Interview: 3-Star 2021 Recruit Dorian Singer Taking Talents from Minnesota to Arizona
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
As long as college football coaches have been on the recruiting trail, there has followed with it a bias against high school football talents in “smaller” states. There are outliers that dot the top recruiting rankings each season, but by and large the majority of valued five- and four-star players come from states like California, Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Arizona. When the 2020 season concludes, Class of 2021 athlete Dorian Singer hopes to have changed hearts and minds about the skill level in Minnesota.
Singer was a do-everything kind of player for Tartan High School a season ago. The 6-1, 172-pound, skill player tore it up on offense snagging 39 passes for 851 yards with 18 scores going up on the board. In the Titans secondary, he took away six passes playing safety. His efforts led to a 10-1 run for the Titans earning three-star recruiting status along the way. College coaches within Minnesota and throughout the region are aware of Singer’s abilities with 13 offers extended with more throughout the west coast about to find out.
When the 2020 season begins, Singer will suit up with Arizona powerhouse Pinnacle High School. In addition to wowing Mountain West and Pac-12 scouts, Singer hopes to prove that the talent in Minnesota is as good if not better than a top recruiting state like Arizona with the evidence being game tape and the tallied stats.
In an RNG first-look, I sat down with Singer getting the background on his junior campaign and move to Arizona with an update on his recruiting options.
Interview
Dorian, during the 2019 season you and the Titans had an amazing season going on a 10-game run. What was working for you guys allowing for the big season against 5A foes?
We were clicking together as a unit; we were buying in during practice every day.
Where did you line up in the Titans’ secondary and what were some of the coverages you were executing within the scheme?
Cover 2 and 3 was our basic coverage, and some man. I roamed the field at free safety.
When the season ended, what did you feel were the strengths to your overall game?
My strengths were being able to see the ball, making plays, and getting to the ball no matter where on the field.
On offense what scheme were you guys running?
A pro-personnel set, one tight end, two running backs, and two receivers.
What were some of the routes you were running a year ago?
Goes, digs, posts, corners, and comebacks
What were the strengths to your game on offense at the conclusion of the 2019 schedule?
My ball skills, high-pointing the ball, and not letting the ball come to me.
This offseason you transferred to Arizona powerhouse Pinnacle High School, what roles will you be taking on with the Pioneers this season?
This season I will mainly play receiver. Hopefully, I will get some time in at safety.
What offense will you guys run in 2020?
A Spread.
Which technical areas of your game on offense have you been working on the most this spring and summer on offense?
This offseason I have been working on dropping my hips more, my route running – making my routes crispier, and all the little things to make me better as a player.
What are some of the workouts you’ve been doing to add more speed, agility, and twitchiness to your play on the field?
Working with my trainer, he is a speed and agility trainer. We basically do lateral and hip movements – a lot of speed stuff. We test every two weeks on the 40 to see the progress.
What has been your best 40-yard dash time during testing?
My best time was a 4.6.
You have not yet had a chance to put the pads on against Arizona teams, but I am guessing you’ve received a pretty good taste of the skill and athleticism of the guys in the Grand Canyon State. What do you see are the differences between Minnesota and Arizona football thus far?
The differences, it is not about skill set. It is about who you know not what you know. In Minnesota, there is a lot of talent there. We are slept on in Minnesota. Arizona is a football state, they know there are football kids here. They will look at Arizona players more than Minnesota players. We have a lot of talent in Minnesota.
As for the differences, in Arizona the kids are bigger. Sometimes in Minnesota, they may not take it as serious as I do. I live football, that gets me going. Down here (AZ) there is a passion for the game, that gets me going even more.
How many schools have offered you so far?
I have 13 offers.
Singer’s Offer Sheet: Air Force, Eastern Michigan, Howard, Illinois State, Montana State, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Ohio, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, and Western Michigan
Going back to last season, did you get to take any visits?
Before the virus, I visited Minnesota and UNI (Northern Iowa).
How did the visit to the then- in-state program go?
It was pretty good. I met Coach P.J. Fleck (head coach). He talked with me, my dad, and my sister. We did a little tour of the facilities, took pictures, and put on pads and helmet.
Sounds like fun. And the UNI visit, how did that go?
It was pretty good too. My dad and I went on that one, that is when I got my offer from them. That was a solid visit.
Those visits are the best. Looking ahead, are there any visits you may take?
Definitely. When campuses open up, the ones showing the most interest I want to visit. I want to see the culture and what they are all about. Seeing the differences between programs is important. One visit for sure is North Dakota State. There are a couple others in mind, they are recruiting me for defense. North Dakota State has a great program, I want to see if it is a fit for me.
Once the season gets going, what are you wanting to showcase of your skills the most against the new competition?
I want to show that Minnesota has talent there. This season I want to show that I can go 26 hours away from home and still do what I do back in Minnesota. I am trying to help put Minnesota on the map.
To accomplish that, what goals have you set for the 2020 schedule?
For myself, I’m not an individual player, I am a team player. Whatever I can do to help my team win I will do.
Dorian, thanks for your time today and keep up the hard work this offseason.
Thank you.
Photo credit: Singer family; Dorian Singer