Recruiting Coordinator Connect

Connecting High School Football Recruiting Coordinators to Collab and Grow in the Role to Help Promote their Athletes to College Programs Ran by: @MRittCGS

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

Woke up feeling blessed and grateful this morning knowing I get to call this my home team!

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

From a scouting perspective, Tamba Hali was a powerful, technically sound and relentless defensive lineman whose hand usage, leverage, strength and motor made him one of the Big Ten’s most disruptive defenders

At @PennStateFball, Hali finished with 179 tackles and 14 sacks. As a senior in 2005, he recorded 65 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, leading the Big Ten in sacks and TFLs. He earned First-Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and unanimous consensus All-American honors while helping Penn State finish 11-1, win the Big Ten and capture the Orange Bowl

Hali’s best traits were his violent hands, leverage, functional power, rush technique and nonstop effort. He could convert speed to power, play through contact and continue working when his initial pass-rush move was stopped

2006 Pre-Draft Testing:

Height: 6’3”
Weight: 275 lbs.
Arms: 33⅜”
Hands: 10½”
40-Yard Dash: 4.87
Bench Press: 18 reps
Vertical: 30”
Broad Jump: 8’10”
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.31
Three-Cone: 7.28

The @Chiefs selected Hali 20th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. He transitioned from defensive end to outside linebacker in the Chiefs’ 3-4 defense, where his strength, hands and pass-rush technique continued to translate

Hali spent his entire 12-year NFL career with Kansas City, totaling 89.5 sacks and 33 forced fumbles. He earned five Pro Bowl selections, two Second-Team AP All-Pro honors and was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2024

Hali is a strong example of why pass-rush projection goes beyond timed speed. His technique, power, leverage, toughness and motor consistently showed up on film and became the foundation of a highly productive NFL career

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

From a scouting perspective, @KSlash10 was one of the most unique quarterback prospects of his era, combining legitimate arm talent with rare speed, explosiveness and open-field ability

At @CUBuffsFootball, Stewart finished with 6,481 passing yards, 7,770 yards of total offense and a 27-5-1 record as a starter. As a senior in 1994, he earned First-Team All-Big Eight and Second-Team AP All-American honors while helping Colorado finish 11-1 and ranked No. 3 nationally

His defining traits were his arm strength, athleticism, mobility and ability to create outside structure. He could drive the ball vertically, generate velocity from different platforms and stress defenses as a designed runner or scrambler. His arm talent was famously displayed on the “Miracle at Michigan,” when he launched the 64-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Michael Westbrook

Stewart closed his college career by earning 1995 Fiesta Bowl MVP honors, throwing for 205 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 143 yards and another score against Notre Dame.l

1995 NFL Combine:

Height: 6’1½”
Weight: 212 lbs.
40-Yard Dash: 4.52
10-Yard Split: 1.60
20-Yard Split: 2.68
Vertical: 36”
Broad Jump: 10’5”
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.13

The @steelers selected Stewart 60th overall in the second round of the 1995 NFL Draft, and his versatility immediately became part of his value. He was used at quarterback, wide receiver, running back and even punter, leading to the nickname “Slash” ➡️ quarterback slash receiver slash runner

Eventually, Stewart became Pittsburgh’s full-time starting quarterback. In 1997, he threw for 3,020 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 476 yards and 11 scores, helping the Steelers reach the AFC Championship Game. His best season came in 2001, when he led Pittsburgh to a 13-3 record, earned a Pro Bowl selection, Steelers MVP honors and NFL 101 Awards AFC Offensive Player of the Year recognition

Stewart finished his NFL career with 14,746 passing yards, 2,874 rushing yards and 658 receiving yards

Stewart was ahead of the NFL’s offensive evolution. His combination of arm talent, speed, explosiveness and positional versatility allowed him to impact games in multiple ways, making “Slash” one of the most fitting nicknames of his era

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

From a scouting perspective, Chris Samuels was a prototype left tackle prospect whose combination of size, athleticism, balance, foot quickness and physicality made him one of the premier offensive linemen in the 2000 NFL Draft

At @AlabamaFTBL, Samuels started 42 consecutive games at left tackle and developed into an elite blind-side protector. During his 1999 senior season, Alabama credited him with allowing no sacks or quarterback pressures, while recording 91 knockdown blocks and helping Shaun Alexander rush for 1,383 yards

On film, Samuels showed light feet for a 325-pound tackle, good balance and the ability to stay square and mirror speed off the edge. He could redirect against counter moves, absorb power and maintain the integrity of the pocket. In the run game, he combined strength with movement ability, creating displacement at the point of attack while also climbing to the second level and blocking effectively in space

As a senior, Samuels earned unanimous First-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC honors, won the Outland Trophy and Jacobs Blocking Trophy, and helped Alabama win the 1999 SEC Championship

The @Commanders selected Samuels third overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, and his Alabama traits translated immediately. He became the starting left tackle as a rookie and started all 141 regular-season games he played over 10 NFL seasons, earning six Pro Bowl selections

His athletic feet, balance and ability to handle speed allowed him to consistently protect the edge, while his strength and toughness translated to the run game. He ultimately blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher in seven of his 10 NFL seasons

Samuels is a strong example of why movement ability matters so much at offensive tackle. His size was impressive, but his feet, balance, body control, strength and toughness are what allowed him to develop into a six-time Pro Bowler and decade-long cornerstone of Washington’s offensive line

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

From a scouting perspective, @K_SMITH31 is a strong example of instincts, toughness and football intelligence outweighing traditional testing numbers.

At @SanJoseStateFB, Smith was a four-year starter who finished with 476 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 9 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions. He earned all-conference recognition in each of his four seasons and was named FWAA Freshman All-American and WAC Freshman of the Year in 2010.

As a senior in 2013, Smith led the FBS with 159 tackles and 13.3 tackles per game. His game was built around processing speed more than pure timed speed. He diagnosed quickly, trusted his keys, played downhill with urgency and consistently took efficient angles to the football

Pre Draft Measurements & Times:

Height: 5’11½”
Weight: 233 lbs.
40-Yard Dash: 4.98
10-Yard Split: 1.76
Bench Press: 26 reps
Vertical: 31”
Broad Jump: 9’5”
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.53
Three-Cone: 6.87

After going undrafted in 2014, Smith signed with the @dallascowboys as a linebacker, initially earning his value on special teams. In 2016, Dallas converted him to fullback, a move that fit his skill set extremely well

His linebacker background translated directly to the position. Smith understood leverage, pursuit angles, defensive fits and how linebackers react to blocking schemes. That knowledge, combined with his physicality and willingness to initiate contact, helped him become an effective lead blocker

Smith contributed during @EzekielElliott 2016 rookie season, when Elliott rushed for 1,631 yards and won the NFL rushing title. Smith later played for the Oakland Raiders and Atlanta Falcons, ultimately appearing in 142 games over 10 NFL seasons

He also became a strong advocate for the fullback position through his brand, “Make Fullbacks Great Again.” Smith used it to celebrate the history of the position and support the remaining fullbacks around the NFL

Smith’s career shows why scouting goes beyond measurable athletic traits. He entered the NFL as an undrafted linebacker, reinvented himself as a fullback and built a decade-long career through instincts, toughness, versatility, special-teams value and football intelligence

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

The year is 1999

You’re watching Pokémon: The First Movie with the boys

Everyone knows there are exactly 151 Pokémon

Then this absolute unit shows up and nobody knows what the hell is going on

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

Power is one of the most fundamental run concepts in football, but there is a lot more to it than simply pulling a guard

From a coaching perspective, the goal is to create favorable angles and movement at the point of attack, account for the edge defender and insert an additional blocker into the run fit

It starts up front. The playside offensive line has to secure the first level, prevent penetration and create movement through gap/down blocks and combination blocks. The backside guard has to pull with urgency, stay tight to the blocking surface, locate the correct second-level threat and get vertical through the crease

The running back is just as important. He has to press the called track, maintain his tempo and read the leverage as the play develops. Patience does not mean hesitation. Press the track, force the defense to declare and make one decisive cut

Defensively, Power can be challenged with movement, wrong-arm techniques, scrape exchanges, linebacker plugs and secondary inserts. That is why the concept has to be taught through rules and reactions rather than a static pre-snap picture

When I’m evaluating Power on film, I’m looking beyond whether the play gained yards. I’m watching pad level, leverage, combination-block timing, pull path, awareness against movement, track discipline, vision and how quickly players process what the defense is giving them

Power is physical football, but its effectiveness comes from details, angles, leverage, communication and execution

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

From a scouting perspective, Brandon Siler was an instinctive, physical and highly competitive inside linebacker whose processing speed and downhill mentality allowed him to play faster than his testing profile suggested

At @GatorsFB, Siler made an immediate impact. As a true freshman in 2004, he led the Gators with 77 tackles and earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors from the league’s coaches. Over three seasons, he played in 37 games with 31 starts, finishing with 214 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and eight fumble recoveries

His best traits were his instincts, play recognition, toughness and ability to trigger downhill. Siler diagnosed blocking schemes quickly, worked through traffic with physicality and consistently found the football. His anticipation helped create functional play speed and allowed him to overcome an average overall athletic profile

As a junior in 2006, Siler helped Florida win the SEC Championship and BCS National Championship, earning AP Third-Team All-American and Second-Team All-SEC honors

Pre-Draft Testing and Measurements:

Height: 6’1¾”
Weight: 241 lbs.
Arm Length: 34¾”
Hands: 10⅛”
40-Yard Dash: 4.62
10-Yard Split: 1.62
Bench Press: 23 reps
Vertical Jump: 30.5”
Broad Jump: 9’8”
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.39
Three-Cone: 7.34

The @chargers selected Siler 240th overall in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft. His Florida traits translated well to a role as a physical inside linebacker and special-teams contributor. He played with urgency against the run, understood positioning and consistently brought toughness and effort

Siler appeared in 74 NFL games with 16 starts, recording 180 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions

From an evaluation standpoint, Siler is a strong example of why linebacker scouting goes beyond timed athleticism. His instincts, processing, toughness, leadership and physicality consistently allowed him to maximize his ability and carve out a productive NFL career

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

@CGSAllStar alumni making an impact!

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

🚨 COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHES 🚨

2028 QB — a prospect that checks a lot of boxes.

✅ Academics: 4.0 GPA
✅ Size: 6’1” | 190 lbs.
✅ Athleticism: 36” Vertical | 10.9 100m | 21.71 200m
✅ Production/Recruitment: 7 Offers
✅ Football Traits: Confident in the pocket, strong arm, athletic and competitive
✅ Character: Comes from a great family and brings the right approach off the field

Grades. Athleticism. Arm talent. Character.

A 2028 quarterback that college coaches need to have on their radar. 🎯

@FarhanLaljiTSN

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

Great kid from a great family with the athletic profile and versatility to make an impact at multiple positions for the Spiders!

A talented, high-character addition for @RussHuesman and @URSpidersFB. 🕷️🏈

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

From a scouting perspective, Simeon Rice was an explosive, disruptive edge defender whose length, first-step quickness and natural pass-rush ability made him one of the premier defensive prospects of his era

@IlliniFootball listed him as a rush linebacker, Rice frequently played on the line of scrimmage in a role similar to today’s EDGE position. He finished his career with 44.5 sacks and 69 tackles for loss, both Illinois records, while earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors three straight years, First-Team All-America honors in 1994 and 1995, and Big Ten Lineman of the Year in 1994

Rice’s best traits were his get-off, length, acceleration and closing burst. He could threaten the outside shoulder immediately, force offensive tackles to open their sets and use his long frame to maintain separation. His ability to consistently create negative plays and affect the quarterback projected naturally to defensive end in the NFL

Pre-Draft Testing:

Height: 6’5”
Weight: 259 lbs.
40-Yard Dash: 4.66
10-Yard Split: 1.72
Bench Press: 26 reps

The @AZCardinals selected Rice third overall in the 1996 NFL Draft, and his traits translated immediately. He recorded 12.5 sacks as a rookie and won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year

Rice went on to finish his NFL career with 122 sacks, three Pro Bowl selections and First-Team All-Pro honors in 2002. That season with @Buccaneers, he recorded 15.5 regular-season sacks, added four more in the postseason and helped the Buccaneers win Super Bowl XXXVII

From an evaluation standpoint, Rice is a great example of scouting the player rather than the position label. His explosiveness, length, edge speed and ability to get to the quarterback translated directly from Illinois to the NFL and made him one of the most productive pass rushers of his generation

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

From a scouting perspective, @LofaTatupu51 was an instinctive, physical and highly intelligent middle linebacker whose processing speed consistently allowed him to play faster than his timed speed

After beginning his career at Maine, Tatupu transferred to @uscfb, where he started 25 games and led the Trojans in tackles in both 2003 and 2004. He finished his USC career with 202 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 9 sacks and 7 interceptions, while helping USC win back-to-back AP National Championships in 2003 and 2004

As a junior in 2004, Tatupu posted 104 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks and 3 interceptions, earning First-Team All-Pac-10 and https://t.co/JMGb0J3mMS First-Team All-American honors

Tatupu’s biggest strengths were his instincts, anticipation, play recognition and ability to diagnose blocking schemes quickly. He played downhill with physicality, took efficient pursuit angles and consistently put himself around the football. In coverage, his awareness and understanding of route concepts helped him overcome average long speed.

Pre-Draft Testing and Measurements

Height: 5’11⅞”
Weight: 238 lbs.
40-Yard Dash: 4.72
10-Yard Split: 1.63
Bench Press: 23 reps
Vertical: 35”
Broad Jump: 9’8”
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.21
Three-Cone: 7.32

The @Seahawks traded up to select Tatupu 45th overall in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and his USC traits translated immediately. He started all 16 games as a rookie, recorded 104 tackles, 4 sacks and 3 interceptions, earned a Pro Bowl selection and helped Seattle reach Super Bowl XL

Tatupu went on to earn three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2005-07 and First-Team AP All-Pro honors in 2007. Over six seasons with Seattle, he started all 84 games he played and totaled 552 tackles, 10 interceptions, 8.5 sacks and 7 forced fumbles

From an evaluation standpoint, Tatupu is a strong example of why linebacker scouting goes beyond size and timed speed. His instincts, preparation, leverage, toughness and football intelligence created functional playing speed

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

Win the mind. Win everything

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

From a scouting perspective, @busterdavis7 was an instinctive, physical and highly productive middle linebacker whose play consistently exceeded his listed dimensions

At @FSUFootball, Davis was a three-year starter who finished his career with 265 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks, leading the Seminoles in tackles in each of his final three seasons. As a senior in 2006, he recorded 109 tackles, 8 tackles for loss and 5 sacks, earning First-Team All-ACC and AFCA First-Team All-America honors

Davis’ best traits were his instincts, processing speed, toughness and ability to consistently find the football. He diagnosed plays quickly, trusted his reads and triggered downhill with urgency. His compact frame gave him natural leverage, while his physicality and willingness to take on contact fit the demands of playing inside linebacker

2007 NFL Combine:

Height: 5’9⅜”
Weight: 239 lbs.
40-Yard Dash: 4.64
10-Yard Split: 1.65
Bench Press: 24 reps
Vertical Jump: 31”
Broad Jump: 8’8”
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.37
Three-Cone Drill: 7.28

Arizona selected Davis 69th overall in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He later spent time with Detroit, Indianapolis and Houston

One of the most unique aspects of Davis’ football journey is his connection to the @seniorbowl. He competed in the 2007 Senior Bowl as a player, experiencing the evaluation process firsthand. He later returned to the event from the personnel side, serving as a scout for the Reese’s Senior Bowl during the 2022 season

Davis has also built an extensive high school coaching résumé with stops in Florida, Georgia, Ohio and Texas. He was named head coach at Columbus North High School in Indiana in June 2026

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

From a scouting perspective, DeShawn Williams built his value on leverage, functional strength, technique, toughness and reliability rather than elite measurables or draft status

At @ClemsonFB, Williams appeared in 53 games with 17 starts, totaling 161 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and 24 quarterback pressures. His best season came as a senior in 2014, when he recorded 54 tackles, eight TFL and three sacks

Williams was a compact, leverage-based interior defensive lineman who played with a low center of gravity, strong hands and good awareness. Against the run, he could anchor, maintain gap responsibility, separate from blocks and locate the football. As a pass rusher, he was more of a power and effort player, using leverage and strength to compress the pocket rather than relying on pure twitch or speed

Clemson Pro Day:

Height: 6’0½”
Weight: 303 lbs.
Arms: 32¼”
Hands: 9¼”
40-Yard Dash: 5.07
10-Yard Split: 1.71
Bench Press: 28 reps
Vertical Jump: 30”
Broad Jump: 8’9”
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.66
Three-Cone: 7.70

His biggest NFL role came in Denver, where he provided run defense, interior toughness, alignment flexibility and pocket compression. In 2022, he started 15 games and posted career highs with 37 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four TFL and eight quarterback hits

Williams finished his NFL career with 78 games, 45 starts, 164 tackles and 9.5 sacks

He has now transitioned into coaching as a Defensive Analyst at @OU_Football under @CoachVenables, who coached him at Clemson. Williams also gained NFL coaching experience as a 2026 Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellow with the @Browns

His career is a strong example of why defensive line evaluation goes beyond testing numbers. Williams’ leverage, hand usage, strength, football intelligence and consistency allowed an undrafted player to become a dependable NFL starter

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

And that was the end of the ride

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

Failure is feedback. Learn. Adjust. Attack again.

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

Got the chance to connect with @CoachJDon yesterday, great dude who is absolutely crushing it in his role with @LibertyFootball!

One of the best parts about working in the scouting and personnel industry is the people you meet along the way. I always enjoy connecting with others in the profession, learning from them, building relationships and continuing to grow my network

Great people make this industry even better!

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

From a scouting perspective, Taylor Mays was one of the most physically gifted safety prospects of his era

At @uscfb, he was a four-year starter at free safety who combined linebacker size with elite straight-line speed, explosiveness, physicality and exceptional closing range. He finished his career with 276 tackles and earned first-team All-American honors three times

At roughly 6’3”, 230 pounds, Mays had a rare height-weight-speed profile. USC primarily used him deep, where his range allowed him to cover significant space, but his size and physicality also gave the defense flexibility to bring him closer to the box

He was at his best triggering downhill, closing from depth and delivering force on contact. As a senior, increased usage closer to the line of scrimmage helped him produce a career-high 96 tackles

Mays was an explosive athlete whose speed could erase space quickly. His ability to run, strike and play with range made him a unique defensive chess piece. The areas that required continued development were the finer points of safety play, including anticipation, angles, transitions and consistent ball production, but his physical traits gave him significant versatility

Pre Draft Measurements:

Height: 6’3 1/8”
Weight: 230 lbs.
40-Yard Dash: 4.43
10-Yard Split: 1.56
Bench Press: 24 reps
Vertical Jump: 41”
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.24
Three-Cone Drill: 6.98

The @49ers selected Mays 49th overall in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. His size, speed, physicality and downhill closing ability translated to the professional level and allowed him to contribute in multiple roles. His athletic profile gave defenses the ability to use him at safety, closer to the box and extensively on special teams.

The @Bengals eventually utilized Mays in a hybrid safety/nickel linebacker role, which highlighted his versatility and allowed him to take advantage of his size, speed and ability to play downhill. That adaptability helped him carve out a multi-year NFL career and showed how his unusual physical skill set could be used beyond a traditional safety role

Mays later transitioned into coaching and is currently the safeties coach at the @UW_Football, entering his second season in that role in 2026