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Name: Noah Furbush
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 217 lbs.
High school: Kenton (OH) Kenton
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #59
Last year: I ranked Furbush #72 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.
Furbush was listed at 6'5" and 240 lbs. coming out of high school, but both of those measurements were apparently exaggerated. Not only was Furbush below 240 lbs., he was listed last season at 210 lbs. Even at 6'4" that's considered to be prohibitively light. Aside from the weight fact, Michigan had a solid group of experienced linebackers last season that made Furbush's absence from the field palatable.
In his second year on campus, Furbush is up to a whopping 217 lbs. He has been suffering from a nagging shoulder injury since his true freshman season, and he missed this past spring with the same issue. His inability to lift seems to have kept him from adding the necessary strength, and it again appears unlikely that he will physically be able to contribute much this coming season. Recruited as a middle linebacker, he is more likely to contribute as an edge player when he does finally hit the field.
Prediction: Backup linebacker, special teamer
Furbush's weight is an interesting issue. Somewhere on the WWW there's a group picture of the 2014 recruits in the locker room. (Trivia: George Campbell is in the picture.) Furbush looks very much like a 230/240-pounder there. In later pictures at UMich, though, he looks much thinner (as he is now). Not sure what the deal is there ...
ReplyDeleteNo idea if it applies here but It's amazing how little chemical enhancements are discussed in today's big time football -- clearly they play a major role.
DeleteI remember a few years ago, there was a study by some nutritionists (I believe) looking at the reported weight gains by college football players. The conclusions were basically that unless those players are just getting super fat, they're putting on too much weight too quickly for it to not have included some form of steroid use.
DeleteBasically, the "so-and-so put on XX pounds over the off season!" is super suspect and seems to indicate rampant steroid use throughout college football.
I couldn't find it googling just now, unfortunately.
Perhaps a candidate for this mass exodus of attrition?
ReplyDelete217!?! Wow. This is the same guy everyone was sure was headed for DE?
ReplyDeleteI've had a 'nagging shoulder injury' for years, even after surgery it still isn't right. I have a bad feeling he may never contribute and eventually take a medical.
ReplyDeleteIn hindsight, when you look at the pictures and videos it seems like the 210 weight seems very reasonable. It's interesting how the erroneous/fabricated 240 listing influenced fan expectations and perspective. Suddenly everyone thought he was a powerful thumper - too big too play LB and probably destined for DE. When it came out he was playing MLB there was significant doubt and a Shallmanesque expectation that he would move positions to DE.
ReplyDeleteKind of makes you doubt the veracity of some of these opinions about incoming recruits.
The only weights I generally believe are the ones recorded at camps. For example, Daelin Hayes has weighed in at 247 and 251 lbs. at recent camps. Otherwise, if it's just listed on a recruiting site or even stated by a coach/player, there's reason to be doubtful.
DeleteBefore you make up your own facts and/or discredit the kid, perhaps you should take a look at him up close today, or wait for his official weight to come out in august. The kid is a beast.
DeleteI played football at Kenton with Noah #KFTB.. Naoh isn't a sissy he's a built machine and I got faith he will return and he will knock some heads when he plays. He's a fighter so believe in him.
ReplyDeleteI also watched Noah play High School FB. I played on the State Championship team 10 years back. He is a great H.S. FB player, but it is common knowledge that out Football team is riddled with steroid use along with the Power lifting team. I have to say that is the contributing factor to him loosing the weight. He most likely isn't on a cycle anymore due to rehab???
Delete