UL football gets third commitment

[Parrott]

This is what I've noticed: UL targets a few key recruits and offers them in the summer and/or early fall. The coaches are careful to avoid over-recruiting - giving out more offers than available for that year - like a lot of schools do now. (Those schools usually have to place kids at JUCOs, grayshirt them - delay full-time enrollment for one semester - or flat out pull offers because they can only sign 25 recruits a year.)

UL doesn't just offer players so they can say they have "X" number of commitments. The coaches know nothing is binding until a national letter of intent is signed. They then do their best to give personal attention to those prospects and give out additional offers if warranted in the fall and winter. If you remember, two of this year's true freshmen contributors - Ladarius Green and Devon Lewis-Buchanan - committed late in the process.

Some other mid-majors - cough, ULM - got a lot of early commitments but always lose a few down the stretch. And a high number of commitments doesn't translate into success. Remember ULM last year and its huge JUCO class that was supposed to have a big impact?

[CajunT]

_ This is what I've noticed: UL targets a few key recruits and offers them in the summer and/or early fall. The coaches are careful to avoid over-recruiting - giving out more offers than available for that year - like a lot of schools do now. (Those schools usually have to place kids at JUCOs, grayshirt them - delay full-time enrollment for one semester - or flat out pull offers because they can only sign 25 recruits a year.)

UL doesn't just offer players so they can say they have "X" number of commitments. The coaches know nothing is binding until a national letter of intent is signed. They then do their best to give personal attention to those prospects and give out additional offers if warranted in the fall and winter. If you remember, two of this year's true freshmen contributors - Ladarius Green and Devon Lewis-Buchanan - committed late in the process.

Some other mid-majors - cough, ULM - got a lot of early commitments but always lose a few down the stretch. And a high number of commitments doesn't translate into success. Remember ULM last year and its huge JUCO class that was supposed to have a big impact? _

ULM had to sign a large Juco group because they had gaps in previous classes do to attrition. This will eventually hurt their APR, the exception would be those that never enrolled. They bought into the fact that some of these kids were highly recuited, especially the interior DL. The problem was they were shorter then advertised and did not shed blocks well. None of them recieved much interest from other Sun Belt programs, including the Cajuns. They had several JC OL that started, one CB and Ford started at DT. None of them were overly impressive in the Cajun game.

[ULGrad@HOU]

Thanks for the responses, I see what you are all saying, just seems like the other programs have some means of getting a few of these guys into their program where we don't. The numbers each year speak for themselves, and it just amazes me that they collect all these players and here we are with 18, 22 or whatever we get. This year will be the same I'm sure.

Oh, and Z and J1M, I wasn't watching airplanes or drinking Long Island Ice Teas, But I was playing in the snow with my son! In Kingwood, Tx (Houston) I might add. You guys might get some tomorrow morning from what I hear.

[HOUCajun]

_ Thanks for the responses, I see what you are all saying, just seems like the other programs have some means of getting a few of these guys into their program where we don't. The numbers each year speak for themselves, and it just amazes me that they collect all these players and here we are with 18, 22 or whatever we get. This year will be the same I'm sure.

Oh, and Z and J1M, I wasn't watching airplanes or drinking Long Island Ice Teas, But I was playing in the snow with my son! In Kingwood, Tx (Houston) I might add. You guys might get some tomorrow morning from what I hear. _

Over an inch of snow at our house, crazy!

[Zeebart21]

_ Thanks for the responses, I see what you are all saying, just seems like the other programs have some means of getting a few of these guys into their program where we don't. The numbers each year speak for themselves, and it just amazes me that they collect all these players and here we are with 18, 22 or whatever we get. This year will be the same I'm sure.

Oh, and Z and J1M, I wasn't watching airplanes or drinking Long Island Ice Teas, But I was playing in the snow with my son! In Kingwood, Tx (Houston) I might add. You guys might get some tomorrow morning from what I hear. _

How much did ya'll get? Did it stick?

[ULGrad@HOU]

_ How much did ya'll get? Did it stick? _

I'm guessing, but probably around an inch like HouCajun said. Yes it did stick and accumulate, white lawns, buildup on cars and bushes, it is awesome.

[Parrott]

_ ULM had to sign a large Juco group because they had gaps in previous classes do to attrition. This will eventually hurt their APR, the exception would be those that never enrolled. They bought into the fact that some of these kids were highly recuited, especially the interior DL. The problem was they were shorter then advertised and did not shed blocks well. None of them recieved much interest from other Sun Belt programs, including the Cajuns. They had several JC OL that started, one CB and Ford started at DT. None of them were overly impressive in the Cajun game. _

Agreed, BJ.

Those newcomers on ULM's OL and DL looked slow against the Cajuns. So many of them did not pan out - similar to what happened this year at Kansas State, which also had a big JUCO recruiting class. Both ULM and Kansas State failed to meet expectations this season in part because those JUCOs made little, if any, positive impact.

[ULGrad@HOU]

_ Agreed, BJ.

Those newcomers on ULM's OL and DL looked slow against the Cajuns. So many of them did not pan out - similar to what happened this year at Kansas State, which also had a big JUCO recruiting class. Both ULM and Kansas State failed to meet expectations this season in part because those JUCOs made little, if any, positive impact. _

Doesn't Troy get a good bit of JUCOs each year? Personally, I prefer us taking kids as freshman and let them grow into our program. I like that Coach Bustle seems to do this on most of our recruits. I believe that recruiting is such a HUGE part of whether we have success on the field or not and it's hard to really gauge on how well we are doing in this area.

[CajunT]

_ Doesn't Troy get a good bit of JUCOs each year? Personally, I prefer us taking kids as freshman and let them grow into our program. I like that Coach Bustle seems to do this on most of our recruits. I believe that recruiting is such a HUGE part of whether we have success on the field or not and it's hard to really gauge on how well we are doing in this area. _

Troy has gotten some high quality JC transfers that were placed by SEC or ACC programs. They either didn't graduate on time or the grades didn't meet the standards of those insitutions.

[Parrott]

Here's a link to a story about North Carolina's "over-recruiting" tactics. The trend is becoming more common, which eventually leaves some commitments without a scholarship on signing day.

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/c...y/1329555.html