Linebacker Recruit Nick Ramirez To Visit Kansas State Campus
By Dave Thoman
Scott Sewell-US PRESSWIRE
The Writing Illini recently announced that four star linebacker recruit Nick Ramirez is set to visit K-State’s campus today, and will take in the festivities surrounding a campus gearing up to host Texas with a Fiesta Bowl bid on the line. Ramirez, of Lee’s Summit West (MO), reopened his recruitment on Tuesday after initially committing to the Missouri Tigers back in April. The 6’2″, 225 pound recruit would be a welcome addition to a unit losing senior Arthur Brown, who is expected to go in the second or third round of the NFL draft. Additionally, do-everything starters Jared Tuggle and Jarell Childs are seniors headed out the door this spring. The Wildcats are set to lose three additional senior linebackers as well, making any linebacker a welcome one.
The four stars next to Ramirez’s name give a boost to a recruiting class unlisted among anyone’s top 40. Ramirez has reportedly expressed interest in three schools – K-State, Missouri, and Purdue – although something has obviously occurred to make him rethink one of those options. Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska have also extended him offers.
Here’s the SBNation recruiting report on Ramirez:
He moves well enough that West plays him outside at times matched up on inside receivers. When he arrives at his destination, he does so with bad intentions — though he doesn’t often wrap up, Ramirez has the flexibility to sink his hips and, occasionally, the technique to wrap and keep driving his feet to finish tackles. There are few things better in football than a pure form tackle accompanying a major initial collision. Of course, many of the hits from Ramirez are still worthy of the best highlight reel but run the risk of missed tackles at the next level.
The reported 40 time actually looks reasonably legitimate on film, as Ramirez closes on the football and often with no wasted steps. His first step is impressive coming off the edge or filling an inside gap, and he has the feet to alter his angle in the hole to track down quarterbacks and ballcarriers.