2008 Recruiting Wars

[MissingMandy]

_ The Rivals recruit ratings are accurate for only those kids Rivals knew about in the early stages. A lot of these kids were already pegged in their sophmore and junior years by scouting groups and everyone on the planet that kept up the buzz. Once the game is on it begins to feed itself enormously. The kids that already have notoriety start slapping on more layers of star power once the BCS schools start calling on them, and that was already in formation due to scouting reports (hence a closed loop). Once the top 40 to 50 schools make their choices known, that just about locks up the 4 and 5 star tags. Do you think a kid that just gets his 2 star only because of a D1A "lower tier" offer, then somehow ends up on a top 40 team, jumps up a star or 2... really improved in a day? BS. It is an enormously self-feeding system. Rivals, by design, is not going to reward anyone that they did not sniff out from the beginning or does not match up to a top 40 to 50 school... it is much harder to climb that hill later, than to fall down that hill once they hooked you with 4 to 5 stars and all the kings came calling.

Many highschool kids are not a perfectly proven commodity. They are a raw form of their future selves. BCS schools don't generally look for a "prospect"... they are getting way too many calls and attention from so-said "proven commodoties".

Rivals accuracy is lacking badly past the top 40 to 50 schools on the list. Rivals is damn good at calling an ace an ace when they've had him in their face over and over... but have no idea about an ace they have not seen, or seen or heard about much. There are some seriously good kids that our coaches can see, test, question, get to know and be overwhelmed with. As drumroll put it, we are looking for sleepers. They are all over the place.

When you cannot pick up the prototypical heralded kid... you look at the kid that is a little undersized (right now), a kid who couldn't star because he was right in back of a superstar on the depth chart, a kid who was great at a smaller school, and so on. That is what UL has to do... for now. I am going to only judge our coaches on Saturdays, and our admin Sunday thru Friday... never the kids. YOU COME TO UL... YOU ARE OUR STAR. <=== put that statement on our bash... I'm kind of liking it.

We need to stop bellyaching about Rivals and stars. If any of our recruits wants more stars when he gets in our program, I am going to run down to the school supplies store and pick up some star stickers for him. _

Great post!!!!

[Pirogue]

_ Yes, he did. _

My guess is that you say Springfield high school rb Zeke Jones...
And if he becomes a Cajun ... I will be very happy.

Great running back

[waterboy]

I was thinking more along the lines a linebacker, but if that kids a running back, just on appearance alone, he will be a stud, hopefully here.

[Hammer58]

_ I am sure Coach Bustle knows that and remember MOST of these recruits will not play this year, at least not on the offensive side, they will take a redshirt so they have time to learn. I think he is recruiting the depth we need on the defensive side and players that can make an immediate impact there. We have a great bunch of experienced players coming back on the offensive side. Should be a good year. Have faith. I could be wrong but unfortunately I think we lose good players to McNeese because the players can't make the grades academically at UL. We have no control over that and they have that advantage. _

Oh geez, now you've insulted the Legends of the Fall. Get ready for a thesis on the greatness of d1aa and the Harvard of Little Refineryville.

How's the weather up there? I'm sure its consistantly cold. We are alternating each day here between shorts and parkas. Looking forward to seeing Kyle on the field when spring drills start.

[Pirogue]

_ I was thinking more along the lines a linebacker, but if that kids a running back, just on appearance alone, he will be a stud, hopefully here. _

6'0" 235
projects as a fullback, but has the skills to be a feature back a la Jerome Coleman and Kenyon Cotton...

Runs through people like Cecil Collins from Leeseville or Jerome Bettis from Notre Dame / Steelers

I like the kid a lot... he should be qualified and he's ready to play.

[Cajun Express]

_ Did he remind you of Kenyon Cotton? _

Hope he plays like K C.

[ulforlife]

...gave a verbal to ULM. forget him lets get zeke jones and that other kid from north louisiana and we'll be fine. ULM yeesh...

[Big Buds]

Wow that hurts...I truly saw some greatness in that kid but your correct onward and upward.

[MissingMandy]

_ Oh geez, now you've insulted the Legends of the Fall. Get ready for a thesis on the greatness of d1aa and the Harvard of Little Refineryville.

How's the weather up there? I'm sure its consistantly cold. We are alternating each day here between shorts and parkas. Looking forward to seeing Kyle on the field when spring drills start. _

Hope I didn't open any flood gates!!! I don't mean to hurt anyone just saying what I think. The weather here is awful. We have had a record as far as snow goes. Two snow days last week or it's raining. Freezing cold. Yuk. Can't wait to get back to the warm climate. I hope KP does a good job for everyone...he is looking forward to playing.

[Cajun Express]

_ 1A State Finals? heh ok : p _

Desire Street Academy http://www.desirestreet.org/academy/index.htmlwas started in New Orleans and moved to Baton Rouge after Katrina. Danny Wuerffel moved into the Desire Street Ministry after his stay with the Saint as part of his ministry. He reaches out to young people who have challenges in their lives. Mostly poverty challenges. http://www.desirestreet.org/new/danny.php

1A players who were great? One comes to mind, Terry Robiskie Edgard in the seventies. Granted most great players come from larger schools because they have so many more players. They have to compete against those other great players, but let's not forget sometimes you get pretty good kids who are lightly regarded, somebody like say Jake Delhomne. All Jake did was prove everybody wrong every time he put on a uniform.

Clearly these two players need a red shirt year to mature and grow physically, and maybe even red shirt sophomores before we start reaping the rewards, they may surprise us and take off, or never take off. This recruiting thing is often a crap shoot.