Offensive lineman Christian Westerman, who switched his commitment from Texas in late January, is officially an Auburn Tiger.The 6-foot-5, 290-pound star is among the top offensive linemen in the country. ESPN ranks him as the No. 6 overall recruit and No. 2 tackle. Rivals has him as the No. 3 tackle, while Scout ranks him as the No. 1 offensive guard.
Westerman, the top player in Arizona, was a longtime Texas commit until the Longhorns overhauled their coaching staff after the season, getting rid of offensive line coach Mac McWhorter. When Jeff Grimes decided to stay at Auburn, Westerman switched up his commitment.
The scouting services are high on his run blocking, size and athleticism, which make him well-suited to play tackle, although it's unclear exactly where he'll end up in college.
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- Committed: Jan. 21, 2011
- Recruited by: Jeff Grimes
- Also considered: Texas, USC, Oregon, Arizona State, Oklahoma
- Rivals: 27 overall, 3 position (OT), 1 state
- Scout: 17 overall, 1 position (OG)
- ESPN: 6 overall, 2 position (OT)
- Notable: Is from Arizona, but his grandparents live nearby on Lake Martin near Auburn
- Quotable: "I have spent countless hours and months considering all of the things that matter to me for my college future and football future and Auburn just came out on top in the end." -- Westerman
Here's a free scouting report on Westerman courtesy of Rivals:
- On the Hoof: Massive shoulders and chest with good powerbase. He is built similar to 2010 Rivals100 player James Hurst but more muscular.
- Needs Improvement: Sometimes on short-yardage running plays Westerman becomes more of a Greco-Roman wrestler and uses all upper-body strength and little lower-body power to get a push. When he pass blocks, he has a tendency to turn to the side while sliding his feet, opening a direct lane to the quarterback. Both of these are technique issues that can be corrected.
- Most Impressive: He is a true run mauler that doesn't mind getting nasty in order to intimidate and dominate his opponent. His hand placement is tremendous, enabling him to control the defender. Westerman is also nimble enough on his feet to get downfield and make blocks on smaller defensive players. His body type and athleticism will allow him to possibly play four of the five line positions at the next level.
- Conclusion: Most offensive linemen redshirt, but if he stays focused and uses his mean streak on the gridiron he will surely see early playing time. Don't be surprised if he starts off as a guard and eventually cross trains into the tackle position.
And here's a scouting report by Scout.com:
One of the top OL prospects nationally and it is easy to see why. Westerman is a physical speciman that gets after defenders. Gets off the ball well and uses his tremendous strength to bury opponents. But he is not just a mauler, Westerman is a gifted athlete and technician. Very sound in pass protection and has great feet. Plays RT now and could stay there or move inside and play OG at the next level. Is a player that can contribute right away.
1 comment:
"Greco-Roman wrestler", LOL
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