This was exactly how it was during the Barbe game. Every play went to the other side of the field. BOOM! Mingo for a 11 yard sack! Beautiful sack by Mingo That was a really nice play to shed a block and get a sack. He looks good but needs to hit the weight room.will need to be able to shed blockers. IF He he gainS about 20 lb's he would be a monster LB Monster in HS already. Thats where he is. When he gets to LSU, he'll be a monster by his second year. He just bitched that guard on that play. Just got some momentum, hit him and drove him a few yards back helping to collapse the pocket on a sack by another player. they run to the other side when mingo shows blitz. mingo got rocked all game by rb blocks. he did not shed many blocks at all. i was expecting to see a much tougher football player. not a major impact. still believe he should be a 3rd down pass rushing DE for a year or two (like pittman started as). I was at the game tonight and my honest opinion on Mingo is he is soft! To be honeset I wouldnt be excited to have him at LSU at all. Maybe he can develop into a good player but he didnt shed blocks all night. He pretty much shyed away from contact and the only time he did anything was when he had a free ****e at the ball carrier. Not impressive at all. Mingo will be a very good pickup. He has tons of upside. Guy has been playing football for only two years and already he is a dominant player. He can easily put on 10 lbs of muscle and get up around 220 at LSU. I think he needs to stay at LB because he has the ability and speed to cover the whole field. He is a sideline to sideline capability. Even better, he is a great kid who is very likeable and has the respect of his teammates. He will be easy to coach. he did not look like a force at all. just a tall, fast football player. he will need to toughen up. he has a ways to go right now. i think barrow is more game ready as of now. i do like mingo's potential, but i want some kids who are ready to contribute at lb. yea mingo was a ghost at times, and they droped him back into coverage alot. He got pressure on the QB some but also couldn't shed some blocks. Mingo is soft.
Yeah, that's what everyone has been saying. Tremendous upside, very raw. We just need a legit LB coach to coach em up.
Sounding more and more like a potential starter as a RS Soph, maybe even Junior, at DE. Everything I've been reading (most of it message board fodder, mind you) points to him maybe just being too tall and not agile enough for LB. But, I've never seen him in person. Only on the radio :grin:.
Sorry, Islstl, I did look before I posted that other thread about Mingo. I guess I just over looked this thread. Sorry again...
Quotes from Mingo: Dec 25 -- The nationally recruited player only started playing football at the beginning of his junior season [two years ago] after pleas came pouring in from coaches and players asking him to attend spring practice. His peers saw him all over the basketball court and on the track, and Mingo finally gave in to their pestering. Even then, however, he was skeptical. “The one that sticks out most is that first practice,” Mingo said. “It was hot. That was my worst experience up to that point. I wasn’t ready to quit because I’m not a quitter but I was close. I wouldn’t have quit, but I was thinking, ‘Man, this is too hard. I don’t think I want to do this, but I don’t want to quit at any sport.’ If I say I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it.” ... Within a year on the football team, however, colleges started coming in droves through mail and phone calls. “It’s got me into college, wherever I choose to go,” Mingo said. “It’s opened up so many doors that I can explore later in life.” He has yet to decide on his future http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20081225/SPORTS/81224020&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
