2017 Recruiting thread

[MrBug708]

I'll do the locals schools.

USC:

Marlon Williams - UR WR

Bubba Bolden - 4* DB

Stephen Carr - 4* RB

Thomas Graham - 4* DB



UCLA:

Hunter Echols - 4* DE

Redi Short - 3* DB

Jaquan Henderson - 4* OLB

Rahyme Johnson - 4* ATH

[CU Tiger]

I'll join

Clemson
Hunter Johnson 5* QB
Chase Brice 4* QB
Matt Bockhurst 4* OL
Noah Dehond 3* OL
Blake Vinson 3* OL (will jump to 4 before its done)
Baylon Spector 3* DB
Amari Rogers 4* WR (silent announces 2/14)
Leanthony Williams 4*CB (silent announces next week)

[Eaglesfan27]

I know 2018 is a long time away (but so is 2017.) 2018 QB Matt Corral (likely going to be a 5 star down the road) just committed to USC.

[CU Tiger]

My son is a '19, hoping he can be in here soon :D

[Solecismic]

Right now, I'd say 5* OT Isaiah Wilson out of Brooklyn Poly Prep is the biggest target. We already have in-state 4* OT JaRaymond Hall. WR Donovan Peoples-Jones is a 5*, in state, and at least interested.

[tarcone]

The #1 rated DE in the class, 5* AJ Espensa, has committed to Iowa.

Couple him with Lattimore a 4* this year, and DE is set for Iowa for awhile.

4* RB Eno Benjamin
4* LB Thomas Johnston - He is from Alabama and Alabama hasnt recruited him yet. So I doubt Iowa gets him.
4* WR Javeon McQuitty

A few others we wont get.

[MrBug708]

I do wonder the strength of that committment of Espensa. I just can't imagine Poly's at Iowa. I'm also envious because we had his cousin at UCLA and we have two Poly coaches with the right names in the Poly community, Tuiasosopo and Polamalu.

[tarcone]

Espensa's dad played at Iowa. He grew up watching Iowa play. He visited the big name schools, like Michigan and Notre Dame, but said he liked the feel of family at Iowa and said he was going to Iowa.
I think it is a very strong commitment. But, in recruiting, you never know until the ink is dry.

[CU Tiger]

Couple him with Lattimore a 4* this year, and DE is set for Iowa for awhile.
.


2 DEs is far from set.most college progreamswant 5 at va minimum, right?

[miked]

Just a question, but people get all excited about these verbal commits that are years out. What percentage actually stay with their original?

[CU Tiger]

Just a question, but people get all excited about these verbal commits that are years out. What percentage actually stay with their original?

It will vary greatly by school and circumstance.
A coaching change for example will wreak havoc. But for example Clemson signed 22 players this class. 9 of those had been verbally committed for more than a year and 1 had been a verbal for 2 years.

They had 1 person de-commit who had been committed for a year, but he later re-commited to the Tigers after taking a few official visits that his commitment would not have allowed per school policy.

[tarcone]

2 DEs is far from set.most college progreamswant 5 at va minimum, right?

Yes. But with Iowa, they dont sub much. You will se the same players on the field for the majority of the game. But Iowa will have depth. As we are a developmental program, there will be depth and experience if need be.
This season, we lost an all american candidate to a knee injury in the 3rd game. we started a freshman the rest of the season. Who performed okay, but our pass rush wasnt very good the rest of the season.
But, he will be a junior when lattimore and espensa are int he fold. So he adds experienced depth. And there will be a couple others like that.

You know how these developmental programs work. Get em in, coach them up, and expect the best.

[tarcone]

Iowa offer 4* QB Jonathan Lewis out of NJ. He will visit this spring. Doubt we get him, but he looks like a good one.

[dawgfan]

Washington got a couple of early commitments a while back. One for 2017 4-star CB Keith Taylor, and one for 2018 in local 4-star QB Jacob Sirmon (nephew of Peter Sirmon).

Petersen's commits rarely flip, so these will likely stick. It'll be interesting to see if Taylor's recruitment blows up the way it did for Kentrell Love. They're similar in a lot of ways - both bigger corners that play with a lot of physicality.

[tarcone]

Thought I would put this here:

Iowa's 2013 class re-ranked to #9

Re-ranking the 2013 college football recruiting classes (http://www.campusrush.com/recruiting-class-2013-rerank-punt-pass-pork-1593071421.html)

[CU Tiger]

And as stated above, Amari Rogers officially reveals his commitment to Clemson. He was a USC commit for several months (where his father Vol great Tee Martin coaches) but withdrew his commitment publicly 2 days after Clemson offered in January.

Looking to sign 3 WR in this class, Rogers is the first.

[Eaglesfan27]

Tee Martin, not Huggins.

[MrBug708]

I don't think martin was that involved in his life

[CU Tiger]

Tee Martin, not Huggins.

Yea, Martin. Corrected.
Tee Higgins is another 17 4 star WR, named after Tee Martin, coincidentally enough, who was a former Vol commit that withdrew his pledge after receiving a Clemson offer.

And it's very fair to say, Martin wasn't a focus in Rogers life but he wasn't exactly estranged either.

[DeToxRox]

Michigan got a commitment from 4* QB Dylan McCaffery. Yes he of those McCaffery's.

[Logan]

Michigan got a commitment from 4* QB Dylan McCaffery. Yes he of those McCaffery's.

HE LIVES!!!!

[DeToxRox]

HE LIVES!!!!

I try to exist in a world of mystery.

[Kodos]

Here's something you don't see very often. :)

I realize it's not likely to last, but good to see IU football recruiting is off to a good start.

247Sports (http://247sports.com/Season/2017-Football/CompositeTeamRankings)

[CU Tiger]

LeAnthony Williams FINALLY made his announcement public through the release of a fairly classy video.

LeAnthony Williams Jr. announces his commitment - YouTube (https://youtu.be/sR-gvCMrgbg)

Worth a check out

[dave731]

LeAnthony Williams FINALLY made his announcement public through the release of a fairly classy video.

LeAnthony Williams Jr. announces his commitment - YouTube (https://youtu.be/sR-gvCMrgbg)

Worth a check out
Woot woot!! ALL IN!

[MacroGuru]

Well, Kalani is taking a far different approach then Bronco ever had. I have never seen this many offers from BYU to 4 and 5 star talent that is out there. A lot of them he is touching on the Polynesian roots, but some of them are LDS talent or deeply religious that would fit in at BYU which I haven't seen BYU do since Crowton's days.

I hope we sign 1 or 2 out of the offers, it will bolster this team big time, but Provo and BYU is a hard sell to a lot of people and if anyone can do it, it will be Kalani.

[Butter]

Yea, Martin. Corrected.
Tee Higgins is another 17 4 star WR, named after Tee Martin, coincidentally enough, who was a former Vol commit that withdrew his pledge after receiving a Clemson offer.

And it's very fair to say, Martin wasn't a focus in Rogers life but he wasn't exactly estranged either.

So if JJ Robinson and Higgins committed, would they shutout OrTre Smith, or would they consider taking 4?

[CU Tiger]

That decision hasn't been made yet by the staff.

It will be major decision too as the state's high school coaches look on at the #1 player in the state who's mom played volleyball at Clemson...Muschamp has been looking for his foot in the door and this has potential...

Higgins will go to the wire. Robinson is all but done. Id argue it is done just not public, but no that is just my opinion.

The challenge is OrTre isn't a WR at Clemson. His ceiling is probably Brandon Ford at TE and he doesn't want to hear that. He is a big body possession WR.

I think timing may play a huge role here. And you take Robinson out of the conversation. Different position. Higgins is a take no matter what. OrTre is a borderline take talent wise but the intangibles make him a take IF he wants to commit soon.If Higgins is in the boat you can probably sell the we are full route to OrTre and save face to the HS coaches. If he wants to commit BEFORE Higgins then I think you HAVE to take 4.

Besides you lose Williams and Scott after this year. The 3 freshman are all highly acclaimed but have never played a down and I still think Shadell Bell ultimately transfers without ever making any noise.

If only Clemson had this depth at a few other positions...

[Butter]

I would think it would be awfully hard to cede the #1 (or at least top 3) player in the state to the 'Cocks, but they might end up with him anyway if he decides the Tigers are just too crowded, or as you say, he doesn't want to hear about his true position. Or even somehow decides that SCAR is a better fit (barf).

Brandon Ford was a hell of a TE, so I would take that. It would be nice if Clemson could find a TE that could catch AND block though, that seems to be elusive.

[CU Tiger]

Garret Williams will be that guy this year.
Also Milan Richards cant stay out of the doghouse but he is the most talented TE on the roster.

Of course Chalk will likely steal reps because of who he is.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Tennessee Volunteers offer scholarships to 20 teammates from IMG Academy (http://espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/14852682/tennessee-volunteers-offer-scholarships-20-teammates-img-academy)

[CU Tiger]

4* memphis, TN RB Cordrarrian Richardson commits to Clemson this weekend on a JR day visit.

That means the state of TN has 3 Rivals Top 100 players this cycle, 2 are committed to Clemson and the 3rd is considered a strong lean at this point.

[Butter]

I guess that's why they offered 20 scholarships to IMG Academy kids, because they can't recruit their own state any more.

[MrBug708]

4* DE Jelean Phillips commits to ucla. Just need to add addison gumbs and we are set with pass rushers

UW added 4* WR Terrell Bynum

[vex]

4* DE Jelean Phillips commits to ucla. Just need to add addison gumbs and we are set with pass rushers

UW added 4* WR Terrell Bynum

Not taking this as gospel by any means, but here is an update on Gumbs today from an OU free site:

Open Post | Weekend, Apr. 15th – 17th (UPDATE Fri., 11:49 am) | The Football Brainiacs - OU Edition (https://thefootballbrainiacs.com/ou-oklahoma-sooners-football-recruiting-2017-isaiah-thomas-addison-gumbs-open-post)

[dawgfan]

4* DE Jelean Phillips commits to ucla. Just need to add addison gumbs and we are set with pass rushers

UW added 4* WR Terrell Bynum
Gumbs is headed up to Seattle this weekend. I'd say he's a likely candidate to commit on his visit, except it sounds like he will want to take official visits too, which means Petersen will tell him to hold off committing to the UW until he's ready to say no more visits.

[MrBug708]

We sent Echols on an unofficial to basically babysit him. I'd be stunned of he's not a Bruin. He was going to commit in April as he's been a long time ucla lean. The delay to summer is concerning but not not worrisome

[MrBug708]

Not taking this as gospel by any means, but here is an update on Gumbs today from an OU free site:

Open Post | Weekend, Apr. 15th – 17th (UPDATE Fri., 11:49 am) | The Football Brainiacs - OU Edition (https://thefootballbrainiacs.com/ou-oklahoma-sooners-football-recruiting-2017-isaiah-thomas-addison-gumbs-open-post)

I don't think SC is really a player in his recruitment.

[dawgfan]

We sent Echols on an unofficial to basically babysit him. I'd be stunned of he's not a Bruin
Echols was all set to commit to Washington too but wanted to take visits, so Petersen told him to hold off. Don't be surprised if he flips to Washington down the line.

[MrBug708]

SC fans feel the same way but he's been our biggest recruiter. But it's the same source who was convinced Myles Jack was going to flip to Sark :)

Before any offers he called ucla a dream school and would commit. When ucla offered he said he almost committed but wanted to think it over. Then he committed to ucla and recruits for them. The UW sources I've found, especially Ruth and Kim, tend to think any positive mention means they are secret verbals. I know he said he was goingto commit but the ucla offered changed things and he would have flipped in the end back to ucla. Recruiting is always fluid obviously but ask me in 6 months about echols. This probably just means he switches tomorrow

[dawgfan]

Another nice pickup for Washington tonight as 4-Star DT Marlon Tuipulotu commits on a Junior Day visit with his family in tow. Had offers from Michigan, Oregon, Notre Dame, USC, Nebraska and others. Oh, and UCLA too ;)

[dawgfan]

The UW sources I've found, especially Ruth and Kim, tend to think any positive mention means they are secret verbals.

Ruth is worthless. Now that Lars moved to Rivals, her site has zero value - negative even given the damage she can do (and has done) to UW recruiting.

Kim can get overly homeristic as can Eklund, but they're more grounded. Probably because they talk with Huffman and Biggins.

[MrBug708]

Another nice pickup for Washington tonight as 4-Star DT Marlon Tuipulotu commits on a Junior Day visit with his family in tow. Had offers from Michigan, Oregon, Notre Dame, USC, Nebraska and others. Oh, and UCLA too ;)

I know ucla was recruiting him but I'm hoping we land Greg Rodgers. I know he'll probably come down on a visit still I believe

[dawgfan]

I know he'll probably come down on a visit still I believe
He's very clear on Petersen's policy on this, so while it's possible (like with Kentrell Love), I wouldn't count on it either.

[Logan]

Rutgers got a really nice commit on Friday night from Bo Melton. Offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, etc. It would be nice if he's finally the guy to help keep NJ kids home.

[tarcone]

Iowa gets a commit from 4* RB Eno Benjamin.

Outrecruited these teams for his services: Michigan, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Northwestern, SMU, Houston, Vanderbilt, Arizona and Missouri.

Huge get for Iowa.

Also picked up 7 3* prospects.

[vex]

Iowa gets a commit from 4* RB Eno Benjamin.


Speeed.

[Logan]

Rutgers got a really nice commit on Friday night from Bo Melton. Offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, etc. It would be nice if he's finally the guy to help keep NJ kids home.

#1 OL in the state Micah Clark just committed, along with his brother, another 3* type OL.

[dawgfan]

Washington gets another big one as in-state 4* TE/DE Hunter Bryant commits today. He's long been a big fan of the L.A. schools and when UCLA offered and USC showed a lot of interest there was concern he might head out of town, but his strong family ties to the program and his comfort with the coaching staff won out as he decided to put an early end to his recruitment.

The Huskies now have a 3.80 star average with their 5 commits, tied for tops in the Pac-12 with USC.

[dawgfan]

The Huskies weren't done for the day as they also get a commitment from 3* WR Alex Cook. He had offers from UCLA, Oregon, Utah, Arizona and Cal, and Biggins really likes him.

[General Mike]

Iowa offer 4* QB Jonathan Lewis out of NJ. He will visit this spring. Doubt we get him, but he looks like a good one.

Just committed to Rutgers. :) :banana:

[tarcone]

Just committed to Rutgers. :) :banana:

Good for Rutgers. Hope that program turns around.

[Logan]

Texas A&M assistant goes on furious Twitter rant after losing one recruit, promptly loses another | For The Win (http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/05/texas-am-aaron-moorehead-tate-martell-twitter-rant)

[HomerSimpson98]

fuck

[dawgfan]

Epic fail there by Moorehead. He's lucky he still has his job.

[mckerney]

It's always great to hear coaches that change jobs every two years lecture kids on loyalty.

[JonInMiddleGA]

And I thought an apology being needed from a coach who was basically spot on was a great microcosm of how f'ed up society has become.

Seems like the 2nd kid was already gone mentally anyway so {shrug} would have been a more appropriate response.

[Logan]

And I thought an apology being needed from a coach who was basically spot on was a great microcosm of how f'ed up society has become.

Seems like the 2nd kid was already gone mentally anyway so {shrug} would have been a more appropriate response.

Assistant coaches very frequently LITERALLY leave jobs the day after recruits sign their freedom away. They're able to do that because they've already negotiated and accepted those jobs during the days when they are concurrently telling these kids how they will be there for them during their college careers. Fuck him.

[Solecismic]

I certainly get how frustrating it is to recruit kids. It's a crazy system and 18-year-olds make decisions for reasons that often have nothing to do with reality.

But when you sign on to coach major college football, and accept an incredible salary for that work, you have to make it your 24/7 focus and understand that these kids are your work and you had better embrace their unpredictability. The highs are incredible and the lows often defy reason. But you need to have the maturity to recognize this. I'd fire the guy on the spot.

[Logan]

Good for Rutgers. Hope that program turns around.

Meant to post this a few days ago. Thought you'd like hearing that all reports are that AJ Blazek has been killing it, both with recruiting and his attitude/coaching style with the current players. I remember you thinking he would be good for us so wanted to share.

[mckerney]

Assistant coaches very frequently LITERALLY leave jobs the day after recruits sign their freedom away. They're able to do that because they've already negotiated and accepted those jobs during the days when they are concurrently telling these kids how they will be there for them during their college careers. Fuck him.

Yeah, some loyalty he showed to the kids he recruited to Virginia Tech when he jumped ship for College Station. At least he didn't have to sit out a year before he started coaching for A&M.

[CU Tiger]

I certainly get how frustrating it is to recruit kids. It's a crazy system and 18-year-olds make decisions for reasons that often have nothing to do with reality.

But when you sign on to coach major college football, and accept an incredible salary for that work, you have to make it your 24/7 focus and understand that these kids are your work and you had better embrace their unpredictability. The highs are incredible and the lows often defy reason. But you need to have the maturity to recognize this. I'd fire the guy on the spot.


The challenge is quite often many of these college assistants that can relate well to high level recruits, do so because they are on the same emotional level as the kids. These situations end spectacularly, every time.(see: Blake, John and Robinson, Trevarius as great examples)

The staffs that truly "get it" understand these are kids and that the coaches job is to mentor and mature the young men.

That's why it hurts me emotionally to see great men, like a Mark Richt, get ran off when they are doing things the right way. I get it, its a meritocracy and it is win or go home but it still hurts.

This is one area where for all of his weirdness I give Jim Harbaugh a lot of credit. He is a father figure and a role model and expects his coaches to be the same. In stark contrast to an Urban Meyer who is a friend and buddy. Both are "players coaches" just in a very different way.

Another way of saying it much more eloquently was the way Clemson's director of construction (who left the same position at Alabama to come to Clemson) Thad Turnipseed told me, "The best coaches lead by authority and fear. Whether that is Saban, where a player fears his wrath if he mis-steps or Swinney where a player fears disappointing him, they have to fear the head man. When they consider him a friend its going south, quickly and spectacularly."

[JonInMiddleGA]

Assistant coaches very frequently LITERALLY leave jobs the day after recruits sign their freedom away. They're able to do that because they've already negotiated and accepted those jobs during the days when they are concurrently telling these kids how they will be there for them during their college careers. Fuck him.

I'm not so much on the reaction/initial kid here as I am the faux outrage by the wide receiver, which seems to be what turned this into a story.

He's a kid who was "committed", yet showed up for another school's camp wearing their gloves. It's pretty obvious he was about as committed as Nick Young was to his girlfriend/fiancee/whatever. That recruit -- the 2nd one, not the first one -- is so obviously full of shit & playing this for drama so he can have 15 minutes or seem like some sort of big shot that the biggest f.u. I see in the story is reserved for him.

[bhlloy]

Thad Turnipseed is not a real name, surely?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Thad Turnipseed is not a real name, surely?

I'm not CUTiger, but I can assure you that it's very real.

It's also a fairly famous name in the state of South Carolina -- though he doesn't appear to be directly/closely related -- as it a shared surname with a long-time politician and (eventually) civil rights advocate.

As of 2000 census, it was the 11,978th most common surname in the U.S., with nearly 2,400 known examples.

edit to add: By way of comparsion, my own last name is 3,484th with 9,382 instances.

[CU Tiger]

I'm not so much on the reaction/initial kid here as I am the faux outrage by the wide receiver, which seems to be what turned this into a story.

He's a kid who was "committed", yet showed up for another school's camp wearing their gloves. It's pretty obvious he was about as committed as Nick Young was to his girlfriend/fiancee/whatever. That recruit -- the 2nd one, not the first one -- is so obviously full of shit & playing this for drama so he can have 15 minutes or seem like some sort of big shot that the biggest f.u. I see in the story is reserved for him.


The rivals guys have been saying for weeks he was jumping ship, just not one knew when.

[CU Tiger]

Thad Turnipseed is not a real name, surely?

The man behind Nick Saban and now Dabo Swinney (http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/01/09/thad-turnipseed-nick-saban-dabo-swinney-alabama-clemson-college-football-playoff/78570562/)

[CU Tiger]

Yea, Martin. Corrected.
Tee Higgins is another 17 4 star WR, named after Tee Martin, coincidentally enough, who was a former Vol commit that withdrew his pledge after receiving a Clemson offer.

And it's very fair to say, Martin wasn't a focus in Rogers life but he wasn't exactly estranged either.


#WRU

[dawgfan]

Washington is off to a very good start for 2017. They got 4* Safety Brandon McKinney this weekend which puts them at 11 so far with an average rating of 3.45, behind only Stanford & UCLA at this point. Huskies have a limited number of rides this year and will likely take between 17-19, so Petersen is well on his way to filling up the class.

[MrBug708]

How's the echols recruitment going? I know Arizona is starting to think he is theirs ;)

[dawgfan]

How's the echols recruitment going? I know Arizona is starting to think he is theirs ;)
He's probably ending up wherever he visits last. Might not be room for him at the UW anyway by the time he's ready to take all his visits.

[MrBug708]

Echols decommits after the fallout from Lars basically screwing the kid over. But when you play that recruiting game, you can get burned.

[MrBug708]

The Hunter Echols show heads to USC after UCLA didn't send him an offer letter.

Wonder how soon until his next Top 10 comes out?

[Logan]

Just saw that Rivals put out their top 100 for 2018 and my immediate takeaway was that both Asante Samuel and Patrick Surtain have kids by their same name who are stud DB prospects.

Continuing to feel damn old.

[CU Tiger]

Just saw that Rivals put out their top 100 for 2018 and my immediate takeaway was that both Asante Samuel and Patrick Surtain have kids by their same name who are stud DB prospects.

Continuing to feel damn old.


Trevor Lawrence looks like the kid off dazes and confused and plays like Peyton Manning.

Best HS QB I've ever watched.

Too bad he will end up in Athens.

[Butter]

Don't worry, CU... we'll be able to watch Hunter Johnson through our tears. Maybe not as good, but still pretty good.

[tarcone]

Iowa RB commit Eno Benjamin out of Texas has been an absolute dream come true for Iowa. He is a recruiting animal. He has done more getting kids to commit to the 17. It is incredible what he has done.
This kid will go down in Iowa history as one the most popular players ever. He has done that much for this recruiting class.

[CU Tiger]

5* and Nations' #1 CB AJ Terrell will be announcing his college choice in a video released later today.

Final 3 are South Carolina, Clemson and Florida

[MrBug708]

Interesting that Rivals has him ranked so high. He seems like a top 15 type kid who will probably play safety anyways

[Butter]

Pretty sure Clemson is counting on him coming in and playing corner pretty much right away.

I mean, if he comes to Clemson that is.

Whew, that was a close one.

[CU Tiger]

Interesting that Rivals has him ranked so high. He seems like a top 15 type kid who will probably play safety anyways

Number 1 CB not #1 overall

[MrBug708]

I know. Rivals seems to be the outlier here. When espn ranks a South kid low, I'm generally a little surprised

[CU Tiger]

Gotcha. I honestly dont even look at ESPN for recruiting.
And since I am legally not allowed to comment on scout, well...

[CraigSca]

Oops!

Recruit Aubrey Solomon decommits after Michigan Wolverines thank him for attending an event he didn't attend (http://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/17374175/recruit-aubrey-solomon-decommits-michigan-wolverines-thank-attending-event-attend)

Also interesting to hear Michigan has lost 3 commits in the past two days. Admittedly, I'm not up on the other stories, so I'm not sure why.

[MrBug708]

Oops!

Recruit Aubrey Solomon decommits after Michigan Wolverines thank him for attending an event he didn't attend (http://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/17374175/recruit-aubrey-solomon-decommits-michigan-wolverines-thank-attending-event-attend)

Also interesting to hear Michigan has lost 3 commits in the past two days. Admittedly, I'm not up on the other stories, so I'm not sure why.

"I know your school is a perfect match for the academics I seek and that you're up-and-coming on the football side with terrific coaching But I've decided to ignore those facts and what's best for my future because the aid to your administrative assistant had confused identity on a postcard."

I think Michigan is better off

[CU Tiger]

uh no.
He was sent a letter that specifically said thanks for coming to our cook out and or bringing your mom. But he wasn't there. That's pretty bad. He wasn't just a random recruit he was a commit. That his coach, who is signing on to be dad #2 for 3-5 years, doesnt know him enough to know he wasnt there...

That shows a lack of attention to detail and a lack of professionalism to me.

Its been laughed about quite a bit today. But maybe thats what he gets for his SE camp swing...Southern Hospitality is a thing and if you are going to recruit the SE you better get it, and get it right.

[MrBug708]

While this is a mistake and head coaches have to own mistakes their staffs make, does anyone really think a letter sent in error is gonna prevent anyone who really wants to be there from going to that school? This is the easiest thing in the world to laugh off. In this specific situation, the kid committed to Michigan behind his mom's back while mom has long wanted him at hometown Georgia, so this letter is nothing more than an excuse for the mom to make an intra-family power play and seize control of his recruitment. She was just waiting for an excuse to do so, whether it was gonna be this letter or some other perceived slight conjured from nothing.

[tarcone]

Whatever it takes for UM to stumble, Im all for it.

Who is more overrated this season? Michigan or Tennessee?

[Atocep]

One of the most mentioned things I see with recruits now is "feeling like a priority". Incredible amounts of money goes into making each player feel like they're a top target and a priority in their class. The kids love the attention.

So if you really feel like that's the case and then you receive a letter thanking you for attending something you didn't attend and they spell your first and last name wrong in the letter you're probably going to come to the crushing realization that you're not a priority. You're just another kid they're trying to get in this class.

Recruiting isn't about rational, well thought out decisions all of the time. It's about emotional, borderline knee-jerk reactions. This isn't surprising and says more about recruiting in general than the player.

[JonInMiddleGA]

One of the most mentioned things I see with recruits now is "feeling like a priority". Incredible amounts of money goes into making each player feel like they're a top target and a priority in their class. The kids love the attention.

So if you really feel like that's the case and then you receive a letter thanking you for attending something you didn't attend and they spell your first and last name wrong in the letter you're probably going to come to the crushing realization that you're not a priority. You're just another kid they're trying to get in this class.

I can absolutely tell you that the combination of spelling both names wrong & getting the event attendance wrong would have played very poorly with my own not-an-athlete child during his college decision making phase. The margin between schools for even plain ol' student is often quite narrow, something like this could very easily be an eliminator IMO. One of the most astute things we heard from anyone during the process was an advisor who noted that the value of feeling genuinely wanted by a school should never be underestimated. And for anyone with multiple offers, the offer alone really doesn't stand out as "we want you", I can see how especially for the heavily recruited that alone is simply "we want bodies, you might be one of them".

In this particular case, it's certainly possible that a meddling mom successfully used this as leverage to sway her son but I can also assure you that it could easily be enough with a student (or student-athlete) without a parent saying a word.

[Logan]

Top 50ish recruit Drew Singleton tore his ACL. I know CU Tiger and the Michigan guys are following this closely.

[tarcone]

Iowa picked up a commit from Beau Corrales. He is a 6'4" 205 lb WR out of Texas.

That makes 7 recruits out of Texas fir tis class

[CU Tiger]

Top 50ish recruit Drew Singleton tore his ACL. I know CU Tiger and the Michigan guys are following this closely.

He's Michigan bound, but hate it for the kid!

[dawgfan]

Tough week on the field for Washington with their first loss, but a better one on the recruiting trail as they land 4* CB Elijah Molden and 4* OL Henry Bainivalu. Molden was a Duck legacy (son of Alex Molden) and with his commitment, Washington has gotten the top 2 prospects out of the state of Oregon this year (4* DT Marlon Tuipulotu being the other). Bainivalu is a local kid from nearby Skyline H.S.

Per Scout.com ratings, this gives then ten 4* commits out of a class of 15.

[Eaglesfan27]

It looks like USC has flipped QB Jack Sears which was desperately needed with Max Browne transferring out.

[MrBug708]

Greg Rodgers deciding this week

[CU Tiger]

It's too early to start a2018 thread but...

Rivals #1 overall and#1 QB for 2018, Trevor Lawrence announces his Clemson commitment tonight via Twitter.

This morning the 2014 #1qb , who was from ga graduated inot only 3 years, this evening the 2018 #1 QB, also from ga announces his intent to follow...

At no point in my life have my Tigers recruited at this level.... its is truly unbelievable.

[AnalBumCover]

Reverse Flash� on Twitter: "I am officially committed to..." (https://twitter.com/rahyme_johnson/status/817439802136129536?lang=en)

[MrBug708]

Former UCLA verbal commit...haha

Was hoping for Holmes tomorrow, but looks like mom is getting her way.

[Eaglesfan27]

Former UCLA verbal commit...haha

Was hoping for Holmes tomorrow, but looks like mom is getting her way.

More like he is making the smart move. One team wins Rose Bowls, the other rents the Rose Bowl ;)

[Kodos]

Zing!

[MrBug708]

More like he is making the smart move. One team wins Rose Bowls, the other rents the Rose Bowl ;)

When we were a third place team, we got stuck with lower tier bowls. Sometimes when the sun shines on the pimple on the ass of SC, it shimmers brightly.

[tarcone]

Iowa lost 4 recruits out of Texas. Part of the problem was the rule that when you commit to Iowa you cannot visit other schools.
Iowa will go after kids that have committed to other schools, but our recruits cannot visit other schools when they commit.

F Ferentz

[MrBug708]

Im pumped to see how Phillips will do in the AA game tomorrow. He's been dominating in the Army AA practices

[dawgfan]

Iowa lost 4 recruits out of Texas. Part of the problem was the rule that when you commit to Iowa you cannot visit other schools.
Iowa will go after kids that have committed to other schools, but our recruits cannot visit other schools when they commit.

F Ferentz
Chris Petersen does the same thing, and it works because the commitment goes both ways for him. If a kid commits to Petersen, Petersen is committed to that kid - he's not going to pull a Harbaugh and yank the offer if a shinier object comes along and there's no room for that commit any more. But if that commit then decides to visit another school, he's by definition not "committed" any more, and Petersen will no longer guarantee that offer and will pursue other options.

[Gaelic Hill]

Will Coach Shaw start Davis Mills as a frosh? #1 QB, #4 overall. KJ Costello is already waiting in the wings (2016 #2 Pro Style). Hopefully Osiris St Brown gives us a desperately needed deep threat.

[MrBug708]

Chris Petersen does the same thing, and it works because the commitment goes both ways for him. If a kid commits to Petersen, Petersen is committed to that kid - he's not going to pull a Harbaugh and yank the offer if a shinier object comes along and there's no room for that commit any more. But if that commit then decides to visit another school, he's by definition not "committed" any more, and Petersen will no longer guarantee that offer and will pursue other options.

Bob toledoo had that policy. It's great when you are winning, it gets overlooked when you arent

[Gaelic Hill]

More like he is making the smart move. One team wins Rose Bowls, the other rents the Rose Bowl ;)

The CARD owns UCLA and owns the Rose Bowl. It's Palo Alto South.

[Eaglesfan27]

Bubba Bolden to USC! :)

[bhlloy]

Maybe... I think about 50/50 he ends up here. The kid really wants to go to ASU, I think

[MrBug708]

EF27 stopped giving us recruiting updates ;)

[bhlloy]

I'm sure he just had somewhere else to be :D

[Eaglesfan27]

Actually, I was out playing in the snow with my girl. Far more important :)

[Eaglesfan27]

Dola -

Darnay's dad took the money. I was shocked that he was even considering USC with how much Dad's "business connections" are intertwined with UCLA.

7 inches of snow and counting here made for a fun afternoon with my girl :)

[MrBug708]

Haha. That used to be UCLA's line when we lost a kid.

Holmes has been a ucla lock for like 4 years

[Chief Rum]

Actually, I was out playing in the snow with my girl. Far more important :)

That's some handy weather there, dropping all that playful snow on you in between Bolden picking up a hat and Darnay picking up "another" hat.

Great timing there, Mother Nature!!

[Gaelic Hill]

The CARD scoops UW on the best recruit of all:

Nation's No. 1 Recruit OT Foster Sarell Commits To Stanford Over Washington (http://www.chatsports.com/ncaa/a/nations-no-1-recruit-ot-foster-sarell-commits-stanford-over-washington-31915)

[dawgfan]

The CARD scoops UW on the best recruit of all:

Nation's No. 1 Recruit OT Foster Sarell Commits To Stanford Over Washington (http://www.chatsports.com/ncaa/a/nations-no-1-recruit-ot-foster-sarell-commits-stanford-over-washington-31915)
That one stings, but he's been all Stanford for years now. That Washington got him to stop to consider was a minor surprise.

Give Petersen another year or two and let recruits see some UW offensive linemen going to the league (Adams, McGary & Shelton are all headed there), and guys like Sarell will no longer favor the Cardinal over the Huskies.

[MrBug708]

Not sure players in the league have influence on academics of a school. He'd be all UW if he didn't have the grades. He did and nothing an NFL lineman could have done about it

[dawgfan]

Academics were part of it, but the clincher for him was the legacy of success of Stanford OL under this staff. Even so he came very close to flipping to Washington.

[Gaelic Hill]

No question the Petersen era will be golden. I'm plenty old enough to remember Don James, and that kind of sustained success is within reach.

We might butt heads again with Connor Wedington. I wish you the worst of luck! ;)

[dawgfan]

No question the Petersen era will be golden. I'm plenty old enough to remember Don James, and that kind of sustained success is within reach.

We might butt heads again with Connor Wedington. I wish you the worst of luck! ;)
Wedington won't be going to Washington - the way that played out turned off the UW coaching staff. Too bad - he's a good kid, but some people in his family and inner circle meddled and tried to do things below the radar only to get found out. Had they been upfront with Petersen things might have gone differently, but instead he felt burned and the Huskies aren't recruiting him any more.

Washington and Stanford are definitely going to be in a lot of recruiting battles with Petersen in charge - he targets a lot of the same types of kids that Stanford does.

[Eaglesfan27]

A big time commit for USC tonight as DT Marlon Tuipulotu decommitts from Washington and will be an early enrollee at USC. It is looking like USC is going to have a very talented class along both DL and OL this year.

[Chief Rum]

A big time commit for USC tonight as DT Marlon Tuipulotu decommitts from Washington and will be an early enrollee at USC. It is looking like USC is going to have a very talented class along both DL and OL this year.

Early enrollee, starting two weeks after the spring semester started?

[Eaglesfan27]

Early enrollee, starting two weeks after the spring semester started?

Last day to drop/add classes at USC is January 27th.

[dawgfan]

That's a big get for the Trojans. Sounds like Johnny Nansen worked some...interesting angles with Marlon's older brother who lives in the area. He's not much of a position coach, but he's a helluva recruiter.

[MrBug708]

The task talk on the message boarda about this decommitted has been crazy. UW fans went all millennial on the situation and USC fans act like they won the national title. This outsider has been enjoying the meltdowns and trash talking being done. Some of the SC posters have come completely unhinged. I think Ruth might lock her board down

[dawgfan]

I think Ruth might lock her board down
Ruth is a loon and an embarrassment to Washington.

Tough break on losing Tuipulotu. The only real disappointment for me is that he apparently wasn't upfront with the UW coaches about continuing to talk with USC and did all of this under the table. Sounds like this was mostly about family pressure. Scout guys say they'll spill the whole story after Signing Day.

[dawgfan]

UCLA tried to poach one of Washington's better commits in WR Ty Jones, but despite a visit this past weekend to LA he's sticking with the Huskies. Meanwhile the Huskies flip former Bruin commit (and UW legacy) OL Jaxson Kirkland.

[MrBug708]

Yup. That policy didnt work as well for CCP this year. I hate to lose Kirkland, not because I think he's that great but because we need OL commits. We already had his spot filled anyways

[dawgfan]

Yup. That policy didnt work as well for CCP this year. I hate to lose Kirkland, not because I think he's that great but because we need OL commits. We already had his spot filled anyways
You guys still lacking a WR commit, or are one of the DB's projected to play on offense instead?

Jones would have been a damn good flip for Mora. Glad to see him stick with Washington.

[MrBug708]

We are short on WR commits, but Im not sure if we need one this class. We tend to also move kids around positions and work with athletes. I havent been impressed with Yarber's recruiting either.

[Chief Rum]

You guys still lacking a WR commit, or are one of the DB's projected to play on offense instead?

Jones would have been a damn good flip for Mora. Glad to see him stick with Washington.

While it would be best to grab a guy or two at every spot every year, WR was a positional group UCLA didn't really need to bring in anyone for this year. They brought in something like 5 or 6 guys last year, ane also have Dymond Lee, currently listed as a QB but he will also end up a WR. UCLA's problem with WRs on the field this year was less talent and more the inexplicable WR rotation and an unusually poor season for the dropsies (which hadn't been a problem prior to 2016).

Jones is a good player and it would have been nice to flip him, but not really a necessary flip. UCLA probably just adds McNeal (long time lean) and maybe brings in speedster Branden Smith.

As for Kirkland, terrific get for UDub, although I am not going to give Coach Pete's staff too much credit there--as a legacy recruit, Kirkland was always there to be had. Normally a recruit would be turned off by a staff ignoring him for most of recruiting while they chased after (and lost) higher end recruits, but Kirkland comes from a devoted pro-Husky fam.

Just like UCLA staff really should get little credit for pulling Phillips. I love how much he bleeds Bruin blue and gold but that path was set from the second he was born to passionate Bruin parents.

[dawgfan]

As for Kirkland, terrific get for UDub, although I am not going to give Coach Pete's staff too much credit there--as a legacy recruit, Kirkland was always there to be had. Normally a recruit would be turned off by a staff ignoring him for most of recruiting while they chased after (and lost) higher end recruits, but Kirkland comes from a devoted pro-Husky fam.
Yeah, he said point blank that Washington was a dream offer. I'd be willing to bet the coaches knew that and knowing how Petersen operates, they were likely very upfront with him throughout the recruiting process that there were other guys higher on their list, but that he'd be one of the guys they'd offer next if they missed on Sarell and Jackson.

Had this been a bigger class and/or had Kirkland not been a kid that bled purple and gold, they probably would have offered him sooner.

[Chief Rum]

Yeah, he said point blank that Washington was a dream offer. I'd be willing to bet the coaches knew that and knowing how Petersen operates, they were likely very upfront with him throughout the recruiting process that there were other guys higher on their list, but that he'd be one of the guys they'd offer next if they missed on Sarell and Jackson.

Had this been a bigger class and/or had Kirkland not been a kid that bled purple and gold, they probably would have offered him sooner.

As a UCLA fan, I think that's one thing about this that has me a little irritated at both the UDub and UCLA staffs.

Given, I'll say that I didn't follow Sarrell or Jackson too closely since in neither case were they considered likely for UCLA.

But from what I did read, those recruitments went exactly as they were laid out for the past year. Although Sarell is a Washington kid, he was well known to be a super smart, academics driven recruit who would covet a Furd offer. His commitment to Stanford seemed almost a certainty in every recruit update I read for the past six months. And Jackson was a legacy recruit for USC who had smokescreen written all over him, a noted practice by the type of jack hole recruits USC gets and which is encouraged by the type of program they run in South Central (see Adoree, Iman, Juju, Jack Jones, etc). I coulda called Coach Pete up in August and told him not to waste his time with either one (especially Jackson).

So UDub should have flipped to Kirkland much sooner, even given his legacy status. So that's on them (but they got away with it).

I am mad at UCLA's staff for not doing the same math and realizing that UDub would eventually turn to Kirkland. They should have done a much better job keeping other OT options warm in case the Kirkland flip happened. Massive fail there by the Bruin staff, indicative of the same lack of foresight that led to the mess this past season became.

Frustrating to say the least.

[dawgfan]

Washington did a great job working on Sarell, and after his visit he was 50/50. But he eventually gravitated back to his love of Stanford. If he were a 2018 recruit and next season plays out with Washington finishing above Stanford with All-Conference OL honorees, I think he'd be a Husky. Regardless, he was a kid Washington had to go after until the bitter end.

[Chief Rum]

Washington did a great job working on Sarell, and after his visit he was 50/50. But he eventually gravitated back to his love of Stanford. If he were a 2018 recruit and next season plays out with Washington finishing above Stanford with All-Conference OL honorees, I think he'd be a Husky. Regardless, he was a kid Washington had to go after until the bitter end.

I don't doubt Sarell had Washington second in his heart, but from what I discerned following his recruitment as a fan of a school in Sarell's very distant second tier, he was always going to Stanford. It would have taken him not getting into Stanford for him to consider any other school once rubber hit the road. That is not meant to be a hit on UDub, btw, just my read on circumstances as they played out. As a 2018 kid, he would have been just an enamored with a Stanford education, which wouldn't change from this year to next year.

All that said, I entirely get that UDub had to walk that road. Even putting aside the reality that you have to prioritize a top end player like that in your direct recruiting base region, pursuing a recruit versus Stanford has the much more possible circumstance that the recruit in question may not even be admitted to Stanford, which is a rare occurrence at most other FBS schools.

Jackson was the one UDub should have not bothered with from the start. ASU and maybe Arizona have to at least kick the tires, since he's an AZ kid, but Washington shouldn't have bothered.

Keep in mind while I note the fruitlessness of pursuing USC smokescreen kids, I entirely understood why UCLA stays in it with the LA smokescreen recruits--much like Washington with Sarrell. You can't NOT pursue guys like Adoree Jackson or Iman Marshall in your own region, even if you know they're just jacking you around (USC guys) or being nice/diplomatic (Sarrell).

I am curious what UDub nation's take is on Jones' visit to UCLA, how he still has an offer from the Huskies and how it impacts Peterson's commit visit ban. Since it appears that Jones' offer is still good, it appears to me that Peterson's visit ban is punchless and will likely be ignored by recruits with options.

I think Coach Pete is a terrific coach and I also admire the point he is making with his recruits in upholding his visit ban with them, but I think he needs to reassess his stance on that now that he has to engage in "big boy" recruiting at a Pac 12 school. And perhaps by accepting Jones, he already is. If so, good move by him to ditch that.

[MrBug708]

Petersen doesn't have a visit ban on commitment visits, he just has a toothless "we won't hold your spot". Ty Jones wasn't in danger of losing his spot and everyone knows that.

Ucla landed Zabie, 4* OT out of Texas, essentially upgrading Kirkland. I'd still take Kirkland though

[Kodos]

Looks like Indiana didn't have any last-minute defections today. Happy with our incoming class, including Florida's Mr. Football, QB Nick Tronti. Excited to see what Coach Allen and his staff can do with this dual-threat QB.

[dawgfan]

I don't doubt Sarell had Washington second in his heart, but from what I discerned following his recruitment as a fan of a school in Sarell's very distant second tier, he was always going to Stanford. It would have taken him not getting into Stanford for him to consider any other school once rubber hit the road. That is not meant to be a hit on UDub, btw, just my read on circumstances as they played out. As a 2018 kid, he would have been just an enamored with a Stanford education, which wouldn't change from this year to next year.
Education was obviously a huge factor for Sarell. But just like UCLA is an outstanding school, so it Washington - it's not like he was looking at some big step down. Especially considering he wants to go into medicine. But education wasn't the only factor - he's a smart kid (obviously) and sees how Stanford has been churning out pro linemen under Harbaugh/Shaw. Petersen has done pretty well developing unheralded OL at Boise into NFL players, but it probably won't be until next year or the year after that we see a similar pattern emerging at the UW (Trey Adams, Kaleb McGary leading the way). Seeing more proof that Washington coaches know what they're doing in developing OL for the pros would have been a factor for Foster. And finally, the fact that he really started to question his recruitment when Washington blasted Stanford and ended up having a clearly superior season - that shows that the trajectory of the programs mattered to him.

All of those factors are why I believe that, had he been class of '18 instead, there's a much better chance Washington would have kept him home.

Jackson was the one UDub should have not bothered with from the start. ASU and maybe Arizona have to at least kick the tires, since he's an AZ kid, but Washington shouldn't have bothered.
Eh, when a high-level recruit is telling coaches he's very interested, you have to see where it goes. I doubt they were blind to the likelihood he'd eventually pick USC, but you have to try if the recruit is leaving the door that open.

I am curious what UDub nation's take is on Jones' visit to UCLA, how he still has an offer from the Huskies and how it impacts Peterson's commit visit ban. Since it appears that Jones' offer is still good, it appears to me that Peterson's visit ban is punchless and will likely be ignored by recruits with options.
There's a lot of confusion out there about his policy. Here it is - when Petersen gets a commitment from a recruit, he makes it clear to them that if they are publicly committing to him, he's committing to them. He encourages them to take their time and do other visits first before committing to Washington if they need to. He wants them to be sure about their decision, because he considers that commitment binding in both directions. None of this kicking a lower-rated commit to the curb later in the process when a shinier toy comes along (*cough* Harbaugh *cough*).

If a recruit chooses to visit another school, that means he's no longer committed, which means Petersen is no longer obligated to keep a spot for them.

You might think his approach is "punchless", but exhibit A is Connor Wedington - once it got out that he was meeting with Stanford coaches, the UW staff dropped him. This isn't some low 3-star, long-term project prospect - he's a legit 4-star athlete that is likely to have a very good college career.

Now, we both know these things are always a leverage game. In the case of Jones and UCLA, Jones had significant leverage - on the last weekend before Signing Day, the chances of UW getting a good WR to come in and visit on short notice and take that spot was small, so Jones had to know he was probably not going to jeopardize his UW offer by going to L.A.

But last year Amandre Williams decided to take a visit to Utah in September, and Washington had plenty of other capable OLB/DE prospects they were recruiting. It only took Williams a day after that Utah visit to reconfirm his UW commitment, both because he still preferred Washington but also because the coaches made it clear there were other guys they could get to fill his spot and pressed him to shit or get off the pot.

These things are always going to be handled on a case-by-case basis. The recruits that are upfront with Petersen about this (Jones, Williams) are going to get a little more leeway that those trying to be sneaky (Wedington). And obviously a highly talented player is going to have more leverage.

I think Coach Pete is a terrific coach and I also admire the point he is making with his recruits in upholding his visit ban with them, but I think he needs to reassess his stance on that now that he has to engage in "big boy" recruiting at a Pac 12 school. And perhaps by accepting Jones, he already is. If so, good move by him to ditch that.
I think he's been constantly tweaking his approach, but I doubt he'll abandon his policy on what a commitment means. If anything, with the early signing periods likely coming, his way of doing things might actually benefit him.

[Eaglesfan27]

USC lands 3 big recruits today:

4 star OLB Levi Jones, 5 star DT Jay Tufele, and 5 star OL Austin Jackson. Good chance that USC ends up in the top 5 in recruiting this year.

[Atocep]

So Mike Harley had been committed to WVU since June. In November he gets an offer from Miami, flirts with them a bit, then shuts his recruitment down reaffirming his commitment to WVU. Parents get involved and push him to visit Miami (which he does) and then he takes another late visit back to WVU but refuses to shut his recruitment down for a 2nd time. So WVU pulls his offer.

It was clear he was trying to drum up interest in his recruitment and wanted to pull a signing day flip to Miami. WVU wasn't having it so he had to do his hat thing with a Miami hat and a UCLA hat (who he never visited).

[tarcone]

Normal Iowa class. Maybe better with Espensa.

But nothing spectacular

[Eaglesfan27]

USC closed out very strong to end up with a top 5 class with a big signing day. I wasn't sure about Coach Helton earlier in the year, but he has convinced me that he has the team and recruiting heading in the right direction.

[MrBug708]

Good thing you had Helton, otherwise I'd be worried that USC was going to have a tough time recruiting

[MrBug708]

So Mike Harley had been committed to WVU since June. In November he gets an offer from Miami, flirts with them a bit, then shuts his recruitment down reaffirming his commitment to WVU. Parents get involved and push him to visit Miami (which he does) and then he takes another late visit back to WVU but refuses to shut his recruitment down for a 2nd time. So WVU pulls his offer.

It was clear he was trying to drum up interest in his recruitment and wanted to pull a signing day flip to Miami. WVU wasn't having it so he had to do his hat thing with a Miami hat and a UCLA hat (who he never visited).

The UCLA interest stemmed from Jedd Fisch at Michigan and UCLA taking a kid from his HS. I dont think we were a threat though, either.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Y'all down south have got to relax a bit about all of this stuff...

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