Decatur, GA (Columbia) Tight End Tank Sessions commits to the Florida State Seminoles!
by Bud Elliott on Jul 29, 2009 9:47 PM EDT
in FSU Football Recruiting
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PrintJames Coley and Dexter Carter got their man. Columbia High's Tank Sessions of Decatur, Georgia, committed to the Florida State Seminoles. He is the 'Nole's 11th commitment of the 2010 class.
Vitals
Height: 6'6" (legit, I stood next to him and spoke to him a bit at Seminole Showtime)
Weight: 225
40-Yard-Dash: 4.75
Vertical: 35"
Rivals.com has Tank as a 3* (5.6) and calls him the #35 Weakside defensive end.
ESPN.com rates him a 74, which equates to a rivals 3* as well.
Tank held offers from Auburn, Ole Miss, NC State, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. The Oklahoma and Oklahoma State offers are very impressive, as those two schools really know how to evaluate tight ends.
Here's ESPN's evaluation (only the part about him playing tight end. They don't like him as a defensive end):
Sessions may be known as Tank, but he is built more like a rocket. He is a tall, lean kid who plays both tight end and defensive end in high school. He likely will be recruited for both sides of the ball. Regardless of which position he plays he will need to add bulk. He has a good frame for both, but certainly needs to keep filling out. He has good straight-line speed. Displays adequate short-area, change-of-direction skills. The better and safer fit for him we feel is at tight end where he could be a solid blocker. He comes from a Wing-T offense (they don't throw the ball much) and has experience as an in-line blocker. Displays more of a physical nature on offense. Displays the ability to come out of his stance low and generate power from his hips on contact. Needs to work on getting better hand placement, but gets hands on. He moves his feet and can create some push. His ability as a receiver is a question mark as he gets limited opportunities to catch the ball in high school. Either way a kid we feel will greatly benefit from a red-shirt.
I talked to Tank briefly when he walked off the field from Seminole Showtime. He is a legit 6'6" and looks like a basketball player. I am 6'2" and he towered over me. Tank indicated that he was having a really good time. In our recap of that event, I wrote:
TE Tank Sessions was the only decent looking tight end at the event. He has flashes but the kid is raw. He looked natural out there and Coley was all over him from what I saw and heard (didn't get to watch him much).
The reality is that Sessions is more of an athlete than a football player right now. He has just begun focusing on football in the past year. He has a lot of ability, but he is extremely raw. A blank canvas that FSU tight ends coach James Coley must mold him into a tight end, Sessions is an excellent basketball player. Notable tight ends who played basketball in their career include Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzales. FSU has not thrown the ball to its tight ends in the last decade. As a result, they are faced with a choice in recruiting tight ends. Elite prospects aren't going to choose a school that has not thrown the ball to its tight end in a decade. FSU can either get a kid who is polished but of limited talent, or a kid who is very talented and raw. They choose the latter because they have good coaches who will mold Sessions into a weapon. After FSU develops some tight ends and shows a willingness to throw them the ball, they will be able to compete for the Nation's top tight end prospects.
At 6'6", Tank is a matchup problem. He's probably too fast for a lot of linebackers, and is a mismatch for any safety. I am extremely encouraged by his willingness to block people, because most "basketball recruits" do not/ cannot/ will not block. FSU can teach Tank to run routes. I project Tank to play at 250-260lbs as an upperclassman while still maintaining his agility.
I spoke with FSU commitment Corey Miller tonight after Tank committed and he said:
That's what's up! 'Noles gettin' it done! We Stackin (the 'Noles are going to be stacked.)
Miller and (I assume) Darious Cummings will be in contact with Sessions tomorrow or very soon.
The Orlando Sentinel has some choice quotes:
"I like the atmosphere there and everything going on down there," Sessions said. "Me and the coaches get along real well. I like Coach Carter [running backs coach Dexter] and enjoy talking to him. I enjoyed working with Coach Coley [tight end coach James] during the camp. He is crazy. He is real hyperactive and energetic, I liked that."
"I am coming in as a tight end," he said. "I like defense but lately I have been working on a lot of catching and stuff and I am starting to like tight end better."
As always, refer to the 2010 Recruiting Board for all your recruiting needs!!
6 of 11 FSU recruits are on ESPNU's 150 Watch List. 9 of 11 are rated 78 or better.
Current Class
QB (optional)
RB
RB
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WR De'Joshua Johnson
WR Jarred Haggins
WR
WR (optional)
H-Back (optional)
TE Tank Sessions
OL Ed Christian
OL
OL (optional)
WDE Corey Miller
WDE/SDE
SDE/DT Tavaris Barnes
SDE/DT Darious Cummings
SDE/DT
DT/NG
DT/NG
OLB
OLB
MLB
LB Holmes Onwukaife
CB Merril Noel
CB Terrence Brooks
CB
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CB/S (optional)
S Chad Abrams
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Very happy with this commit
Though I still wish Dan Schneider would commit (he looks to be Pitt-bound), Tank looks to be a pretty good prospect. I agree with what FSUn wrote about SS, he really was the only TE who looked like he belonged on the field.
by NoleThruandThru on Jul 30, 2009 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Unexpected commitments FTW!
Though FTL for all the commit articles I’ve written that haven’t been published.
When we expecting our next big commit?
by DesiNole on Jul 29, 2009 10:14 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
With kids like this hard to say exactly where they wind up playing. Think Dan Footman was a walk-on fullback at first. At 6-6 and what 16? might be a left tackle one day. But it’d be nice to see a tight end used right for a change. I know we had a player here years ago and he wound up in the NFL from the tight end spot…..but it was so long ago I forgot the man’s name.
"I am not now at all sure that the tendency to treat the whole thing as a kind of vast game is really good - certainly not for me who find that kind of thing only too fatally attractive." - J R R Tolkein
Pat Carter, Reggie Johnson, Zeke Mowatt, Orson Mobley
all TEs from FSU that ended up playing in the big show besides Lonnie Johnson.
by Wild@Heart Nole on Jul 30, 2009 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Out of this
Vitals
Height: 6’6" (legit, I stood next to him and spoke to him a bit at Seminole Showtime)
Weight: 225
40-Yard-Dash: 4.75
Vertical: 35"
My favorite is definitely the vertical. That shows explosiveness.
The fact that Oklahoma and Ok State were after him
is a big deal for me. They use their tight ends very very well
Columbia is a lesser known school in Metro Atlanta Football...
They play in Region 5-AAA (A) which features Dunwoody HS as the traditional power. Columbia is in SW Dekalb and somewhat overshadowed by SW Dekalb HS (AAAA), a big-name program (at least in the 90s).
Last season they finished 5-5 and had some blow out wins and some blow out losses.
The competition is good, but not great. Region 1-AAA and 2-AAA are definitely the top of the class for AAA schools in GA (SW GA and Macon).
Most of the big name schools in Metro Atlanta are either classified in AAAAA or AAAA.
VERY BIG
I know GA & Texas. This kid is a GREAT pick up. There were rumors he’s be allowed to play both FB & Basketball at OSU.
Very excited, though if it makes me wonder if the kid out of San Antonio Madison is no longer on the list.
I wonder that too. Not sure to be honest.
by Bud Elliott on Jul 29, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Texas recruiting
Saw Madison last year. VEry talented team overall. But I’d prefer us sticking to FL, GA, AL & SC where were on TV more often so that recruits see the name more.
Recruiting
Seems so … Recruiting isnt easy. Especially if you’re a new coach. It takes a while to develop relationships with coaches in your particular area and to learn “how” to recruit. No matter who the name is, recruiting is part instinct, part learned skill
Well he struggled to pass the recruiting test for a while.
Doing well now though. Good for Dexter.
by Bud Elliott on Jul 29, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Surprised
I would be surprised if he didnt. Dex seems to have earned the trust of players. There is one rumored name that he’s add to the offensive staff that was floating around in Georgia, but dont know if there’s any validity to it, but might be a good fit.
Craig
Yep, Craig.
Actually there’s speculation of Patrick Nix as well in some capacity, maybe freeing up Coley perhaps. He knows the ACC and has GA (Tech) and Florida (Canes) ties.
Doesnt Matter
Ha. I’m OK with it if he say, Coaches Tight ends or something and recruits. The bottom line is, even as Head Coach Jimbo’ gonna be the offensive coordinator and call the plays.
I agree. I also think it was a bad hire philosopy wise as well. He and Shannon seemingly didnt agree on anything. Was better at Ga Tech – I would argue, better players as well.
Regardless, its Jimbo calling the plays
Point is, I think whoever is hired will have a Metro Atlanta or specific regional ties and have a prior relationship witjh Jimbo.
People in Ga say its Craig.
I thought he was okay..
their defense was garbage, but they can’t fire the head defensive guy.
by Bud Elliott on Jul 30, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh, I mean FSU can afford them for sure
Miami cannot.
FSU will have serious money freed up when Bowden and Jeff are off the books.
by Bud Elliott on Jul 30, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions
even more when CTC, Allen and MA gone too
at least North BAMA will have some new coaches.
Why is the sky blue? Because, God Loves the Infantry
Why wouldn't he?
Honestly RB Coach is one of the easier jobs, and IMO Dexter could have the best shot at getting some of the urban kids from ATL and some of the bigger metro areas in Fla than O’dell or maybe even Coley. I love Coley but he comes across as a high strung guy, while Dex looks more low key. And it would help to have kids see some of themselves in the guy recruiting them. Dexter sans training wheels might be perfect for some of the targets in the future. If there isn’t a lights out recruiter to replace him with then why let him go?
by osceolafan850 on Jul 29, 2009 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I would think
O’dell should stay in the SoGA, Bama and the panhandle. Its cool for him to go try to get others but only D-line. As for Coley him and Dex go big from Orlando and Tampa down to miami. Then Jimbo gets 4 other coaches that have great recruiting and stong coaches and give them the other areas. We need someone close to Byrns in SC and one or 2 schools in TX and So GA schools like Valdosta/ Lowuse (sp)
Why is the sky blue? Because, God Loves the Infantry
Dexter Carter
Dexter is from Georgia and he is working cheap. Why get rid of him if he is trainable? He seems to be working out also and he has a pretty good NFL resume to lay on the table in front of recruits. He is Nole also which I like.
Getting Sessions is huge. UGA is loaded at tightend they have Orson Charles and it is a pretty hard sell to try and make believe they are going to get much playing time with that arrray and also Tech is not going to be much of a threat for a good tightend in the Atlanta area because lets face it they don’t throw the ball much.
Sessions was there for the pickings.
Dexter was also one of my favorite Noles ever
He never griped about coming off the bench and when he was in there watching a gutsy 160 pounder work his way through the mastadons was fun to watch and when he got in the open you could forget it he was gone to the house. He looked like a streak of lightning going down the middle. Just the fact that San Francisco would take a small guy like that in the first round says it all and he took some back for the niners also.
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