Georgia Southern Recruiting

[ComebackShack]

Hidden Content

This board requires you to be registered and logged-in to view hidden content.

[boonetown1]

IMO ever since Justin step left, we have not pulled in as many three-star guys. I'm not sure how Southern is pulling in the type of classes they are year after year. It seems as though their recruiting has stepped up ever sense they have finished their stadium renovations. I know we say we develop players, but we should still be able to get the same amount of three-star guys as our peers. We can develop them from there to even better players.

Saying that, there still a chance we will get a couple of their commits this year. Also, don't forget our big weekend is pushed until next week, due to weather. We need to keep ending the year in the top 80 recruiting.

[mountaineermadness]

They just got a 4 star ESPN300 wide receiver.

[hapapp]

The most amazing thing is that they have three 3 star WRs in this class and another 2 star WR. Obviously, they must be looking to change their scheme.

The star system isn't perfect and we know how many unrated players have been stars at App State but if we were pulling in the talent they seem to be at this point, we would be crowing. In the end, however, it most important to fill your needs and if we can do that, then the rankings are largely unimportant.

[hapapp]

They just got a 4 star ESPN300 wide receiver.

They apparently beat out Georgia for him.

[asufan87]

But...most of those supposed P5 offers they are showing can't be acted on at the moment. In our case, we've thrown out tons of offers over the past year to dozens of players, but they are no longer standing offers that these players can accept.

I wouldn't get to hung up on the recruiting rankings. They don't mean all that much at the G5 level as most kids have never even been evaluated by a scout in person. Additionally, attrition usually takes out 1/3 to 1/2 of all classes by the time 4-5 years is up.

[hapapp]

But...most of those supposed P5 offers they are showing can't be acted on at the moment. In our case, we've thrown out tons of offers over the past year to dozens of players, but they are no longer standing offers that these players can accept.

I wouldn't get to hung up on the recruiting rankings. They don't mean all that much at the G5 level as most kids have never even been evaluated by a scout in person. Additionally, attrition usually takes out 1/3 to 1/2 of all classes by the time 4-5 years is up.

Not to dispute that, but if we were pulling in the same quality of player we would be feeling pretty good about ourselves. No doubt, in the end it is how they develop and perform but it is a yardstick, albeit, an imperfect one. I know it pains us to recognize that Ga Southern may be having a better year to this point on the recruiting trail but some of our pooh-pawing is just rationalizing.

[mountaineermadness]

Recruiting rankings don't mean anything in isolation. But if you consistently sign highly rated classes, you'll get more hits than misses. They've got 16 3*** guys right now. Do that over and over and you'll consistently raise your talent level.

[Yosef10]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but Im pretty sure GaSou can take non-qualifiers ie Marshall (and if you're committing to GSU over UGA you probably are having issues academically). Moose and others would know more about this than I but I don't think we heavily recruit NQs

[Eagle22]

No, we don't take Props. Last one we took was Edmund Coley, a backup QB who played sparingly behind J.R. Revere. We have continued to recruit players who haven't received their final ACT/SAT scores, but if they don't qualify they don't sign and aren't enrolled. We haven't had APR issues since the rest of the Hatcher recruits rolled off the books, and much of that APR damage was the points lost via attrition, not so much grades.

Anderson is a full qualifier, very good student out of Houston County.

The deal with Anderson is that UGA basically dropped him (he was a Richt recruit, Smart has higher rated WR's on tap). Anderson lives a short 2 hr drive from Statesboro, he is in Warner Robins. We probably don't sign him if Richt stays employed.

Anderson also tore his meniscus, had a fall back senior year compared to a stellar jr season. He's on the mend, will be a good signing for us but only time will tell what he brings to the table.

[Yosef10]

Seems I was wrong and corrected haha. Good info Eagle.

[HighPointApp]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Is GS still running their same offense? If so, what appeal does that offense have with WRs when they pass infrequently?

[EastHallApp]

But...most of those supposed P5 offers they are showing can't be acted on at the moment. In our case, we've thrown out tons of offers over the past year to dozens of players, but they are no longer standing offers that these players can accept.

That's one big point - Southern makes a big deal about their recruits having P5 offers, but many either are no longer commitable or never were.

The other thing I'd day is that because recruiting sites put so little time into evaluating G5 recruits, the opinion of individual site publishers probably carries more weight. And we know how active Southern fans - and that includes the people running their sites - are on social media. A couple years ago they were around 8th in the Sun Belt rankings late in the cycle, then got commits from a bunch of unrated guys with no other reported FBS offers - and 247 promptly gave many of them 3* ratings, which lifted GS to #1 in the conference.

Now all that is not to say they aren't bringing in good talent - they are. But I think our classes will compare fine with theirs.

[EastHallApp]

Also, one more question to ask yourself: If Southern's recruits are so much better than App's, then why do they keep trying to flip so many of our commits?

[Eagle22]

We don't know exactly what the offense will look like, but Gillespie's offense in 2007 (QB duties split between Billy Lowe and Jayson Foster, with Lamar Lewis in the backfield) was akin to what he ran successfully in HS at Peach County when he was Antonio Henton's coach. Hatcher forced his offensive identity on Gillespie in 2008 and 2009, with Henton not quite the runner that Foster was (to underscore the obvious). Gillespie was handcuffed into the bubble-screen Air Raid offense. We expect to see a offensive structure more like that 2007 team.

As for us trying to flip recruits, surely you see we have 25 or so. I'm familiar with a couple we have worked on (Darrynton Evans, D'Ante Smith). Both look like they are App and ECU recruits now, so it happens. I think App has flipped a few Georgia Southern recruits before so it is really a moot issue I think. Depending on who you believe, some guy named Armanti Edwards was in that discussion.

Whether they are better or not is pretty much immaterial. We've won before with a 'worse' recruiting class, and lost with better ones. I think in general it boils down to fit and getting coachable talent.

As someone that ran the Georgia Southern Rivals.com site from 1999-2001, I can tell you that it is impossible to accurately categorize nearly 6000 Division 1 recruits ... most every kid App and Georgia Southern recruit, have the ability to be a solid player at this level. We're truly splitting hairs looking at the #70 class vs. the #80 class, or whatever the rankings may be.

[DaphneUrquhart]

Thanks, Eagle22, for civil, cogent discussion. I think you're spot on with regard to flipping recruits. At the end of the day, coaches sell hopes and dreams and try to help make those a reality for the kids they recruit.

For some of these kids having offers from multiple schools is validation that they're "worth" something. Who can blame them for relishing the attention?

When the day is over I want each kid who chooses App to want to be here. I think it's a fine school with solid coaches, a winning tradition, and a strong community. I'd like recruits who come here to experience the best App has to offer and want to give back after they graduate for other recruits to experience the same.

[hapapp]

Also, one more question to ask yourself: If Southern's recruits are so much better than App's, then why do they keep trying to flip so many of our commits?

Of course, we are doing the same.

I'm not fretting about our class. I think in the end we will meet our needs and that is what it is all about. I was merely expressing some admiration for the job a new coaching staff is doing.

[Eagle22]

Thanks, Eagle22, for civil, cogent discussion. I think you're spot on with regard to flipping recruits. At the end of the day, coaches sell hopes and dreams and try to help make those a reality for the kids they recruit.

For some of these kids having offers from multiple schools is validation that they're "worth" something. Who can blame them for relishing the attention?

When the day is over I want each kid who chooses App to want to be here. I think it's a fine school with solid coaches, a winning tradition, and a strong community. I'd like recruits who come here to experience the best App has to offer and want to give back after they graduate for other recruits to experience the same.

I try to be civil, especially on an opponent board

I'm sure App will have a solid class.

Our programs both now have former coaches on staff too (we have Foster, Sloan has been there a while) ... so it is always going to be a competitive game.

I am quite glad the rivalry continues, and recruiting is simply an extension of that. I'm a firm believer in the concept that we push each other to get better. There is little doubt that our respective programs are strong and growing stronger each day, because neither is content with where we are ... our fanbases won't let the coaches and administrators rest on their laurels.

[EastHallApp]

Also, one more question to ask yourself: If Southern's recruits are so much better than App's, then why do they keep trying to flip so many of our commits?

Of course, we are doing the same.

I'm not fretting about our class. I think in the end we will meet our needs and that is what it is all about. I was merely expressing some admiration for the job a new coaching staff is doifng.

Sure we're doing the same, but nobody here seems to be disputing that Southern has good recruits. The topic of this thread is to fret over whether their recruits are TOO good.

Eagle22 - obviously I know Southern isn't only pursuing App commits. I probably would have been more accurate to talk about guys both schools recruited rather than limiting it to attempted flips. There's at last one more current App commit whom Southern is trying to flip (Kendall Brown), but there are a few more who Southern also wanted before they committed.

My point is that we're after a lot of the same guys - some committed to App, some to Southern. You guys do have more fringe P5 commits than us, but at least from our side I feel like we've arguably had less luck with those types than with the under-the-radar guys who have few, if any, other offers.

[Eagle22]

I guess my point is fretting over the differences (on paper) about these comparative classes is a near exercise in futility. Sure it gives us something to talk about and discuss, but the proof of the quality of these classes will not be determined for certain until the 2020-2021 seasons are done. I hope to be alive then to see how they pan out !

We have a big class this year because Fritz didn't go full out last year filling the class .... in part because we missed getting some guys and had late flips (UGA poached a RB recruit, we lost a recruit to App who ultimately flipped again to IU, etc). We have to get some quality players just to expect to compete in the Sun Belt. We both know what we were dealing with in the SoCon, and it is clear that we had talent to win 1-off games vs. G5 and weaker P5 teams, but quality depth is needed to win the Sun Belt league and compete against the stronger P5 teams we face.

We have, on paper, our strongest class in sometime. But guess what, ironically we might end up very weak in QB .. especially if Werts gets offered at South Carolina this weekend. Then our class has a pretty big hole in it, and for our team's composition that could end up being a problem spot. We historically have been very good at the QB position, so don't think it is all roses for us .... you can feel sorry for us if you care to

App has done a very good job this year in getting some quality QB talent, DESPITE the fact you have an entrenched starter that is not only talented ... but has 2 years left to play. We have 2 4th year seniors who look to split 2016 time, and yet we lost our primary QB recruit with Fritz flipping him, and as previously mentioned our other QB recruit Werts is precariously close to a USC offer.