'08 MA RB/DB Jordan Todman (UConn signee)

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Dartmouth (MA) Dartmouth

Ht: 5-foot-10
Wt: 165 lbs
Forty: 4.49 secs
Bench max: 280 pounds
Vertical: 38 inches

Originally Posted by Scout Bio

Todman played on both sides of the ball as a junior for Dartmouth, rushing for 2200 yards and 28 touchdowns on offense and intercepting four passes from his cornerback position. The 28 rushing touchdowns were not Todman's only scores however, as he returned three punts and two interceptions for touchdown as well. Todman was a first-team All-Scholastic and All-League member as a junior and was named the Boston Globe Division I Football Player of the Year.

He reports a 2.3 core GPA and is awaiting the results of his SAT test

Rated the #4 player in Massachusettes by Rivals.

Scout.com: East Recruiting Notebook

Jordan Todman Burst onto the recruiting scene with a standout performance at the Scout.com combine in New Jersey. He is being recruited at both running back and cornerback and while the 5-foot-10, 180-pound athlete prefers to stay on the offensive side of the ball, he is keeping an open mind to both possibilities right now. Purdue became the first program to offer him this week, however more schools are also in constant contact with this explosive athlete.

“Purdue offered and while I don’t know much about them I was impressed with the coach that came into my school and talked to me,” Todman explained. “He seemed like a very good guy and was knowledgeable. There was no specification of which position they wanted me to play, but all we talked about was running back, so I assume that is what they like me as. At this point I have been researching them a bit and know they play in a solid conference in the Big Ten. Right now I plan to take an official visit there for their game against Iowa.”

Continued...

[osugrad21]

Rivals $

Jordan discusses his offer from Purdue and interest from Penn State, Boise State and Boston College.

[GoRU]

SouthCoastToday.com: Todman's Time

11/25

He also has academic eligibility. Todman scored a 920 on his SATs (math and verbal) this fall. That figure, coupled with the required grade-point average, makes the Dartmouth senior a legitimate Division I prospect, and two schools — Purdue and Connecticut — have already offered him scholarships. Boston College, Boise State and Syracuse have also shown serious interest.

"It takes a lot of weight off my shoulders," Todman said of his academic status. "Once you qualify, it's such a relief, but you have to keep working, get your GPA higher and higher so maybe all the schools that didn't look at you because of your grades will be more interested."

...

Although some wonder if his size (5-10, 180) will inspire a college team to turn him into a defensive back, Purdue, UConn and others are wooing him as a running back, which is where Todman says he wants to play.

"Running back is kind of my position," Todman said. "It's easier for me, less thinking. God gave me that ability, the speed, the quickness and the vision to see the hole and read my blockers pretty well. I could play defense, but I think running back is where I'm more productive."

White said Todman has the skills to play in a college backfield.

"With a year of strength and conditioning in their program, there's no reason why he can't," White said. "He's one of the best blockers I've had. He's one of the best blockers I've ever seen in high school football. He knocks guys off their feet. It's amazing."

...

ON THIS DAY, Dana Cruz meets the Eagles.

Dana is at Dartmouth High this afternoon. She didn't come here for football. She came to discuss Jordan's academics.

But now she's talking football with a member of the Boston College coaching staff. It's the fall of 2006, and Chestnut Hill has come to South Dartmouth to see the standout running back who will lead Division 1 football players in scoring this season.

The coach leaves her with advice: Get a private phone number, because other coaches are going to start calling.

This coach may be the first tangible evidence that schools are building an interest in Todman. Yes, there have been letters and there will be more. Notre Dame and Penn State will write to JT. But until a member of the Eagles staff found Dana Cruz at an afternoon football practice, the family wasn't quite sure that he would be a Division I candidate.

"I figured maybe that when Jordan was starting freshman year, maybe he'd get to play some Division II ball, get a scholarship, go to college for free," Steve Cruz said. "I never thought he'd get to this level."

With college stationary jamming his mailbox, Todman starts hearing from the Internet. Web sites that specialize in college recruiting, like Scouts.com and Rivals.com, start asking questions about him. Todman starts to wonder.

"When I saw the schools showing interest and I started getting letters and I would kind of look on Scout.com, they talked to me, and (Rivals.com) and I see like some other kids getting offers and I see video of them," Todman said. "It's like 'Wow, I feel like I'm better than them. Maybe I have a chance. I can get an offer here.' But the problem was the grades. You can't go nowhere without grades."

That's when Todman says he realized something — every moment of football practice would go for naught if he failed to meet the NCAA qualifying standards.

"It flipped a switch big time," Todman said. "Because it was (a reminder of) what I could have. Going to a BC, maybe going to a UConn, maybe going to a Purdue, a Division I school to play football. It means a lot to me, so I had to do what I had to do to get there."

ON THIS DAY, Jordan Todman is letting the schools come to him.

Most of his friends are trying to get the attention of certain colleges, but Todman already has that attention. He's keenly aware that it's better to have schools chasing him than it is to chase schools.

"You can see the world's kind of run by money," Todman said. "And if you go to college, you can get a job and make money. It's a big difference. You can kind of choose what you want to do if you go to school. You can major in what you have fun doing, what you like to do."

What Todman wants to do is pursue a degree in criminal justice.

"I've always had a thing for law enforcement," Todman said. "To try to make a place better."

That said, he isn't ruling out a football career.

"I always wanted to play Division I football," Todman said. "My next goal will be to take it to the next level. If not, I graduate from a Division I college with a degree, I'll be happy with that."

[HotMic]

Scout $

12/5

By M. Alkire. Todman finished his season by putting on a show, racking up 199 tards and 2 TD's on 19 attempts, as well as a 52 yard reception. UConn, Purdue, and Northeastern have offered, while he is hearing from Louisville, Boise State, and Boston College.

[GoRU]

Scout $

12/17

UConn verbal.

[GoRU]

Pryor's visit is big news for Lions - poconorecord.com - The Pocono Record

Dartmouth, Mass., running back Jordan Todman, who is verbally committed to Connecticut, thought his chances of playing at Penn State were over, but that has changed.

"We kind of lost contact with each other, and you kind of move on, but when they came back into the picture, your opinion changes to it's just another option to consider," the two-star prospect told Blue White Illustrated.

The Nittany Lions have not offered Todman, who ran for 2,147 yards and 33 touchdowns this past season, a scholarship yet, but Kenney is trying to set up a visit with him.