Recruiting Stories Part 5 2007: Videotape and the Pancakes seen around the World

The rise of star was not in the plans that night last October when I attended the Barlow versus Central Catholic game. I had come to watch big names like Kevin Frahm and Linebacker Chris Paul that had just committed to Boise State. Using my field press pass I was able to roam the sideline. I forgot my video camera but I had my Sony Mavica which shoot video direct to a CDR Disk. The cool thing is that you can send these clips to whoever you want by compressed MPEG video. Not the clearest picture but not bad. You just pop that baby in the PC and send it direct.

Well after the game was over and every body was wowing over CC running back Jaden Kaufman...who busted for about 200 yards in his first game as a RB....I watched the film. What I saw was not what I saw during the game. I got so carried away that I forgot to focus on the O' line play.

What I saw was not one...not two...not three.. but Four plays in a row where this big cat Antonio Danek of Central served up a major Pancake. I watched it again and again and this 6'6" behemoth really dished it out. So I emailed these four plays to Brian Derby in Hawaii. We had worked with Antonio and his whole line core and his O line Coach James Mick in the Summer of 2006. We liked Antonio than but his technique was still pretty raw. I told Brian...."look at this. Pass the Syrup baby!" For those of you that do not already know the Pancake is the ultimate finish to the block when the O'Linemen releases his hips and finishes the block by flattening the Defenseive player onto his back, stomach, head, ass, or any other body part. It is something that if done enough can make the difference between being recruited and not.

Brian reviewed these little clips and sent them to a few guys. At this point Danek was not on anybodies radar other than one or two D-2 schools that new of him. What happened next was magical. A Coach at a Big Sky School called wanting to now more. Next Weber State wanted in. A couple of weeks late PSU and Northern Arizona decided they wanted some too. I am pleased to know that this big amazing kid got a boost because we sent 4 clips showing him doing his thing around the Internet. Technology is awesome. Ad to that a couple of good contacts, a little nudge, and some excellent blocking and hard work and you have a 4 year full ride.

Antonio is a kid that works 5 days a week on football, six days a week on school, and 7 days a week on being a superb son to his folks and citizen of his community. Good luck at Northern Arizona Antonio!