FB seems to be a position they really want to emphasize going forward. Vitale is talented, but seems a bit injury prone.
We can upgrade, and it might not even cost us a draft pick.
A kid I am very familiar with because I've been watching him play since HS is Fresno State RB/FB Josh Hokit. Not a lot of highlights on him due to the fact not a lot of people considered him an NFL prospect, but he is based on athleticism alone.
His career at Fresno was really mis-managed. He was a walk-on because the old staff pre Jeff Tedford didn't like him...largely because he played 5 different positions in HS...QB/RB/OLB/ILB/SS
He signed a wrestling scholarship with Drexel (3 time state champion wrestler at 190lbs) but when Fresno State added wrestling he decided to stay home and do both.
The old staff started him at LB but because of piss poor recruiting had no choice but to move him to RB his true freshman year and the kid shined. He was the lone bright spot in a 1-11 season. 2017, his sophomore season, he was a workhorse at RB and kept his weight about 205-210 because he was going to wrestle at 190 right after football season. He is naturally more of a 235-245lbs kid. Junior year, 2018 he continued his strong campaign at RB, and then transitioned to wrestling with no problems. In fact, ended up becoming an All American, finishing 5th at 190lbs in NCAA tournament. Coaches had plans to let him go up to 240lbs, redshirt 2019, and transition to MLB to help his NFL prospects. He also decided to move up to heavyweight class for wrestling. But once again, injuries forced a bad decision for his NFL future, and the coaches asked him to play RB for us in 2019...which he did willingly...although this time he was up to 240lbs and so he quickly cut weight and played most of the season at 225lbs. Now he's back up to 240, wrestling very well. Last person to ever do both at a high level at Fresno was Lorenzo Neal. Hokit doesn't have the speed Neal had, but is fast enough. He also has better hands than Neal.
Best part about him...he has never missed a game in HS or college for injury. He is an absolute battering ram. I feel like if he gets in an NFL strength and nutrition program he's going to flourish. Mike Alstott comes to mind when I watch him.
