To Those of You Who Want to be Educated on Recruiting

[EZ-E]

You can find my thread that I started before the year saying most of this.

 

Before the year began I said that because of our offensive line's inexperience, we were in year four of a five year project. We started 3 walk-ons at those spots at times this year. I am sorry and this might be the most "un-Nebraska Way" thing that I ever say, but walk-ons were not offered scholarships for a reason. There are many success stories and they are very important to our program, but to claim that we can have a very successful line in this day in age of college football starting 3 walk-ons is absurd.

 

Now if you will remember back to Callahan's 2008 recruiting class, when he was fired we lost:

 

1) Dan Hoch - Starter at Mizzou

2) Trevor Robinson - was committed, wasn't committed. Im not sure if he would have ever been a husker no matter who the coach was.

3) Bryce Givens - Believe he started at Colorado(?)

4) Riley Reiff - Number 8 overall prospect on Mel Kiper's big board. (bet a lot of you don't remember that?)

 

All of you realize that these kids were either Seniors last year or RS Juniors right? This would be our OL. After we lost those four, we grabbed Brandon Thompson (injuries have plaqued his career but has contributed), Ricky Henry (NFL football player), and David Grant (?). Bo had roughly a month and a half to recruit in that cycle.

 

The above part is mostly for Goalline to educate himself.

 

Now for those of you who dont know how recruiting works and are star gazzers, you recruit players that you think can help you when they are sophomores, juniors, and seniors. When freshman play it is usually more of an indication of lack of depth at that certain position than it is the player's ability. Obviously there are always exceptions.

 

Let me give you my honest opinion on all of these guys as I have broken down all of their tape. For those of you who don't think that I can do it, you were not here in 2009 at all.

 

1) Afalava - Very athletic LB prospect. Around 6ft2 220 pounds and has room to put weight on. What I like most about him is how much leverage and strength he plays with at the LOS. In his tape you can also notice how he is always swatting at the ball when he wraps up. Always looking to get after the football. People do realize that the staff was more impressed with how well he developed his senior year than Quanzell Lambert?

 

2) Alexander - Will say that Leroy's hips and cover skills are a bit lazy, but he plays his assignments very well and he is athetic to boot. Never really in the wrong place on the football field. Most of his tape is him at Corner and I think that he would make a lot better of a safety than a corner. Skill set is more like a Safety than a corner.

 

3) Anderson - It is a very tall task for football players at any level to locate the football, shed your block and go make the play. This kid does it in every highlight. He can really point his hips and drive people back. I am going to go ahead and say that this is our starting middle linebacker for 2012 and he will be a good one. Added strength at that position minus a bit of speed though from Lavonte's game.

 

4) Armstrong - See my thread a few days ago

 

5) Brown - You can basically find film of him playing everything on the football and then some. Plays in the Inland Empire (if you don't know what that is you dont follow recruiting and you should not be speaking negitive of our class) so he is doing it against other D1 recruits. Him as a linebacker will fit very nicely into our two-gap technique because it appeared that was what his HS team was playing. He filled holes very well. My knock on him is that he needs to get to the ball carrier a bit sooner, it looks like he reacts instead of anticipates. Which that comes with film room work.

 

6) Cotton - I cannot find film on him at all. From what I have heard from a few people I trust is that he uses his hands very well. I see him either in the same role as Ben, or even at DE. He is worthy of a scholly.

 

7) Cross - I almost see a Dan Alexander in him. Big powerful running back. What he will have to work on is running a bit lower, and driving his knees up a bit higher. Those of you who wanted a big power back, here he is.

 

8) Curry - cannot find film on him at all. 17 offers? Apparently he was covetted. Texas boy as well. Played against other D1 prospects. 6ft3 300 pounds is a big 17-18 year old kid.

 

9) Greg McMullen - I don't have to even break down anymore film on him. He would have been able to play at any school that he wanted to in the nation.

 

10) Alonzo Moore - No film that I could find on him. He does claim he is a true 6ft2. He will start out at CB. A 6ft2 athletic as hell southern boy at CB? Sign me up.

 

11) Moss - for only playing something like 6 football games ever in his life this kid causes a lot of issues in the backfield. There wasn't an OT that I saw that could combat his powerful first step. It reminds me a lot of a four man beating another four man from the top of the key. He is great at getting in the passing lanes with his hands and causing incompletions. He could play a stand-up DE role in our defense like Cam does. That amoeba defense that we run on occasion has this kid's name written all over it.

 

12) Rose - What I look for when I talk about linebackers is the ability to get around in traffic. This kid stays as clean as anyone and reads the running lanes like a safety should. Has a very strong lower body as you can tell when he makes tackles at the LOS. Would not rule him out of any LB spot this season.

 

13) Seisey - If you don't already know, you don't follow recruiting and shouldn't speak negitively about his class.

 

14) Thurston - He is great at using defensive lineman's leverage against them. He has really smooth footwork for a LT but I am told he will play inside for us which is great because he has quick feet for a big guy. The thought of him and Ryan Klacho pulling at the same time really scares me.

 

15) Valentine - He is like a BJ Rajj from GB. You just can't move the monster. It is an absolute crime against humanity that he was not awarded a fourth star. Kid had offers from a handful of SEC schools and just about every school in the BIG.

 

16) WesterKamp - We have no playmakers???????????? Watch the kids' tape. Best High School WR we have signed in a long time. There isn't a football team in the NCAA that couldn't have used this kid.

 

17) Witaker -

 

He deserves a full rant paragraph

 

This kid is a prime example of some of the stupidity of some. Here is a kid that plays in the Inland Empire and dominated it. Yet since he doesn't have a Pac 12 offer besides Oregon we think that throws up red flags. Why are we so concerned about what the staffs at Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, Cal, Oregon State, Washington, and Washington State do? Maybe there is a reason that those schools go through coaching staffs like a hot knife through butter. Last time I checked most of the schools I listed above had fired head coaches at least once in the past few seasons. Maybe we shouldn't worry about the incompotence of those football staffs and give our staff some credit. I could go down countless examples of what I am talking about but for some of you numb skulls that don't pay attention to things like this it wouldn't make any difference.

 

We have some very good recruiters on this staff and we just added another one in Coach K. This 2013 class will be special I promise you. I would tell you right now that Coach Corey Raymond may just give JP a run for his money as the best recruiter on the staff. We have some very hungry young coaches on this staff that are chomping at the bit to hit the road and these next four weeks are very crutial. I can assure you that we have the right people in the right places on our football staff.

 

15)

[Apathy]

Proclaiming this class as a disappointment is like whipping your butt before you take a #2.....its doesn't make any sense.

 

We haven't even seen what these kids can do yet at Nebraska so give it time and patience.

[WAHusker]

I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend.....j/k

Sorry but I don’t agree with you at all, and neither do most of the professional scouts and other coaches. There is a reason a good chunk of kids on your list never got a major d1 school offer. BTW, Watching HIGHTLIGHT films means absolutely NOTHING. Any knowledgeable person knows you need to watch a kid practice, watch full game films, talk to him and his family - get a feel for his personality, etc. I was friends with Jack Stark years ago (NU football psychologist from 89-03), he always said you can tell more about a champion by talking to him and his family than anything else. If he doesn’t have the right mind to be a competitor, it doesn’t matter what his physical skills are.

Our recruits overall are decent, average, mediocre.... whatever you want to call it. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either; there is nothing wrong with that. We have young coaches that have to recruit in a less than ideal location, that’s just facts. To compete for championships, both conference and national, you need to sign more 4+ star athletes every year. If we have short schollys, you still need 8+ four star type kids every year. Our coaches are too young to make 3 stars into 5 stars, we need the talent until our coaches get more time under their belt. Ya, TO may have done it with less, but most of his coaches had 20+ years of experience and knew how to coach up kids. Our staff needs another 4-5 years before they will turn out kids on a consistent basis.

But i do hasve to ask, why are you so passionate about defending the staff and their possible mistakes? You know they are human and will make mistakes, right? I know a lot of people bash him/the staff, but the people defending them (aka, sunshine pumpers) look just as out of touch.

 

just my 2 cents.

[NoLongerN]

Loved the read. Thanks for the time you put into it and your insight.

[HuskerFowler]

I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend.....j/k

 

Sorry but I don’t agree with you at all, and neither do most of the professional scouts and other coaches. There is a reason a good chunk of kids on your list never got a major d1 school offer. BTW, Watching HIGHTLIGHT films means absolutely NOTHING. Any knowledgeable person knows you need to watch a kid practice, watch full game films, talk to him and his family - get a feel for his personality, etc. I was friends with Jack Stark years ago (NU football psychologist from 89-03), he always said you can tell more about a champion by talking to him and his family than anything else. If he doesn’t have the right mind to be a competitor, it doesn’t matter what his physical skills are.

 

Our recruits overall are decent, average, mediocre.... whatever you want to call it. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either; there is nothing wrong with that. We have young coaches that have to recruit in a less than ideal location, that’s just facts. To compete for championships, both conference and national, you need to sign more 4+ star athletes every year. If we have short schollys, you still need 8+ four star type kids every year. Our coaches are too young to make 3 stars into 5 stars, we need the talent until our coaches get more time under their belt. Ya, TO may have done it with less, but most of his coaches had 20+ years of experience and knew how to coach up kids. Our staff needs another 4-5 years before they will turn out kids on a consistent basis.

 

But i do hasve to ask, why are you so passionate about defending the staff and their possible mistakes? You know they are human and will make mistakes, right? I know a lot of people bash him/the staff, but the people defending them (aka, sunshine pumpers) look just as out of touch.

 

just my 2 cents.

 

 

This might just be the stupidest post ive ever read. Did you not read PaulCrews post about The Average Class, and all the offers our kids had? Are you freaking kidding me right now? Our coaches are too yourg to develop talent? What is wrong with you?

 

Watch interviews with McMullen, Westerkamp, Rose, Armstrong, and tell me they arent some of the brightest, level headed kids youve ever heard speak. Sean Callahan and "expert" loves the class and called Westerkamp the rex Burkhead of WR...but im sure our young coaches wont develop him. Do some research before you post, because you sound like a moron.

[EZ-E]

I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend.....j/k

 

Sorry but I don’t agree with you at all, and neither do most of the professional scouts and other coaches. There is a reason a good chunk of kids on your list never got a major d1 school offer. BTW, Watching HIGHTLIGHT films means absolutely NOTHING. Any knowledgeable person knows you need to watch a kid practice, watch full game films, talk to him and his family - get a feel for his personality, etc. I was friends with Jack Stark years ago (NU football psychologist from 89-03), he always said you can tell more about a champion by talking to him and his family than anything else. If he doesn’t have the right mind to be a competitor, it doesn’t matter what his physical skills are.

 

Our recruits overall are decent, average, mediocre.... whatever you want to call it. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either; there is nothing wrong with that. We have young coaches that have to recruit in a less than ideal location, that’s just facts. To compete for championships, both conference and national, you need to sign more 4+ star athletes every year. If we have short schollys, you still need 8+ four star type kids every year. Our coaches are too young to make 3 stars into 5 stars, we need the talent until our coaches get more time under their belt. Ya, TO may have done it with less, but most of his coaches had 20+ years of experience and knew how to coach up kids. Our staff needs another 4-5 years before they will turn out kids on a consistent basis.

 

But i do hasve to ask, why are you so passionate about defending the staff and their possible mistakes? You know they are human and will make mistakes, right? I know a lot of people bash him/the staff, but the people defending them (aka, sunshine pumpers) look just as out of touch.

 

just my 2 cents.

 

 

This might just be the stupidest post ive ever read. Did you not read PaulCrews post about The Average Class, and all the offers our kids had? Are you freaking kidding me right now? Our coaches are too yourg to develop talent? What is wrong with you?

 

Watch interviews with McMullen, Westerkamp, Rose, Armstrong, and tell me they arent some of the brightest, level headed kids youve ever heard speak. Do some research before you post, because you sound like a moron.

 

I dont agree with the wording of the above response, but PaulCrewe's breakdown of each kid's offer list kind of puts the major premise of your argument to rest. There were plenty of major division one college coaches that wanted a lot of the football players in our class.

 

Next, I am very critical of our play on the field. If you ever watch a game with me that is just how I am. Coaches make mistakes, and that is definately true. Cody Green not redshirting, even Braylon Heard not redshirting was probably a mistake.

 

But what are you saying about the kids in our program and the ones who just signed on to be a part of it? Are they not fit to be Huskers? Are they not good enough to wear that N on the side of their helmets?

 

The bolded parts are a joke. We claim ESPN sucks because of their West Coast and SEC bias but then we all buy into the biggest ones in the recruiting rankings. Sure I like to see 4 and 5 stars by the kids we sign's names. But that is not everything. More often than not it is about which kid went to camp where.

[PaulCrewe]

Well put EZ, but I wouldn't know what you are talking about.

[EZ-E]

Well put EZ, but I wouldn't know what you are talking about.

 

We need Dick Clique T-Shirts and we will start our own tailgates next year. We wont let anyone else in either. Because we are dicks.

[EZ-E]

Another question for you WAHusker, did our staff instantly become better at recruiting when Westerkamp and Moore were awarded their fourth star?

[lilred]

I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend.....j/k

 

Sorry but I don’t agree with you at all, and neither do most of the professional scouts and other coaches. There is a reason a good chunk of kids on your list never got a major d1 school offer. BTW, Watching HIGHTLIGHT films means absolutely NOTHING. Any knowledgeable person knows you need to watch a kid practice, watch full game films, talk to him and his family - get a feel for his personality, etc. I was friends with Jack Stark years ago (NU football psychologist from 89-03), he always said you can tell more about a champion by talking to him and his family than anything else. If he doesn’t have the right mind to be a competitor, it doesn’t matter what his physical skills are.

 

Our recruits overall are decent, average, mediocre.... whatever you want to call it. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either; there is nothing wrong with that. We have young coaches that have to recruit in a less than ideal location, that’s just facts. To compete for championships, both conference and national, you need to sign more 4+ star athletes every year. If we have short schollys, you still need 8+ four star type kids every year. Our coaches are too young to make 3 stars into 5 stars, we need the talent until our coaches get more time under their belt. Ya, TO may have done it with less, but most of his coaches had 20+ years of experience and knew how to coach up kids. Our staff needs another 4-5 years before they will turn out kids on a consistent basis.

 

But i do hasve to ask, why are you so passionate about defending the staff and their possible mistakes? You know they are human and will make mistakes, right? I know a lot of people bash him/the staff, but the people defending them (aka, sunshine pumpers) look just as out of touch.

 

just my 2 cents.

I don't like how you can't say this on Huskerboard and not be called a moron.

[PaulCrewe]

Well put EZ, but I wouldn't know what you are talking about.

 

We need Dick Clique T-Shirts and we will start our own tailgates next year. We wont let anyone else in either. Because we are dicks.

Hell yeah. Screw trying to get the board to do it(tried twice last year). I am looking for 3 or 4 select individuals now. Although it probably would be a bitch for that Western NE hillbilly GSG to get back to the "real world". And it is funny that I can say that since I grew up in the Panhandle

[PaulCrewe]

I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend.....j/k

 

Sorry but I don’t agree with you at all, and neither do most of the professional scouts and other coaches. There is a reason a good chunk of kids on your list never got a major d1 school offer. BTW, Watching HIGHTLIGHT films means absolutely NOTHING. Any knowledgeable person knows you need to watch a kid practice, watch full game films, talk to him and his family - get a feel for his personality, etc. I was friends with Jack Stark years ago (NU football psychologist from 89-03), he always said you can tell more about a champion by talking to him and his family than anything else. If he doesn’t have the right mind to be a competitor, it doesn’t matter what his physical skills are.

 

Our recruits overall are decent, average, mediocre.... whatever you want to call it. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either; there is nothing wrong with that. We have young coaches that have to recruit in a less than ideal location, that’s just facts. To compete for championships, both conference and national, you need to sign more 4+ star athletes every year. If we have short schollys, you still need 8+ four star type kids every year. Our coaches are too young to make 3 stars into 5 stars, we need the talent until our coaches get more time under their belt. Ya, TO may have done it with less, but most of his coaches had 20+ years of experience and knew how to coach up kids. Our staff needs another 4-5 years before they will turn out kids on a consistent basis.

 

But i do hasve to ask, why are you so passionate about defending the staff and their possible mistakes? You know they are human and will make mistakes, right? I know a lot of people bash him/the staff, but the people defending them (aka, sunshine pumpers) look just as out of touch.

 

just my 2 cents.

I don't like how you can't say this on Huskerboard and not be called a moron.

Oh, don't worry we do.

[Apathy]

Well put EZ, but I wouldn't know what you are talking about.

 

We need Dick Clique T-Shirts and we will start our own tailgates next year. We wont let anyone else in either. Because we are dicks.

Thanks for not inviting me.....dick lol

[HuskerFowler]

I said he sounded like a moron. Its my opinion that its a stupid post. I get called a sunshine pumper does that mean i dont like Huskerboard because someone called EZ a sunshine pumer...not at all. Everyone has their own opinions but its the way your present your arguement that matters....(not that i did a very good job of that on my rant) Your either a sunshine pumper a negative nancy or most are probably somewhere in between.

 

What he stated is purely opinion and an uneducated one. It is stupid to say that the coaches are too young to develop talent. Another innaccurate statement was: "there is a reason a good chunk of kids on your list never got a major d1 school offer" ..which is stupid and shows me that he has no idea what he is talking about. If he looked at their profiles or read PaulCrews post (which made it really easy for everyone to see the facts), he would understand that statement was indeed stupid, when the facts show otherwise.

[It'sNotAFakeID]

It's amazing how short-sighted some of the posters are when it comes to recruiting. Stars only show a subjective rating of the potential of a recruit. It still takes a good coaching staff to develop those players. And if you don't look at all the other schools that recruited the recruits we got and think that we only got players who were targeted by Bowling Green, Ohio, and Buffalo...but we didn't.