rainiersooner
10/24/2009, 01:15 AM
So many of you may have already read this...maybe even it was already posted, although with all the open letters it's hard to tell...anyway: Brody Eldridge is a stud. That's all.
http://www.newsok.com/renaissance-man-ous-brody-eldridge-excels-at-different-positions/article/3411563?custom_click=lead_story_title
Renaissance man: Brody Eldridge excels at playing several different positions (and playing them well)
BY JAKE TROTTER, Staff Writer, [email protected] Comments Comment on this article0
Published: October 24, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. — At a young age, Brody Eldridge displayed a penchant for versatility on the football field.
OU's Brody Eldridge played tight end against Miami (left) and center against BYU (right). Photos by Nate Billings (left) and Bryan Terry (right), The Oklahoman
"His freshman year, he played tackle, tight end, linebacker, free safety,” said Sterling Hudson, Eldridge’s high school coach. "Even quarterback.”
Years later, not much has changed.
Just six games into the schedule, Eldridge has become the only player in Oklahoma football’s modern history to start three different positions in the same season. Against Brigham Young, Eldridge started at center. After that, back to his old position of tight end.
But today at Kansas, the team he cheered for while growing up in the Sunflower State, Eldridge is expected to start at left guard for the second consecutive week.
"Brody can do everything,” said defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. "There ain’t nothing he can’t do.”
So far, at least.
During his first four years in Norman, Eldridge made a career out of being an unrelenting blocking tight end, which didn’t go unnoticed. Even though he rarely lined up at fullback, the Big 12’s coaches honored Eldridge two years ago by voting him first-team All-Big 12 fullback.
"I wish I could block like he can; that may sound weird, but I really do,” said left tackle Trent Williams, who will probably be a first-round NFL Draft pick because of his own blocking excellence. "Brody’s not that overpowering and strong. But he just has the perfect blocking technique and he doesn’t stop until the end of the whistle.
"He’s one of my favorite Sooners, because you know no matter what, Brody is bringing his ‘A’ game.”
Eldridge entered his senior season expecting to bring his ‘A’ game as OU’s run-blocking tight end again. But a persistent back injury to center Ben Habern at the start of fall camp sent Kevin Wilson scrambling for a replacement. The Sooner offensive coordinator decided to audition his best overall blocker, even if Eldridge was 30 pounds undersized to play center. Despite only practicing there for a month, Eldridge grasped the nuances of center without a hitch. And against BYU, he graded out higher than any of his fellow offensive linemen.
"It’s honestly one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen,” Habern said. "This is big-time Division I football, so for a guy playing tight end to just switch to center and play like he’s been there his whole life and have as good a game as anyone else on the line ... it’s incredibly impressive.”
But not as impressive as Eldridge’s most recent position switch. After moving back to tight end for three games, another injury on the offensive line forced another shuffle. This time, left guard Brian Simmons went down with a knee injury, the week before Texas. Instead of promoting one of OU’s inexperienced guards, Wilson gambled by swinging Eldridge to guard.
"I was actually pretty surprised,” said Eldridge, who learned he was returning to line the Monday before Texas. "But I was like, ‘OK. Let’s go.’”
Despite having never played guard before in his life, Eldridge picked it up seamlessly during practice. And against Texas, which boasts one of the best defenses in the country, Eldridge graded out higher than any Sooner offensive lineman yet again, earning a game ball in the losing effort.
"If there was a team we’re trying to get to, it’s everybody being like Brody, with his work ethic and knowledge of the game,” said defensive tackle Adrian Taylor. "The guy didn’t have any missed assignments in the Texas game. To learn a position that quick and not mess up all — what else needs to be said?
"We get everybody playing like Brody, nobody would be able to beat us.”
Read more: http://www.newsok.com/renaissance-man-ous-brody-eldridge-excels-at-different-positions/article/3411563?custom_click=lead_story_title#ixzz0UpeSEHV Z
http://www.newsok.com/renaissance-man-ous-brody-eldridge-excels-at-different-positions/article/3411563?custom_click=lead_story_title
Renaissance man: Brody Eldridge excels at playing several different positions (and playing them well)
BY JAKE TROTTER, Staff Writer, [email protected] Comments Comment on this article0
Published: October 24, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. — At a young age, Brody Eldridge displayed a penchant for versatility on the football field.
OU's Brody Eldridge played tight end against Miami (left) and center against BYU (right). Photos by Nate Billings (left) and Bryan Terry (right), The Oklahoman
"His freshman year, he played tackle, tight end, linebacker, free safety,” said Sterling Hudson, Eldridge’s high school coach. "Even quarterback.”
Years later, not much has changed.
Just six games into the schedule, Eldridge has become the only player in Oklahoma football’s modern history to start three different positions in the same season. Against Brigham Young, Eldridge started at center. After that, back to his old position of tight end.
But today at Kansas, the team he cheered for while growing up in the Sunflower State, Eldridge is expected to start at left guard for the second consecutive week.
"Brody can do everything,” said defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. "There ain’t nothing he can’t do.”
So far, at least.
During his first four years in Norman, Eldridge made a career out of being an unrelenting blocking tight end, which didn’t go unnoticed. Even though he rarely lined up at fullback, the Big 12’s coaches honored Eldridge two years ago by voting him first-team All-Big 12 fullback.
"I wish I could block like he can; that may sound weird, but I really do,” said left tackle Trent Williams, who will probably be a first-round NFL Draft pick because of his own blocking excellence. "Brody’s not that overpowering and strong. But he just has the perfect blocking technique and he doesn’t stop until the end of the whistle.
"He’s one of my favorite Sooners, because you know no matter what, Brody is bringing his ‘A’ game.”
Eldridge entered his senior season expecting to bring his ‘A’ game as OU’s run-blocking tight end again. But a persistent back injury to center Ben Habern at the start of fall camp sent Kevin Wilson scrambling for a replacement. The Sooner offensive coordinator decided to audition his best overall blocker, even if Eldridge was 30 pounds undersized to play center. Despite only practicing there for a month, Eldridge grasped the nuances of center without a hitch. And against BYU, he graded out higher than any of his fellow offensive linemen.
"It’s honestly one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen,” Habern said. "This is big-time Division I football, so for a guy playing tight end to just switch to center and play like he’s been there his whole life and have as good a game as anyone else on the line ... it’s incredibly impressive.”
But not as impressive as Eldridge’s most recent position switch. After moving back to tight end for three games, another injury on the offensive line forced another shuffle. This time, left guard Brian Simmons went down with a knee injury, the week before Texas. Instead of promoting one of OU’s inexperienced guards, Wilson gambled by swinging Eldridge to guard.
"I was actually pretty surprised,” said Eldridge, who learned he was returning to line the Monday before Texas. "But I was like, ‘OK. Let’s go.’”
Despite having never played guard before in his life, Eldridge picked it up seamlessly during practice. And against Texas, which boasts one of the best defenses in the country, Eldridge graded out higher than any Sooner offensive lineman yet again, earning a game ball in the losing effort.
"If there was a team we’re trying to get to, it’s everybody being like Brody, with his work ethic and knowledge of the game,” said defensive tackle Adrian Taylor. "The guy didn’t have any missed assignments in the Texas game. To learn a position that quick and not mess up all — what else needs to be said?
"We get everybody playing like Brody, nobody would be able to beat us.”
Read more: http://www.newsok.com/renaissance-man-ous-brody-eldridge-excels-at-different-positions/article/3411563?custom_click=lead_story_title#ixzz0UpeSEHV Z