Kadarius Miller - Football Commit

[ManAboutTown]

Guys, the common theme here is the changing landscape of CFB and the recruiting game.

The formula is the same with Des as it was in the previous regime. The difference is, the "stud" category players are flipping to other schools for a pay day. We can deny it all we want, but it's the hard truth. Just check our commitment list from 2 months ago and check it now. All well regarded kids changing commitments for P5 or more wealthy G5 programs.

Also, the "cost of living" stipend has risen to $6k a semester per player. Many don't realize this, but UL is no longer able to pay on the higher end of this stipend. That is a direct result of not selling season tickets and RCAF having ~1700 members giving mostly to dedicated initiatives. Our recruiting will continue to be a struggle as long as we fail to engage the community and get more people to believe in the Ragin Cajun Football program.

Having said all of that, we've made a living on development the last 5 years. We have to get kids with drive and size into this program, get them on our S&C program, get them eating right and totally bought in. I was told recently that NFL scouts visiting the facility made multiple comments about our S&C, supplement program and nutrition program being "as good or better" than most P5 programs. And that, of course is because of major investment.

I think we'll end up in better shape that it looks right now. For the person who said Des doesn't have contacts; that just simply isn't true. Mike has been recruiting this region hard for years. If we're talking HS coaching connections (which is essential for recruiting), he most certainly does have connections throughout this state, South East and South Central TX, and MS.

We're navigating brand new waters at this point.

[CajunVic]

Thanks for this post MAT. The clouds were circling the site. We were in need of a 5 star post to cover for all that Poo Poo being dropped over here . . . hopefully more will jump on this trend of thought than the other . . . otherwise it will be coal for Christmas for some . . . might come in handy with the frigid temperatures . . .

[ManAboutTown]

Thanks for this post MAT. The clouds were circling the site. We were in need of a 5 star post to cover for all that Poo Poo being dropped over here . . . hopefully more will jump on this trend of thought than the other . . . otherwise it will be coal for Christmas for some . . . might come in handy with the frigid temperatures . . .

I understand why people are pessimistic about what they're reading right now. Outside of CajunT, we are criminally under informed about our recruiting process. It's a big reason why I don't follow it all that closely. One thing the previous regime was very good at was generating energy around recruiting. For many reasons, we just don't have that luxury right now. I'm not going to sit here and pretend like everything is peachy.. but it's not as bad as it seems, based on what staff and brass are saying.

Take these recruiting reports with a grain of salt until late January.

[Big Poppa]

All of this years recruites are within the normal footprint for us...Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi...

That comment was in response to someone suggesting that Des should clean house of some assistance and hire new ones nothing to do with recruiting players.

But if you want to talk about player recruitment. All of Des’ commits are from the normal radius of what they typically recruit. The difference is when Napier was recruiting it the kids he got had bigger P5 and high level G5 offers. Des’ commits have Swac, south land and DII offers. Anyone who can’t see the drop off in recruiting at this point and is not alarmed by it is not paying attention.

[ManAboutTown]

That comment was in response to someone suggesting that Des should clean house of some assistance and hire new ones nothing to do with recruiting players.

But if you want to talk about player recruitment. All of Des’ commits are from the normal radius of what they typically recruit. The difference is when Napier was recruiting it the kids he got had bigger P5 and high level G5 offers. Des’ commits have Swac, south land and DII offers. Anyone who can’t see the drop off in recruiting at this point and is not alarmed by it is not paying attention.

Again, the game has changed. Getting recruits to say "yes" has turned into a purely financial decision right now. I think things will change as we go into this NIL adventure but right now, it's at a fever pitch. I think Mike is leaning on his confidence in his staff to develop, rather than trying to outbid other programs for kids that are just looking for a few benjamins. (Tony Robichaux won a hell of a lot of games with that philosophy throughout his career btw)

It's obvious to me that Mike and staff have a gameplan. Filling roster spots, building with younger guys, still relying on HS talent rather than the portal and JUCO (as much). I think philosophically, it makes a lot of sense. In theory, it makes much more sense for a long term build.

[Million$Mullet]

I understand why people are pessimistic about what they're reading right now. Outside of CajunT, we are criminally under informed about our recruiting process. It's a big reason why I don't follow it all that closely. One thing the previous regime was very good at was generating energy around recruiting. For many reasons, we just don't have that luxury right now. I'm not going to sit here and pretend like everything is peachy.. but it's not as bad as it seems, based on what staff and brass are saying.

Take these recruiting reports with a grain of salt until late January.

Buddy, you can try to polish a turd all you want. It’s still gonna be a piece of doo doo. Take that as you want. But this has nothing to do with being a pessimist or an optimist. It’s about being a realist.

[ManAboutTown]

Buddy, you can try to polish a turd all you want. It’s still gonna be a piece of doo doo. Take that as you want. But this has nothing to do with being a pessimist or an optimist. It’s about being a realist.

I'm the furthest thing from a turd polisher. You know me better than that. Just trying to add some levity.

[Big Poppa]

Guys, the common theme here is the changing landscape of CFB and the recruiting game.

The formula is the same with Des as it was in the previous regime. The difference is, the "stud" category players are flipping to other schools for a pay day. We can deny it all we want, but it's the hard truth. Just check our commitment list from 2 months ago and check it now. All well regarded kids changing commitments for P5 or more wealthy G5 programs.

Also, the "cost of living" stipend has risen to $6k a semester per player. Many don't realize this, but UL is no longer able to pay on the higher end of this stipend. That is a direct result of not selling season tickets and RCAF having ~1700 members giving mostly to dedicated initiatives. Our recruiting will continue to be a struggle as long as we fail to engage the community and get more people to believe in the Ragin Cajun Football program.

Having said all of that, we've made a living on development the last 5 years. We have to get kids with drive and size into this program, get them on our S&C program, get them eating right and totally bought in. I was told recently that NFL scouts visiting the facility made multiple comments about our S&C, supplement program and nutrition program being "as good or better" than most P5 programs. And that, of course is because of major investment.

I think we'll end up in better shape that it looks right now. For the person who said Des doesn't have contacts; that just simply isn't true. Mike has been recruiting this region hard for years. If we're talking HS coaching connections (which is essential for recruiting), he most certainly does have connections throughout this state, South East and South Central TX, and MS.

We're navigating brand new waters at this point.

Bottom line when it comes to recruiting no one knows what these kids may become. But if you want to judge a recruiting class on signing day, don’t look at stars, look at who else offered them. Napier always seemed to be up against a P5 or 2 and the Houston’s Memphis’ Tulane…. and other well noted G5s. If you are getting kids who’s only offers were swac, southland, Mississippi college and some Ju co’s there is a reason your peer schools didn’t offer.

If that reason is because the recruiting landscape has changed I’ll be curious to look at other sunbelt schools on signing day and see if their class had offers like ours this year or like ours under Billy.

[ManAboutTown]

Bottom line when it comes to recruiting no one knows what these kids may become. But if you want to judge a recruiting class on signing day, don’t look at stars, look at who else offered them. Napier always seemed to be up against a P5 or 2 and the Houston’s Memphis’ Tulane…. and other well noted G5s. If you are getting kids who’s only offers were swac, southland, Mississippi college and some Ju co’s there is a reason your peer schools didn’t offer.

If that reason is because the recruiting landscape has changed I’ll be curious to look at other sunbelt schools on signing day and see if their class had offers like ours this year or like ours under Billy.

I'm with you. There has to be a litmus test. But my attitude at this point is to wait and see.

[JMV JustMyView]

I'm with you. There has to be a litmus test. But my attitude at this point is to wait and see.

Gotta go with MAT and Cajun T on this. Still to early to tell how these guys will turn out. Also agree with JamesTheJeweler that the teams also looking at the players that we are bringing in is weak. Hopefully this staff can coach these kids up.

[CajunNation]

Thank you for your posts MAT. It was needed. People need to realize that people like Juluke and the players he recruited aren't stepping foot on campus again until the situation with the NIL drastically changes.

Our best path forward is to trust our guys to find the best raw material that we can get into our program and build them from there.

I like your comparison to Robe. It is on point. Waterhose boys, football edition.

[cajunfan96]

Here we go again . . . posters over here Poo Pooing all over everything when in reality they have no clue . . . RP at its best . . .

Perception is Reality! Just saying.