Zadock Dinkelmann Orally Commits to LSU; Why the Tigers Want an 8th Grader Who Has Yet to Play Varsity Football
ByLSU has an oral commitment from a promising quarterback prospect from the middle school market, 14-year-old Zadock Dinkelmann.
According to ESPN, Dinkelmann, the nephew of Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer, made a non-binding oral agreement to attend LSU. He will not be able to sign a letter of intent until Feb. 7, 2018.
Zadock is six-foot-four and 190 pounds, but is playing behind Koy Detmer Jr., a returning starter and a top high school QB in Texas, and will not likely see the field as a freshman.
"LSU is a top program, and Zadock has liked LSU for a long time," Johan told ESPN. "What kid at his age with dreams and aspirations wouldn't commit to a program like that? It's a tremendous opportunity. It was an opportunity that we, as his parents, wouldn't let him pass up if that's what he wanted."
Zadock will have to wait a while to play a down of varsity football at Somerset Junior High School in Texas, where he is in the eight grade. Still, LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron offered the young passer a scholarship offer. Detmer played for BYU and Johan Dinkelmann, Zadock's father, played for Cincinnati.
"Obviously, Zadock has been blessed with some physical talent," said Johan. "He's big. He's tall. He's got a good arm. The fact that he has grown up in a football family where everybody he knows has either played college football, college basketball or has coached helps tremendously. It's not really an expectation because of his family, it's a given that he's going to go play college football somewhere for somebody at some time."
Detmer's father Sonny, and Zadock's grandfather, will coach LSU's latest oral commit in varsity football. Zadock is now believed to be the youngest person to orally commit to LSU in the history of the school.
LSU once offered Dylan Moses a scholarship before he started eighth grade, but he did not commit until into his freshman year of high school. Moses is set to be part of the class of 2017.
"He's going to continue to work hard, and his main focus now is leading the freshman football team," Johan Dinkelmann said of his son. "God willing, he stays healthy and continues to improve, and he'll get to live out his dream of playing for LSU, the school he loves."