Rallis moved to LB

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KoolAid

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It's been widely speculated, but now it's official. Per Sid's article:

Mike Rallis, the former Edina football player who walked on at Minnesota and eventually earned a scholarship, has been moved from defensive back to outside linebacker, where he has a good chance of starting next season. Rallis broke a leg in the California game on Sept. 19 and missed most of last season.

And since it's in Sid's column, it must be true.

Seriously though, Rallis will have 3 years of eligibility left and will add more depth to an already deep position. Personally, I think he'll either start or be the team's 4th linebacker.
 

I remember getting moved from center to wing in hockey. Hated it.
 

KoolAid said:
It's been widely speculated, but now it's official. Per Sid's article:

Mike Rallis, the former Edina football player who walked on at Minnesota and eventually earned a scholarship, has been moved from defensive back to outside linebacker, where he has a good chance of starting next season. Rallis broke a leg in the California game on Sept. 19 and missed most of last season.

And since it's in Sid's column, it must be true.

Seriously though, Rallis will have 3 years of eligibility left and will add more depth to an already deep position. Personally, I think he'll either start or be the team's 4th linebacker.
Click to expand...

Wishful thinking based on??? Here's the LB list as of today (Rallis not listed). He's going to have to beat out a few guys...

Balthazor, Joey LB 6-3 207 RFr. Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead HS)
Cooper, Keanon LB 6-0 210 RSo. Dallas, Texas (Skyline)
Grant, Ryan LB 6-2 219 So. Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie)
Hill, Aaron LB 6-2 210 RFr. St. Charles, Mo. (Lutheran HS)
Lafferty, Logan LB 6-2 213 Fr. Rochester, Minn. (Century HS)
Maresh, Sam LB 6-3 247 RFr. Champlin, Minn. (Champlin Park)
Mezzenga, Gabe LB 6-4 230 Fr. Shoreview, Minn. (Totino-Grace HS)
Mitchell, Dwayne LB 6-2 220 Fr. New Orleans, La. (Edna Karr HS)
Reeves, Spencer LB 6-2 221 So. Dallas, Texas (Skyline)
Singleton, Brent LB 6-1 213 RFr. Plantation, Fla. (American Heritage HS)
Sveum, Patrick LB 6-1 214 Sr. Rochester, Minn. (Century)
Tatum, Willie LB 6-2 200 Fr. Pickerington, Ohio
Tinsley, Gary LB 6-1 220 Jr. Jacksonville, Fla. (First Coast)
 

I just saw Sharpe's name on that list. I totally forgot about him. He was so highly touted coming out of JUCO and I thought he would have had some kind of impact on this team.

I'm kind of excited to see what Cooper, Maresh, Tinsley, and Reeves can do.

I think all of these guys are from the same recruiting class (and I think Brew's first full recruiting class). It's time to see how good of a recruiter/talent evaluator he is.
 

highwayman said:
Wishful thinking based on??? Here's the LB list as of today (Rallis not listed). He's going to have to beat out a few guys...

Balthazor, Joey LB 6-3 207 RFr. Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead HS)
Cooper, Keanon LB 6-0 210 RSo. Dallas, Texas (Skyline)
Grant, Ryan LB 6-2 219 So. Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie)
Hill, Aaron LB 6-2 210 RFr. St. Charles, Mo. (Lutheran HS)
Lafferty, Logan LB 6-2 213 Fr. Rochester, Minn. (Century HS)
Maresh, Sam LB 6-3 247 RFr. Champlin, Minn. (Champlin Park)
Mezzenga, Gabe LB 6-4 230 Fr. Shoreview, Minn. (Totino-Grace HS)
Mitchell, Dwayne LB 6-2 220 Fr. New Orleans, La. (Edna Karr HS)
Reeves, Spencer LB 6-2 221 So. Dallas, Texas (Skyline)
Sharpe, Rex LB 6-1 231 Sr. Fairfield, Ala. (Arizona Western) Singleton, Brent LB 6-1 213 RFr. Plantation, Fla. (American Heritage HS)
Sveum, Patrick LB 6-1 214 Sr. Rochester, Minn. (Century)
Tatum, Willie LB 6-2 200 Fr. Pickerington, Ohio
Tinsley, Gary LB 6-1 220 Jr. Jacksonville, Fla. (First Coast)
Click to expand...
you are right he does have some talent to beat out, but he does have more game experience than most of those guys. i think he has a good shot at earning a starting job.
 


If I'm not mistaken, Sharpe was a senior and has used up his eligibility.

I'm not sure exactly what bolding certain players references (players who you expect to compete for playing time?), but if that's the case, Singleton needs to be bolded because he will definitely be in the mix.
 


Brew said Rallis was moving to LB on Sid & Dave's show a while ago so if you're looking for confirmation beyond the accuracy of Sid I will confirm for you that it came from Brewster's mouth.

And like Dpodoll68 said, Singleton is definitely in the mix.

My prediction for 2 deep LB's next year:
SLB: Cooper / Singleton
MLB: Tinsley / Maresh
WLB: Reeves/ Rallis --this is the most hotly contested battle

Against teams like Iowa & Wisconsin where we need more size I wouldn't be surprised to see this starting lineup:
SLB: Reeves or Rallis
MLB: Maresh
WLB: Tinsley
 

Rallis was moved months ago and has built himself up to be one of the larger LB's on the team.
 




If Rallis is starting we are in trouble because the heralded recruits did not pan out. For a walk on to beat you out you should be thoroughly embarrassed. Hopefully he only pushes the others to work harder so he does not beat them out.
 

bankonit said:
If Rallis is starting we are in trouble because the heralded recruits did not pan out. For a walk on to beat you out you should be thoroughly embarrassed. Hopefully he only pushes the others to work harder so he does not beat them out.
Click to expand...
Perhaps but keep in mind that some outstanding linebackers started as big safeties that bulked up but kept their speed. I'm showing my age but Brad Van Pelt was a 220 lb safety at MSU but became an all pro OLB for the Giants after bulking up to 235. Rallis body type reminds me of Van Pelt's.
 

bankonit said:
If Rallis is starting we are in trouble because the heralded recruits did not pan out. For a walk on to beat you out you should be thoroughly embarrassed. Hopefully he only pushes the others to work harder so he does not beat them out.
Click to expand...

Everyone refers to Rallis as a walk-on. I believe this is incorrect. I think he was a very late add by Brew as a scholarship player (late March) and hence was never listed as a scholarship committment for his class. Regardless, he had early scholarship offers from some MWC/WAC teams and preferred walk-on offers from USC, Miami, etc. He is by no means a scrub. Every good to great team has a few of these guys that not only end up starting but some star.
 



bankonit said:
If Rallis is starting we are in trouble because the heralded recruits did not pan out. For a walk on to beat you out you should be thoroughly embarrassed. Hopefully he only pushes the others to work harder so he does not beat them out.
Click to expand...

People need to get over the star ratings once a player is on campus and see a player for the player he is. USC had a walk-on LB drafted in the first round of the NFL draft last year. Did it matter to the NFL team that he walked on? Did it matter to the players that tried to block him or tried to break his tackles? Did him starting mean that the other more heralded USC LBers were failures? Considering USC had 3 other much more heralded recruits that were LBers go in the 1st two rounds of the draft the others can also be considered a success.

My point is, just because Rallis may succeed and may start ahead of a more heralded recruit doesn't mean that the other recruit has not panned out. It may just mean that Rallis was much better than scouts expected. It will most likely be Reeves & Rallis competing for PT all offseason and continuing to push one another during the season which will make them both better. If Rallis is better than Reeves he should start ahead of him and vice versa.

And like Koppco said, Rallis never spent a day on campus without a scholarship so he isn't exactly a "walk-on."

Sorry for the rant.
 

I'll leave it the coaches and players as to who will start but from the look of him Rallis has done some serious work in the weight room. Last summer he looked to be in the 205-212 range, he now looks to be an easy 225. The battle at the LB position will be my favorite to watch during spring football, I think there are 6 players capable for starting.
 

If a player is a good athlete,but not developed yet, ie doesn't shave and is not furred out, he is a good prospect especially for a walk on. As I keep saying, it takes most kids 2-3 yrs to develope into players that are going to play alot in big time FB. Speed backs and an occasional receiver are exceptions. Line and LB are 2 positions you recdruit today to play 3 yrs. from now.
 

bankonit said:
If Rallis is starting we are in trouble because the heralded recruits did not pan out. For a walk on to beat you out you should be thoroughly embarrassed. Hopefully he only pushes the others to work harder so he does not beat them out.
Click to expand...

Tell that to Josh Hull, who walked on at Penn State. Having a team full of walk-ons would be one thing, but a lot of good programs have a walk-on or two become starters (and in the case of Hull, All-conference honorable mention). Rallis is a good football player and LB is probably the position he's best suited to play.
 

bankonit said:
If Rallis is starting we are in trouble because the heralded recruits did not pan out. For a walk on to beat you out you should be thoroughly embarrassed. Hopefully he only pushes the others to work harder so he does not beat them out.
Click to expand...

This statement is ignorant. There have been some very good players who started their careers as "walk ons" for good programs, eventually earned a scholorship and have become awesome athletes. I can think of Jim Leonhard (Sconny and Jets), Clay Mathews (USC and Packers), Jordy Nelson (Kentucky and Packers), Owen Schmitt (West Virginia and Seahawks), Levi Jones (ASU Bengals), are Adam Archueletta (ASU and Rams) are just a few guys who were walk ons who play in the NFL. I remember during the Big 12 Championship game the announcers said that Nebraska has had almost 30 players who walked on to their program who eventually played in the NFL.

College football is full of kids who walked on and eventually became stars.
 

highwayman said:
Wishful thinking based on??? Here's the LB list as of today (Rallis not listed). He's going to have to beat out a few guys...

Balthazor, Joey LB 6-3 207 RFr. Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead HS)
Cooper, Keanon LB 6-0 210 RSo. Dallas, Texas (Skyline)
Grant, Ryan LB 6-2 219 So. Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie)
Hill, Aaron LB 6-2 210 RFr. St. Charles, Mo. (Lutheran HS)
Lafferty, Logan LB 6-2 213 Fr. Rochester, Minn. (Century HS)
Maresh, Sam LB 6-3 247 RFr. Champlin, Minn. (Champlin Park)
Mezzenga, Gabe LB 6-4 230 Fr. Shoreview, Minn. (Totino-Grace HS)
Mitchell, Dwayne LB 6-2 220 Fr. New Orleans, La. (Edna Karr HS)
Reeves, Spencer LB 6-2 221 So. Dallas, Texas (Skyline)
Singleton, Brent LB 6-1 213 RFr. Plantation, Fla. (American Heritage HS)
Sveum, Patrick LB 6-1 214 Sr. Rochester, Minn. (Century)
Tatum, Willie LB 6-2 200 Fr. Pickerington, Ohio
Tinsley, Gary LB 6-1 220 Jr. Jacksonville, Fla. (First Coast)
Click to expand...

How many guys on your nice little list (the bolding is a great touch, by the way) got significant playing time as true freshman?

How many got any playing time as true freshman?

Did you really need to bold Ryan Grant's name?

Not wishful thinking - just logic.
 

It is a mistake to assume that a walk-on is a bad player. If a walk-on wins a starting spot, that doesn't mean that the scholarship player is a bad player, it means that you got a real steal with that walk-on that other schools missed out on.
 

This is an interesting move. It does throw a bit of a wrench in my thoughts of who might be starting. It still starts to make me think that we will continue to use 3-4 and 4-3 sets in passing downs instead of a nickle look if we continue to move safeties to LB's spots.

I'm not sure if I'm sold on that.
 

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