USC has a late addition for the 2015 recruiting class. The Trojans have already welcomed in punter Chris Tilbey, as he arrived this week. The San Francisco City C.C. is from Australia.
Tilbey originally tried to play tight end and punter in junior college before eventually focusing exclusively on punter. His nickname, 'The Colossus,' because he stands between 6'5 and 6'6. He is one of several Australians on San Francisco C.C.'s football team, and that's not a coincidence. There's a growing connection that has made the school an attractive landing spot for players from the country.
According to his coach, Eduardo Nunao, directional punts hurt his average and in turn his chances to be all-conference. His coach insists that he has very strong potential and is better than the broader recruiting world has realized to this point.
"I know he's dropped some 60 yarders on some people," Nunao said. "He has great height. He's very well versed on the different kinds of kicks he needs. I would think that he would continue to mature and grow, just get more work, develop as an athlete, and that he's going to get better and better. He has great leg extension. He's a big guy so he has lots of power."
Tilbey will have "four to play three," according to Nunao, which means he will have three years of eligibility and four years to fit those in, which leaves room for a redshirt year if the coaches want to give it to him.
"I'm not sure if his scholarship counts for '15 or '16," his coach continued. "The semester already started and I'm not sure how that works with the NCAA. He's a sophomore that has a redshirt year still available."
He will strictly be a punter for the Trojans.
USC spent a good deal of time learning about Tilbey and getting to know him as part of their recruiting process with him.
"They (USC) were up here before he had gone back (to Australia)," Nunao said. "And they worked him out. They saw him punt here once or twice. I can't remember; I think a couple of times. I can't remember what the situation is with the punter there at 'SC, but I guess they thought they needed another guy."
Nunao did not deal with Johnny Nansen directly himself, but it was Nansen that was most involved in dealing with Tilbey from USC's end.
USC isn't the only school that was involved, although they were by far the most prominent.
"I know Weber State was on him and then at the end I think he had a couple schools that came out and looked at him, including Washington," Nunao said.
Before the spring semester ended schools began looking at Tilbey. He then left to return to his home in Australia for the summer.
"He just got to USC, I believe this week," his coach said. "He went back home for the summer and then he was going to come back here to redshirt and wait. He was prepared to do that for the right school and then this opportunity became available so he took it."
Tilbey originally tried to play tight end and punter in junior college before eventually focusing exclusively on punter. His nickname, 'The Colossus,' because he stands between 6'5 and 6'6. He is one of several Australians on San Francisco C.C.'s football team, and that's not a coincidence. There's a growing connection that has made the school an attractive landing spot for players from the country.
According to his coach, Eduardo Nunao, directional punts hurt his average and in turn his chances to be all-conference. His coach insists that he has very strong potential and is better than the broader recruiting world has realized to this point.
"I know he's dropped some 60 yarders on some people," Nunao said. "He has great height. He's very well versed on the different kinds of kicks he needs. I would think that he would continue to mature and grow, just get more work, develop as an athlete, and that he's going to get better and better. He has great leg extension. He's a big guy so he has lots of power."
Tilbey will have "four to play three," according to Nunao, which means he will have three years of eligibility and four years to fit those in, which leaves room for a redshirt year if the coaches want to give it to him.
"I'm not sure if his scholarship counts for '15 or '16," his coach continued. "The semester already started and I'm not sure how that works with the NCAA. He's a sophomore that has a redshirt year still available."
He will strictly be a punter for the Trojans.
USC spent a good deal of time learning about Tilbey and getting to know him as part of their recruiting process with him.
"They (USC) were up here before he had gone back (to Australia)," Nunao said. "And they worked him out. They saw him punt here once or twice. I can't remember; I think a couple of times. I can't remember what the situation is with the punter there at 'SC, but I guess they thought they needed another guy."
Nunao did not deal with Johnny Nansen directly himself, but it was Nansen that was most involved in dealing with Tilbey from USC's end.
USC isn't the only school that was involved, although they were by far the most prominent.
"I know Weber State was on him and then at the end I think he had a couple schools that came out and looked at him, including Washington," Nunao said.
Before the spring semester ended schools began looking at Tilbey. He then left to return to his home in Australia for the summer.
"He just got to USC, I believe this week," his coach said. "He went back home for the summer and then he was going to come back here to redshirt and wait. He was prepared to do that for the right school and then this opportunity became available so he took it."
