Recruiting, 2015

[firemoose]

We may not be top 2 again but a top 5 class would be a great 2nd class while we are still in transition.

I hope you're just sandbagging. I can't agree that taking a step back in recruiting would be a good thing in any way (unless it's just a case of the rankings being wrong, which is always possible). We need to have a credible season on the field and parlay that into another class that's at or near the top of the league. Especially with the Sun Belt already recruiting at the lowest level of any FBS league, it's not like the bar is set incredibly high to begin with.

Nope, just being realistic. Even in the P5, unless you're Alabama (and even they aren't sometimes), no school is always at the top of their conference. With FBS conferences spread out the way they are and the competition among G5 schools and the P5's in their regions, a top 5 class each year is considered to be exceptional recruiting. While everyone wants #1 it's an impossible goal, no matter what conference you are in. One or two recruits can move a school from 1st to 4th or 5th in the blink of an eye (See Ga. Sou last year when they went from 8th to 1st in two days with a bunch of recruits that had few to no offers from anyone). And the ratings are subjective. At the G5 level there are always some high 2 star or low 3 star kids that wind up being better than some mid to high 3's. Tons of factors come into play such as competition played or where they are from, which can skew the ratings, but that isn't always a measure of how a player will perform in college. But I'll leave the true answer to the coaching staff. They will say that, while they always shoot for being #1 in the conference, that if they can always be in the top 5 (and I'm not saying #5 every year but somewhere between 1 and 5) of the conference and they got most of the recruits they wanted then they consider it a successful year.

[EastHallApp]

We may not be top 2 again but a top 5 class would be a great 2nd class while we are still in transition.

I hope you're just sandbagging. I can't agree that taking a step back in recruiting would be a good thing in any way (unless it's just a case of the rankings being wrong, which is always possible). We need to have a credible season on the field and parlay that into another class that's at or near the top of the league. Especially with the Sun Belt already recruiting at the lowest level of any FBS league, it's not like the bar is set incredibly high to begin with.

Easthall I have to agree with Moose here - we all must keep realistic expectations in all aspects including recruiting - We are now going against some established programs located smack in the middle of the college football recruiting universe - Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida - We are outliers and the new kid all at the same time --- Like Moose, I have faith our coaching staff will keep us well in the mix of top SB programs ---

All of which was true in 2014. So why should our 2015 class not be to the same level or better, especially now that we've got a year of FBS recruiting under our belts, a year's worth of relationship building by the new staff, and we'll have the added benefits of being able to have recruits watch us on ESPN and (hopefully) putting a better team on the field than we did last season?

[EastHallApp]

I do appreciate you guys' realism, and I understand there is plenty of subjectivity in the rankings. I just think it's fair to say that anything worse than basically treading water in recruiting vs. 2014 would be a bad thing for the program. If anything, we should be in position to recruit better, not worse, for the reasons I mentioned in my previous post.

[hapapp]

I do appreciate you guys' realism, and I understand there is plenty of subjectivity in the rankings. I just think it's fair to say that anything worse than basically treading water in recruiting vs. 2014 would be a bad thing for the program. If anything, we should be in position to recruit better, not worse, for the reasons I mentioned in my previous post.

You are also assuming that our SBC competitors don't improve their recruiting efforts. To be ranked in the top 5 is often just a matter of one or two recruits going one way or the other. To look at the rankings and say we had a bad year recruiting because we were ranked fourth rather than second puts too much faith in the rankings. If we came in in the bottom third of the conference perhaps one could show some concern but to assume we finish first or second each year is unrealistic. We don't recruit in a vacuum.

[firemoose]

App has picked up it's second commit this evening. DT Brody Barrett (6′ 3″ 302) of Jserra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, CA has offered his verbal pledge. I have moved his player page with video to the Commits section. He attended the OL/DL camp this past weekend. This one kind of came out of the blue but word is he has some App connections and came to us. Mike at 24/7 is working on an interview so we can find out more info about him. Take a look at his film as I believe you'll enjoy it.

[AppSt94]

App has picked up it's second commit this evening. DT Brody Barrett (6′ 3″ 302) of Jserra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, CA has offered his verbal pledge. I have moved his player page with video to the Commits section. He attended the OL/DL camp this past weekend. This one kind of came out of the blue but word is he has some App connections and came to us. Mike at 24/7 is working on an interview so we can find out more info about him. Take a look at his film as I believe you'll enjoy it. I believe once the ratings catch up he'll have some stars beside his name.

Nice get for us. Assuming he stays. At first glance, his stats seems disappointing. Only 4 solo tackles in 10 games. After watching the film, he is a disruptor. Good motor. Doesn't give up on the play. Does well against the double team. He will make one of his linemates an All American. Kind of what Brad Culpepper did for Warren Sapp in Tampa Bay.

[moehler]

California?!! Happy, but didn't see that coming

[firemoose]

App has picked up it's second commit this evening. DT Brody Barrett (6′ 3″ 302) of Jserra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, CA has offered his verbal pledge. I have moved his player page with video to the Commits section. He attended the OL/DL camp this past weekend. This one kind of came out of the blue but word is he has some App connections and came to us. Mike at 24/7 is working on an interview so we can find out more info about him. Take a look at his film as I believe you'll enjoy it. I believe once the ratings catch up he'll have some stars beside his name.

Nice get for us. Assuming he stays. At first glance, his stats seems disappointing. Only 4 solo tackles in 10 games. After watching the film, he is a disruptor. Good motor. Doesn't give up on the play. Does well against the double team. He will make one of his linemates an All American. Kind of what Brad Culpepper did for Warren Sapp in Tampa Bay.

Yep. Just what I saw and exactly what you want out of a NT in the 3-4. Plus from what I'm hearing he hasn't been in the position long and is still growing both in the position and in size. His workouts and camp work has been better than the game film, which is what impressed the coaches enough at camp to extend an offer. I'll still finding out info but if what I've been told is true, as I said above, he has connections here and came to us on his own. I'll confirm all that and post an update.

[EastHallApp]

Wow, have we ever signed a recruit from California? Doubt it will become part of our regular territory, but hey, you take players wherever you can find them.

If those height/weight numbers are accurate, that's some really good size for a DT w/ a year of HS remaining.

[AppSt94]

HUDL has him listed at 281. From what I could see on film is that he will benefit greatly from a college level S&C program. There is a lot of potential in his frame to fill out.

[firemoose]

HUDL has him listed at 281. From what I could see on film is that he will benefit greatly from a college level S&C program. There is a lot of potential in his frame to fill out.

If you'll look at his player page on the Main Page you'll see the most current hudl profile (there are 2 available) and it lists him at 302. Last season his high school roster, according to Mike at 24/7, showed him at 281. This year it shows 300. I went with the latest data I could find but Mike is interviewing him and I'll adjust it if need be.

[mtnjax]

Nice get for us. Assuming he stays. At first glance, his stats seems disappointing. Only 4 solo tackles in 10 games. After watching the film, he is a disruptor. Good motor. Doesn't give up on the play. Does well against the double team. He will make one of his linemates an All American. Kind of what Brad Culpepper did for Warren Sapp in Tampa Bay.

FWIW, looking at his highlight tape, that red team near the beginning is Mater Dei (i believe). that's the kind of competition he's going up against

[JTApps1]

HUDL has him listed at 281. From what I could see on film is that he will benefit greatly from a college level S&C program. There is a lot of potential in his frame to fill out.

If you'll look at his player page on the Main Page you'll see the most current hudl profile (there are 2 available) and it lists him at 302. Last season his high school roster, according to Mike at 24/7, showed him at 281. This year it shows 300. I went with the latest data I could find but Mike is interviewing him and I'll adjust it if need be.

It looks like the coaches are putting a lot of focus on getting bigger on the lines. We all know that is the one place we were behind compared to the top Sun Belt teams. You can never have too many 300 pounders.

[hapapp]

Brian at Rivals has an interview with the latest commitment. Seems he has family in North Carolina.

[ASUPATCH]

Wow, have we ever signed a recruit from California? Doubt it will become part of our regular territory, but hey, you take players wherever you can find them.

If those height/weight numbers are accurate, that's some really good size for a DT w/ a year of HS remaining.

Wasn't either Joe Burchette or Daniel Jeremiah from Cali?

[ASUPATCH]

App has picked up it's second commit this evening. DT Brody Barrett (6′ 3″ 302) of Jserra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, CA has offered his verbal pledge. I have moved his player page with video to the Commits section. He attended the OL/DL camp this past weekend. This one kind of came out of the blue but word is he has some App connections and came to us. Mike at 24/7 is working on an interview so we can find out more info about him. Take a look at his film as I believe you'll enjoy it.

This kid is a prototype 3-4 NT. With good explosion on the ball he knocks what looks like decent sized OL into the backfield many times. With a DT or NT you throw stats out the window. It all about changing the angle of hand offs and pushing the pocket back on the QB and this kid does both. Makes this former lineman very happy.

[ASUPATCH]

Wow, have we ever signed a recruit from California? Doubt it will become part of our regular territory, but hey, you take players wherever you can find them.

If those height/weight numbers are accurate, that's some really good size for a DT w/ a year of HS remaining.

Wasn't either Joe Burchette or Daniel Jeremiah from Cali?

It was NFL networks Daniel Jeremiah. http://theappalachianonline.com/archive ... remiah.htm

[MDaniels84]

Thanks for the link on Jeremiah. I did not know the whole California native thing about Daniel. Met him a few times though and he was always very gracious and you could tell that he loved App. Great story line.

[EastHallApp]

Wow, have we ever signed a recruit from California? Doubt it will become part of our regular territory, but hey, you take players wherever you can find them.

If those height/weight numbers are accurate, that's some really good size for a DT w/ a year of HS remaining.

Wasn't either Joe Burchette or Daniel Jeremiah from Cali?

It was NFL networks Daniel Jeremiah. http://theappalachianonline.com/archive ... remiah.htm

Cool, I didn't know that either. And he was from my era, too.

[moehler]

Its been reported that he plays in a district considered one of the best in the country in terms of talent and quality of teams. If true, this kid is lining up every week against kids heading to UCLA, USC etc. I love the fact he took the initiative to come across country, on his own dime, to attend a camp where the coaching staff knew very little if anything about him, and to leave with a scholarship in hand, man that take guts and confidence to pull that off. It also looks like, with the effort he has put in, he really wants to be a mountaineer.