Recruiting Thread

[whitesoxfan101]

Jordan's kid is about 50/50 between walking on at UNC or going to Loyola Chicago on a scholly, should be interesting to see what he chooses.

 

Oh, and Eric Gordon is a lock to Illinois just about as much as Derrick Rose is a lock to the highest bidder, no chance in hell he goes somewhere else.

[Rex Hudler]

Not really new news or anything final, but the latest is DJ White will stay and Vaden is gone. The latest from the Indianapolis Star:

 

White likely to stay; Vaden about to be gone

[Felix]

s***. Sounds like Westbrook has been released from his LOI. s***tttttt.

Since it doesn't look like it was posted here, Lawrence Westbrook is a Minnesota Gopher

http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress...ts/14329638.htm

Edited April 15, 2006 by Felix

[Heads22]

Watch out for Larry.

[whitesoxfan101]

So, rivals released it's final 150 list for basketball's class of 2006. Brian Carlwell fell a bit, down to #75 overall, but is still comfortably a 4 star prospect and a top 10 power forward, so whatever. He ends up ranked almost in the exact same spot as Shaun Pruitt was in the class of 2004 (Richard Semrau is still #7 in Ohio, and a 3 star btw).

 

In one of the most improbable turns I've ever seen, Patrick Beverley, who was a 2 star Toledo verbal early this winter, finishes as the #64 player in the nation and a 4 star prospect. And finally, Illinois State verbal Osiris Eldridge held strong as a 3 star and the #136 player in the top 150, damn they have a good class coming in this fall and he's the star of it. Creighton guard Issac Miles at #131 is another mid major appearance in the rankings.

 

Indiana guard Armon Bassett finishes a 3 star at #121, and Will Walker finishes a 4 star at #93 (DePaul).

[Heads22]

Cory Johnson will make them sorry he's no longer on the list.

[whitesoxfan101]

Arrelious Benn, the #1 WR in the class of 2007 for football and a surefire top 10 prospect, has announced his top 6 and has Illinois in it.

 

http://louisianastate.scout.com/2/521786.html (premium scout story)

 

Wow, Zook is the man.

[AddisonStSox]

Arrelious Benn, the #1 WR in the class of 2007 for football and a surefire top 10 prospect, has announced his top 6 and has Illinois in it.

 

http://louisianastate.scout.com/2/521786.html (premium scout story)

 

Wow, Zook is the man.

 

That's a long way away from landing him, my man.

 

If his Zookers can't win a Big Ten game this season, that kid, or anyother worthwhile prospect, will not come to Champaign.

[whitesoxfan101]

That's a long way away from landing him, my man.

 

If his Zookers can't win a Big Ten game this season, that kid, or anyother worthwhile prospect, will not come to Champaign.

 

They aren't going to go ofer in the league again this year, and top 6 for a guy that might be the #1 player in the nation is pretty damn good. Plus, Zook brought in a couple of MD/DC prospects this year who are very close friends with Benn (one was his HS teammate in fact), so that can only help. It's obviously very early, but just being close despite recent suckage for a guy that good is a plus.

[thedoctor]

i do think that illinois needs to not only win a few big ten games, but also show improvement. the most disconcerting part about illinois football the past few years is that they've appeared to regress as the season progressed, not get better.

 

if that happens again this year, just about all of the recruiting momentum zook has built so far will be sapped.

[maggsmaggs]

If Zook is wise, when Benn comes on his visit next fall, "Juice" Williams should be his host (right word?) Juice is obviously the QB of the future, if not this year and getting Juice to talk to Benn would definately help.

Edited April 19, 2006 by maggsmaggs

[AddisonStSox]

They aren't going to go ofer in the league again this year, and top 6 for a guy that might be the #1 player in the nation is pretty damn good.  Plus, Zook brought in a couple of MD/DC prospects this year who are very close friends with Benn (one was his HS teammate in fact), so that can only help.  It's obviously very early, but just being close despite recent suckage for a guy that good is a plus.

 

 

I just read that article.

 

Maryland, Notre Dame, USC, Illinois, Florida

 

 

"Which one here is not like the other? Which one here just doesn't belong?"

[Soxbadger]

Actually there are 2 outliers on that list:

 

Maryland and Illinois.

 

The other 3 programs are some of the best in the nation.

[Palehosefan]

Prospects are still somewhat enamored with Friedgen at Maryland. He's led MD to a 31-18 record the last 4 years, with the last two seasons at 5-6 with no QB. He's supposed to be an offensive genius, but that luster is wearing off somewhat after the past two season's dismal QB play.

 

I wouldn't be suprised to see Benn end up at Illinois. Especially with Vontae Davis at Illinois, as well as Juice. You have a teammate, great recruiting coach, and a 5 star caliber QB recruiting you, not bad. The Illini have had as much of a claim on the DC area as any other school in the nation recently.

[whitesoxfan101]

Ever since I watched Maryland score 13 points against an average NIU defense and lose in 2003, I haven't been a Friedgen fan.

[SleepyWhiteSox]

In one of the most improbable turns I've ever seen, Patrick Beverley, who was a 2 star Toledo verbal early this winter, finishes as the #64 player in the nation and a 4 star prospect.

 

arkansas-bound, and chose them over michigan...

[Fotop]

They aren't going to go ofer in the league again this year, and top 6 for a guy that might be the #1 player in the nation is pretty damn good. 

 

Two words: Jimmy Claussen.

 

Benn could be the top WR, but no way is he the #1 prospect in the nation. Claussen is supposedly the second coming, which pretty much means Beano Cook has already given him three heismans and Irish fans everywhere are having shades of Ron Powlus *shudder* (that is, if Claussen committs...but it seems like ND is on the inside track).

 

 

I just read that article.

 

Maryland, Notre Dame, USC, Illinois, Florida

 

 

"Which one here is not like the other?  Which one here just doesn't belong?"

 

Heh, I was pretty much going to say the same thing Addy. If this kid was from Illinois I'd say they'd have a shot, but really is some kid from DC going to play for MD or Illinois when he knows he could be groomed for the pros at the other three schools? I'm obviously biased, but I find it hard to believe that anyone would believe they'd be a better player or better set for the NFL playing on team that's not coached by Weis or Carroll.

[Palehosefan]

Jimmy is the top quarterback and is a lock to be ND bound, but Noel Devine will be there all year challenging him for the top prospect in the nation.

 

I'm obviously biased, but I find it hard to believe that anyone would believe they'd be a better player or better set for the NFL playing on team that's not coached by Weis or Carroll.

 

Come on, you really don't believe that do you? Carroll has sent some nice players to the NFL, but nothing more than other major programs, and it's not hard to send them off when you recruit as well as he has, similarly to Miami's recruiting of the late 90's/early 2000's. If you are a good player, you can make it to the league from any school in the nation. Urban Meyer has had the #1 pick in the draft in his system, a top 15 pick this year with Chad Jackson, and 3 other guys that will be drafted this year. Friedgen has a top 10 pick, top 30 pick, and a CB that will be drafted.

 

Of course ND, USC, and even Florida have the prestige. But that's not for everyone. Some of the best players in the nation look to programs they can help build, not just be another name. USC brought in 4 of the top 26 WR's in the nation last year. Florida brought in 2 of the top 3, and 3 of the top 21 WR's in the nation last year. ND didn't bring in much receiving help according to the rankings, which can be deceiving, but will also help Weis sell p/t more.

 

IF Maryland shows they found a QB this year and their offense comes back, I would expect it to be a 3 team race between MD, Illini, and ND for Benn. That is, assuming Benn cares about the previous year's recruits at their position, like alot of them do now.

[Soxbadger]

Palehose,

 

I know you know alot about recruiting, but as an Illinoisian I have to say, if you are a good player and go to Illinois you are stupid. Im sorry but I hate Notre Dame, and if I had the choice between Illinois and ND, youd see me playing at South Bend.

 

Not only does Illinois not have a great football program, it does not even have a great field, nor does it have the prestige of any of those other programs. I guess there is the fact his "Friend" is going there, but outside of that there is just no reason to go to Illinois when other top programs want you.

[Palehosefan]

I know you know alot about recruiting, but as an Illinoisian I have to say, if you are a good player and go to Illinois you are stupid. Im sorry but I hate Notre Dame, and if I had the choice between Illinois and ND, youd see me playing at South Bend.

 

Not only does Illinois not have a great football program, it does not even have a great field, nor does it have the prestige of any of those other programs. I guess there is the fact his "Friend" is going there, but outside of that there is just no reason to go to Illinois when other top programs want you.

 

Yeah, I wasn't just arguiing about Illinois, I was speaking of other programs across the nation that aren't considered "elite" right now and why prospects would go there. I admittedly don't know anything about the Illini's field, facilities, stadium size, or history. I just know its a great public university with enough funds that they probably could afford to upgrade everything at Zook's urging. My main question is how much Illini fans and students care about football right now.

[Fotop]

I'm obviously biased, but I find it hard to believe that anyone would believe they'd be a better player or better set for the NFL playing on team that's not coached by Weis or Carroll.

 

Ok, maybe this wasn't all that clear, but what was meant by the statement is that these guys prepare you for the NFL the best. Their programs have the most exposure, they know the ins and outs of the pros better than anyone else, and have pro style teams that showcase NFL skills to the scouts. Not to go on a tangent, but Meyer's offense at Florida is NOT a pro-style offense. Sure the guys that are the rare talents will make it regardless, but do you think Chris Leak is going to be a top pick? No, because he plays in a gadget offense and doesnt have a standout skill like Vince Young for people to not care about playing in a pro-style offense.

 

Which leads to my next point let me correct something for you, just merely semantics but I think it makes a difference...

 

If you are a great player, you can make it to the league from any school in the nation.

 

There are a lot of "good" players in college football, but the guys you're talking about that make the big splash in the draft are what i would consider great players or players that have a few great specific skills (speed, size, etc). Again it's merely word-choice, but when I think of a "good" player I see a large pool of D-I players. Let's use a guy like Derek Hagan for example...great college receiver, has good skills yet he plays for ASU. Arguably, he's a better talent than Maurice Stovall, yet who's projected to go higher? Stovall. Now say Hagan was on a team like ND, he would have had more exposure, better stats in a pro-style offense, and he'd have all the resources to build up his stock leading up to the draft (huge pro days, combine training, etc).

 

Basically, great players transcend the obstacles they are faced with when going to less prestigous schools. They bring the attention to themselves with their play where as kids at a school like ND or USC have the attention on them from the get-go and many opportunities to take it advantage of it. Again, look at Stovall, all-world recruit when he came in (Stovall and McKnight were both five stars I believe); yet floundered for three years. Has a good year under Weis, gets lots of attention still since he's on national tv every week, and every forgets about his inconsistencies of the past three years. If he were at a different school, I don't know if he gets all those chances to make an impact in the eyes of scouts.

 

So personally I think as a recruit, you'd be hard pressed to find anything negative about the coaching, facilities, exposure, and systems at the top-tier football schools. Therefore, if a kid doesn't have his heart set on anywhere, and the peripheral stuff doesn't bother him (weather, academics, etc), I just dont see how you turn down a USC, ND, Florida, OSU, etc.

[Palehosefan]

I agree to an extent. However, you have to take into account playing time as well. When guys like Gerald Riggs, Brandon Jeffries, Aaron Kirkland, Jamal Edwards, Thomas Clayton, Brent Schaeffer, Jonathan Crompton, etc ended up at FSU or Tennessee in their respective cases, they were all rated as 4 stars or higher. Yet upon arrival, after promised p/t, they all sat behind other 4-5 stars on the depth chart, and either currently sit there, transferred to a smaller school for p/t, or floundered for 3-4 years ala Riggs.

 

As for Stovall and Hagan, I still see Hagan being projected higher, even with Stovall being bigger, just as fast, and at a much bigger program.

 

As for Chris Leak's pro potential, if Drew Brees can make it, then I see a place for Chris Leak. He has always had the cannon for an arm and is very accurate. He would have succeeded in any system, he was an all-world recruit and was talked about since he was a freshmen in high school in NC.

 

I do agree that more scouts would be watching schools like USC and ND because of the known talent, but I would also argue that a big talent could stand out at a smaller school and get just as much hype, if not more, as he wouldn't have other top prospects all over the field in practice with him while he's producing on the field. Don't forget, with the amount of national exposure a school like ND gets, there's also a much greater chance to see a players flaws and focus on them. If a player is a true talent like Brady Quinn, he will be exemplified on TV, but if a player has questionable hands, or a temper, then everyone is going to see that and it's going to be talked about on the post-game show's on NBC or wherever to no end. Those can be hidden at a smaller school, as all you see on Sportscenter is the big plays or the statistics. Players attitudes like Randy Moss or Terrell Owens are hidden until their NFL careers begin, as Randy's was bad enough that he couldn't attend FSU where he originally attended.

[Wedge]

would also argue that a big talent could stand out at a smaller school and get just as much hype, if not more, as he wouldn't have other top prospects all over the field in practice with him while he's producing on the field.

 

I'll give you some empirical evidence against this argument: Jay Cutler. This guy probably has just as much talent as Matt Leinhart, if not more, and yet I don't think he's getting much more hype than Leinhart. Perhaps, that's restricted to QB's since they are often judged by the performance of their teams, but I don't think it's an isolated incident.

[Palehosefan]

Cutler wasn't a top flight QB in his class, and was blessed with the opportunity to start as a freshmen at a SEC school. Vandy had nobody returning in the QB department and had two unheralded freshmen QB's battling for the job Cutler's freshmen year. If Jay had attended a school like USC, he would have battled Matt Leinart instead of Benji Walker during his career. There's alot of guys out there with strong arms, but few get the opportunity to start at an SEC school and play against SEC defenses for 4 years with not much competition at your position.

[Soxbadger]

When I hear Jay Cutler, I think Kyle Boller.

 

Some team will take a real risk with him if hes top 10.