Signing day is almost here!

[Poli]

No kidding, ksyrup...but UT has a great class already, Jones or no Jones. I'm happy.

What surprises me is the lack of fanfare this year seems to have. Last year and the year before it seemed to be really heated...I was thinking two days ago about how quiet it has been in regards to recruiting this year.

[MikeVick7]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Rivals is reporting that Noel Devine will sign with WVU tomorrow! I am giddy at the prospect of seeing Patrick White, Steve Slaton, and Noel Devine in the same backfield next year. I sure hope he can qualify.

The latest is that he's not signing with anyone today according to Rivals.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by ardent enthusiast

We're waiting on four other names, Gerald Jones the biggest. Jones has reportedly been wavering between UT, OK State, and Texas Tech.

So I don't follow UT Recruiting at all, hard enough to keep up with W&M, can you gimme some highlights on who we got and who turned at the last minute?

[Tigercat]

Mcknight to USC. Not surprising, and LSU will be fine with a top 5 recruiting class without him.

I am just disappointed the the best player in Louisiana, a once in every few years type talent would choose to leave the state. Especially for a team that needs his talent less than any other team in the nation. Ah well.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by MikeVick7

The latest is that he's not signing with anyone today according to Rivals.

That's good news for FSU.

[DeToxRox]

McKnight to USC

[Eaglesfan27]

YES!!! Just saw myself that McKnight made it official. Not a surprise, and I really thought the distance comments were just to keep people guessing.

[vtbub]

bsak16 is tracking things http://inthebleachers.net/recruiting...ating-all-day/

[Tigercat]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

YES!!! Just saw myself that McKnight made it official. Not a surprise, and I really thought the distance comments were just to keep people guessing.

I think he meant them, but USC was leading for him for months before that. And he has been living away from home with his coach since the storm anyway, so it wasn't enough to overly affect his decision.

[RedKingGold]

McKnight's signing with USC hopefully means Green will up with Penn State

[Poli]

Originally Posted by wade moore

So I don't follow UT Recruiting at all, hard enough to keep up with W&M, can you gimme some highlights on who we got and who turned at the last minute?

Yep, one minute.

[DeToxRox]

I have no vested intrest in McKnight as a Michigan fan but I have to wonder if you think USC will keep these RBs? This is good news for lesser teams who might get a huge transfer out of this.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by DeToxRoxDVHStyle

I have no vested intrest in McKnight as a Michigan fan but I have to wonder if you think USC will keep these RBs? This is good news for lesser teams who might get a huge transfer out of this.

Agreed. I'm thinking we'll lose at least one of our returning backs. Just too many very good to great backs to keep them all. However, from the local footage I've seen of McKnight, I'd take him over any of current backs. I agree with Tigercat that he is a rare talent.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by ardent enthusiast

Yep, one minute.

You rule.

[Poli]

Wade, here's the list I'm going by:
1. Todd Campbell - WR
2. Donald Langley - DT
3. Art Evans - ATH
4. Cody Pope - OL
5. Darris Sawtelle - OL
6. B.J. Coleman - QB
7. C.J. Fleming - CB
8. Cory Hall - DE
9. Kevin Cooper - RB
10. Savion Frazier - TB/LB
11. Nevin McKenzie - S
12. Tyler Maples -WR
13. Josh Hawkins -RB
14. Darnius Moore -ATH
15. Daryl Vereen -RB
16. Brent Vinson -ATH
17. Eric Berry -DB
18. Lennon Creer -RB
19. Ahmad Paige -WR
20. Chris Donald -LB
21. William Brimfield -DT
22. Rolando Melancon -DT
23. DeAngelo Willingham -DB
24. Kenny O'Neal -WR
25. Ben Martin -DE
26. Dennis Rogan -RB
27. Anthony Anderson -ATH


Waiting on:
Gerald Jones -ATH 2:00
Chris Walker -LB 12:00
Deshaun Barnes -DB 12:00
Rufus Williams -DE 2:00
Rae Sykes -DE 1:00

Assuming times are eastern, two of these guys have announced, but it hasn't been updated.

Pope signed last year, practiced for a few days, but was then declared ineligible. He resigned this year. Same deal with Vinson.

Berry, Donald, and Martin were in the Army All American game. Donald and Martin announced there. Martin is from Ohio and OSU was pushing for him. I'm happy to nab him.

Paige was a surprise. I never thought we had a shot at him, Creer as well.

McKenzie is a JUCO who looks to take over for Morley, who didn't make the grades to stay in school.

Jones is the big name we're waiting on, I'd like to see him go with the Vols.

[Noop]

Austin I think is going to UNC.

[wade moore]

Good to see WR's and RB's, an area where I'd really like to see some improvement. I wonder how the QB position shapes up after Ainge leaves.

[cschex]

I'd be more upset if we hadn't gotten Keiland Williams last year, but LSU continues to have a very deep RB corps. McKnight has always wanted to be the next Reggie Bush (minus the potential violations, i would hope), so good luck to him. I just hate the fellating of USC by, well, everyone, but the Disney's boys especially.

[Eaglesfan27]

Everson Griffen and Ronald Johnson just signed their letters of intent with USC.

Can't wait to see the "Super Freak" in action.

[Poli]

Redshirt freshman (last year) Jonathan Crompton is #2 and started the Arkansas game. He came in early during the LSU game as well, due to the injury to Ainge.

Nick Stephens is our #3 (signed last year) and Hardegree our #4.

Coleman will likely redshirt this year.

I'd expect UT to go after a couple of QBs heavily in the next year.

[timmynausea]

Originally Posted by MikeVick7

The latest is that he's not signing with anyone today according to Rivals.

Yep. Apparently Deion Sanders spent last night convincing him he should go to a prep school next year. He has two months to sign, though. If it all comes down to Rich Rodriguez vs. Neon Deion, I think RR will come out on top.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by ardent enthusiast

Redshirt freshman (last year) Jonathan Crompton is #2 and started the Arkansas game. He came in early during the LSU game as well, due to the injury to Ainge.

Nick Stephens is our #3 (signed last year) and Hardegree our #4.

Coleman will likely redshirt this year.

I'd expect UT to go after a couple of QBs heavily in the next year.

Well, right, I realize that's the situation for next year, but is there someone that will clearly take over for Ainge? Is Crompton the guy, or could Coleman jump in and start as a freshman?

or do you think we really need to try and bring in a true freshman in 2008?

[Poli]

Crompton's a stud, and I'd like see him get the job. I don't really believe Stephens or Coleman will see the starting job.

I'd expect it to be between a then Redshirt junior Crompton and a highly touted freshman or two.

[Poli]

Walker's is in reportedly.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by timmynausea

Yep. Apparently Deion Sanders spent last night convincing him he should go to a prep school next year. He has two months to sign, though. If it all comes down to Rich Rodriguez vs. Neon Deion, I think RR will come out on top.

That's Deion plus the FSU contingent. Really, it was down to the two schools, so any delay favors FSU. If/when he qualifies, it's open season.

FSU got Brandon Paul, a local (Tallahassee) 4 star DB.

[Dr. Sak]

North Carolina is putting together a good class. Butch Davis really made up for lost time.

[timmynausea]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

That's Deion plus the FSU contingent. Really, it was down to the two schools, so any delay favors FSU. If/when he qualifies, it's open season.

FSU got Brandon Paul, a local (Tallahassee) 4 star DB.

I agree that this could help FSU, but it seems that Deion is not arguing on behalf of FSU that Devine wait another couple weeks to take more visits. He is fully in support of Devine going to prep school whether he gets his grades or not and spending the entire next year making his choice.

That really doesn't make much sense, though, and I think he'll get his test score and end up in college next fall. It leaves the door open some for FSU, but he has said repeatedly he wants to get out of Florida.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by timmynausea

I agree that this could help FSU, but it seems that Deion is not arguing on behalf of FSU that Devine wait another couple weeks to take more visits. He is fully in support of Devine going to prep school whether he gets his grades or not and spending the entire next year making his choice.

That really doesn't make much sense, though, and I think he'll get his test score and end up in college next fall. It leaves the door open some for FSU, but he has said repeatedly he wants to get out of Florida.

Tallahassee is 15 miles from Georgia.

[Logan]

If you're the type of athlete that Devine is, it just seems like WVU is the perfect system for you to be in. He should slide right into Slaton's role with ease (obviously, the level of execution will take time).

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Logan

If you're the type of athlete that Devine is, it just seems like WVU is the perfect system for you to be in. He should slide right into Slaton's role with ease (obviously, the level of execution will take time).

What, the possibility of following in Lorenzo Booker's shoes doesn't thrill him?

This will be a make-or-break year for Bowden. If they continue to struggle on offense with the new coaching staff, they will see a huge slide in recruiting. Already we're looking at no better than a top 30 class this year, and without Austin, maybe not even that.

The bad thing for FSU is, as easy a schedule as they had last year, the schedule is that much tougher this year. Last year they had 8 home games and all the tough ones except Miami at home; this year they have Clemson, UF, VT, WF, and BC on the road. Even if they improve on last year, it might not show up in the record.

[MrBug708]

Pete Carroll is one of the dirtiest people out there and which is why I laugh when he cries ignorance on the whole Reggie Bush thing

----------------------------

The black car idled outside Crenshaw High, waiting to whisk Brian Price to USC.

Price, a highly regarded defensive lineman, had committed to UCLA months before and had told USC coaches he was not interested in an official visit to their campus.

USC scheduled one anyway — and sent the conspicuous vehicle to deliver Price to Heritage Hall last month.

Price did not get into the chauffeur-driven automobile — a Lincoln Town Car, according to USC; a limousine, according to Price's father and other witnesses — but its arrival at Crenshaw was emblematic of the never-quit recruiting mentality that helped fuel USC's return to prominence and, according to some experts, has lately infused UCLA as well.

It was just more than two weeks ago that USC made its play for the 6-foot-3, 270-pound Price, setting off a flurry of rumors on the recruiting grapevine.

NCAA rules forbid the use of limousines or helicopters to transport recruits during official paid visits, but luxury sedans, such as Town Cars, can be permissible, according to NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson.

Price said he had told Trojans assistant coach Ken Norton Jr. on Jan. 18 that he would not make an official visit to USC. Price said he was in his fourth-period class at Crenshaw the next day when he was informed, "there's a limo waiting outside for you to come to USC."

Price's father, Frank, who works as a softball coach at Crenshaw, said he then called Norton to tell him his son would not be getting into the limousine.

Asked if he knew the difference between a Town Car and a stretch limousine, Frank Price said, "That limo was long. That was no Town Car."

NCAA rules prohibit coaches from speaking about recruits until they have signed letters of intent, so Carroll declined to comment specifically about Price. He said, however, that office staff made transportation arrangements for recruits and that he did not know the name of the car service that USC used.

Speaking generally, Carroll said, "We would anticipate that when you send a car to pick someone up, they will be picked up in a Town Car. That's standard operating procedure. That's what we expect."

A USC athletic department spokesman said the school's compliance office had requested a receipt from the car service and that the receipt showed a sedan had been ordered and was sent to Crenshaw.

The spokesman said compliance officials were satisfied that no violation had occurred and were no longer investigating the matter.

He declined to provide The Times with the name of the car service.

Price said that he was planning to commit to UCLA, but that did not stop other schools from courting him. He recently made a trip to Arizona State, and he said his family played host to USC coach Pete Carroll and linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr.

The meeting with the USC coaches had a turbulent ending. Frank Price could not be there, so longtime family friend and former Crenshaw assistant coach Eric Scott was asked by the family to sit in. Scott left Crenshaw last summer to work as a part-time intern at UCLA.

"It was cool to me, but my mom didn't like it because coach Carroll said if I didn't take a trip there, he didn't know what kind of character I have," Brian said. "My mom got mad off of that, and I did, too. You can't judge a person's character because they don't want to take a trip to your school."

What the hell kind of coach would call a kid classless if he decides not to visit their school?

Eat shit and die Carroll. Seriously. You make Tark the Shark look like an Angel

[DeToxRox]

All coaches are shady. Jim Tressel was recruiting for Michigan State for Ronald Johnson just so he wouldn't sign with Michigan. Anyway to get ahead of your rival.

[PSUColonel]

Broderick Green will make an announcement at 1:35 PM. Will it be USC, or PSU?

[Swaggs]

How is it that schools can get in trouble for their fans contacting recruits via myspace or by just talking to them, but a famous and wealthy FSU alum is allowed to have Devine live with him and talk to him on the telephone the night before LOI day?

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by DeToxRoxDVHStyle

All coaches are shady. Jim Tressel was recruiting for Michigan State for Ronald Johnson just so he wouldn't sign with Michigan. Anyway to get ahead of your rival.

If you want to read another interesting piece read this about Notre Dame

hxxp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/06/AR2007020601649.html

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

How is it that schools can get in trouble for their fans contacting recruits via myspace or by just talking to them, but a famous and wealthy FSU alum is allowed to have Devine live with him and talk to him on the telephone the night before LOI day?

Probably because in this case Deion is first and foremost a HS alumn of Devine so he's giving him "recruiting process advice".

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

How is it that schools can get in trouble for their fans contacting recruits via myspace or by just talking to them, but a famous and wealthy FSU alum is allowed to have Devine live with him and talk to him on the telephone the night before LOI day?

The NCAA also wants to put a ban on fans making signs for recruits when the attend football or basketball games. They want those and chants stopped that include the recruits names.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by PSUColonel

Broderick Green will make an announcement at 1:35 PM. Will it be USC, or PSU?

There is a guy at the press conference who is doing live messages to a USC board, and it is funny to watch him analyze everything. He seems to think Broderick's clothes choice indicates it will be PSU.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by DeToxRoxDVHStyle

Probably because in this case Deion is first and foremost a HS alumn of Devine so he's giving him "recruiting process advice".

I made the Deion/FSU comment, so maybe it's more likely that he isn't pushing him one way or the other. Still, it's a good question.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by bsak16

If you want to read another interesting piece read this about Notre Dame

hxxp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/06/AR2007020601649.html

Very nice find BSak. I find it crazy that these coaches will go that far to persuade recruits.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by bsak16

The NCAA also wants to put a ban on fans making signs for recruits when the attend football or basketball games. They want those and chants stopped that include the recruits names.

That would be impossible to stop

[Eaglesfan27]

Interesting, just read an article that USC is obtaining the #1 kicker in the nation from a few years ago after Nebraska gave a full release to K Jordan Congdon who has had multiple family members in ill health back in California and wanted to come back closer to home as a result. The big knock on him as a kicker is his short kickoffs, but he seems very accurate on anything inside 40 yards.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

There is a guy at the press conference who is doing live messages to a USC board, and it is funny to watch him analyze everything. He seems to think Broderick's clothes choice indicates it will be PSU.

He is now reportedly changing his clothes...I think the kid is really torn. Maybe he should wait and think it over some more.

[timmynausea]

Signing day always makes me wish for multi-player TCY.

[Dr. Sak]

Green to USC

[Eaglesfan27]

It's official. Broderick Green stays with USC!!! He is such a big back that we need for short yardage!

[Eaglesfan27]

Now, USC has the top 3 recruits overall according to most recruiting services, as well as 3 of the top backs (assuming Marc Tyler doesn't have a last second change of heart.)

[Dr. Sak]

Well you have to figure a few of those RBs will be transferring before their eligibity is up. There aren't enough carries to go around.

[Eaglesfan27]

Word on the USC board about Broderick Green is that his parents were pushing him hard towards PSU and that he actually gave them a soft committ last night, but then decided to honor his original committment to USC. However, it went down, seems like he really agonized over the decision.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Now, USC has the top 3 recruits overall according to most recruiting services, as well as 3 of the top backs (assuming Marc Tyler doesn't have a last second change of heart.)

I've heard grumblings before Tyler could leave USC (though it could've just been message board BS) but it seems like a scenario that has legs to it. What do you think, EF?