Bubba Starling's ESPNU Game versus St. Thomas Aquinas(KS)

Bubba Starling


6-5 and 1 inch, 200 lbs
Gardner Edgerton(KS)
Senior
GPA: 3.2
Favorite Subject: History
Ranked #112 in ESPNU 150(#6 QB)
Verbal to Nebraska(Football and baseball)
2009-10: All-State in football, basketball, and baseball

I was extremely excited to Bubba Starling after hearing some many good things about him and watching highlight videos on Youtube. Needless to say, he didn't disappoint. Bubba Starling plays the role of Tim Tebow in an Urban Meyer inspired offense by my eyes. He had 11 carries for 257 yards(23.5 ypc), and 3 touchdows at halftime on a rainy night in Kansas. His offense didn't face a 3rd down until there was 4:27 left in the 2nd quarter. On that third down, he took the ball right up the middle for a 56 yard touchdown. He finished the game with 19 carries, 310 yards, and 3 touchdowns. I'm not sure he got a carry in the 4th quarter. He only threw the ball 3 times in the game, but did have a touchdown passing.

Bubba Starling's skill set is extremely impressive. He is bursting at the seams with God-given talent. He's a three sport athlete. He's a member of the USA baseball U-18 National team. He's one of the top, if not the top high school player in the country as a baseball player. He's a consensus Top 10 MLB prospect for 2011. Keith Law of ESPN.com call him an "obnoxiously talented baseball player". And last year, he had 70 dunks as a basketball player. It's painfully obvious that he could pretty much play any sport he wanted.

But here at Cornboys, we talk football and this kid can play football. He has a reported electronically timed 4.36 40 yard dash. You can see his speed. Not necessarily because he's outrunning everyone, but because he's picking up and putting down yards at a alarming rate if you're the defense. Being 6-5. he's a long-strider and usually that's not a very good thing. Generally when you're tall and you take big, long steps you lose your change of direction and your acceleration. He hasn't. He's able to make cuts that only a 6'5 receiver might be able to make. Definitely not a Quarterback. And his burst is untouched. That's incredible to me. Once he finds a hole, he's gone. To go along with that COD ability and burst, he has very good vision and runs pretty hard. He gets tackled around his legs a lot, but that'll happen when you're that tall. I wish I could've seen him throw the ball more, but as a runner, he was great.

We'll see what he does. Will he opt for Major League Baseball or college baseball at Nebraska or will he play college football in Lincoln? You already know what I hope he does.

Bubba Starling post-game interview and highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwP9rQcfbgA

The game gets a little chippy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTvCNhC6-RE

(That number 27 made a ton of dirty plays in the game. As I went back and watched the game I swear, he was throwing cheap shots after every play. Or at least on the ones where he didn't find himself on his back after being blocked.)