ASU Football: Class of 2014 Local Prospects – Part 2
By Don Hansen
Our series of blogs about local Arizona football prospects continues. These local Arizona high school prospects in the class of 2014 are who Head Coach Todd Graham and recruiting coordinator Chip Long would love to see in the maroon and gold.
If the NFL draft can be used as a gauge for the most important positions on a football field, then offensive tackle is that hot and important position as three of the top four players selected in the 2013 NFL Draft were franchise type left tackles. Currently Arizona State has two seniors starting on its offensive line and a very talented junior. Additionally, Coach Graham’s first two recruiting classes only recruited three high school offensive lineman overall (Evan Goodman and Stephon McCray in 2012 and Jack Powers in 2013).
#2 Casey Tucker, OT, Chandler Hamilton
Casey Tucker, a 6’6” 275 lbs offensive tackle out of Chandler Hamilton, displays physical dominance at the high school level from his left tackle position. Tucker has the prototypical left tackle body, and he moves well for a big man. Tucker is not afraid to get tough and nasty, and he finishes his blocks which usually leave defenders on the ground. Chandler Hamilton is one of the top programs on the West Coast, so Tucker is used to playing under pressure and against the best high school competition.
The Casey Tucker list of accolades includes the following:
- Scout.com 5 star, #4 overall rated OT
- Rivals.com 4 star, #9 overall OT, #71 in nation
- ESPN.com 4 star, ESPN150 Member, #40 overall and #1 in state of Arizona
- 247sports.com 4 star
- FanSided 150’s #67 overall ranked prospect
- Invited to the 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, but will play in Under Armour All-American Game
Tucker was an early verbal commit to USC, but he recently has re-opened up his recruiting. While USC is still in the mix for Tucker, he is reviewing all of his many options. Currently, Tucker has reported offers from Arizona State, USC, UCLA, Stanford, Washington, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Boise State, and several more major colleges.
Tucker is another program changing recruit due his physically dominant play. Offensive line coach Chris Thomsen would love to combine Tucker with another former Chandler Hamilton player, Christian Westerman beginning in 2014.
List of Class of 2014 Local Prospects: