2014 Recruiting Thread

[UConnRock]

Me too.

Based on the initial influx of recruits the OL was the biggest area of need identified by Diaco and the staff. They shored up things with Rutherford, quickly got Hashemi and are going after a couple more. Allen may also be a DT prospect. The vigor with which they are going after linemen may not bode well for Bradford and his rumored grade issues. I also think the S&C changes were an indictment of the OL play.

 

[huskymedic]

malikkrushJan 23, 7:58pm via Twitter for Android
So the Uconn Coach told me today:
Those times will not get you on the track team. But they'll get you a football scholarship lmao

Courtney Rush a 6-2 190lb WR/DB from Windsor High School (CT).

(For Carl http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Athlete.aspx?AID=5034044 )

Isn't he a Junior, class of 2015??

You are correct... (misread MaxPrep). Wondered if they were in school primarily to see Keith Benjamin?

 

[2Infinity]

I also think the S&C changes were an indictment of the OL play.

Interesting thought there Rock. You might be onto something. Diaco, and possibly Foley too, may have thought that these guys should have been more developed than they were...so in spite of the positive reputation....time to make a change. Speculation on my part...but certainly seems plausible.

 

[ktuck911]

You are correct... (misread MaxPrep). Wondered if they were in school primarily to see Keith Benjamin?

Wouldn't Charles Baldwin be in the mix too?

 

[huskymedic]

Wouldn't Charles Baldwin be in the mix too?

Yup, good point... both offered - neither committed yet (that I am aware of).

 

[gioff23]

HCBD is on record saying commitments will be honored; he never said the same about offers. We have no idea who the staff feels "offers" are now out to and how many more they need to bring in.

 

[kris1]

Needs to gain about 30-40 lbs., but he'll definitely play on Sundays, based solely on his name.

I like Diggs as a SS in a 3-4. He's got good size, moves well, and is a sure tackler against the run.

 

[Dynasty]

HFD is reporting this...

Go B1G or Go Home ‏@B1GConn 2h
Keith benjamin committed in the fall to #UConn my source tells me. Never made recruit sites I guess?!?!

I'll look around for info.

 

[huskymedic]

Virginia connections @ work?

CP ‏@_ChrisPeace40m
UCONN huskies just called me

Chris Peace 6-3 225lb DE/LB/TE from Denbigh HS in Newport News VA. No offers yet.

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2893539/christopher-cp-peace

Chris Peace of Denbigh is heating up!
http://www.recruit757.com/peace-picks-new-offers/

>>Coach John Wiley is recruiting Chris for East Carolina and Coach Wayne Lineburg, formerly of the University of Richmond, is now recruiting Peace for UConn. Chris visited the University of Richmond back in November. In addition to all of this new found interest and the new found offers, Chris added an offer this morning from a school that had every intention of attending Monday’s Senior Showcase, but they missed the event. Assistant Coach Tripp Weaver at The Citadel offered Chris this morning.<<

_ChrisPeaceJan 24, 6:06pm via Twitter for iPhone
Let my weekend start �pic.twitter.com/la7Spi570808

Hope we drop a couple of big Pepe's pizzas in his room along w/ a cookie and a couple of pints of Dairy Bar ice cream to put on the cookie!!!!

 

[selles]

_ChrisPeaceJan 24, 6:06pm via Twitter for iPhone
Let my weekend start �pic.twitter.com/la7Spi570808



Hope we drop a couple of big Pepe's pizzas in his room along w/ a cookie and a couple of pints of Dairy Bar ice cream to put on the cookie!!!!

UVA site (thesabre) has a blurb on him saying he isn't anticipated to commit this weekend even if he gets a UVA offer. He intends to take a visit next weekend to either Albany or a better offer.

http://virginia.sportswar.com/article/2014/01/25/cavs-hosting-three-on-official-visits/

 

[huskymedic]

desmondconner6:17pm via Twitter for iPhone
Vontae Diggs, a 6-4, 200-pound outside linebacker and #BallState commit from Downers Grove, IL set to visit #UConnFootballthis weekend...

Other offers from WMU and Toledo

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9334099

http://www.themblock.com/2013/01/2014-names-to-watch-vontae-diggs.html

We'll see...

core6athletes10:13am via Twitter for iPhone
#UConn has offered CORE6 LB from Downers Grove North Vontae Diggs.

Core6 is an Illinois Training Center that runs showcase events.

 

[huskymedic]

My bad if this was posted earlier.. looks like this kid also wrestles and is currently up to 285lbs... listed at only 6'1 241lbs on rivals.

New Jersey Herald ‏@NJHerald 8h
PJ's Noa Merritt decommits from Western Michigan as BC, Temple, UConn take interest http://Post original url/1dXQnJH @PopeJohnLions

Was visiting up north this weekend:

bcinterruption9:01am via SB Nation
Boston College Football Recruiting: Former Western Michigan Commit Noa Merritt Visits Heights sbn.to/1n18XVc

Edit add - Must have been a good visit -

30 minutes ago
“@dasheett: Thank you to my family, friends and all those who have supported me along the way. I am now committed to Boston College! #GoEagles! #BeADude”

 

[Exit 4]

Rivals is reporting Keith Benjamin has committed.

 

[huskymedic]

Rivals is reporting Keith Benjamin has committed.

The great mystery solved... Other than that passing mention on the linked WFSB "interview" back in November, nobody had this. Strange stuff.

 

[huskymedic]

Updated w/ Benjamin confirmation.

LB- Chris Britton (Harrisburg HS, PA) - January
DB- Jamar Summers (Prep @ Milford Academy) (Orange NJ)

QB- Logan Marchi (St. Paul HS, CT)
RB- Arkeel Newsome (Ansonia CT)
RB - Bryce McAllister (Suffield Academy)
RB/LB - Ron Johnson (Palmetto Ridge HS, Naples FL)
TE - Alec Bloom (Ligonier Valley PA)
WR - Anthony Watkins (The Lawrenceville School - Lawrenceville NJ)

OL- Trey Rutherford (Kent School CT)
OL - Lamont Bradford (Timber Creek HS NJ)
OL - Steve Hashemi (St Joe's Trumbull CT)

DT - Keith Benjamin (Windsor HS CT)
DE/TE- Luke Carrezola (Neshaminy, PA)
DT/OG- Sheriden Lawley (The Lawrenceville School - Lawrenceville NJ)
LB/DE- Tom Rodrick (Leicester, MA)

*Becoming concerned about Bradford - academics rumored to still be a question and he wasn't allowed/permitted up this week w/ the others.

 

[huskymedic]

Nmamdi Egbuaba LB OUT of Baltimore to visit on 1/31/14. Listed at 6'1" 215lbs. Recruited by coach Poindexter. Source is rivals.

Terrapin Times @MDTerrapinTimes
The #Terps have secured a commitment from St. Frances LB Nnamdi Egbuaba this morning

Maryland football recruiting: Local OLB Nnamdi Egbuaba commits to Terps
http://www.testudotimes.com/2014/1/26/5320516/nnamdi-egbuaba-commits-maryland

 

[huskymedic]

_ChrisPeaceJan 24, 6:06pm via Twitter for iPhone
Let my weekend start �pic.twitter.com/la7Spi570808

View attachment 4847

Hope we drop a couple of big Pepe's pizzas in his room along w/ a cookie and a couple of pints of Dairy Bar ice cream to put on the cookie!!!!

Damn giant cookies...

CP ‏@_ChrisPeace 1h
Committed to UVA

From a non-linkable source:

>>Chris Peace had a plan. He was going to visit Hampton, Connecticut and ECU before making his commitment. Well that place got thrown out the window this morning, when he met with Virginia head coach Mike London.

“Last night before I went with my host, Coach London said I want you be a Cavalier in the morning,” the Denbigh standout explained. “This morning, he said do you have news for me? And then I told him this morning, “I am a Cavalier<<

 

[UConnDan97]

Rivals is reporting Keith Benjamin has committed.

So essentially HFD broke a scoop that neither the Horde nor the scouting sites had listed! Too funny. Mods, we've gotta let him back in on the recruiting tab at the very least!

 

[metsfan2323]

So should there be a welcome Keith Benjamin thread or are we waiting for a confirmation?

I could only find a wrestling video of him. He certainly looks the part of a defensive tackle.

 

[UConnDan97]

So should there be a welcome Keith Benjamin thread or are we waiting for a confirmation?

I could only find a wrestling video of him. He certainly looks the part of a defensive tackle.

This isn't a wrestling video. He took part in a Charlie Molnar practice at UMass...

Feel free to start up a welcome thread, and I'll join in. If Twitter has taught us anything, it's that it is better to be early and wrong than correct and late...

 

[metsfan2323]

http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1526608

according to this article Keith Benjamin has run a 4.8 / 40. Wow! If true i'm giving him 4 stars

 

[BNich]

http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1526608

according to this article Keith Benjamin has run a 4.8 / 40. Wow! If true i'm giving him 4 stars

That's a great time for a big man!

 

[noeynox]

WTF is in the water in Windsor? Chris Baker, Damik Scafe, Terrence Knighton and now Benjamin and Charles Baldwin. Are these kids all from the same high school?

 

[metsfan2323]

WTF is in the water in Windsor? Chris Baker, Damik Scafe, Terrence Knighton and now Benjamin and Charles Baldwin. Are these kids all from the same high school?

Cole Ormsby too.

 

[huskymedic]

desmondconner7:20pm via Twitter for iPhone
Trey Ratliff, 6-5, 275 OT from Wake Forest, NC,#Army commit, sister Kantor on #UConnvolleyball team, visiting #UConnFootball this weekend

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/311724/highlights/61174380

http://www.ncsasports.org/football-...st/heritage-high-school9/william-trey-ratliff

MClarkScout3:27pm via Web
Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage OT and #Armycommit Trey Ratliff @thereal_tratty has been offered by #UConn

Edit add:

“@salinterdonato: Heritage (N.C.) OT & Army commit Trey Ratliff offered scholarship by UConn during visit this weekend. Says interest in schools about same.”

 

[uconnbill]

think it comes down to uconn wanting a oline wideout and linebacker

 

[2Infinity]

Sal Interdonato ‏@salinterdonato43m
Heritage (N.C.) OT & Army commit Trey Ratliff offered scholarship by UConn during visit this weekend. Says interest in schools about same.

 

[noeynox]

Cole Ormsby too.

Yep forgot about him. Some big boys coming out of that program.

 

[huskymedic]

desmondconner7:20pm via Twitter for iPhone
Trey Ratliff, 6-5, 275 OT from Wake Forest, NC,#Army commit, sister Kantor on #UConnvolleyball team, visiting #UConnFootball this weekend

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/311724/highlights/61174380

http://www.ncsasports.org/football-...st/heritage-high-school9/william-trey-ratliff

MClarkScout3:27pm via Web
Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage OT and #Armycommit Trey Ratliff @thereal_tratty has been offered by #UConn

Edit add:
“@salinterdonato: Heritage (N.C.) OT & Army commit Trey Ratliff offered scholarship by UConn during visit this weekend. Says interest in schools about same.”

Being reported that Army Coach Waugh will be making an in=home visit w/ Ratliff tomorrow night.

 

[huskymedic]

So from what the BY has been able to gather, we are looking at the following to round out the class.

Njuko <--WR (tall) out of NJ with OSU visit scheduled. Looks like we are choice #2 here.
Wingate <--WR (tall) out of NJ committed to Stony Brook. Transcript issues might be gumming up the commitment process here.
Peace <--LB out of VA (good frame) with UVA in heavy pursuit UVA commit this weekend
Egbuaba <--LB out of MD (raw/fast) with several D1 programs in pursuit, but no offers. UMD commit this weekend
Rochelin <--DE (tall/raw/fast) out of CA with several D1 programs in pursuit, but no offers.
Merritt <--DL out of NJ (great motor/great technique/sheds blockers well) - possible BC lean. BCU commit this weekend
Aspostolu <--OL/DL out of PA (size)

Updated.

We still have the above plus Patterson, Diggs, Ratliff and Allen still in play (plus probably a few like Baldwin who may have older offers still valid)