10-30-2020, 01:10 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-31-2020, 01:51 AM by Asked Madden.)
755 words, ready to grade
As the season crawls along, we took it upon ourselves to look into some of the possible draftees, as we near closer the upcoming draft. We stumbled upon Lawrence Miller, a cornerback from Calgary, Alberta, who travelled east to play with Michigan State this past season. Of course, Canada is not the largest producer of talent for the ISFL, let alone Alberta. Just being able to get on the radar is huge for a player like Miller, but it is well deserved.
He was one to be afraid of back in his high school years, a menace on the field, and always noticeably better than his competition. Some could say it was rough for his development, but Lawrence had worked on the littlest of things in his game to try to improve. He hit a growth spurt, and that alone allowed him to do more damage as a player. Enough to get him a scholarship at Michigan State, where he moved the day after getting his diploma.
The story changed a little bit in Michigan, all of a sudden he did have this competition, not only on the opposing team but his own. It was his first time fighting to be able to play a down, but he seemed to have done enough, at least in the eyes of the coaching staff. This was what he was known for at home. It wasn't his skill, although it had opened eyes, turned heads, and overall impressed. It was his continuing work ethic, and a strive to get better. The first few games in Michigan were rough for him, but he soon adjusted, and took off from there.
So why did Lawrence Miller of all players catch our eye, why is this no-name player from Alberta the one to suddenly hop on our radars? If he was any good, wouldn't he have already been noticed by someone?
Well I'll answer those with a question myself. Was anyone looking in Canada?
For the kids here, it is hockey. That's what they play, that is what they watch, it is a part of the culture here. Throw basketball in there, maybe lacrosse, and then you've got football. No one noticed him because no one was looking for him. He gained traction when he made it onto Michigan State.
Now, how did Michigan State find him in the first place? You've got a top university that can obviously take in players from all over America, why did Lawrence Smith pop out to them?
It just so happened that one of his teachers, in grade 11, had graduated from Michigan State. Proudly. Logo on her desk, flag on the wall, pens and pencils with the white logo on a dark green paint. Of course, it could just be seen as a coincidence, after all, Lawrence didn't think much of it, if anything at all. Every teacher had something, and she was a great teacher considering it was her first year. If he got through the schoolwork, he got to play his game.
Well, that teacher was the daughter of one of the defensive coaches for Michigan State, and she had nothing but good to say about the kid. He was great at what he did, smart enough to keep up with school, and an overall great person towards his classmates, and teammates. She wasn't into football like her dad was, but when she said he was worth a look, they took a look. Needless to say, they looked what they had saw. Had a few guys take a look at a few of his games, and talked it over, eventually offering him a scholarship to the school.
As simple, and lucky, as that. He had a connection. He never knew though, it just seemed like a coincidence that it happened to be the team he saw almost every day. It led to the following summer, where he packed his bags, and moved to East Lansing to be able play.
After an eventful season there, ended somewhat short for him, he turns to the DSFL. The trade deadline has passed, and he is hoping to be picked up through the waiver system. To be given a chance to show off some of his skills before the DSFL Draft, and, well, the ISFL Draft.
This weekend is bound to be an eventful one, so let's see where it takes him. And, of course, we'll join him along the way for the exciting journey that will be his ISFL career.
Northern Sports - Prospect Report
As the season crawls along, we took it upon ourselves to look into some of the possible draftees, as we near closer the upcoming draft. We stumbled upon Lawrence Miller, a cornerback from Calgary, Alberta, who travelled east to play with Michigan State this past season. Of course, Canada is not the largest producer of talent for the ISFL, let alone Alberta. Just being able to get on the radar is huge for a player like Miller, but it is well deserved.
He was one to be afraid of back in his high school years, a menace on the field, and always noticeably better than his competition. Some could say it was rough for his development, but Lawrence had worked on the littlest of things in his game to try to improve. He hit a growth spurt, and that alone allowed him to do more damage as a player. Enough to get him a scholarship at Michigan State, where he moved the day after getting his diploma.
The story changed a little bit in Michigan, all of a sudden he did have this competition, not only on the opposing team but his own. It was his first time fighting to be able to play a down, but he seemed to have done enough, at least in the eyes of the coaching staff. This was what he was known for at home. It wasn't his skill, although it had opened eyes, turned heads, and overall impressed. It was his continuing work ethic, and a strive to get better. The first few games in Michigan were rough for him, but he soon adjusted, and took off from there.
So why did Lawrence Miller of all players catch our eye, why is this no-name player from Alberta the one to suddenly hop on our radars? If he was any good, wouldn't he have already been noticed by someone?
Well I'll answer those with a question myself. Was anyone looking in Canada?
For the kids here, it is hockey. That's what they play, that is what they watch, it is a part of the culture here. Throw basketball in there, maybe lacrosse, and then you've got football. No one noticed him because no one was looking for him. He gained traction when he made it onto Michigan State.
Now, how did Michigan State find him in the first place? You've got a top university that can obviously take in players from all over America, why did Lawrence Smith pop out to them?
It just so happened that one of his teachers, in grade 11, had graduated from Michigan State. Proudly. Logo on her desk, flag on the wall, pens and pencils with the white logo on a dark green paint. Of course, it could just be seen as a coincidence, after all, Lawrence didn't think much of it, if anything at all. Every teacher had something, and she was a great teacher considering it was her first year. If he got through the schoolwork, he got to play his game.
Well, that teacher was the daughter of one of the defensive coaches for Michigan State, and she had nothing but good to say about the kid. He was great at what he did, smart enough to keep up with school, and an overall great person towards his classmates, and teammates. She wasn't into football like her dad was, but when she said he was worth a look, they took a look. Needless to say, they looked what they had saw. Had a few guys take a look at a few of his games, and talked it over, eventually offering him a scholarship to the school.
As simple, and lucky, as that. He had a connection. He never knew though, it just seemed like a coincidence that it happened to be the team he saw almost every day. It led to the following summer, where he packed his bags, and moved to East Lansing to be able play.
After an eventful season there, ended somewhat short for him, he turns to the DSFL. The trade deadline has passed, and he is hoping to be picked up through the waiver system. To be given a chance to show off some of his skills before the DSFL Draft, and, well, the ISFL Draft.
This weekend is bound to be an eventful one, so let's see where it takes him. And, of course, we'll join him along the way for the exciting journey that will be his ISFL career.