Any Recruiting News?

[CrappDaddy]

What are the odds we get Faciane?

[CajunZ1]

But jelani has to sit out a season, right?

We fix it by taking in Jelani Smith as a transfer and signing one more HS LB. Half the solution is accomplished. We lost out a HS LB from Texas this weekend to Baylor.

igeaux.mobi

[Cajunsmike]

_ But jelani has to sit out a season, right?



igeaux.mobi _

Jelani Smith will have to sit out a year. That is OK as Fleming and McCoy will be seniors in 2010.

[zephyr]

_ Is it just me or is this shaping up to be a pretty solid class by our standards. Not to mention that Houston Bates is supposedly reconsidering his LSU commitment to come here for more playing time. W could have a pretty nasty defense by 2011. Let's hope this all works out and these guys play up to their abilities. _

While I'm encouraged, I also have some doubts. Arguably, one of our best pickups in James Butler may not even make the grades and a grayshirt may be a possibility. We just lost at least one DE hopefully for just the spring but there is uncertainty there and while we got 2 solid WR's, we didn't get some of the guys we were really high on and trying to get. We also didn't upgrade the OL like I thought we could this year and haven't gotten a truly solid QB prospect as of right now. While we did get Kevis Streeter, we now don't know what to expect until the summer because he won't enroll this spring. We have, thus far, been unable to get another RB to help build for the future and that is also a concern. IMO, this is a very unexciting class with the exception of a JUCO and a transfer.

[CajunT]

_ While I'm encouraged, I also have some doubts. Arguably, one of our best pickups in James Butler may not even make the grades and a grayshirt may be a possibility. We just lost at least one DE hopefully for just the spring but there is uncertainty there and while we got 2 solid WR's, we didn't get some of the guys we were really high on and trying to get. We also didn't upgrade the OL like I thought we could this year and haven't gotten a truly solid QB prospect as of right now. While we did get Kevis Streeter, we now don't know what to expect until the summer because he won't enroll this spring. We have, thus far, been unable to get another RB to help build for the future and that is also a concern. IMO, this is a very unexciting class with the exception of a JUCO and a transfer. _

I understand what you are saying, but the JC's will make or break this class. Smith, Pryer, Stokes, Streeter and maybe several more on the defensive side of the ball. The QB prospect may come by the end of the week. But we won't need him for two years. We won't need most of the HS recruits to play this fall. How we finish the next few weeks will define this class. Don't forget Robert Walker, along with Streeter will provide help at the RB position.

[CajunT]

_ What are the odds we get Faciane? _

Good, we should know something by Friday.

[BeauCajun]

_ While I'm encouraged, I also have some doubts. Arguably, one of our best pickups in James Butler may not even make the grades and a grayshirt may be a possibility. We just lost at least one DE hopefully for just the spring but there is uncertainty there and while we got 2 solid WR's, we didn't get some of the guys we were really high on and trying to get. We also didn't upgrade the OL like I thought we could this year and haven't gotten a truly solid QB prospect as of right now. While we did get Kevis Streeter, we now don't know what to expect until the summer because he won't enroll this spring. We have, thus far, been unable to get another RB to help build for the future and that is also a concern. IMO, this is a very unexciting class with the exception of a JUCO and a transfer. _

Did they move up signing day by 2 weeks??? Have we called back all of our coaches from recruiting?

Most of the better commits are made in this next 2 week period.

[zephyr]

_ Did they move up signing day by 2 weeks??? Have we called back all of our coaches from recruiting?

Most of the better commits are made in this next 2 week period. _

My knowledge comes from Cajun T's premium folder for which we get a good idea of who we are missing out on, have a chance on and of course, who we are targeting. Some of our bigger targets at WR went elsewhere or we know will not come here, the best RB prospect in the state chose to go to Memphis and we haven't really upgraded the DL or OL as much as we intended. You also consider that we lost out on several QB prospects and we are relying a lot upon our JUCO class which can have uncertainties, there is room for concern. NO, the period hasn't ended and the classes aren't final. My simple statement had merit and was worthy of concern so take that for what you will.

[CajunRed]

_ While I'm encouraged, I also have some doubts. Arguably, one of our best pickups in James Butler may not even make the grades and a grayshirt may be a possibility. We just lost at least one DE hopefully for just the spring but there is uncertainty there and while we got 2 solid WR's, we didn't get some of the guys we were really high on and trying to get. We also didn't upgrade the OL like I thought we could this year and haven't gotten a truly solid QB prospect as of right now. While we did get Kevis Streeter, we now don't know what to expect until the summer because he won't enroll this spring. We have, thus far, been unable to get another RB to help build for the future and that is also a concern. IMO, this is a very unexciting class with the exception of a JUCO and a transfer. _

Zephyr... I am not as knowledgable as you and don't claim to be, but after taking into account what we signed early... plus the commitments we have at this point... and the fact that the next two weeks still have great possibilities, I am cautiously optimistic about this class. Add to that the analysis and opinions from CajunT on these guys and I'm feeling pretty good.

We are a mid-major... and one that is still working to build its program and reputation. My guess is we'd all be hard pressed to find a mid-major that doesn't lose out on some of its targeted prospects.

[wcd35]

_ My knowledge comes from Cajun T's premium folder for which we get a good idea of who we are missing out on, have a chance on and of course, who we are targeting. Some of our bigger targets at WR went elsewhere or we know will not come here, the best RB prospect in the state chose to go to Memphis and we haven't really upgraded the DL or OL as much as we intended. You also consider that we lost out on several QB prospects and we are relying a lot upon our JUCO class which can have uncertainties, there is room for concern. NO, the period hasn't ended and the classes aren't final. My simple statement had merit and was worthy of concern so take that for what you will. _

I completely disagree. Relying on these JUCO's can have some risk but these are guys that were BCS players and couldnt make the grade at first and now are eligible. These guys will be impact players. They are guys that are easily some of the best athletes that we've signed in a long time. Out of Pryer, Streeter, Smith and Stokes, I think 3 of those guys are impact players next year.

As for the RB, we may go after another one, but you have to remember we have Rob Walker who I can guarantee will be a solid player as well as Streeter. I hope we get another RB but also I believe Shankle will continue to develop into a useful player.

We have a sure thing on kickoffs with Stover and some exceptional local guys like Molbert and Patt and a couple of under the radar guys like Darryl Williams and Amari Williams.

I think this could easily one of the best classes in recent history.

[zephyr]

_ I completely disagree. Relying on these JUCO's can have some risk but these are guys that were BCS players and couldnt make the grade at first and now are eligible. These guys will be impact players. They are guys that are easily some of the best athletes that we've signed in a long time. Out of Pryer, Streeter, Smith and Stokes, I think 3 of those guys are impact players next year.

As for the RB, we may go after another one, but you have to remember we have Rob Walker who I can guarantee will be a solid player as well as Streeter. I hope we get another RB but also I believe Shankle will continue to develop into a useful player.

We have a sure thing on kickoffs with Stover and some exceptional local guys like Molbert and Patt and a couple of under the radar guys like Darryl Williams and Amari Williams.

I think this could easily one of the best classes in recent history. _

JUCO's serve a good purpose at times but there is an inherent risk when signing them. We are seeing that RIGHT now with the temporary losses of Wolfe and Gaddies for at least the spring and who knows how much longer. There is a reason that all of these guys went the JUCO route rather than to good schools. Sometimes it is just grades which they get straightened out or sometimes its more than that like attitude and legal troubles. We can assume all we want about how good these guys WILL be but the fact is, none of us has seen Kevis Streeter, Benay Pryer, Lionel Stokes etc..play a down of D-1 ball and we have no idea how they will adjust to the D-1 game and they only have a couple of years to make that impact. My first statement was to simply point out that there should be concern that we haven't, at least to date, been able to sure up some spots that were a major priority such as both OL and DL's, running back and getting some playmakers at WR. I am very hopeful to see what Butler and Surgent can do as both are speed guys and Butler has awesome size but we also categorized guys like Pierre Hill as speed guys and while he's a solid young receiver, he's done little in providing big play ability. Also, Butler has some grade issues and the reason he didn't receive the big offers was due to the possibility that he may not be eligible. We lost out on every guy that we thought highly of at RB and losing Frankie Jackson was a big blow. James Gillum will likely not be eligible and we've moved from him. We don't have a lot of guys that we like at that position and we're trying to get a guy who had a phenomenal year in on a visit but there is still uncertainty. Rob Walker looks to be fantastic and I've loved him since we recruited him last year. I love the fact that this kid showed tremendous loyalty to us while grayshirting and working extremely hard in the offseason to improve. I see him at other athletic events and he just seems to be a great young man. The fact remains, until he comes in and plays and shows he can adapt, we don't know what he will do. Yobes Walker was supposed to be the real dea also and he's now a fullback. Guys like Pryer are very large and have the measurables but keep in mind that he is exceptionally raw and may take a couple of years to develop into a factor. This class has the ability to be a very underrated class with some very good players but it also has the ability to see a lot fluff with little production if some of these guys don't develop or get eligible.

[zephyr]

_ Zephyr... I am not as knowledgable as you and don't claim to be, but after taking into account what we signed early... plus the commitments we have at this point... and the fact that the next two weeks still have great possibilities, I am cautiously optimistic about this class. Add to that the analysis and opinions from CajunT on these guys and I'm feeling pretty good.

We are a mid-major... and one that is still working to build its program and reputation. My guess is we'd all be hard pressed to find a mid-major that doesn't lose out on some of its targeted prospects. _

I am also cautiously optimistic. Please don't mistake my concern for negativity. Guys like Bernard Smith, Jelani Smith, Robert Walker, James Butler and Trev Patt make me think that we could have some tremendous young players come from this class. You are also right about missing out on targets. It goes without saying that we just don't have the rep to pull everybody we want. However, my concern was that we lost out on most of our primary targets at important positions like QB, RB and WR. I'm also worried about the effect of losing Gaddies, Wolfe and Streeter for this semester at least. I'm sure Streeter will be fine as he only has one class to pass but it would have been much better to see him in the spring. However, Gaddies and Wolfe both are uncertainties into the future and Gaddies especially was looking at starting at DE this year so that is a huge potential blow.