College Football Recruiting (2015 Class) Discussion

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

I don't think ucla has recruited St. Brown since spring

Probably got tired of misspelling his name in their correspondence. Equanimeous and Soso Jamabo are just proof that Key & Peele's East-West Bowl skits will never top real life.

[MrBug708]

Josh Wariboko to UCLA!

[HomerSimpson98]

damn ucla is killing it

[CU Tiger]

UCLA is doing work today.
Impressed. I like WARiboko a lot.

Regarding Feaster, my mistake. I forgot about Walker honestly. Ok so #2 RB.

[Chief Rum]

Roquan Smith to UCLA!!

ESPN is besides themselves. They struggle with UCLA success, because their money is in with USC (key ESPN station in LA market is USC home station).

[MrBug708]

Ucla probably gets three more kids. Lil Snoop, Meadors, and Wicker.

Espn has really given ucla a bunch of backhanded compliments. Was great to see the hype given to smith and then watch them watch Smith pick UCLA over UGa

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

9:15 AM and Clemson has all 26 commits LOI in hand.

Love it.

Are you guys done done? UMass has one kid Denzel Johnson from the SC area we're hoping to get, and speculation is he's hoping Clemson offers last minute. I'm wondering if the UMass guys are misinterpreting and he's really debating whether to walk-on/greyshirt at Clemson or sign a scholly at UMass/Towson.

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by Logan

Technically he could be the whole line.

That is him standing next to our 6'7" DE Bronson Kafusi....He is a monster

[MacroGuru]

And we steal Mike Tafua from USC....

Very happy.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Roquan Smith to UCLA!!

ESPN is besides themselves. They struggle with UCLA success, because their money is in with USC (key ESPN station in LA market is USC home station).

And now Roquan is wavering.

This happens a lot with kids from the South and Texas. LOTS of pressure to stay home, the intensity of everyone around them who cares so much about football and their local schools. That kinda stuff you don't usually get out here in LA, where the parents may be equally horrified at their kids going away, but it's not the same where everyone else isn't so invested to really get on a kid about his choice.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Logan

Big get at DT for Mizzou in Beckner.

Literally.

Beat out Ohio State, Florida State, and Auburn. It really helps that MU has had such a good run of defensive lineman going to the NFL. DL's come to Mizzou now with the expectation of the coaches being able to prepare them to reach the next level.

[Breeze]

Apparently there are reports that Cowart has also signed a LOI with UF in addition to AU and none have been faxed yet. Based on how his recruiting has gone, and based on the school he plays for this really isn't all that surprising.

[cartman]

Boise State announces commitment of Katy Perry's Left Shark | FOX Sports

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Are you guys done done? UMass has one kid Denzel Johnson from the SC area we're hoping to get, and speculation is he's hoping Clemson offers last minute. I'm wondering if the UMass guys are misinterpreting and he's really debating whether to walk-on/greyshirt at Clemson or sign a scholly at UMass/Towson.

Johnson is a good kid.
I know some of his family personally.

He hasnt qualified academically yet. Mainly because prior to this past Saturday he had never taken the SAT or the ACT.

So by NCAA rule he cant be sent an LOI package unless UMass can accept partial/non-qualifiers. Which I doubt thats the case. I dont usually equate UMass with Marhsall but maybe I missed something

All that said he has been told by Dabo is he meets full qual status he will have an offer, but we wont know until April most likely. I suspect he is a placement for whomever gets him.

Good kid.
Has his head on straight now, hasnt always been the case. Pissed away his 9th and 10th grade years and has made phenomenal progress to rectify the situation but maybe too little too late.

Honestly I would like to see him go to UMass or similar where I think he will develop and star and may actually have league potential. Unfortunately (and I don't mean to sound snobbish in saying this) but at the level Clemson is currently recruiting WRs he will be limited in playtime here. And I dont think he is the type of kid who needs to buried on the chart and have too much idle time on his hands. I think he needs a purpose and a focus and I think he has a chance at a future.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

That is him standing next to our 6'7" DE Bronson Kafusi....He is a monster

I saw that pic earlier. That's not what I expected a 410 lb high school kid to look like.

[CU Tiger]

Oh standard disclaimer...please dont take that academic info and run to a message board with it. Its not public knowledge.

[MrBug708]

F the university of Georgia and their bag man to the coach..

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Logan

Good god.

I heard his mission is going to be at Golden Corral

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

F the university of Georgia and their bag man to the coach..

I have to admit, this does sorta have that feel to it.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

F the university of Georgia and their bag man to the coach..

I don't like jumping to the bag man excuse. There are plenty of reasons for a GA kid to want to go to UGA.

What I don't like is the kid makes his decision, and now he has two GA commits in his ear, saying "come on, you don't want to go to LA, go to UGA", and he his HS coach will probably do the same thing in that meeting.

It's BS. Respect the kid's decision.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

Oh standard disclaimer...please dont take that academic info and run to a message boaith it. Its not public knowledge.

No worries, I won't.

UMass is Atlantic 10 and can accept partial/non qualifiers in basketball, but I'm not sure if football is different being in the MAC - I think we can but those rules change every year. We actually had a lot of success with Prop 48 guys in bball, including a current assistant coach and a couple pro players, so there isn't a stigma here. As a public university I think it's a good thing if it's a kid with his head on straight that just messed around early in HS or in a case like Rashaun Freeman where he had an undiagnosed learning disability (dyslexia) because he was a really shy kid and no one at his school bothered to ask him why he wouldn't talk or couldn't read until he was a JR in HS and getting D1 looks. I think Victor Cruz was a partial or non qual out of HS too, if you want a UMass WR who turned out alright. The guys I don't like extending offers to are the ones that have bad transcripts because they transferred multiple times or got kicked out of places for attitude problems.

That said, how did he not at least take the SAT/ACT once by now? That's crazy - no one cares about early bad scores, might as well give it a shot and see if you'll pass.

Edit - looking into it, UMass had 2 kids I think were non-qualifiers that signed last year. One went Prep for a semester, the other might not have even been enrolled in a school, and both enrolled at UMass for the spring semester (along with a 3rd signee QB that tore his ACL last winter). I wonder if they managed to qualify in that time or that's just how we're doing it so those kids have the full 5 years to play 4 and don't have to burn a redshirt while sitting out. I guess I can tell by whether they're dressed and practicing this spring, because non-qualifiers still wouldn't be able to iirc the spring of their freshman year.

[MrBug708]

I don't have issues with flips to MSU, Texas, and GT. Things happen like that. This situation is ridiculous though

[Solecismic]

A lot of great football players are natural pleasers. They hate disappointing coaches, friends, teammates, fans.

The amount of pressure on some of these kids when they make a decision is enough to make them doubt that decision instantly. And now, with televised attention on signing day, it becomes too much. Many good kids are going to look like asses as today approaches. They're only 17/18 years old.

Michigan flipped a couple of mid-range prospects, but has missed out on all its high-profile targets (we seem to be a side-attraction for kids who really want to go to UCLA). The Marshall pipe-dream aside, we can only hope for our DE targets of Shelton Johnson and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. There's a Mississippi wide receiver (Washington) out there, but everything I read indicates he's staying.

Obviously, having seen Wheatley's dad play so many times when I was a student, that would be a nice addition.

[MrBug708]

Apparently there is news that ucla's DC/LB coach will be the new LB coach of the Falcons

[Eaglesfan27]

UCLA just lost their DC to the NFL. I wonder if that is why Smith is having 2nd thoughts.

[Eaglesfan27]

5 star DL Rasheem Green is about to announce. It will be a shock if it is anywhere but USC. Ditto for LB John Houston...

Green to USC!

[MrBug708]

I'll laugh if this is a dirty recruiting technique

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

I'll laugh if this is a dirty recruiting technique

Seems more likely Mora being shady and trying to keep it quiet until after signing day. Someone in Georgia let the cat out of the bag.

[Eaglesfan27]

Houston to USC too!

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Seems more likely Mora being shady and trying to keep it quiet until after signing day. Someone in Georgia let the cat out of the bag.

Mora hired Ulbrich to the Falcons?

Now that usc is back are we seeing a feisty EF27 again?

[MrBug708]

Snoop to ucla

[JonInMiddleGA]

The signing of RB Shannon Brooks to Minnesota marks the first major conference D1 signee -- in any sport -- in my HS alma mater's 56 year history.

[Eaglesfan27]

WR Deontay Burnett commits to USC! He will be a blue shirt and count towards next year's numbers.

[Eaglesfan27]

USC's class is now #1 on Rivals. Will be #1 on Scout too if Iman Marshall commits to USC.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

And we steal Mike Tafua from USC....

Very happy.

Nice get. I'd amend that statement, as everything I've heard is that Washington was the most significant competition for Tafua.

[Eaglesfan27]

Marshall to USC!

[tarcone]

Iowa gets a low quality class. Unless they can be coached up. Lots of linemen. Big guys. Maybe a good RB. We will see. Stocked the LBs.
9 Iowans were recruited. Yep, Iowa hit the home state hard. Knowing how fertile Iowa is for football, Im stoked.

[bhlloy]

If Sark can coach worth a damn the crosstown rivalry is going to be insane for the next four years. What a class for both LA schools

Like some of the guys SC got under the radar who aren't being mentioned - a couple of high upside blue shirt guys and also the DL coaches son who will walk on and has some really nice upside if he can put on some weight in a couple years. When you are recovering from sanctions those kind of depth signings are big.

[JonInMiddleGA]

There's something a little, ironic is the best I can come up with, about the fact that Darquan Smith was huddled with his HS coach for advice yesterday ... when that coach himself has already taken a job at another school (he's leaving Class AA Macon County to go to 6A Brunswick next season)

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

If Sark can coach worth a damn the crosstown rivalry is going to be insane for the next four years. What a class for both LA schools

Like some of the guys SC got under the radar who aren't being mentioned - a couple of high upside blue shirt guys and also the DL coaches son who will walk on and has some really nice upside if he can put on some weight in a couple years. When you are recovering from sanctions those kind of depth signings are big.

Is blue shirt just a different term for grey shirt?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Is blue shirt just a different term for grey shirt?

Preferred walk-ons with an "unofficial" promise of a scholarship later.

A blueshirt is a player who arrived on campus as a "preferred" or "recruited" walk-on and goes on to earn a football scholarship. The NCAA doesn't allow for schools to produce written promises of scholarships to walk-ons, but that doesn't stop a school from telling a prospect who walks on that an offer is coming after a certain point.

Grayshirting isn't the only colorful trend in football recruiting - ESPN

[Chief Rum]

It's something the NCAA might be putting a stop to, from what I understand, or at least they are looking into it. I think they see it as a way programs are trying to get around scholie limits.

[tarcone]

LOL. The NCAA has no teeth with the power 5. They will make a rule that allows it. Then whats the NCAA going to do?

[JonInMiddleGA]

With an offer from Columbia & a weekend visit to ODU lined up, local prospect Evan Sheriffs (Jefferson, GA) watched & waited throughout Wednesday.

Late today, he got what he'd been waiting for: an offer, quickly signed, from Miami

ERROR: The requested URL could not be retrieved

edit: in case the name sounds at least a little familiar, he's the younger brother of former NC State, now UConn QB Bryant Sheriffs.

[Wolfpack]

Interesting. So he went from choosing perhaps between ODU and Columbia to getting an offer from Miami? I'd say that's a step up in program quality (even if Miami isn't what it used to be).

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

Interesting. So he went from choosing perhaps between ODU and Columbia to getting an offer from Miami? I'd say that's a step up in program quality (even if Miami isn't what it used to be).

Actually, if he isn't a lock to pursue a career in football after school, I think he made a mistake not jumping on the Columbia offer.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Actually, if he isn't a lock to pursue a career in football after school, I think he made a mistake not jumping on the Columbia offer.

This was my thought as well. Fringe player at the U or an Ivy League education. Shame he made that choice, hope it works out for him.

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Is blue shirt just a different term for grey shirt?

I know Jon provided a link but for the purpose of differentiating:

Greyshirt- Delay enrollment (sit home) or go to a placement (typically Prep for the retained eligibility) for at least 1 semester then a promise of a scholarship as soon as it opens up. Typically from a mid year graduate, at least that is how the practice started.

Blueshirt- Enroll immediately and pay your own way for a semester, then we will put you on scholarship.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

Blueshirt- Enroll immediately and pay your own way for a semester, then we will put you on scholarship.

That may have been the intent, but my understanding is that scholarship ends up paying for that first semester, too. Maybe the recruit fronts the money at first, but it comes back to him once on scholarship. Which is why the NCAA is looking into it.

[Eaglesfan27]

I've heard/read a lot about Blue Shirts and my understanding is that it covers everything including the first semester. The only thing that the recruit misses is the summer session, they can't get the scholarship until the day before the fall semester starts.