S137 Signing Day Recap
Recruiting doesn't end until this Tuesday, but we can take a look at the field and see how things are lining up. There are some new faces this year and the recruit vision has improved for some teams.
Quarterback
Humboldt State lands the best quarterback Charles O'Neill in the pool and while he does have the strongest arm (59) he lacks in read and recognition skills. Still with a 49.1 core rating if he grows as expected he should easily become the best quarterback Jaylien1 one has had to work with by his senior season. This was a must need position since they only have a freshman and sophomore quarterback that has been redshirted and it was imperative for them to recruit strong in this position.
Texas A&M scores big with the second best quarterback Justin Hall, who I know that he has high potential, 45 WE and a 3.9GPA. His overall core of 47.7 means he should grow better than one of TAMC best quarterback's that they've had with Lloyd Foster last year who gained to 65.02 core.
Saginaw Valley State jumps up to #3 and this was definitely a must need position. They will play a senior quarterback this season, but his back-up is only a redshirt sophomore and nobody behind him. I like this pick with his 47.6 core and really balanced stats but I do wonder if maybe he could have landed a slightly better quarterback (more on that later) with higher work ethic, since William Evans only has a 21 work ethic. So time will tell on how well he's going to develop and if it pans out.
Winona State, Northern Michigan, Cheney, Presbyterian, Long Island, Quincy, and Pace all round out the best of class. It looked like one of the bigger battles came down to Long Island versus Shepherd and it appears that LI won it.
(The later) On a side note it was odd to see a D-1A school again pick up a quarterback, I think the last time this happened was a few seasons back when I noticed it. But must be tough times for Rutgers as they had to land a 47 core quarterback this season. It's kind of a odd but mainly a shame because this quarterback is located in Michigan and has higher work ethic that Saginaw Valley could have used.
Running Backs
For running backs this year Texas A&M is no stranger to recruiting top running backs and this season they land the number one and number two backs in the pool. Only one back was really needed but it's tough to turn down two 60 plus core rated RB's in your backyard. Randall Kim is the better starter of the two with a 61.6 overall and a speedster with 83 speed, his work ethic is 52 but he's only average potential so he may not grow as well as James Simpson. James Simpson is a 48 work ethic and high potential and starting at 60.8 overall. When trying to compare him to Northern Michigan's Joseph Bonilla who graduated last season, Bonilla started his career with the 60.31 core and a 44 work ethic and high potential. So I'm guessing he may end up being around 74 core rating to start his senior season.
Western New Mexico continues to make noise and impresses as they snatch the #3 best running back in the recruit pool. RB John Shelton (out of California) with 43 work ethic but a whopping 76 speed and 78 elusiveness with an overall core rating of 60.3. So what is tmelonhead doing down there in Western New Mexico, well he's continuously improving his Guess Ranking classes and he started out and season 130 with a class of 119 and he has increased his class ranking just about every year including last season finishing 13th. Keep an eye on him because now with a running back like this you have to remember the also recruited Paul Brunson who was a 61.38 core and enters this season as a redshirt sophomore at a 67.93.
It look like there were a lot of good running backs this season and teams like Presbyterian, Cheney Pace, Saginaw Valley State, West Chester Virginia state and all took advantage of it.
Saginaw Valley State probably had the biggest need here and they came through with their selection of RB Richard Alvarez. Their current redshirt freshman RB is only a 54.7 overall core and in no way is going to be the type of NC caliber back that they need, but landing a 58.6 with 56 Str, 69 GI, 77 elusiveness and 46 work ethic to start will likely deliver a solid up the middle style RB.
Presbyterian not only scored the #4 best running back with a 60.1 core rating but they also snagged the 8th best running back with a 58.6 core. The work ethic is a little low on their second running back, but RB Herman Simpson is a true stud with a 60 plus speed and elusiveness rating and over 70 points and strength.
One of my favorite backs to watch in the future out of this class will be how John Zimmerman who joined Cheney this year will develop as he features and 89 elusiveness and 65 speed. With his 55 work ethic is combined with high potential to see what kind of growth he gets in the next four season by his senior year.
Wide Receivers
North Alabama was going to have a gap in their wide receiver group between his Juniors and sophomore's with nobody being over 56.92 overall core. Fazbear05 delivered as he battled and landed the number one wide receiver Jorge Smith with a 58.2 overall rating and was known for his consistency as a slot receiver. 60 hands and 75 elusiveness with 53 game instinct should provide the tools to complete those third-down conversions. Pretty solid with N. Alabama having about 12 win average for vision.
Presbyterian and Northern Michigan both land some explosive good-looking wide receivers at #2 and #4 position. Presbyterian only has two wide receivers this year running a Notre Dame Box and Trips package. It looks like WR Timothy Jones fits the mold when comparing to his other receivers on the roster. Both receivers have near 80 or above elusiveness and both are fast with good hands.
If I had to choose out of the two of them, Northern Michigan's William Crews with 72 speed, 82 elusiveness, but with less hands at 52 could be the more dominant receiver in the end. He reminds me a little bit of my old receiver David holiday who had a 85 speed in 81 elusiveness but only 56 hands to start, that guy had an insane YAC on the season and receptions at any distance would go for 6.
Out of all the wide receivers though, my favorite actually goes to St Joseph's, under new coach fla_dave. He returns to bring his former team back to glory but unfortunately, his weapons have diminished especially at wide receiver. James McGuire was the best receiver on the board with 66 speed 65 hands 62 game Instinct 62 elusiveness in 50 Tech. What's his work ethic you might ask? How about 61, this dude is a beast in the making.
Offensive Line
So no one team really cleaned up this season, as each team pretty much landed a top talent. A surprising name though to jump up the charts to #4 was Gary Floyd (61.4 Core) who went to Mesa State. Now this is a team with an average win of only 10 wins per season meaning he's a few tiers down from the highest levels of vision. So if you're an up-and-comer type of team don't count yourself out on recruiting top talent when it's available. Justp3ach3y was solid at Fort Lewis before he had to take a month break and I wrote about him as being one of the up-and-comer coaches to watch. You can see what happened to Fort Lewis after he left as it's been on a steady decline (hopefully the new coach can turn it around), meanwhile he's got his feet wet now at Mesa State and and is going to start making some noise in the near future.
The top rated overall offensive lineman came in at 64.2 and featured 70 strength, 76 blocking and was landed by Presbyterian. William Barker be thy hog and with high stamina should be a nice anchor. They also landed the number 10 offensive lineman in this was just a good solid year of recruiting for rpobornes.
We find Saginaw Valley also on the board landing the #2 OL with a 64.0 overall core and a 74 strength, 61 blocking, 65 game Instinct, 67 technique OL named William Harris. He is actually going to be a nice compliment to their existing offense of line which offers averages of 56 on game Instinct in technique, so look for him to help boost the group in that area.
Defensive Line
At defensive line, Joseph Robinson with Texas A&M has a strength of 71, 81 tackling, 62 game Instinct, with high potential and 38 work ethic. No I have had some nice DL's before, but a freshman at 65.7 overall core with high potential is going to be awesome when he's done. TAMC who runs a 3-4 defense comes in to camp better than the returning sophomores and freshmen.
West Chester jumped up to number 2, with Glenn McCormick at 63.1 overall core, 71 strength, 70 tackling, and almost 60 game instinct. This was a very important selection since they also run a 3-4 defense and are currently boast Junior heavy class at DL with a gap after they leave.
And look who's here again, Presbyterian lands the #3 and the 8th best deals on the board. What a year for recruiting for rposborne who went through a nasty slump in season 133 - 134 and has rejuvenated his squad finishing with two back-to-back 16 win seasons.
My favorite selection for this position should be my own, but it's actually seeing Western New Mexico land the seventh best defensive lineman. Derek Trotter comes in at 60.9 overall core rating and is better than three out of five of his current defensive lineman. 64 strength, 71 tackling, 63 game instinct, 63 technique and 40 work ethic. Solid improving for a team that is quickly rising up the charts.
Linebackers
The top four spots belonged to Texas A&M, Northern Michigan, Humboldt State in Cheney. All of them are very nice selections and all are over 55 overall core rating.
Virginia state and catfish_jack picks up the number 5 linebacker in Thomas Hampton, and what is really nice about this guy is he's over 60 in athleticism, speed, strength and tackling. In fact the only downside to him is 49 game instinct which I would take all day long and he's got a 49 work ethic. When you compare him to the top four linebackers, there is no question he is the best overall balanced linebacker in this recruit pool.
Central Oklahoma gets a diamond in the rough as they come in in the sixth spot and nail it with a 72 strength, 70 tackling linebacker in Charles Franklin. If you guys haven't paid attention to what Jawz is doing in the LSC on his rebuilt you better take notice, because I have. This team is going to be a threat from this season forward and you're going to see the name Central Oklahoma quite a bit in 2 seasons.
St Josephs and again Western New Mexico finish 7th and 8th respectively but it's actually Findley who makes it inside the top 10 with linebacker James Gates. Now Gates is more of a cover style linebacker room will need some development in the tackling area, but he's a very balanced linebacker and it's great to see Findlay in the top 10 group.
Defensive Backs
West Chester and 2000champou sign the #1 ranking DB with a 56.1 overall core in DB Harold Harris. He only has a 44 taclane but that should improve with a 43 work ethic, but he's a 77 speed, 61 strength in 60 game instinct. They also grabbed the 10th best defensive back who does offer higher tackling and fills the corner spot better with a 63 speed, 47 athleticism and 61 tackling, plus good coverage skills with 58 game Instinct in a 50 work ethic.
Ferris State and coachoatie nailed it with a pair of defensive backs in Zachary Vickers and Paul Cantrell. Both are rated over 53 core, have good speed, game Instinct, technique and decent tackling. That's going to be a nice addition to back up his three sophomores when they're senior sense all three are equal or less than these two freshmen. So this was a big upgrade this year can future talent.
Cheney and waregl72 also brought in the #4, #8 and just outside the top 10 third DB in a large DB recruit class. It's Manuel Kelly who is the more balanced of the two with 63 speed, 59 tackling and 57 game instinct with an overall core rating of 54.3 will make a nice balance defensive back that he can swap in and out of different slots. Cheney actually selected three quarterbacks in this year's recruit pull but this is the guy that stood out the most.
SUMMARY
The same names that seem to pop up a lot on the top ten list is West Chester, Presbyterian, Cheyney, Northern Michigan and Texas A&M. This really could be Presbyterian's year for #1 Recruiting because they landed multiple top ten prospects in the same position groups. However, TAMC didn't need much depth so the lowest ranked recruit was I think #7 or#8. Cheyney was very consistent with a lot of #4 ranked guys which could add up, NMU was always there and West Chester got 2 top DB's. GUESS we will have to wait and see!
Don't forget! Try to schedule 2 games so your freshman can play. Easiest way to do it, is to schedule both games on this Tuesday but before 9PM PST when recruiting is over. I typically do it in the morning.
Upcoming! Game Of The Night series! Stay-tuned for Omcs1981's excellent series that will pick the best game to watch each week.
Remember, recruiting is one of the funnest parts of this game and winning is probably 80% talent so recruiting is important! If you felt like you struggled and are frustrated, reach out to one of the excellent coaches that we have in Rockne because there are so many now playing that you are bound to find one who would be open to tutor or even mentor.
Until next season, I hope you filled all your depth and landed that stud you were looking for and remember to set your depth chart. Have a safe halloween... MUAHAHAHAH!
See you at kickoff!