OT: MSU picks up Grad Transfer DE from Delaware St

Submitted by Space Coyote on

MSU picked up a grad transfer from Delaware St today to provide depth along their young DL in the form of Gabe Sherrod. Originally a WR, he has played along the DL the last two years and grown into a 6'4" 245 lb edge rusher that finished 2nd in FCS in TFL last year. He had originally chosen to play at 'cuse, but they resinded his offer when he decided he wanted to look at other places.

In terms of depth and finding a guy with a role, this is a nice pickup for MSU. He looks like a guy that can fit into the rotation for them at a position that needed depth and experience. He played a bit in a 2-point stance at DSU similar to Mario last year, but in my opinion that was a bad fit for him and caused him to play to his weaknesses rather than his strengths. He's a much better player in a 3-point stance, which he will be in at MSU.

As a player, he has a very good first step and closes really well. Most of the plays he made come from being unblocked, either on the backside of the play or when being the read option target. He has the length and athleticism to track down players and make plays in the backfield, and in my opinion, that ability translates pretty well to the major level. He also has success when he is able to win with his first step and get his helmet in front of a blocker and beat them to the spot.

On the downside, he struggles a bit when he gets blocked up. Even on his highlight tape he struggles to disengage from blockers and lacks some functional strength and technique when asked to play at the point of attack. He also seems a bit undisciplined on the backside, which leads to some really nice plays, but can be picked on for not staying with his assignment within the scheme of the defense (something Dantonio will not be fond of in a very assignment driven defense) that he will need to clean up. 

To me, he isn't a game-changer, which will leave people around here saying "then why did you post this". But he does add a nice element on the edge for MSU and a player that can stunt inside on passing downs and create some havoc. He has the athletic ability to threaten the edge, and if MSU can get guys behind the chains, he provides a nice compliment to Malik on the inside.

SAMgO

July 5th, 2016 at 5:03 PM ^

http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/02/gabe_sherrod_d…

MSU dorm dwellers, hide your laptop and other valuable electronics.

"Sherrod also spoke about a pair of May 2014 burglaries that occurred in Delaware University dormitory rooms. He and three other Delaware State football players were charged with three counts of theft, two counts of burglary and two counts of conspiracy, according to multiple reports. The group stole laptop computers and video game systems while a fifth Delaware State player received stolen property."

/Clark'd

Space Coyote

July 5th, 2016 at 5:23 PM ^

As I said in the OP, he doesn't disengage well and struggles to hold his ground at times at the point of attack. But you still have to get him blocked up and formed up to get to that point.

It's like the opposite of Kalis. When Kalis gets into blocks, gets his assignment, and locks in, he's a beast. His problem is actually getting into blocks to begin with. 

BostonWolverine

July 5th, 2016 at 11:37 PM ^

Hey man,

In reference to your previous post, it's widely viewed that use of the word "thug" has racist undertones and is in danger of gaining similar connotation to the N-word.

I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but I responded to this post instead of that one just in case you wanted to change it. 

No hard feelings,

CTW

esanch

July 6th, 2016 at 9:43 AM ^

Yes, genius, we know the definition. There's things that go along with those definitions called connotations. Or undertones. Maybe you can post the definition of those words also.

See a lot of white people being referred to as thugs these days? Please post every article you can find where white criminals or generally disliked people are referred to as thugs. There's plenty of violent white criminals, and I have yet to see anybody referring to them as thugs in the year 2016.

Copy/pasting a definition doesn't make you smart, just proves that you can copy and paste. And that you don't understand context or much of anything going on around you.

BostonWolverine

July 6th, 2016 at 9:44 AM ^

Yep, really. Here are a few articles that talk about it: 

http://www.npr.org/2015/04/30/403362626/the-racially-charged-meaning-be…

http://time.com/2369/richard-sherman-thug-n-word/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judy-muller/a-thug-by-any-other-name_b_15…

 

Dictionary definitions are problematic this day and age, unfortunately. I'm not gonna threadjack (or be as pissy as that Sanderson guy), but yeah - it's a thing. 

Double-D

July 6th, 2016 at 9:30 AM ^

Just a bad guy thing. Actually I think kids deserve a 2nd chance and i am sure Gabe does too. Dantonio seems to be pushing those boundaries though and taking kids into the program with marks vs 2nd chances for kids already in the program. This is another example.

No hard feelings. Although with Christopher Walken staring at me like that....

BostonWolverine

July 6th, 2016 at 9:46 AM ^

Oh, I completely understood how you saw it. I just wanted to let you know that use of the word itself is rapidly falling out of favor. There's always a different way of saying what you want to say. 

But I'm not gonna go all Walken in Joe Dirt on ya. "You're talking to my guy all wrong. It's the wrong tone. You do it again - I'll stab you in the face with a soldering iron." 

Everyone Murders

July 5th, 2016 at 6:03 PM ^

He goes from hating a team with aesthetically superior helmets and better academics (i.e., University of Delaware) to hating a team with aesthetically superior helmets and better academics (i.e., ... duh).

Nice write-up.  I don't often read about successful moves from WR to DL at the P5 level.

Space Coyote

July 5th, 2016 at 7:05 PM ^

1. MSU is a rival. 2. We play MSU. 3. MSU has beaten us a lot lately. 4. MSU had depth issues at DL that Michigan could exploit. 5. MSU's DL was a major factor in last years game. 6. MSU has mitigated those DL concerns to a certain extent. 7. That extent isn't perfect and MSU still has areas that can be exploited, though not as many. 8. So the degree that MSU is improved by this may interest some. 9. It's football talk in the off season. 10. People, like me, like talking football. 11. People also like recruiting, which this generally is, but with a guy that is immediately eligible and will make an impact this fall. Etc.

Maize Craze

July 5th, 2016 at 6:42 PM ^

I only care about players that play for Michigan. Not scrubs that played in second rate winged helmets and not the real ones. His tears will taste like sugar this fall.




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grumbler

July 6th, 2016 at 1:38 AM ^

And yet you clicked on and commented about this, when you "only care" about other things.

Sounds to me like someone who isn't very self-aware.

The lack of awareness demonstrated by your statement about the winged helmets only makes your idiotic post more amusing.  Not only do you not know yourself, you don't know college football.

Space Coyote

July 5th, 2016 at 6:54 PM ^

Because caring about contributors that will likely play a role and alleviate some concerns rivals have is somehow beneath a portion of the fan base (though almost certainly not below people affiliated with the program like the coaches). Hey, some people want to be more ignorant of what is around them. That's all well and good until you make others associated with the same thing as you look ignorant by proxy, which is just annoying.

Personally, I like to know about rival teams.

Avon Barksdale

July 5th, 2016 at 7:33 PM ^

Any news on D-Green? His Twitter still says Michigan RB, but his profile also says "Brooklyn, NY." There are mostly D2 and D3 programs in the NYC area.



It would be a shame for him to end his career after 878 yards. He would be one of Rivals (#8 overall) biggest busts ever in the top ten.

jsquigg

July 5th, 2016 at 11:52 PM ^

So, in other words this guy is a Tom Gholston clone.  I'd be lying if that game didn't worry me, but with Harbaugh there is hope.