What I wrote about him in 2019:blueandgoldblitz wrote: ↑Mon Jan 01, 2024 3:21 pmIn your opinion, and with the benefit of hindsight, what do you think the coaches got wrong, if anything, about the evaluation for Wehr to put him as a DL to start his career? And why do you think they switched him to OL and watched him absolutely take off? I'm not looking for any dirt. Just curious as to how the evaluation process goes and how they missed him (initially) as an OL?VimSince03 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 5:53 pmcoloradocat wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 5:04 pmWho won 2018 and 2019 (the first two Bobbi 2.0 years and the last two Choate years)?
12.) Marcus Wehr (Billings Central) - DE/DL - 6’3”, 220 lbs. (Montana State)
I bolded my review that actually translates to why he is an All-American offensive lineman. Simply put, Marcus plays violent but in control which means he doesn't sacrifice his technique to get after people. He is so so good playing with a great pad level and base from the ground up.12.) Marcus Wehr – Billings Central (6’3”, 220 lbs.)
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• MSU signee – DE
• 2x Class A All-State - OL/DE
• 2018 1st Team All-USA Today Montana – DL
• 2017 2nd Team All-USA Today Montana – OL
• 2018 GFT Super-State – DL
• 2018 Badlands selection - DL
• 2018 Shrine Game selection – OG
• 46 total tackles (38 solo); 5 sacks; 15 TFLs (senior year)
• Had 7 solo tackles, 3 sacks, and 4 TFLs vs. Fergus his senior year
• 2018 State Track Qualifier – Shot Put
• 1st ranked DE; 4th ranked exterior OL
On Wehr: Marcus passes the eyeball test for a DE/DL prospect due to his height, weight, and build. He has a long, lean, muscular frame despite weighing around 230 lbs. Marcus was a major piece to Billings Central’s dominant 2018 campaign that ended with yet another State A title for the Rams. He develops an explosive burst out of his stance that translates to power and lateral agility that is hard to contain. Marcus plays with a good level which makes him even tougher to block. He attacks with his pads square to the line of scrimmage and displays a wide, balanced base. Marcus can sink his hips and create quick arm extension at the point of attack. He plays with violent hands and can physically displace offensive lineman if their footwork/base is spotty (go to :55 in highlight film for example). His point-of-attack technique allows him to set the edge, find the ball, and spot play-action quickly. Marcus consistently plays with good football awareness and intelligence. His lateral quickness is underrated and allows him to disrupt plays at the line of scrimmage at a high rate. After displacing blockers, Marcus does a good job of finding himself in tackle-ready position and his long, strong arms bring down ballcarriers with ease. He rarely gets bullied at the point of attack due to his strong core and sturdy base. For pass-rush moves, Marcus mostly goes with a bull-rush but has a nice punch/rip move to counter. When he does get locked up on a pass-rush, he shows the awareness and ability to knock down balls in the air. On top of every other trait, Marcus has an excellent motor and it takes him to plays that other will quit on. His change of direction talent and consistent effort allows him to stretch out plays and hound quarterbacks consistently. There are a few areas for improvement. Marcus is more a max effort/physical-at-the-point-of-attack defender than twitched-up pass-rusher. He’s missing that plus athleticism and bend that make quality pass-rushers in college. Marcus shows a tendency to play top-heavy when he gets into the backfield and will overrun plays at times. He puts a lot of effort into defeating blocks at the line of scrimmage so he will just have to fight to stay more in control when getting into the backfield. I was also surprised Marcus didn’t have more sack production in high school but there were other factors likely working against him (scheme, double-teams, Eastern A style of football, etc.). He will likely never become a big-time edge rusher at MSU. However, he may never have to as he will carry an imposing frame once he adds more mass/muscle and will likely fit as either a strong-side defensive end or 3-Tech defensive tackle in the Bobcats’ scheme. Marcus has the chance to become a starter early in his career because of each trait described above. He is a very consistent competitor and plays with a violent edge (in a good way) that’s required along the defensive line to succeed in college. I would not at all be surprised if Marcus turns out to be the most productive player in this class at the next level. He has every tangible/intangible trait college coaches want in a stong-side DE.
I broke out his weaknesses as a defensive line prospect as follows:
My final thoughts:- more a max effort/physical-at-the-point-of-attack defender than twitched-up pass-rusher
- missing that plus athleticism and bend that make quality pass-rushers in college
- shows a tendency to play top-heavy when he gets into the backfield and will overrun plays at times
- He puts a lot of effort into defeating blocks at the line of scrimmage so he will just have to fight to stay more in control when getting into the backfield
- surprised Marcus didn’t have more sack production in high school but there were other factors likely working against him (scheme, double-teams, Eastern A style of football, etc.)
- will likely never become a big-time edge rusher at MSU
I envisioned how he would be fitting into Choate's defensive scheme and was thinking Tyrone Fa'anono as a big, powerful strong-side end. But his weaknesses as a DE prospect were not necessarily weaknesses for an OL prospect...sometimes the opposite. I was viewing his lack of pass rush ability as a weaknesses but that 100% doesn't matter as an OL prospect. Really it came down to the player here and what he wanted his legacy to be. Vigen challenged him by saying he wouldn't be a great fit as a DL for the Cats but he could arguably push for a starting spot on the OL if he bought in to the adjustment necessary to add the weight. Marcus knocked it out of the park by earning a starting spot coming out of spring ball within 6 months of his position switch. Takes a special type of player to buy-in like Marcus has to rerouting his career and we now have a 1st-Team All American on the OL because of it.- may never have to as he will carry an imposing frame once he adds more mass/muscle and will likely fit as either a strong-side defensive end or 3-Tech defensive tackle in the Bobcats’ scheme
- has the chance to become a starter early in his career because of each trait described above
- very consistent competitor and plays with a violent edge (in a good way) that’s required along the defensive line to succeed in college
- would not at all be surprised if Marcus turns out to be the most productive player in this class at the next level
- He has every tangible/intangible trait college coaches want in a strong-side DE