Overlooked 2017 Florida OLB Dylan Throneburg Grabbing Attention at Pro Football HOF Academy

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Class 8A football in the state of Florida is about as good as it gets with competition levels across the U.S. Up and down Florida’s peninsula there are top athletes working hard to be impact players at the next level with one of the unheralded in the 2017 class being Dylan Throneburg.

Throneburg took a couple of big steps forward during his junior year packing on about 30 pounds of weight, keeping his speed along the way, turning into an impact outside linebacker for Newsome High School. The Wolves struggled through a 5-5 season but their emerging standout shinned on both sides of the ball playing a tight end/hybrid H-back role on offense and a shutdown outside linebacker showing what he can do against the run and against speedy Florida receivers in the slot.

Newsome’s stats were kept but not all stats were kept. When the season finished, the Wolves 6’0”, 205 pound, linebacker had come up with 84 stops, three forced fumbles, and a double-digit tackles for a loss total. On offense, used primarily as a blocking back out of the backfield and a hand on the ground end on running plays, he still managed two receptions for nine yards.

Colleges have started to take notice with teams like Marshall, Lafayette, South Florida, and Florida International reaching out. More interest is sure to come once the 2016 season is in full swing. Another thing aiding Throneburg is being invited to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy in Canton (OH). Along with the honor of being invited, Throneburg gets to work with some of the top former NFL players and coaches the league has known. The extra tutelage along with exposure should go a long way to pushing Throneburg’s recruitment forward even more.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Throneburg after his field and classroom sessions on Monday to get an overview on his time at the academy, his 2015 season, and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Dylan, playing outside linebacker, how were you utilized with your team’s defense?

“I was not a blitzing linebacker. I played man in some nickel packages against spread teams covering their slot. This year I should be rushing the passer.”

Are you moving to the strong-side or in the middle this year?

“On defense, they are throwing me in the middle out of necessity. When we go against the teams that pass a lot, they will put me on the quicker guys in the slot.”

Is your role changing on offense as well?

“On goal line plays I will be in at running back. I can run the ball hard – I’m a very physical runner. I played a lot of tight end last year because I can block well. I showed the coaches this spring that I have hands. I am expecting more passes this year in our offense.”

What are some of the things you feel you do well as an outside linebacker?

“I consider my speed and quickness off the ball strengths. I can cover well. I can cover the slot well. I can fill a gap and hold my own against the big guys in the middle too.”

How long have you been playing at the varsity level?

“I played three JV games my freshman year and have been at the varsity level since then.”

That’s a lot of game experience at a high level. What are some of the gains you’ve made with your game over that time?

“Putting on 30 pounds of muscle has helped my strength and I got faster at the same time. My ability to cover quick guys has improved a lot.”

What are you working on during the offseason heading into your senior year?

“I’m still working on getting faster with my straightaway speed and my lateral movement as well. I’m good coming downhill.”

Which schools are recruiting you right now?

“Lafayette (D-I AA) and Marshall has been texting me. I’ve been in contact with USF (South Florida) and FIU (Florida International). West Florida has been texting me along with Florida Tech.”

Have you taken any unofficial visits?

“Yes. I went to USF. I went to their Junior Day. I’ve talked to their coaches a lot.”

Do you have any visits upcoming?

“None scheduled as of right now. Wait, I might be going to FIU on the 22nd of July. I might swing by FAU (Florida Atlantic) too.”

Have you been to any camps this summer?

“Yes sir. I went to USF in June and a Marshall and Nebraska satellite camp.”

You’re at the Pro Football HOF Academy camp this week. How did that invite come your way?

“One of the coaches contacted me on Twitter.”

What is your main motivation for attending the camp?

“My main motivation is exposure and competition. I believe I can play at a high level. Not a lot of guys go to big D-I schools from our area. I want to show that I have it and I can be one of those guys.”

How has the HOF camp gone so far?

“It has one really well. The competition is awesome. I’m getting lots of good reps, doing a lot of work in one-on-ones and in our 7v7 drills. I’m soaking up the coaching I’m receiving.”

What all have you guys learned in the classroom so far?

“We’re going over coverages and our roles in the defense. Coach Jen (Welter), she’s the first female coach in the NFL, is teaching us coverages and teaching us about our drops. We also went over hand placement during coverages.”

What are you guys doing on Tuesday?

“We have two on the field sessions and maybe a little time in the classroom. I know we are going over Cover 2 tomorrow and doing more 7v7.”

Have you done any testing at the academy?

“Yeah, and I did really well. One of the coaches said I ran well and jumped well. We have not received our scores yet. We did agility drills.”

Did you run a 40-yard dash there?

“We did not run a 40-yard dash. They are going to send us a sheet telling us how we did on our agility drills.”

Are you going to any other camps or football events coming up?

“I just got done with a 7v7 tournament. We start our team camp in about two weeks. Next week I am going to train in Atlanta with Coach Smith.”

How did your 7v7 tournament go?

“It went well. I held player only practices for our 7v7 team while our coach was on vacation. I ran the team through plays and coverages to help get us prepared for the tournament. I’ve been pushing the guys for extra lift sessions as well. Being a team captain, I have been pushing the team to work as hard as they can so we can reach our full potential this year.”

That’s great. With the extra lifting, have you maxed out in any of the football lifts this offseason?

“I have. My bench is 310, my squat is 375, my hand-clean is 265, and my dead lift is 475.”

Have you ran a 40-yard dash at any of the camps this offseason?

“I have. My best is a 4.58. I ran a 4.64 at Marshall’s camp.”

How did your school year finish up in the classroom?

“My unweighted GPA was a 3.1. My weighted was a 4.5.”

That’s great too. Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“I have taken both. I got a 1070 on the SAT and a 21 on the ACT.”

Dylan, thanks for your time today and keep up all the hard work.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Throneburg family; Dylan Throneburg at the Pro Football HOF Academy

Photo credit: heraldtribune.com; No. 44 Throneburg wraps up a Manatee ball carrier.