Sheldon Rankins Commits To Louisville

by Mike Rutherford on Jan 24, 2012 9:56 PM EST in Football

For the record, this happened almost a full 24 hours before tip-off. So we're cool for tomorrow, right?

Sheldon Rankins, 6-foot-3, 255-pound defensive end from Eastside-Covington High School in Georgia committed to Louisville on Tuesday night, picking U of L over 25 other schools that offered him scholarships.

"They brought coaches in and spent time with my family," Rankins told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "I was already leaning towards Louisville. I had heard from other people that they might move me inside to defensive tackle, but they assured me that I'm their guy at defensive end. That's all I needed to hear."

Ok, if you weren't sold on this kid yet, get ready...

"I made it look like I was going to the bathroom, but I went and got this Louisville hat I had already bought. I came back out with the hat on and everybody went crazy after that."

In the history of time, there hasn't been a bad story that has started with the words "I made it look like I was going to the bathroom."

Welcome to the program, Sheldon. Please, get here as fast as you can.

Here's your newest Card in action:

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Comments

I just made it look like I was going to the bathroom...

Then I came back without my pants to celebrate! Signing Day is gonna be big!

by THE_REAL_SNOWMAN on Jan 24, 2012 10:00 PM EST via Android app reply actions 1 recs

I made it look like I was going to the bathroom

but then i sacked the QB.

by TheStranger on Jan 24, 2012 10:00 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

An important pick-up

There are rumors that two of our defensive lineman (Ivery and Sibiea) may be wavering on their commitments, so it’s good to have Rankins

by Centre24 on Jan 24, 2012 10:02 PM EST reply actions

Could the recruitment of Rankins had anything to do with their wavering I wonder?

by Carolina Cardinal on Jan 25, 2012 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

I made it look like I was going to the bathroom

Please make this a CardChronicle meme. I’m expecting it randomly placed in a post, Rutherford.

Yes, that is Mike Marra.

by TheRealSlimShady on Jan 24, 2012 10:23 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I love when I hear stories about incoming athletes that already have enthusiasim about the program

It warms the soul

by Cards86 on Jan 24, 2012 10:25 PM EST reply actions

I made it look like I was going to the bathroom

then i made him let me shoot a 3 in his face. Can’t forget the finger rolls

Yes, that is Mike Marra.

by TheRealSlimShady on Jan 24, 2012 10:27 PM EST reply actions

I actually went to the bathroom

And walked out wondering if the oline coaches in GA teach how to block. Olé and whiff.

It will be good to have Mr. Rankins size on the dline. Looks to have decent straight line speed. Needs to get his pad level down. I’m sure our coaches can help him improve. I look forward to years of bathroom jokes.

Go Cards.

by Rip Roaring Rock on Jan 24, 2012 10:40 PM EST reply actions

Dude isn't just making plays in that vid,.... he's reeking havoc

I especially like where he flattens the RB trying to block him at the 1:19 mark

Fool's names are like their faces, often seen in public places.
Follow @ChickStratino

by Chick-Stratino'sUrDaddy on Jan 24, 2012 10:41 PM EST reply actions

Hey Mike,

Is it ok to say “boner” now?

ALL HAIL

by Cardinal_Pride on Jan 24, 2012 10:54 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

Legen... wait for it......

dary

by StrictlyCARDS on Jan 24, 2012 11:08 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

+1

for the how i met your mother reference!

by RedHeadfortheRedBirds on Jan 24, 2012 11:09 PM EST up reply actions

+1

by FredoKY on Jan 25, 2012 12:19 AM EST up reply actions

No Pants

I SO NEEDED THIS. THIS IS BETTER THEN YOU ALL KNOW! HE WILL BE A STAR!

by Cardfan63 on Jan 24, 2012 11:42 PM EST reply actions

How does this affect our recruiting Rankins?

Follow @MountTrevorest

by tmjoel01 on Jan 24, 2012 11:56 PM EST reply actions

whichever one ITV is

has us at 29 now. Haven’t seen the other. Espn will probably keep us at #25 unless we get JHC or another team that’s not ranked closes really strong.

by gocardsguy on Jan 25, 2012 1:39 AM EST up reply actions

What you did there

I see it

by twistedenglish77 on Jan 25, 2012 11:11 AM EST up reply actions

The Atlanta Journal Constitution also has a story about Josh Harvey-Clemons

http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2012/01/24/josh-harvey-clemons-to-visit-miami-this-weekend/
I’m hoping we don’t lose JHC over something as trivial as travel plans.

by StrictlyCARDS on Jan 25, 2012 12:09 AM EST reply actions

We never had him.

So don’t be too disappointed.

by Jason G on Jan 25, 2012 12:12 AM EST up reply actions

So what you're saying is there's a chance

by StrictlyCARDS on Jan 25, 2012 12:23 AM EST up reply actions

haha

by Jason G on Jan 25, 2012 2:21 AM EST up reply actions

I made it look like I was going to the bathroom

And then NO PANTS

by crowder on Jan 25, 2012 12:15 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I made it look like I was going to the bathroom...

…and then I won an Orange Bowl.

"Yes very good, I'll have a bloody mary, a steak sandwich, and a steak sandwich..."

by John Cocktoastin on Jan 25, 2012 5:07 AM EST reply actions

.... and then i won a National Championship

Fixed it for ya! ; )

by BirdsWithTeeth! on Jan 25, 2012 5:25 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I made it look like I was going to the Bathroom

and then I Jumped on the Train that was rolling through…

by jbwise on Jan 25, 2012 6:00 AM EST via mobile reply actions

i feel alot better

the news of pedro sibiea looking around is alot less troubling now. i hope sibiea stays but if i could only choose one of the 2, rankins rated rated significantly higher than sibiea by rivals, scout and ESPN.

by Hawkins3403 on Jan 25, 2012 7:55 AM EST reply actions

"I made it look like I was going to the bathroom..."

So far since this post was made, I’ve refreshed CC’s top screen, oh about 10 times. (LIke usual.) And I see that phrase every time, and I grin from ear to ear. Every. Time.

by 97E3LPL on Jan 25, 2012 8:14 AM EST reply actions

Definitely love the arrows in that video.

I can never find these kids in their highlight reals.

by CtotheAtotheRtotheDtotheS on Jan 25, 2012 8:26 AM EST reply actions

I made it look like i was going to the bathroom

until I took an arrow to the knee.

by Jason G on Jan 25, 2012 9:34 AM EST reply actions

I made it look like I was going to the bathroom....

Then I beat Kensucky four years straight, won two Big East Championships, Two Big 12 Championships, and four BCS games including the National Championship! What’s for lunch?

by TNCardfan on Jan 25, 2012 9:36 AM EST reply actions

Great highlights!

I can’t wait to see this guy in a Louisville uniform.

by Jonesy on Jan 25, 2012 9:39 AM EST reply actions

I'm not sure I want to see him make it look like he's going to the bathroom

Unless it’s on a UK QB.

by guyngreen on Jan 25, 2012 10:09 AM EST up reply actions

The kid has good straight line speed and reads plays well. We all joke about the bathroom thing, but it actually shows improvisional intelligence on his part. That comes thru in that video when he reads option. That QB is looking at him to see if he should hand it off to the RB or keep it himself. This kid was able to read that and change direction into time to corale the RB at the LOS.

The video is a bit misleading. Some of those snaps, he was completely unblocked. On others he was facing kids that obviously never met a block they couldn’t whiff. But on others he did get off the block well, while still tracking the RB behind the OL that was blocking him. Great spacial awareness.

At 6’3" and 255 lbs, maybe 270 lbs when he’s a senior, I could see this kid playing with his hand in the dirt or standing up as an OLB too on passing downs. He’s going to be a versitile weapon after a redshirt year.

by JMC1 on Jan 25, 2012 10:00 AM EST reply actions

Ehhh

His lateral movement looks a bit too slow to play defensive end on a collegiate level. I can see why some teams want him to play tackle as opposed to defensive end. He still looks like a good prospect, though.

by holpcs2 on Jan 25, 2012 12:00 PM EST reply actions

I think he’ll be ok. He can play DT on 1st and 2nd down and then slide out to DE on 3rd down. That’s assuming this coaching staff keeps his weight under 290 lbs. If he’s already 255 lbs that may be difficult.

by JMC1 on Jan 25, 2012 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I suppose the coaching will help him fix his mechanics, but he’s stated that he’s picking Louisville because they’re going to play him at DE, so I don’t think he’d be happy play 1st and 2nd down at one of the tackle positions. At 6’3", I can’t see him playing DE weighing over 275…not the way Charlie Strong likes his defenses to play fast.

by holpcs2 on Jan 25, 2012 5:19 PM EST up reply actions