Appaholic
August 11th, 2011, 01:54 PM
Lanston Tanyi says that he feels like a new man, having recovered from injuries that have kept him from playing in any games since Appalachian State's quarterfinal playoff victory against Richmond in December 2009.
And Tanyi has a new position, having moved from defensive end to outside linebacker as result of the Mountaineers' shift from a 4-3 to a 3-4 alignment.
He's glad to be back, and the timing couldn't be much better.
Dale Jones, the Mountaineers' defensive coordinator, had planned to use Tanyi — who seems to be a good fit at outside linebacker as a stand-up pass rusher — in the newly installed alignment. That move has since been made more urgent with the loss of outside linebacker Justin Wray, ASU's second-leading tackler last season, who will miss this season after shoulder surgery.
Tanyi, 6-foot-2 and now up to 250 pounds, was recruited as a tight end out of Shelby High School. He made a mark as a fleet but somewhat undersized defensive end but offers outstanding size for a linebacker and, Jones said, can run as well as any linebacker he's had.
"He can really run," Jones said, "and he can cover. The guys like Marques Murrell and Jason Hunter who have been here — when they get to the next level they've been looked at as stand-up players, as outside linebackers — and Lanston is probably faster than any of those guys we've had to this point. Given his size, and his speed, (outside linebacker) fits well with him."
http://www2.journalnow.com/sports/2011/aug/11/wssport01-asus-tanyi-a-good-fit-at-linebacker-ar-1288298/
And Tanyi has a new position, having moved from defensive end to outside linebacker as result of the Mountaineers' shift from a 4-3 to a 3-4 alignment.
He's glad to be back, and the timing couldn't be much better.
Dale Jones, the Mountaineers' defensive coordinator, had planned to use Tanyi — who seems to be a good fit at outside linebacker as a stand-up pass rusher — in the newly installed alignment. That move has since been made more urgent with the loss of outside linebacker Justin Wray, ASU's second-leading tackler last season, who will miss this season after shoulder surgery.
Tanyi, 6-foot-2 and now up to 250 pounds, was recruited as a tight end out of Shelby High School. He made a mark as a fleet but somewhat undersized defensive end but offers outstanding size for a linebacker and, Jones said, can run as well as any linebacker he's had.
"He can really run," Jones said, "and he can cover. The guys like Marques Murrell and Jason Hunter who have been here — when they get to the next level they've been looked at as stand-up players, as outside linebackers — and Lanston is probably faster than any of those guys we've had to this point. Given his size, and his speed, (outside linebacker) fits well with him."
http://www2.journalnow.com/sports/2011/aug/11/wssport01-asus-tanyi-a-good-fit-at-linebacker-ar-1288298/