Is Isham The Future?

Nick Isham, Josh Robinson, Ty Hook, and Dirk Tanner all help out in areas of need for Louisiana Tech.

When Sonny Dykes was hired a little over one year ago, he brought a totally new offensive philosophy with him. Since Dykes and Offensive Coordinator Tony Franklin installed the new offense, Tech fans have been looking for the next great quarterback to wear the red and blue. Several signal callers auditioned for the role last season before Dykes ultimately went back to senior Ross Jenkins. Two players who got their chance last season, Colby Cameron and Tarik Hakmi, both return in 2011. Taylor Burch, a quarterback out of Neville High School in Monroe, signed last year. Will it be Burch who steps up and takes control of the quarterback race this spring? Will it be Cameron or Hakmi now that they both have seen a little live action and know more about what to expect? Maybe newcomer Zach Griffith will impress the staff after spending a year at Fullerton College in California? No matter who has the best spring, Nick Isham from Westlake, California will figure into the quarterback mix in the near future. Boasting a 73% completion mark, Isham has the accuracy to keep drives alive. He threw for just short of 3,000 yards in 2010 while accounting for 39 touchdowns. Isham protects the all as well; he threw just 10 total interceptions over his junior and senior seasons combined. Isham threw for 64 touchdowns in that same time frame. A second target for this class was defensive tackle. Dirk Tanner from Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, AR was one of Tech’s first commitments. Tanner had offers from Kansas, Rice, and Tulsa among others. His commitment showed the Bulldogs could and would recruit the region’s top defensive tackles. With Solomon Randle and Adrien Cole each entering their fourth years in Ruston, middle linebacker is a position that needed a young player waiting in the wings. Ty Hook from Denton Ryan could be that player. Like Kevin Kisseberth a year ago, Hook played multiple positions in high school and he played a lot at defensive end. Now Kisseberth and Hook are middle linebacker prospects for Bulldog Head Coach Sonny Dykes. Hook has the lateral quickness and tackling ability to be a good middle linebacker. Offensive Line was major target for Louisiana Tech this year. Josh Robinson was Tech’s first commitment. The 6’4” 275 pound lineman out of Lancaster, TX can play either guard or tackle. Robinson had offers from Minnesota and UTEP and Houston made a late push for his services. Robinson is the second prospect in as many years to sign with the Bulldogs after Kendall Hayes signed last year. Vontarrius Dora has grown into a big defensive end prospect. Dora now measures nearly 6’4” 240 and helped lead West Point High School to two straight Mississippi 5A State Championships. Defensive Line Coach Stan Eggen looked all year for a big play defensive end and he found one on Dora. Louisiana Tech continues to find skill players in California and they remain a presence in East Texas as well as the Metroplex. Tech I also making inroads into Arkansas and Mississippi. Tech had not signed a high school player from either state since 2008 when they signed Cruz Williams from Little Rock, AR and Michael Lacy from Gulfport, MS.