OV season begins for the Houston Cougars today. The first set of visitors will begin making their way to campus, including Springtown linebacker Rome Ewell.
I spoke to Ewell over the weekend, and Rome had just finished helping his dad and brother lay concrete. Exactly the kind of thing you would imagine a linebacker would be doing in their spare time. Ewell said that he first heard from the Coogs because his defensive coordinator, Jason Bynum, is “real good friends” with quarterbacks coach Shawn Bell.
“(Bynum) told them about me and kind of got me hooked up from there with the recruiting process,” Ewell said. “They ended up offering me. And just kind of blown up from there, the communication and talking to the coaches.”
Ewell says he hears from Houston regularly, including a phone call with coach Willie Fritz the day before we spoke. He also talks often with Bell and UH’s defensive coordinator, Austin Armstrong. Armstrong’s style and demeanor reminded Ewell of his Springtown coaching staff.
Rome said that seeing Armstrong interact with his players is a major reason why Houston is in his Top 4. From watching Armstrong “get after” the team in practice to seeing him teach in position meetings. Ewell said, “It’s time for football, it’s time for football,” but Armstrong can also be “super nice.”
On the field
Sideline to sideline is an overused phrase when describing linebackers, but it accurately describes Ewell. He is light on his feet and doesn’t waste any motion when pursuing ball carriers across the field. He displays good short-area explosion, squaring up his target and exploding through to finish the tackle.
Ewell already has a good frame (6’1” 220) for the next level. Most of his highlight tape shows him getting downhill and disrupting plays in the backfield, showcasing his athleticism and his instincts to diagnose the flow of the play. His block destruction shows up in run defense and pass rush, at times shrugging off would-be blockers like a running back.
Ewell looks comfortable in coverage, defending the middle of the field. There isn’t a ton of film of him in coverage, but his change of direction and fluidity suggest he can handle it. Ewell has competed in the 100m, 200m, and long jump; that athleticism and speed show up on film.
Why Houston stands out
The Springtown defensive coordinator runs the same defense as the Coogs, according to Ewell. And he believes that would make his transition smoother and help him get on the field early.
“I want to see the field as soon as I get there,” Rome said. “You know, I’ve never stood on the sideline before. So I’m going to go there and most definitely try to take somebody’s spot.”
Houston’s facilities impressed Ewell. “It’s probably the best one I’ve ever seen,” he said about the new football building. Like several of the recruits I have spoken with, Ewell really enjoyed what the weight room has to offer, calling it “amazing” and “probably my favorite part.”
He hasn’t exactly nailed down a specific date for his commitment. It might be a month after his visits are done, he says.
“When home’s home, I feel like I don’t care about anything else. As long as I feel like it’s home and it’s family. As soon as I know that, I know I’m ready.”
Ewell described UH as the most authentic program he’s spoken with and that they have been “super truthful.” Although he was wearing a Michigan State shirt during our interview, he says they’re not his top school. But they are in his Top 4 along with Houston, Iowa State, and Louisville.
OV Schedule
Houston May 28-30
Louisville June 5-7
Iowa State June 12-14
Michigan State June 19-21
