Profile: James Trucilla
High School: Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.)
Height/weight: 6-1, 265
Ranking: Rivals 3*, ESPN 3*, 247 3*
Additional offers: Akron, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH), a few FCS schools
The skinny:
One of the more intriguing prospects in this recruiting class, Trucilla is a bit different from most of the DTs the Hoos have brought in. Trucilla is a pure masher. He's a bulldozer. He is a very good run-stopper who hasn't shown much pass-rush ability thus far.
Trucilla is, perhaps, a bit like Donta Wilkins. Wilkins was much bigger (and was recruite to play OL), but both guys profile similarly. Trucilla is stocky and likely needs to add more bulk before he sees the field. He's listed at 265 pounds, which is ok for a DT, but not ideal for a run-stopper like Trucilla. Trucilla, though, is very strong. He plays bigger than 265 pounds.
The above video is James' senior year highlights, via Hudl.
Here are his junior year highlights:
And here are some sophomore year highlights:
One of the problems with highlight videos, especially in the case of a run-stuffer DT is that you don't really get to see the dirty work. The plays when Trucilla isn't involved are as important as the plays when he makes a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. For a high-motor, leverage DT, pushing that interior OL over and over again adds up. Trucilla isn't the kind of guy who will show up on the stat sheet all that much, but he will infuriate the opposing OL. And that is what you want out of him.
At this point, DT is possibly the Hoos deepest position. With the entire 2-deep returning from last season, there is no way that Trucilla is going to see the field. This is good, because he will have a redshirt year to build up some more strength and hopefully some more quickness as well.