Fred Hives II looked like a good fit at the Mike linebacker spot in Cal Poly's scrimmage on Thursday.
Hives you may recall was a fullback last season, rushing for 221 yards and two touchdowns in six games.
But with the departure of all-everything linebacker Kyle Shotwell last season, the Mustangs needed somebody to fill the Buck Buchanan award winner’s shoes at the Mike spot.
In keeping with the tradition of moving offensive skilled position players to the defensive side of the ball, head coach Rich Ellerson approached Hives about playing the Mike position and the now former fullback jumped at the chance to play everyday.
In the scrimmage, Hives came away with a nice interception on deflected pass across the middle and returning it down the sideline for what might’ve been touchdown had the coaches not blown the play dead to prevent any unnecessary collisions.
This isn’t the first time the Mustangs have converted a running back, quarterback or wide receiver to a key defensive position. Former Cal Poly cornerback Courtney Brown (converted wide receiver), safety/cornerback Cordel Webb (converted quarterback), linebacker Adam Martinez (converted fullback who went back to running back as a senior) and cornerback Anthony Randolph (converted wide receiver) all followed the same path. Heck, even NFLers Chris Gocong and Jordan Beck made a name for themselves as offensive players at the prep level before evolving into Buchanan award winners at Cal Poly.
So who’s Cal Poly’s next Buchanan candidate? Maybe it will be Hives.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Hives gets defensive
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11 comments:
We can only hope! Great to have you back...sounds like your kayaking trip was great!
Go Poly!
Not quite sure why you would pick a guy that has never played defense in his life including high school. That's right -- even in the football media guide there is no reference to Hives ever playing defense in high school. If you want to consider the next Buchanon candidates you have to look toward Jason Relyea or Mark Restelli -- both returning defensive starters and both are preseason All-American candidates. In a year you are probably going to be able to add Ryan Shotwell to that list. It makes little sense to pick a guy who has never played defense in his life for the next Buchanon candidate.
Good to see Mark and Jason are reading the blog. ... Both are definitely the leaders of Poly's defense this season, but at this point, the Mustangs don't have a serious Buchanan candidate. The Hives comment was tongue in cheek, but he probably will be the Mustangs' leading tackler. That's just the nature of the position, which Shotwell and Beck played before him.
Brian...
I can assure you that the comment came from neither Jason or Mark. I do agree that at this point there is not serious Buck Award candidate. Also I do expect that Fred Hives will do a fine job at the mike linebacker position. In fact, the linebacker position with Hives, Relyea, Restelli, and sometimes Shotwell will be a real strength for Cal Poly football.
I am a friend of Hives, and just so you know ,"Anonymous," Fred started at strong safety in high school for three years, twice earning first team all-league honors on both sides of the ball. True he is converting to the position at a new level, but your assumption that he has no defensive experience is inaccurate.
If you read my previous comment, I did give my opinion that Fred Hives will do just fine at the mike linebacker position. Coach Ellerson also comments that Hives is an excellent football player and that he has high expectations that he will excel at his new defensive position. As for my assumptions, I have no knowledge that he played defense in high school. None of that is given in the Cal Poly Football Media Guide. How would I know that he has previous defensive experience except from your comment on the blog? I have met and spoken with Fred -- he seems like a good person and I hope that he has great success.
Interesting -- now I see that Fred Hives is listed behind Marty Mohamed on the game one press release for the Texas State this Saturday...
That was probably a misprint. Hives is listed as the game-time starter today.
Follow-up -- Fred Hives rang up ZERO tackles on Saturday !!!
Check the stats gents...Fred Hives,while not starting, is playing tremendously well. Just imagine if he were starting. One could only guess the possibilities. Anywhere from 12-15 tackles per game.... Ohh the possibilities... Gooo Mustangs
Cal Poly 56, N.Colorado 21. Hey guys, I don't know if you've noticed. Fred Hives led the defense with 12 tackles. I wonder, has he ever played defense before.If he hasn't,he'll only get better and that's scary..........tailbacks,run for your lives, ahhhhhhhh..........
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