Very interesting article
http://blog.nj.com/hssportsextra/2009/10/former_don_bosco_star_dillon_r.html
http://blog.nj.com/hssportsextra/2009/10/former_don_bosco_star_dillon_r.html
Romain snubbed
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Dillon Romain, passed over for Division 1 scholarship, hoping year at Blair Academy helps college dream come true
By Matthew Stanmyre/The Star-Ledger
October 14, 2009, 9:02PM
Dillon Romain Blair AcademyMitsu Yasukawa/The Star-LedgerDillon Romain, on the practice field at Blair Academy, says he doesn't know what happened when it came to being overlooked by D-1 college programs. GATORADE STATE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Where have they gone after high school?
Dillon Romain didn't feel like moving, so he spent an entire day in early February inside his parents' house in Vernon.
He didn't chat with friends on his cell phone. He didn't eat. He barely even spoke.
National signing day for high school seniors had come and gone, and Romain, the best football player on the best football team in New Jersey, did not have an NCAA Division 1-A scholarship offer.
A running back from Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, Romain would be named Gatorade state player of the year, an honor that had gone to players such as the NFL's Chris Simms, Eugene Monroe and Greg Olsen. As high school players from across New Jersey and some of his teammates proudly wore sweatshirts from their destination schools after signing day, Romain went home and shuttered the blinds.
"He cried his eyes out,"Â said Romain's father, Joe. "He really did. He was crushed."Â
As Romain lay around the house, he imagined how he had been passed over. At every turn, he was stumped.
He had qualified academically for college with a 3.0 grade-point average and 1,410 on the SAT, Joe Romain said. He ran the 40-yard dash in a swift 4.46 seconds. He stood out for a nationally renowned program. He had been to countless camps and clinics, getting noticed by the right people.
"In this case he didn't do anything wrong,"Â said Chris Melvin, a New Jersey-based high school talent evaluator from Elite Recruits. "He just got overlooked for whatever reason. But I'm telling you: Dillon Romain is going to be a special back at the next level."Â
Romain emerged from his haze the following day. He had spent his entire life dreaming of playing for a major college program, and he decided he could wait one more year. He pulled up the website for Blair Academy, a post-graduate school he had heard about in Blairstown, and had his father make a phone call.
LACK OF DIVISION 1 OFFERS
Romain's most poignant memories from childhood came from Saturday afternoons, when he would plop in front of the television and watch college football the entire day. The bands, the crowds, the voice of the commentator â€" he knew immediately he wanted to play in that environment.
Romain seemed headed for Delbarton School, which contacted him about bringing his considerable lacrosse skills to the school, but he changed his mind and opted to go to Don Bosco, which boasted one of the top football programs in the country.
By Romain's sophomore season, the 5-11, 200-pounder was the starting running back for the nationally ranked team. It's rare that any player cracks the starting lineup so quickly at the school, but Don Bosco coach Greg Toal didn't hesitate.
"He had all the qualities you want,"Â Toal said. "He can block. He can run. He can catch. There's nothing he can't do well."Â
As a senior, Romain rushed for 1,436 yards and 26 touchdowns, leading Don Bosco to it's third straight Non-Public, Group 4 championship. He was named Gatorade player of the year, an honor that had gone to 10 straight players before him who went on to play in college for Bowl Championship Series conference teams. He was also the most valuable player of the New Jersey vs. the Northeast All-Star Classic, a game with Division 1-A players at nearly every position.
"Everyone told me I was going to get the offers," said Romain, who was recruited by Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Syracuse and Akron, among others. "Everyone told me, ‘They're going to come, they're going to come.' And when it got down to signing day, I didn't have any Division I offers. I don't know what happened."Â
Romain's only offers were from Wagner, Albany and Missouri State â€" Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division 1-AA) teams. He said he was given a few reasons from college coaches as to why he didn't get a major offer: He played only running back in high school, and colleges felt more comfortable offering someone who played on both sides of the ball; his success stemmed more from the talent around him at Don Bosco, which included several Division 1-A players.
Others such as Melvin and Toal think a contributing factor could be that Romain is white and plays running back.
"Being a white running back is not the easiest thing,"Â Toal said. "There's stereotypes out there in this day and age."Â
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ToughJ.Riggins said:What more do these recruiters want? He's the NJ state Gatorade player of the year and was very productive for the state's top H.S football team. The kid even runs a 4.46 40 yard dash. This kid should be calling a lawyer, if he does even close to as well as Lewis did at Blair. He may have a serious legal case because Lewis has done so well for Pitt that he is already ranked 13th at RB for the 2013 NFL draft. We all know Rivals will try to bury Dillon, but they can only do so much!
Jimmy Chitwood said:the Razorbacks are giving a scholarship to yet another fatass turd.
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<div>Jatashun Beachum (that's not a typo, it's really his name) has committed to play for the Hogs. this 6-2, 300-pound tub o' lard is listed as being a svelte 275-pounds and running a 4.6 forty by Rivals.</div>
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<div>even the sold-their-soul-to-the-Razorback-athletics-program local fish wrap wouldn't post lies that big, as they reported a still fictitious (but less so) 280 and 4.75.</div>
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<div>what's the big deal, right? well, the Razorbacks have said they see him as a potential ... tailback. </div>
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<div>Beachum stretching the fat before a game.</div>
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<div>"tailback" prospect Beachum looking soopa affletic and phenomenally conditioned</div>
SuperSpeed23 said:Why would ANYONE want some 300 pound kid to play RB even if he is black. Ill bet my grandma runs a faster 40 then him.
Zooker should be fired by Monday.Riddlewire said:I didn't see the game, but Mitchell Evans led Indiana in rushing today.
9 carries 84 yards.
Mitchell is a WR, but that's a lot of backwards passes or reverses. So I'm going to assume he got at least some of them from the RB position.
He also had 3 catches for 17 yards.
Indiana beat caste team Illinois 27-14.