I knew Jerrell when he was playing at Buckatunna Middle School and then at Wayne County. He would come to the field house on Sundays and watch film with the defensive coaches. Jerrell is not dumb. He could diagnose an offensive play on the fly during a game. There were a number of games where he would come off the field during the game or at halftime and tell the defensive staff what was happening and what adjustment he thought would help. But, you don't have to take my word at all...ask Todd Mangum if Jerrell was dumb as a bag of rocks. I think his answer will be contrary to your bud's.
Using visual alignments with real people is not unusual in practice at any level. It is used every day at every level. No big surprise there.
Granted, Jerrell got a "certificate of attendance" at WCHS, not a diploma. He has a learning disability that is legitimate. But, he can read and write.......
You are correct that OM pulled some good ones to get him qualified. They did. So did the Blind Siders to get Oher qualified. Jerrell was a victim of bad timing. Had he been trying 3 years sooner, he would have done the same as Oher. The NCAA needed a poster boy and Jerrell just happened to be the winner for them to use to put the brakes on the credit system.