City kid tops all DTs at NFL Combine in 40, Vertical, Broad Jump, Shuttle

[Born Boiler]

A three-time All-Duneland and captain on Michigan City’s state semifinalist team, also played baseball (equals athletic), only offers from Western Michigan and Illinois State, “interest” from iu and Northern Illinois, three stars by 247 and On3, two stars by Rivals, played 45 games in five years at WMU, ranked top DL in portal by 247 and On3, transferred to Florida State, 43 tackles with six sacks in 13 games, and this week topped all defensive tackles at the NFL Scouting Combine in the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump, the broad jump and the 20-yard shuttle, rated by NFL Network as 45th best available overall for the 2024 NFL Draft …

So, were Purdue’s staffers simply unable to see 6-foot-5, 300-pound Braden Fiske, living large just 90 miles due north? Not even worthy of their “interest?”

Baseball fans, score that one an E-1.

 

[Flot]

A three-time All-Duneland and captain on Michigan City’s state semifinalist team, also played baseball (equals athletic), only offers from Western Michigan and Illinois State, “interest” from iu and Northern Illinois, three stars by 247 and On3, two stars by Rivals, played 45 games in five years at WMU, ranked top DL in portal by 247 and On3, transferred to Florida State, 43 tackles with six sacks in 13 games, and this week topped all defensive tackles at the NFL Scouting Combine in the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump, the broad jump and the 20-yard shuttle, rated by NFL Network as 45th best available overall for the 2024 NFL Draft …

So, were Purdue’s staffers simply unable to see 6-foot-5, 300-pound Braden Fiske, living large just 90 miles due north? Not even worthy of their “interest?”

Baseball fans, score that one an E-1.

If he’s wasn’t Catholic, Brohm wanted nothing to do with him. Just say’n.

 

[4IUSox2]

Actually knew of this kid at MC when my son played baseball at another DAC school at the time. They briefly played travel together, but Fiske opted early that summer to do football camps instead. My son has kept in touch with him and followed his impressive football ascent. I know when he grad transferred, IU definitely wanted him, but FSU came along and that was that. IU ended up getting another DL from WMU, who was also a very good pick up and probably our best DL last season. Good for this young man from the Region.

 

[NVboiler]

Was he awarded preferred walk-on status at Purdue?

 

[boiledmeconium]

Sometimes under the radar players like that will benefit much more from playing at a G5 and getting the bulk of the snaps and coaching there, rather than getting a P5 PWO and getting the scraps.

Other times, you get an AOC who accepts a PWO and earns a scholarship and gets drafted.

Whatever their path, kudos to them for working hard and never giving up. It is easy to make judgements with 20-20 hindsight, but a lot harder to predict the future when it comes to HS talent and college development.

 

[ImRonBurgandy?]

Diamonds in the rough all the time especially in football. Good for this young man. Purdue has absolutely gotten its share.

 

[KentuckyBoiler]

It happens all the time with kids, highly ranked recruits don’t always succeed and lowly ranked recruits can become stars. It is not an exact science.

Case in point of Edey not ranked in the top 350 players in his class. Don’t know a team right now, except ours, that are not kicking themselves for not showing more interest in him.

 

[RDUBoiler]

It happens all the time with kids, highly ranked recruits don’t always succeed and lowly ranked recruits can become stars. It is not an exact science.

Case in point of Edey not ranked in the top 350 players in his class. Don’t know a team right now, except ours, that are not kicking themselves for not showing more interest in him.

To name one or two football examples, Nick Hardwick didn't get an offer out of D1 and walked on at Purdue and ended up having a solid NFL career. And we did alright a few years ago with a walk-on QB.