It will be interesting to see how he performs. It would be huge if we could get at least 5-10 plays a game out of him along with the others you mentioned. I like the fact he was a good wrestler in HS. Those guys usually do pretty well in the trenches.
This article is a couple of years old now but there are far more DII players in the NFL than most people think ...
division-ii-football-players-2017-nfl-rosters
This article is a couple of years old now but there are far more DII players in the NFL than most people think ...
division-ii-football-players-2017-nfl-rosters
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
VanValkenberg just sounds like a football name, doesn't it?
I looked up his hometown, Zeeland. It's about 5000 people, just like many Iowa towns, so he's basically a small town kid. Zeeland is about a half hour southwest of Grand Rapids, just a few miles from the east side of Lake Michigan. Hillsdale is also in the middle of nowhere so he probably didn't get recruited much.
I'm guessing his body wasn't ready for B1G football coming out of Hillsdale. I'm wondering how much Chris Doyle and staff could do for him and the strength and conditioning side no matter how hard he worked himself. it takes a while to sculpt those bodies.
It will be fun to watch.
I looked up his hometown, Zeeland. It's about 5000 people, just like many Iowa towns, so he's basically a small town kid. Zeeland is about a half hour southwest of Grand Rapids, just a few miles from the east side of Lake Michigan. Hillsdale is also in the middle of nowhere so he probably didn't get recruited much.
I'm guessing his body wasn't ready for B1G football coming out of Hillsdale. I'm wondering how much Chris Doyle and staff could do for him and the strength and conditioning side no matter how hard he worked himself. it takes a while to sculpt those bodies.
It will be fun to watch.
R
RobHowe
Guest
He looks physically ready. He's three years out of high school.
He's being tested against two of the top OTs in the conference during practice. He and coaches will find out quickly how he stacks up and what he needs to improve.
He's being tested against two of the top OTs in the conference during practice. He and coaches will find out quickly how he stacks up and what he needs to improve.
Our old HS wrestling coach used to say, "after wrestling, everything is easy". After facing off with Jackson and Wirfs in practice every day, "everything is easy".
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
I hadn't looked at his film. Pretty impressive. I know it's a huge step up in competition...but quickness, attitude, and motor all transition to the next level. He has the body too...6'4" 270 and moves like that? I have to think he's in the rotation...and will make plays. What a get if he turns out to be the real deal. He's got to be loving the facilities coming from Hillsdale.
R
RobHowe
Guest
iloveyoularrystation
Well-Known Member
I'm really high on this kid. Great get. Huge motor, and a burst. I think we'll see him in those raider packages on the inside on obvious passing downs. He takes great angles and makes quick decisions when going after the qb, and violent when he gets there. Really think this kid has something special. He's one of the guys i'm most intrigued to watch as a new face this year.
R
RobHowe
Guest
Fixed. Thanks.
AreWeThereYet
Well-Known Member
I'm hoping that Iowa jumps out to a sizable lead in it's first game so that that the backup guy's see plenty of time. On defense would especially like to see the backup defensive linemen and cornerbacks get some time.
SpiderRico
Well-Known Member
VanValkenburg is the most Wisconsin Badger name ever.....so good thing we got him! 
karras
Well-Known Member
Over the 2017/18 seasons we had some blow-outs where I wanted to see the backups play the entire second half. I really hope that can happen this season. I want to see the backup QB get an entire half to show what he can do.