Watch out Keith Williams and Trent Bray, Mike Cavanaugh is starting to make his move on the recruiting trail. Cavanaugh reeled in his third offensive linemen commit of the 2017 cycle on Friday, as IMG Academy guard Broc Bando officially committed to the Cornhuskers. The 6-5, 280-pound Bando originally lived in Lincoln until his junior season, when he transferred to IMG Academy, arguably the premier football school in the nation. Last season, Bando played significant snaps at guard for the Ascenders, helping them average more than 42 points per game during an undefeated 2015 season.
Who Else Was Interested?
Bando took a gamble on himself prior to his junior season, transferring from Lincoln Southwest to IMG Academy in order to focus solely on football and gain some exposure at the national level. Looks like that gamble has paid off. Bando has six FBS offers currently. While offers from Louisville, Mississippi State and Georgia all caught Bando’s attention, it still seemed like it was just a matter of time before he committed to Nebraska after receiving an offer from the Huskers on April 6.
Eye Test
Bando measures in at 6-5 and 280 pounds. He fits the current mold that Cavanugh is recruiting, as he has a very similar body type to fellow 2017 commits Brenden Jaimes and Matt Sichterman. Bando is a lean and athletic lineman, as he possesses long arms and has plenty of room to fill out his upper body as he matures. Bando will definitely need a redshirt season in order to fill out his frame, but when he is finished filling out I expect him to measure in at 6-5 and in the low 300 pound range.
http://www.hudl.com/video/3/3876821/5721e21664e96b63802f1370
Strengths
1. His versatility. Bando is one of those valuable swing linemen, meaning that he could play every position on the offensive line except center if needed. Bando currently plays guard at IMG Academy and projects best at guard in Cavanaugh’s scheme at Nebraska. But Bando also has the frame and foot quickness to play offensive tackle if necessary. This versatility makes him a vital piece for any good offensive linemen, as it gives them an extra man they can count on if injuries occur during the season.
2. His strength in the run game. Bando is a solid run blocker at this point in his development, as he does a good job of getting his hands in the right position and driving his feet through the whistle. IMG Academy ran an offense that heavily featured Bando as a pull blocker, something that Bando excelled at on film, as he kept his feet under control and exploded into his target, driving them backwards and opening up holes for the running back. Bando also plays with just the right amount of nastiness on film, as he is a finisher that loves driving his opponents into the dirt.
3. His football IQ/maturity. IMG Academy isn’t your normal high school. Classes are online, practices are much more intense and the overall focus is on getting their athletes ready for the collegiate level of athletics. Bando has lived in this environment for two years now, focusing almost completely on the game of football and receiving coaching from some of the best high school coaches in the country. This has led to Bando becoming a high IQ football player that is consistently in the right position at the right time and understands the little things that go into making an offensive linemen successful. Bando has also learned how to live away from home, moving from Lincoln to Bradenton, Fla., meaning that the adjustment period to living away from his parents won’t be nearly as difficult as his fellow 2017 signees.
Weaknesses
1. His pad level in the run game. Once Bando is able to get his hands on you and get his feet moving, he is a formidable force as a blocker. The problem is that Bando has a tendency to come out of his stance high and allow opposing defenders to get underneath him, forcing him to play without leverage and outmuscle defenders instead of staying low and exploding into blockers. Bando also plays a little high at the second level, which makes him lose agility and power when going after opposing linebackers. This is a correctable flaw, something that will undoubtedly be addressed during Bando’s redshirt season.
2. His footwork in pass pro. Bando has a solid kick step off the snap and does a good job of getting depth against oncoming pass rushers, but Bando then tends to stop his feet and lunge at defenders instead of allowing them to come to him. This makes Bando play from a much less athletic and less powerful position. Bando also has a tendency to be overaggressive in going after stunting defensive linemen, which takes him out of position in the pass protection scheme. Bando needs to work on keeping his feet moving and passing off stunting defensive linemen before he is ready to play consistent snaps on Nebraska’s offensive line.
3. Adding weight to his frame. Bando is currently 280 pounds, but he is a lean 280 and can still add 20-plus pounds to his frame. Bando will be playing guard at Nebraska, a position where he will be taking on 300-plus pound defensive tackles on a daily basis. Bando will need to work on adding weight and strength to his frame in order to be an effective run blocker in the Big 10. This is another area that will likely be addressed during Bando’s redshirt season.
Conclusion
In basketball, we talk often about “glue guys,” guys that don’t get a lot of publicity but help hold a team together. Think of Bando as a glue guy for the 2017 class, as he will not be the most highly touted prospect Nebraska signs this year but he greatly helps this class as a whole. Bando fills Nebraska’s guard slot for the 2017 class, but his versatility projects him as a swing offensive linemen that can fill any role for Nebraska in the near future. Bando also brings a solid frame, high football IQ and rare maturity in a high school signing. Bando will definitely need a redshirt season and will have to be patient behind Jerald Foster, Tanner Farmer, Jalin Barnett and others, but he will find himself a contributing role on the Husker line and challenge for snaps by the time he is a junior. Good job by Coach Cavanaugh reeling this guy in, as he is a low-risk signing that will likely play above his ranking by the time he is finished at Nebraska.
College Comparison: North Carolina guard Caleb Peterson
Pro Comparison: Baltimore Ravens guard Ryan Jensen
