Oregon’s trip to Texas may afford them some extra face time with one of the top receiver recruits in the country, Houston Westside Army All-American Frank Iheanacho, 6-7, 220 pounds.
In his first year of varsity football the former basketball player has vaulted to #89 in the ESPN 300, hauling in 44 passes, 652 yards and 16 touchdowns while garnering four stars and 16 scholarship offers, including Texas A&M, Texas, Arkansas, Florida State, Houston and LSU. The Ducks offered December 5th, and he visits the Oregon campus this weekend.
Delivery man: Frank Ihenacho has the size, speed and athletic ability to become a matchup monster with the right coaching. The Houston area high school star is an Army All-American with 16 td catches in his first year of varsity football (distinctathletes.com photo).
Iheanacho has drawn comparisons to Michael Crabtree and Texas A&M’s Mike Evans as a tall, physical former basketball player who could learn to dominate and blossom into an NFL receiver. Getting meticulous coaching in receiver fundamentals from a top position coach like the Ducks Matt Lubick could make him a difference maker and a star within a couple of seasons.
The fade route might become a devastating weapon rather than an act of smack-the-head futility in the Oregon game plan of the future if this long, talented receiver landed in Eugene. He uses his size advantage extremely well in one-on-one coverage, screening off the defender like he’s going up for a rebound, athletic and smart.
Though he’s still learning the game, Iheanacho has already shown a knack for precise routes and the ability to go up and get the football. He displays great body control, terrific hands, drives off the line of scrimmage and breaks to the sideline crisply.
Texas A&M currently has a strong lead for his services, but that could change with a visit and some interaction at practice and the bowl game. Plus, Kevin Sumlin remains a hot coaching commodity who could wind up at Texas or the NFL, a shake-up that would affect Iheanacho’s recruiting and other Aggie targets like linebacker Jimmie Swain, another Texas product the Ducks covet.
Frank’s highlight video can be viewed HERE.
Scouting notes:
Big physical receiver who high points the ball. Basketball background, knows how to “post up” on a smaller defender.
Crisp patterns. Drives off the ball and sells the deep route. Good pressure step as his breaks on the out, gets his head around and catches the ball with his hands.
Takes the ball in traffic with very good concentration. Needs to work on yards after the catch. A possession receiver rather than a burner. Has the tall frame at 6-7, 220. Natural comparison is to Lavasier Tuinei, but Iheanacho has a stronger body and four full years to develop as a college receiver. Would benefit greatly from the meticulous fundamental coaching he’d get from Matt Lubick, and the opportunity to refine his body in the Oregon nutrition and training program.
A beast, an absolute beast on the fade route, a receiver nobody can guard at the goal line on fade or back shoulder routes, good timing and leaping ability, a match-up nightmare.
Ducks have never had the “throw it up and let him go get it” kind of target in the passing attack, something that Jameis Winston does all the time at FSU. Half the teams in the conference couldn’t physically handle this guy.
Only one year of organized football. A late-bloomer still learning the game. Could blossom into an NFL “Megatron” kind of talent. Vaulted from unranked to four stars in one season.
Uses his body well working one-on-one, and has already picked up on those deft little shoves a physical receiver can get away with in coverage.
Looks comfortable over the middle and doesn’t mind mixing it up. Big and likely to be durable. Mature physically but needs work on his agility and footwork, but that’s okay. Goes to the ground too readily, kind of folds up at first contact or even the anticipation of contact. Toughness?
Does a nice job getting open on the possession routes, underneath stuff, outs, hitches and hooks. Not yet a big after the catch guy but does a good job of looking the ball in and securing it.
Adjusts well to low-thrown balls, a good sign in a tall receiver, and will go down and get it, dive after balls. Attacks the ball well in the air. Uses his intincts as a rebounder, good body control. A long stride, not particularly quick feet, a guy who might pick up a step with Radcliffe’s speed training.
Versatile–can split out, but also has potential as a receiving tight end. No tape on his blocking ability or willingness to hit people. Not eye-poppingly elusive but productive, 46 catches and 16 touchdowns. Has a frame like Dorial Green-Beckham but not the same agility and edge. Does take the ball in very well with big hands.
A move-the-chains receiver with reliable hands, with raw material Lubick could develop very nicely. Seems coachable. Catches the ball but can trip over his own feet sometimes. Looks to be still growing into his body and getting used to the sport. Big upside.
His best routes are the out and hitch, and he seems very coachable, precise and consistent in his route-running.
Okay, some blocking highlights. Shoves his guy around and establishes some physical dominance, winning the confrontation out there. Uses his size advantage well, looks a lot meaner and more determined than he does running with the ball. Doesn’t shy away from it and delivers a blow. Gets his shoulder into in a guy on a quarterback scramble and his head on the right side of the jersey, really tattoos a defender within the rules.
Walls off another guy on a bubble screen, sets his feet like a pass blocker, again using his frame to advantage. There’s coaching here, very solid technique. He paid attention in practice, a good sign in a first-year player. Could stay on a block for a count longer but engages his man with a good strike and uses his legs and size really well.
On one play to his side he picks up two defenders, really smart and determined, very nice to see. Gets a good punch and puts a cornerback on the ground. Can intimidate people in a way that encourages an opponent to accept defeat. Uses his hands and long arms well and keeps them inside the shoulder pads.
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