A buddy ran into DJ Fluker in Foley the other day...

Proxigean Tide

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Oct 13, 1999
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DJ Fluker was playing pick-up basketball the other day at a local gym in Foley and a buddy had his young (6 & 10 yr old) kids there too. He said this young man is incredibly large and when he shook kis hand, DJ's fingers extended well past his wrist and onto his lower forearm.

My friend then felt DJ slide his hand back so the handshake felt more normal. When he asked about the difficulty, DJ responded "I have to be kinda careful when shaking hands with normal-sized people because I can accidentally lift them up at the shoulder".

At 6'6" 327, DJ is definately huge, but my friend asked his shoe size and he said it was a size 22...which has me thinking he isn't done growing yet. Noting how agile and quick he was for a big man, my buddy asked his 40 time and he said 4.9. Also of note, DJ was seen dunking the basketball often during the pick-up game.

Lastly, my friend reported he was really kind, friendly and generous with his time to the kids who were just fascinated by this seeming giant in their midst. He sounds like an outstanding athlete and person...very glad he selected Bama early because he would've drawn a bunch of competing offers. RTR.
 

Crimson Hawk

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DJ Fluker was playing pick-up basketball the other day at a local gym in Foley and a buddy had his young (6 & 10 yr old) kids there too. He said this young man is incredibly large and when he shook kis hand, DJ's fingers extended well past his wrist and onto his lower forearm.

My friend then felt DJ slide his hand back so the handshake felt more normal. When he asked about the difficulty, DJ responded "I have to be kinda careful when shaking hands with normal-sized people because I can accidentally lift them up at the shoulder".

At 6'6" 327, DJ is definately huge, but my friend asked his shoe size and he said it was a size 22...which has me thinking he isn't done growing yet. Noting how agile and quick he was for a big man, my buddy asked his 40 time and he said 4.9. Also of note, DJ was seen dunking the basketball often during the pick-up game.

Lastly, my friend reported he was really kind, friendly and generous with his time to the kids who were just fascinated by this seeming giant in their midst. He sounds like an outstanding athlete and person...very glad he selected Bama early because he would've drawn a bunch of competing offers. RTR.
In an earlier article, DJ said his Doctor told him he could end up around 6'9"...........or more.
 

BigEasyTider

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This kid just gets more unreal by the day.

I mean he could very well end up 6'9 and 330 pounds, and pretty athletic too. In a lot of ways, I really want to see him on the offensive line more so than defensive tackle. He'll have more pad level problems on the defensive line, I believe.

If he keeps growing, though, that kid is going to kill someone before all is said and done.
 

AlexanderFan

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With the proper determination and application of the S&C program here at Alabama he would literally be unstoppable. With a 4.9 40?!? and. his size he could single handedly cave in one side of an offensive line. With his incredible height at NG throwing over the middle just became far more difficult than before. DJ Fluker's picture belongs in the dictionary beside the word, " potential". I'm very excited about the possibility of having someone his size manning the NG position for Alabama.
 

Bamabuzzard

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His size appears impressive on paper but at 6'6" and "still growing" may not be a positive thing. Someone already mentioned it but pad level is going to be a problem with this kid no matter which side of the ball he plays. "Shorter" defensive/offensive linemen, depending on which side he ends up will have an automatic leverage advantage on him unless he can truly master "staying low". But in many cases him staying low won't be enough against a player that is four inches shorter and "staying low" himself.

Aaron Gibson comes to mind when I see a kid this young and already this size. Being "big" can be a good thing but being "giant" can be bad.
 

Tider@GW_Law

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His size appears impressive on paper but at 6'6" and "still growing" may not be a positive thing. Someone already mentioned it but pad level is going to be a problem with this kid no matter which side of the ball he plays. "Shorter" defensive/offensive linemen, depending on which side he ends up will have an automatic leverage advantage on him unless he can truly master "staying low". But in many cases him staying low won't be enough against a player that is four inches shorter and "staying low" himself.

Aaron Gibson comes to mind when I see a kid this young and already this size. Being "big" can be a good thing but being "giant" can be bad.
Yeah, being "giant" can also be a serious problem when it comes to injuries and stamina. That kind of size can put a lot of stress on joints over a college career.
 

Proxigean Tide

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His size appears impressive on paper but at 6'6" and "still growing" may not be a positive thing. Someone already mentioned it but pad level is going to be a problem with this kid no matter which side of the ball he plays. "Shorter" defensive/offensive linemen, depending on which side he ends up will have an automatic leverage advantage on him unless he can truly master "staying low". But in many cases him staying low won't be enough against a player that is four inches shorter and "staying low" himself.

Aaron Gibson comes to mind when I see a kid this young and already this size. Being "big" can be a good thing but being "giant" can be bad.
Some NFL GMs disagree with your opinion about height being detrimental to offensive lineman:

In physical appearance and conditioning, Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese says, this offensive line crop is as impressive as any in a dozen years. "Historically, we've seen the jelly-belly kind of guys that weigh a lot and aren't real tall," Reese says. "This group is just outstanding. You're talking about guys that are tall and lean yet weighing 320, 330. They're athletic. They can move. So I would guess the quality from top to bottom is going to be as good as it's been for quite a while. Let's hope this is an indication of more to come."...

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2005draft/2005-04-14-offensive-linemen_x.htm

Personally, I think Saban recruits NFL prototype-sized players at all positions.
 

Bamabuzzard

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Some NFL GMs disagree with your opinion about height being detrimental to offensive lineman:
Which is probably why they don't call me for my opinion. I'm just saying the risk and possibility of this being a problem is real. The kid is already 6'6 at what 17-18 yrs old with doctors telling him he'll probably grow another three inches. So at 6'6 or 6'9 (either one you want to pick) one of his inherent obstacles is going to keep shorter linemen from getting under his pads and driving him. I didn't say he couldn't over come it I just said the risk is there and he's going to have to learn (if he hasn't already) how to combat it. But make no mistake about it, there will SEC players that are shorter in height but equivalent in power that's going to give him all he wants whether he plays the D-Line or O-Line.
 

cmmiller711

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Two words guys. Jon Henderson. 6'7" 325 lb DT for the Jacksonville Jaguars. You absolutely HAVE to double team someone that big at the college level. Henderson has shown that an interior lineman that big can dominate in the NFL too.
 

Proxigean Tide

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Which is probably why they don't call me for my opinion. I'm just saying the risk and possibility of this being a problem is real. The kid is already 6'6 at what 17-18 yrs old with doctors telling him he'll probably grow another three inches. So at 6'6 or 6'9 (either one you want to pick) one of his inherent obstacles is going to keep shorter linemen from getting under his pads and driving him. I didn't say he couldn't over come it I just said the risk is there and he's going to have to learn (if he hasn't already) how to combat it. But make no mistake about it, there will SEC players that are shorter in height but equivalent in power that's going to give him all he wants whether he plays the D-Line or O-Line.
I wasn't trying to dispute your opinion or give you a hard time. I don't know much about offensive lineman, but my gut told me the trend is toward taller offensive lineman who can carry 320-325 pounds and still remain fast and athletic. Taller guys also have longer arms, which seems to help control rushers by keeping them further from your body. I was just trying to find out if this were true. Of note: One of the last Bama lineman to make it in the NFL was pretty big and tall -

http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=31280

Now, if Fuker ends up playing defensive tackle, hieght could be a real issue as most successful DTs seem to be between 6-2 and 6-4:

http://www.thefootballexpert.com/dtrankings2008.html

Thats why I think Fluker ends up playing along the offensive line. He seems to have the perfect build for it. RTR.
 

Proxigean Tide

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I almost wonder - if he can get to 6'9" and run a 4.9 40, if he has any hands at all if we wouldn't see him as a TE.
His hands make a regulation football look like one of those minature souvineer balls! :) Of note: NE Patriots have used Wesley Britt (about same size as Fluker will soon become) as a TE. RTR.
 

XXL TideFan

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Anybody remember this guy?

Ed Lee "Too Tall" Jones (born February 23, 1951 in Jackson, Tennessee) was an American football player in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. By the end of his 15 years with the Cowboys, he was officially credited with 57 quarterback sacks. Unofficially, his career sack total is 106 (sacks did not become an official NFL statistic until 1982).[1] His highest single-season sack total was 13 (in 1985). He was a member of the famed "Doomsday Defense" squad of the 1970s. He was given the nickname "Too Tall" because of his height, 6'9" (206 cm).
 

bamabake

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His size appears impressive on paper but at 6'6" and "still growing" may not be a positive thing. Someone already mentioned it but pad level is going to be a problem with this kid no matter which side of the ball he plays. "Shorter" defensive/offensive linemen, depending on which side he ends up will have an automatic leverage advantage on him unless he can truly master "staying low". But in many cases him staying low won't be enough against a player that is four inches shorter and "staying low" himself.

Aaron Gibson comes to mind when I see a kid this young and already this size. Being "big" can be a good thing but being "giant" can be bad.
Buzz hasnt Texas had some linemen in the recent past * maybe current roster ) that are large like this kid? The two or three I see in my minds eye dont seem to have much trouble. Perhaps they are not 6'9
 

Bamabuzzard

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Buzz hasnt Texas had some linemen in the recent past * maybe current roster ) that are large like this kid? The two or three I see in my minds eye dont seem to have much trouble. Perhaps they are not 6'9
I guess my point is we're getting all excited and thinking JUST BECAUSE he's this monster size that he's going to dominate and that's not the case. I'm just pointing out that being 6'6 or 6'9 doesn't mean automatic success or domination. But rather that kind of size can also cause problems if he doesn't watch it. Having that kind of height and long arms is great but he's still going to have to deal with lineman that are shorter and have a better angle to get lower than he does. All that size doesn't mean one hill of beans if another guy that is shorter and even close to as powerful can get under your pads.

Again, I'm not saying he won't succeed but he's not automatic All American either just because he's that size.
 

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