'09 PA QB Tom Savage (Rutgers Verbal)

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Springfield (PA) Cardinal O'Hara

Ht: 6-foot-3.5
Wt: 217 lbs
Forty: 4.91 secs
Vertical: 27.5 inches

One of the nation's premier quarterback prospects for the Class of 2009. He threw for 1,500 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a sophomore.

ESPN

Savage is a big, thick pocket passer that happens to be a very good, underrated athlete and runner. He has a huge arm to be able to place the ball into tight spots and also stretch the field-- can make any throw. Has good height and terrific arm strength. He has good quickness for his size and shows a quick set up and balance. He sees the field well and shows the ability to make progression reads. Has very good zip on his deep out route. Will get "hot" as a passer and can really pick apart a defense. Shows the ability to fit the ball into tight spots downfield that a lot of QB's are not able to hit. Throws a very good deep ball. Shows touch and timing as a passer. Is excellent in the short passing game. Does a terrific job of getting rid of the ball right away. When his feet are set and he's decisive, he can be excellent as a pocket passer with good overall mechanics and consistency. Throws well across his body and has good accuracy and zip when throwing on the move. He has good ball skills and does a nice job of selling playfakes-- good ball handler. While Savage can do all sorts of things in terms of tools, at times it may not be pretty. He has a hitch in his delivery much like Kerry Collins-- cocks back and whips the motion around. Sometimes he does not appear to have great ball control and ball will flutter especially downfield. However, when he unleashes the ball, he shows power much in the same way Matthew Stafford did his senior year. His ability to buy time, escape the pocket and run with the ball make him dangerous because he looks like a pocket guy in terms of stature. He is a load to tackle as well. Overall, Savage can make the throws, has great size and should really blossom as he develops and matures with his throwing mechanics. Excellent prospect.

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Free Scout

8/2

Free photos from the Xtreme Xposure by Lichtenfels.

FYI, his numbers from the NIKE State College camp were:

Ht: 6-foot-3 (Event)
Wt: 231 lbs
Forty: 4.75 secs

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Free Rivals

8/7

By Farrell..."really" likes Miami, Florida and Rutgers and is also looking at PSU and Michigan.

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9/4

By Alkire...has been told offers are in the mail from Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, North Carolina State, Minnesota and Syracuse. Rutgers has also offered. Will be at PSU with Mark Wedderburn and Je'Ron Stokes for the ND game.

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9/18

From BWI...talks about what he is looking for in a school, his visit to PSU last weekend and why PSU will always be at or near the top of his list. Also mentions talking to Michigan, Rutgers, Iowa, Florida and Miami recently.

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10/4

From the Rutgers site...talks about his team's start to the season. Savage and teammate Mark Wederburn went to the Rutgers game last weekend and are considering going to the Rutgers/UC game.

[GoRU]

High Schools - O'Hara QB Savage ranks among nation's best | Philadelphia Daily News | 01/11/2008

Savage is looking at Rutgers, Georgia, Florida, Ohio State and UCLA. He already has received offers from Rutgers, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.

"I've been to Rutgers and they're definitely in the mix, and they'll definitely be in my top five; I really like them, but I also like Georgia and Florida," Savage said. "If I really like a school, I would make an early decision, then focus on the season. My brother Brian made an early decision [to Wisconsin], but it didn't work out too well for him. Me and my family have learned the business of recruiting."

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1/15

From the Rutgers site. Rutgers, NC State, Miami, Louisville, Michigan, Iowa, Syracuse, Pitt, Georgia, and Florida have all offered Savage. he says that at this time Rutgers, Iowa, NC State and Miami have been recruiting him the hardest. Academics will be improtant to Tom, who said he will have a top five by spring.

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1/17

Talks about his visit this week with Coach Bobo of UGA and talks at length about his interest in the Bulldogs. Visiting Rutgers this weekend and plans to visit Miami, Florida and possibly others this spring.

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1/22

From the State University of New Jersey site...recaps his junior day visit to Rutgers, which seems to have gone very well.

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1/30

From IrishIllustrated...talks about the injury he suffered last season and talks about his contact with the ND staff. Says he really likes Georgia and Florida.

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2/5

By M. Alkire. Penn State and Stanford have offered.

[GoRU]

Recruiters' radar set for Class of 2009 | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/07/2008

A lot of big-name coaches have been spotted recently at Cardinal O'Hara. Rutgers' Greg Schiano, Illinois' Ron Zook and Louisville's Steve Kragthorpe, to name a few, have visited Springfield, Delaware County.

"It's pretty cool," Savage said. "One of the nice things about it is that a lot of these coaches also get introduced to my teammates. I think we have a lot of hidden talent on this team. I think it would be great if it got noticed."

After Savage won MVP honors at the U.S. Army All-American Combine, he received handwritten congratulatory letters from coaches at Clemson and North Carolina.

At the start of this week, Savage, 17, had scholarship offers from Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, North Carolina State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse.

"I want to visit as many colleges as I can," Savage said. "I don't want to make a decision without first seeing what's out there."

The plan, said Cardinal O'Hara coach Danny Algeo, is to have a list trimmed to five favorites by Memorial Day. By mid-August, Savage could be ready to make a nonbinding oral commitment to one of his suitors.

Savage, who expects to visit Georgia in April, will lean on Algeo, parents Tom and Linda, and brother Bryan during the process.

Bryan Savage starred as a quarterback at the Haverford School. He accepted a scholarship from Wisconsin but did not stay long with the Badgers. "They had a coaching change, and things went downhill from there," Tom Savage said.

Once a top-flight recruit, Bryan Savage, now playing for Division I-AA Hofstra, gives his younger brother advice on how to best handle being a highly sought-after prospect.

Said Tom Savage: "One of the big things he tells me is take football out of the equation. He says to ask myself, 'If you couldn't play football here, would you still want to go to school here?' "