I don't want to tear down walk ons or anything but considering 8 of the 13 LB's that are freshmen are walk ons. I didnt count May in there bc he will be schollie before the end of the year. Not saying walk ons are automatically worse than schollie players just that it would ease my mind to know that I had more schollie LB's than the ones we will have after this year.
LB Josh Shirley
- Thread starter Street Novelist
- Start date
caveman99
New member
Well 6 of the Fr./RFr. are scholarship players.
42 Fisher, Sean LB 6-06 230 RFr. Omaha, Neb. (Millard North)
44 Kreikemeier, Micah LB 6-03 220 RFr. West Point, Neb. (Central Catholic)
45 Whaley, Alonzo LB 6-01 225 RFr. Madisonville, Texas (Madisonville)
46 Martin, Eric LB 6-02 215 Fr. Moreno Valley, Calif. (Rancho Verde)
48 Williams, Chris LB 6-00 220 Fr. Abilene, Texas (Abilene)
51 Compton, Will LB 6-02 225 RFr. Bonne Terre, Mo. (North County)
There are also 2 pretty decent So. Walk Ons, ok 1 really good and one solid, in May and Holt. Holt will be just a RSo. next season due to his injury. Assuming May earns a scholarship starting next season that makes 7 scholarship players that will be around through 2011 at least. 8 will be around through 2010 if you count Blake Lawrence. That all being said, I still think we should take at least 1-2 LB's.
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Overland Park Husker
New member
I never said we shouldn't take a LB or two in this class, just figured it wouldn't be the end of the world if we didn't. Apparently I was wrong.
Hmm damn I must have counted wrong. Ya I def think that we have a very good young LB stable but my angle is more from the "what if" angle. Kreikemeier is unproven at best, Williams and Holt (whos not too proven but has got a little pt) are both coming off injuries. Lawrence has had head injury issues which is obviously nothing to fool around with so what if he gets another concussion this year or even next? Whaley has had a hard time learning the system to this point from what I've heard so that leaves four schollie players if you're including May. I think time has proven that you can never be content with the number of players you have at a certain position bc you never know what could happen.
huzkerbob
New member
I'm not saying your wrong, I actually agree with you. I'm only saying that even with the large number of Freshmen, you might as well go after the good players that are available. If for no other reason than to fill out the class.
Overland Park Husker
New member
And I agree. LB's one spot where we can afford not to get a commit. I'd like to get one or two every class, but sometimes it just doesn't work out.
caveman99
New member
I am with you, you can never tell what may happen and Bo is trying to build a strong deep program.
Street Novelist
Active member
Athlete Josh Shirley (Fontana, Calif./Kaiser) took an official visit to Washington last weekend and was one of the many who rushed the field after the Huskies' big upset win over USC.
"It was a pretty incredible atmosphere," Shirley said. "By the end of the game when they were driving, things were just getting crazier and crazier and then all of a sudden, we were all on the field. I was surprised by the outcome to be honest. I knew coach [steve Sakesian] and that staff would be able to turn things around but I didn't think they would be able to do it this quickly.
"As for the rest of the trip, I had a real good time. I got along great with the players and everyone is really buying in to what the coaches are saying. They have a nice campus and the city of Seattle is pretty nice as well. I was comfortable with everyone and the coaches make you feel like part of the team already. I would say Washington is definitely high on my list and will be in it until the very end."
Heading into the trip, Shirley had the two local schools, UCLA and USC, as his co-leaders and that still appears to be the case.
"Yeah, that hasn't changed," Shirley said. "Washington was real cool, but I still like those two the most. It's close to home and I know the coaches so well. I'm going to take my other visits though although I don't have any set up at the moment.
"I still have Arizona, Tennessee, Miami and Notre Dame as the others I want to visit and then unofficial visits to Cal, USC and UCLA. I'm going to try and do a couple more during the season if I can and the rest will be after the season is over."
"It was a pretty incredible atmosphere," Shirley said. "By the end of the game when they were driving, things were just getting crazier and crazier and then all of a sudden, we were all on the field. I was surprised by the outcome to be honest. I knew coach [steve Sakesian] and that staff would be able to turn things around but I didn't think they would be able to do it this quickly.
"As for the rest of the trip, I had a real good time. I got along great with the players and everyone is really buying in to what the coaches are saying. They have a nice campus and the city of Seattle is pretty nice as well. I was comfortable with everyone and the coaches make you feel like part of the team already. I would say Washington is definitely high on my list and will be in it until the very end."
Heading into the trip, Shirley had the two local schools, UCLA and USC, as his co-leaders and that still appears to be the case.
"Yeah, that hasn't changed," Shirley said. "Washington was real cool, but I still like those two the most. It's close to home and I know the coaches so well. I'm going to take my other visits though although I don't have any set up at the moment.
"I still have Arizona, Tennessee, Miami and Notre Dame as the others I want to visit and then unofficial visits to Cal, USC and UCLA. I'm going to try and do a couple more during the season if I can and the rest will be after the season is over."
AngryHusker88
Banned
Nice post - I agree 100% Its ridiculous to suggest that we're currently so stacked at LB that we don't need any for this class. Really, the only position we're so stacked at right now that we dont need to recruit is TE.
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Street Novelist
Active member
“I’m just trying to focus on my season,” Josh Shirley said. “I’m not really paying attention to the colleges yet. That’s not really a concern to me yet.” Shirley continues to deny a leader but says that UCLA and USC are recruiting him the hardest. He says he won’t be scheduling any new official visits soon. “I want more time. I’m not ready to narrow it down and decide on my trips...”
Street Novelist
Active member
Kaiser (Fontana, Calif.) linebacker/defensive end Josh Shirley has had a fairly quiet recruitment for being one of the state's elite players. He took a pair of official visits during the season but doesn't expect to make his college choice until close to signing day.
Shirley is one of the most versatile players in the region and could play outside 'backer or defensive end in college. He had played defensive end his entire high school career but moved to inside linebacker this season.
How much weight he puts on will likely determine his ultimate college position but every one is currently recruiting him as an outside linebacker.
"Right now, I'm 6-3 and weigh about 208 pounds," Shirley said. "I weighed 215 before the season so I lost some weight but I'm not really worried about it. I'm working out hard every day but working on speed and core strength rather than trying to put weight on. I know when I get to college, the staff there will be able to put weight on me so I'm just focusing on my speed and quickness."
Shirley took official visits to Washington and Arizona and has a couple of other trips in mind for January.
"I for sure want to visit Miami and that will likely be [Jan. 29]," Shirley said. "I had a great in-home visit with Miami linebacker coach Michael Barrow and really learned a lot about the program. They have incredible tradition at Miami and have put a lot of players in to the NFL. That was probably my favorite home visit just because I knew the least about Miami before the visit and now I feel like I have a good idea of what they're about.
"Washington and Arizona came in for home visits as well and those two schools are recruiting me the hardest. Coach [Nick] Holt came in for UW and I really like him a lot. When I think about what I like most about Washington, it always comes back to coach Holt. With Arizona, coach [Tim] Kish came in and he's a great guy as well. I really like Arizona's style of play and how fast and aggressive their defense plays."
Shirley said he continues to be recruited by the local schools, USC and UCLA as well.
"It's a dead period now but before the Holidays, I was hearing from them every week," Shirley said. "Ken Norton is the main recruiter for USC but when he calls, I basically talk to the whole staff. They have a big recruiting weekend [Jan. 15] but I haven't decided if I'll visit that weekend or not. I could but nothing is set in stone yet.
"For UCLA, coach [Rick] Neuheisal is the one recruiting me. I like UCLA and think I could really be a benefit to their program with my work ethic and how hard I play. I'm not sure if I'll visit UCLA or not but I've been there on unofficial visits before so it won't play a factor in what I do if I visit or not."
Shirley is one of the most versatile players in the region and could play outside 'backer or defensive end in college. He had played defensive end his entire high school career but moved to inside linebacker this season.
How much weight he puts on will likely determine his ultimate college position but every one is currently recruiting him as an outside linebacker.
"Right now, I'm 6-3 and weigh about 208 pounds," Shirley said. "I weighed 215 before the season so I lost some weight but I'm not really worried about it. I'm working out hard every day but working on speed and core strength rather than trying to put weight on. I know when I get to college, the staff there will be able to put weight on me so I'm just focusing on my speed and quickness."
Shirley took official visits to Washington and Arizona and has a couple of other trips in mind for January.
"I for sure want to visit Miami and that will likely be [Jan. 29]," Shirley said. "I had a great in-home visit with Miami linebacker coach Michael Barrow and really learned a lot about the program. They have incredible tradition at Miami and have put a lot of players in to the NFL. That was probably my favorite home visit just because I knew the least about Miami before the visit and now I feel like I have a good idea of what they're about.
"Washington and Arizona came in for home visits as well and those two schools are recruiting me the hardest. Coach [Nick] Holt came in for UW and I really like him a lot. When I think about what I like most about Washington, it always comes back to coach Holt. With Arizona, coach [Tim] Kish came in and he's a great guy as well. I really like Arizona's style of play and how fast and aggressive their defense plays."
Shirley said he continues to be recruited by the local schools, USC and UCLA as well.
"It's a dead period now but before the Holidays, I was hearing from them every week," Shirley said. "Ken Norton is the main recruiter for USC but when he calls, I basically talk to the whole staff. They have a big recruiting weekend [Jan. 15] but I haven't decided if I'll visit that weekend or not. I could but nothing is set in stone yet.
"For UCLA, coach [Rick] Neuheisal is the one recruiting me. I like UCLA and think I could really be a benefit to their program with my work ethic and how hard I play. I'm not sure if I'll visit UCLA or not but I've been there on unofficial visits before so it won't play a factor in what I do if I visit or not."
Street Novelist
Active member
Josh Shirley was in San Antonio over the weekend for the Army All-American game when news broke that USC head coach Pete Carroll was possibly leaving for the NFL.
Shirley recently narrowed his choices to four schools and the Trojans were definitely in the mix. Miami, Washington and Arizona also made the cut with one time favorite UCLA getting cut from the list.
"A lot of people were getting pretty emotional when the news leaked out," Shirley said. "A lot of the players were shocked and totally taken by surprise. At first I just thought it was a rumor because he's always rumored to be looking at a pro job but it proved to be true and now he's gone.
"To be honest, it doesn't really affect me that much. I still like USC just the same as I did before and still have them on my list. I haven't heard from anyone yet and really have no clue what coaches will be staying behind but I'm still going to give SC a strong look before I commit anywhere."
Shirley recently narrowed his choices to four schools and the Trojans were definitely in the mix. Miami, Washington and Arizona also made the cut with one time favorite UCLA getting cut from the list.
"A lot of people were getting pretty emotional when the news leaked out," Shirley said. "A lot of the players were shocked and totally taken by surprise. At first I just thought it was a rumor because he's always rumored to be looking at a pro job but it proved to be true and now he's gone.
"To be honest, it doesn't really affect me that much. I still like USC just the same as I did before and still have them on my list. I haven't heard from anyone yet and really have no clue what coaches will be staying behind but I'm still going to give SC a strong look before I commit anywhere."
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Street Novelist
Active member
Josh Shirley will announce his decision Wednesday live on Fox Sports West's Prime Ticket. Insiders think he will stay close to home and pick USC, though his official visit to Miami yesterday went very well.
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Street Novelist
Active member
Shirley had a great time in Miami, saying the distance away from home didn't bother him and the weather was a lot like California's. seems to be down to USC and Miami...
HuskerBruin
New member
Committed to UCLA. The rich get richer.