Kadarius Miller - Football Commit

[Cajunrunner]

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.

I agree the landscape has changed, and it still changing. I have zero insider knowledge, but I just hope our leadership, both within the coaching staff and athletic department, is proactively adapting to it.

The Belt has become a SERIOUS football conference in just a short time, very recent years, and I don’t see the App States, Marshalls and Troys looking back or taking a “wait and see” approach.

I am just legit concerned about being left behind, even after all the momentum the program has gained.

[ManAboutTown]

I agree the landscape has changed, and it still changing. I have zero insider knowledge, but I just hope our leadership, both within the coaching staff and athletic department, is proactively adapting to it.

The Belt has become a SERIOUS football conference in just a short time, very recent years, and I don’t see the App States, Marshalls and Troys looking back or taking a “wait and see” approach.

I am just legit concerned about being left behind, even after all the momentum the program has gained.

I am too. And I'm not telling anyone that they're wrong. I was just adding another piece of the puzzle. So many moving parts right now. We are definitely in a sensitive time in our football program's history and for those of us that care deeply about it, you can't help but hold your breath.

[cajun_lannister]

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.

App had a terrible year to their standards and just flipped a NCST commit.

South Al's 3 starting OL were SEC guys in 2021.

Troy is beating out SEC and ACC teams for prospects.

Our peers seem to be navigating the waters just fine.

I think we are in a chicken and the egg situation for UL's future

[ManAboutTown]

App had a terrible year to their standards and just flipped a NCST commit.

South Al's 3 starting OL were SEC guys in 2021.

Troy is beating out SEC and ACC teams for prospects.

Our peers seem to be navigating the waters just fine.

I think we are in a chicken and the egg situation for UL's future

I'm not saying anyone is wrong. It's clear to me that we have a different philosophy; right or wrong.

Troy is easy: They're a top 25 football team.

App St has been winning for 40 years.

South Al just won 10 games and opened a brand new beautiful stadium, in a major city.

All really nice tools for recruiting. All of those programs have more private donors than we do. All of these programs pay the max on stipends. 2/3 have really strong NIL collectives for G5 schools.

[cajun_lannister]

I'm not saying anyone is wrong. It's clear to me that we have a different philosophy; right or wrong.

Troy is easy: They're a top 25 football team.

App St has been winning for 40 years.

South Al just won 10 games and opened a brand new beautiful stadium, in a major city.

All really nice tools for recruiting. All of those programs have more private donors than we do. All of these programs pay the max on stipends. 2/3 have really strong NIL collectives for G5 schools.

Reason why this year was extremely important to maintain the winning tradition. Losing to ULM and going 6-6 killed all momentum built from the past 3 years. Season tickets and donations will take even more of a hit next year meaning less money to buy players.. Chicken and the egg

[RaginScotsman]

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.

That is what's worrying me. Not discounting anything the others have said about the landscape changes and I obviously hope we're just fine. But we were top of these rankings matching up against our conference mates just a couple of years ago. That got us to the top 25 and a ton of wins.

You can't just brush off the optics right now. Our recruiting class is floating in the middle of the pack depending on what site you're looking at. Just got to wait and see where the chips fall on signing day. Then get the kids to campus. Then recruit them again to keep them here after the staff develops them and poachers start to notice.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Football doesn’t have the luxury of waiting on results, like both our basketball programs. Unless USLing it is the long game. But we will know next year, we were told this was the best hire out there…continue the success…CMD had connections. It seems this next season is where the rubber meets the road…or we slide into oblivion. It’s success on the field that sells a new stadium, grows the program (along with a real marketing plan). It’s a big season next year in many ways.

I can’t agree with you in many cases. Unlike basketball, football usually doesn’t have many freshmen big enough, good enough to get PT, especially the O and D lines. Most of those boys need to add lots more muscle. We’d be fortunate to have any make significant contributions.

[fanof71]

I'm not saying anyone is wrong. It's clear to me that we have a different philosophy; right or wrong.

Troy is easy: They're a top 25 football team.

App St has been winning for 40 years.

South Al just won 10 games and opened a brand new beautiful stadium, in a major city.

All really nice tools for recruiting. All of those programs have more private donors than we do. All of these programs pay the max on stipends. 2/3 have really strong NIL collectives for G5 schools.

And you can trace the majority of the root causes of the situation to not doing ANYTHING, NOTHING, NADA, to capitalize on last season's success as soon as the season was finished!!. We're looking at the excuse machine Dr. Maggard and T Joe. A great manager never gets caught in a situation like UL did with CBN raiding the department...

[CajunT]

T, what's your take on the 2 TEs from Texas?

Caden Jensen is a little more athletic TE prospect at 6-5, 240. He can get down field. He was Texas Top 100 coming into the season off injury.

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=d05e7...ZS1yaXNl&ntb=1

Ty Stamey is more of a traditional TE prospect at 6-6, 235 that will grow into his body and play on the edge and block more than Jensen.

[fanof71]

Caden Jensen is a little more athletic TE prospect at 6-5, 240. He can get down field. He was Texas Top 100 coming into the season off injury.

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=d05e7...ZS1yaXNl&ntb=1

Ty Stamey is more of a traditional TE prospect at 6-6, 235 that will grow into his body and play on the edge and block more than Jensen.

Thanks T!

[moorecajun]

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.

IMO, what would be a good measuring stick is comparing with other sbc schools the commits that are lost. I don't think that is a realistic thing to do but there aren't any (many) coaches around that can keep a kid commited if a larger school with more money offers.

This is a very tough time for all us little fish and we need to learn how to swim again.

[cajunref]

And you can trace the majority of the root causes of the situation to not doing ANYTHING, NOTHING, NADA, to capitalize on last season's success as soon as the season was finished!!. We're looking at the excuse machine Dr. Maggard and T Joe. A great manager never gets caught in a situation like UL did with CBN raiding the department...

Bingo. I will support UL football regardless, however in my opinion, the hiring from within with seemingly no national search, was looked upon by the majority of people as lazy at best and going back to pre Bustle days. The awful attendance(shades of toothpick years) and continuing lack of effort of this administration this season speaks volumes. It will only get worse unless there is a complete 180 by the administration. I don't hold out much hope at this point.