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The Iowa Hawkeyes have just barely put the finishing touches on their 2010 recruiting class, but they’re already hard at work on the 2011 class. Ah, the never-ending recruiting cycle of college football.
Cedar Rapids Kennedy junior Christian French said Tuesday night that Iowa officially offered him a football scholarship last weekend. It’s the second offer for French, joining one from the Iowa State Cyclones.
“Yeah, it’s exciting,” French said.
Christian French
Iowa assistant coaches Reese Morgan and Erik Campbell were at Kennedy’s basketball game against Cedar Rapids Jefferson last Friday night. The 6-foot-6 French is the Cougars’ starting center.
He played safety, running back and wide receiver this past season for the Kennedy football team, carrying the ball four times and not catching a pass. He was Kennedy’s third-leading tackler.
French said Iowa is looking at him as either a tight end or defensive end.
“I’m just keeping every door open,” French said. “I’m not making any decisions right now. I’m just keeping every door open, every opportunity (alive) – basketball and football. Right now, I’m just focused on my basketball season.”
French said he has gotten some basketball looks from Division II schools. He is attractive for coaches in both sports because of his size, long arms and ability to run.
He was asked which sport he prefers.
“Right now, it’s basketball because it’s basketball season,” he said with a smile. “I just go season by season. I love them both.”
Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Christian French (right) tackles Cedar Rapids Washington's Andre Dawson during their game at Kingston Stadium this past fall.
19 Responses to Hawkeyes offer Kennedy’s French a scholarship
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Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Christian French, Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones, prep football
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Absolutely unbelievable.
I dont know… Just because he’s 6’6″ doesnt mean he can hit. Everytime a big back like andre ran towards him it seemed like he was shying away from having to hit him. Like purposely getting blocked
This kid is such a big recruit I didn’t even know he played football. Knew he was a decent basketball player….could understand Iowa bball team taking him with how bad they are…but the football team? I guess they really do think Ferentz can teach. Just need size these days I guess…what a shame.
Some may be surprised by the offer. But what you may not know is that he didn’t even play football until his sophomore year, his development is really just two years into the sport. The upside is really high, and obviously the Iowa staff can get optimal development from these types of kids.
…and a lean 6’6 with a sub 4.4 forty is going to get D1 offers.
I’m a little surprised, but his improvement in the last couple years has been huge. The first couple times I saw him as a soph I thought he was a fish out of water, but by the end of last season he was really starting to come up and make some plays on the line of scrimmage. Who knows.
I will say I don’t see 6’6 center playing D1 basketball anywhere but Iowa.
What? must not understand anything about recruiting in the state of Iowa. We have to find recruits like this and develop them. If you need more evidence look at this years recruiting class a note the number of 5 stars on the list. More proof? Look at the job Chisik did at Iowa State. It takes a special talent to spot these types of kids and then work with them to make them into great ball players.
Sure they can teach him all those skills but they cant teach the tenacity and the want to hit. That picture is proof of it. He ‘caught’ most of his tackles. That or get trucked. Watching kennedys team, you wouldnt think there was any d1 talent. Let alone in christian
but dont get me wrong, he is a great athlete i just think basketball might be his sport and iowa isnt seeing all of his tape
Cougarfan, you are wrong christian played football long before his sophmore year, he played in tackle football for MYFA when my dad was coaching him. He didnt want to hit then, and he still doesnt want to hit now end of story
Have never seen him play, but I will trust the Hawkeye coaches to be able to evaluate talent better than the those posting comments on this site.
The best part of this story is that he’s playing more than one sport and “keeping his options open”. Whether he’s a D1 talent at either sport is yet to be determined. Too many kids “pick” one sport in the 8th or 9th grade and eliminate their chances. Given football has more scholarships to offer, I think it would be in his best educational interest to play D1 football. Assuming if the school that does sign him keeps him for 4 years. My opinion, he’s not a D1 basketball talent, but can play at the lower levels. My advice, take advantage of whatever school offers you the best deal and then work your tail off to keep the scholarship. For those fans questioning the offer from Iowa, how many of the recuits have you actually seen play? I’d bet you’d be surprised how much of the second or third level of recruits are based on physical attributes. You can’t make a kid taller or that much quicker or faster. Heart (or “want to”) is always a wildcard.
I would think the “keeping options open” is the first warning signs that he is not committed to football. Or that he doesn’t like the idea of being run over even more by bigger faster and more talented players than what is at the HS level. So he does’nt get any offers for basketball and goes to Iowa and plays football as a second choice….bad for Iowa and him. If you don’t have the heart or fire in you to play football you will fail or get injured!
‘when my dad was coaching him. He didnt want to hit then, and he still doesnt want to hit now end of story’
This statement means that you’re in the same grade and still play with him. No wonder Kennedy had some problems last year. Jealous teammates bashing a teammate on here… and people think that us at Wash had the ego problems.
come on you guys at Wash do have ego problems when it comes to football. You are assuming that the kid is in the same grade becuase his dad coached him in MYFA. Not all MYFA coaches coach their own kids and at one time MYFA had multiple grades on the same team.
French is a good kid with good grades and awesome speed and him getting D1 offers is great for CR football as a whole – if you watched him play he has improved a great deal; however, he still is not a solid hard hitting kind of guy. Everyone must know that he has not reached his potential if at the next level they can get him there he will be great.
Meathead, hitting hard has nothing to do with potential you either play that way or you don’t it is not something that is taught if Iowa feels they can change that then have at it
Thank you meathead for explaining that.
Christians actually behind me a grade. And i go to wash, im a proud warrior.
Im just saying, once he improves his tenacity and mental toughness he will be a formidable d1 prospect. I just didnt think so this soon. But he has alot of potential so i can see why though
Played tailback, wide receiver and third-leading tackler on the team.
4 carries/ WHAT!
played wide-receiver but had NO CATCHES! WHAT!
Third leading tackler on team. WHAT!
Get D-1 scholarship offer! WHAT!
Doesn’t like contact! WHAT!
Scholarship offers do not always go to the best players.
BTW: He also punted,but had no punts or average. Also, returned kickoffs but didn’t have any kicked his way, did we mention he also fills the water bottles before each game……..
unbelieveable!!!!
What is the unbelievable part of this whole story is that he did not jump all over the scholarship offer. STUPID! He will not get any D1 offers from bball. If he waits too long IU will probably read and hear everything this forum is talking about and skip him on by. Inflated ego by now will land him at kirkwood before it is all over with.
Christian has size and speed, (6’6 runs 4.4 40 yard dash) both attributes you either have or don’t have. They can’t teach that in college or the pros.
He has great upside potential, that is why Kirk and other major D1 schools will got after him. Also, they know Christian has no major HS or Junior HS football experience, they dont care, because they will teach him how to run routes, block, study plays, things that are black and white and can be learned by hard work from Christian.
Christian is smart at least a 3.0 grade average. He is has a good clean attitude and is very humble.
So all of you so called experts, just chill, be proud and help Christian when called upon. Oh by the way I’m his step dad, he will be ready for D1 I can promise you that. We have him working with experts in the football profession.
How is it not smart to wait and see what your options are?
He has long arms and the kid is fast, perfect for a DE. He isn’t just a stick out there to, he has some meat on his bones. Iowa didn’t just call him out of the blue and say here you go full ride , they have talked to him before and they like him a lot. Christan has a great opportunity and instead of bad mouthing him people should support him.