2018 Recruiting Thread

[kris1]

Lake Mineola (central FL), 5'9"ish RB Fred Jackson - unclear offers, but lots of yards
Lake Minneola RB Fred Jackson finished season with a flurry, 454 yards | Stat Leaders

Scouting on Jackson has picked up since the spring. University of Miami, Bowling Green, Middle Tennessee State, Georgia Southern, Campbell, Appalachian State, South Florida, and Central Florida are watching. Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Western Kentucky, Notre Dame (Ohio), and Army have all offered.

Interview: Exciting 2018 Florida RB Fred Jackson Updates Season and Recruiting
Jackson seems to have P5 speed and ability, size (5’8.5, 170) may have kept schools away early on.

 

[kris1]

 

[Exit 4]

A nice looking DE commits to Cincy. I feel like we already know this team since they have landed Metz and Sanders. We will have to toss some screens and bombs to get past these guys.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[uconnbill]

More on Freddie Jackson
We had another small back like him with Terry Caulley and he turned out pretty doggone good till he was hurt.

 

[Exit 4]

So it seems we are down to the following priorities to complete the class. My best guess is that seven more is the max we can take without grayshirting someone:

1. Christian Haynes (OL) - Bowie High School, Bowie Maryland
   
2. Jalen Rayam (LB) - Thompson High School, Alabaster Alabama
3. Landon Woodson (DE) - Stafford High School, Falmouth Virginia
4. Messiah Turner (DB) - Tampa Catholic High School, Tampa Florida
5. Dante Black (RB) - Brookwood High School, Snellville Georgia
6. Wildcard: Steve Gilmore (CB/WR) - South Pointe High School, Rocky Hill, South Carolina
7. Wildcard: Liam Maloney (OL/TE/DL) - Holy Trinity/Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons High School, Schenectady New York (UConn Commit 8/3/17)

 

[uconnphil2016]

So it seems we are down to the following priorities to complete the class. My best guess is that seven more is the max we can take without grayshirting someone:

1. Christian Haynes (OL) - Bowie High School, Bowie Maryland
   
2. Jalen Rayam (LB) - Thompson High School, Alabaster Alabama
3. Landon Woodson (DE) - Stafford High School, Falmouth Virginia
4. Messiah Turner (DB) - Tampa Catholic High School, Tampa Florida
5. Dante Black (RB) - Brookwood High School, Snellville Georgia
6. Wildcard: Steve Gilmore (CB/WR) - South Pointe High School, Rocky Hill, South Carolina
7. Wildcard: Liam Maloney (OL/TE/DL) - Holy Trinity/Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons High School, Schenectady New York (UConn Commit 8/3/17)

Haynes looks like he's coming to us. My top priority would be Rayam and Dante Black. Rayam looked like he had an awesome nose for the ball.

 

[Exit 4]

Haynes looks like he's coming to us. My top priority would be Rayam and Dante Black. Rayam looked like he had an awesome nose for the ball.

Yes, I think Haynes is just waiting on the OL Coach announcement if I had to guess....but he is coming - I think. Turner definitely seems to be leaning our way as well. To finish strong we need Rayam, Woodson and Black.....and the mysterious Gilmore can be a cherry on top.

 

[Pudge]

Given the numbers, I think you could see 2 more totally mystery recruits from Florida. Terry Richardson. Past Edsall history is full of this & they sometimes are higher rated fallout from bigger name Programs.

 

[Exit 4]

Given the numbers, I think you could see 2 more totally mystery recruits from Florida. Terry Richardson. Past Edsall history is full of this & they sometimes are higher rated fallout from bigger name Programs.

Are you saying we could exceed the 25 head cap? If so, how could we do that unless you think Randy will ask kids to defer enrollment, which means they could walk during the deferral period.

 

[Stainmaster]

Are you saying we could exceed the 25 head cap? If so, how could we do that unless you think Randy will ask kids to defer enrollment, which means they could walk during the deferral period.

It’s just something the Twitter guys will never be able to understand...

 

[ktuck911]

Haynes looks like he's coming to us. My top priority would be Rayam and Dante Black. Rayam looked like he had an awesome nose for the ball.

Nice to have somebody on the same page as me...

 

[UConnRock]

Are you saying we could exceed the 25 head cap? If so, how could we do that unless you think Randy will ask kids to defer enrollment, which means they could walk during the deferral period.

Correct me if I am wrong, but 3 enrolled in January so they count against last years class. UConn has 7 spots left or 8 if no Liam Maloney. Likely will not get all on the shortlist, so there will certainly be a couple of new guys that are offered very late in the process.

 

[Pudge]

Are you saying we could exceed the 25 head cap? If so, how could we do that unless you think Randy will ask kids to defer enrollment, which means they could walk during the deferral period.

I have watched Football recruiting - specifically HCRE (*til 2009) - and I would say he has exceeded 25 about 4 times. You can do that in a number of ways. One is the fact Eli Thomas is already on campus. But, if you count the numbers Edsall stated after the early LOI signing date, it was 26. I think he is fairly meticulous with these roster ideals. If we are at 22/23 today ... I think he has a few bubble picks that he would immediately go to fill the class; he has done that before (ignominously with Kindly Jacques).

 

[Exit 4]

Correct me if I am wrong, but 3 enrolled in January so they count against last years class. UConn has 7 spots left or 8 if no Liam Maloney. Likely will not get all on the shortlist, so there will certainly be a couple of new guys that are offered very late in the process.

Thank you for being specific. Yes, we have room for up to 7 more new recruits. I started this morning naming the leading seven. You've posited that we could get a surprise name by replacing Maloney which is something that makes some sense. Another scenario is that we could replace Gilmore with another surprise. However, I don't see us pulling the rug out from Rayam, Haynes, Black, Turner or Woodson...so another scenario however is one of those do not commit. I dont see us pulling any greyshirt tricks on 2/1, but maybe do like Eli Smith and Mensah and offer unsigned kids after spring practice - but those kids would have to count towards 2019.

 

[Exit 4]

I have watched Football recruiting - specifically HCRE (*til 2009) - and I would say he has exceeded 25 about 4 times. You can do that in a number of ways. One is the fact Eli Thomas is already on campus. But, if you count the numbers Edsall stated after the early LOI signing date, it was 26. I think he is fairly meticulous with these roster ideals. If we are at 22/23 today ... I think he has a few bubble picks that he would immediately go to fill the class; he has done that before (ignominously with Kindly Jacques).

"Bubble picks?" We just used the three early enrollees to backwards fill the 2017 class. The only way we get beyond 7 more kids beyond the commits we have is if we find kids that have already signed an NLI and left early (which is really a transfer) or just plain grey shirt kids. Another option is to not recruit a kid, have them come as a walk on and offer a scholarship after they arrive on campus.....those kids however can't be recruited and so we aren't going to hear about them this winter.

 

[huskymedic]

Speculation is fun (and lifeblood of sites like this) but they know how to manage their roster. This isn’t their first rodeo... they likely know they really aren’t in the running for kids offered/or are a kid’s option 3 or 4 freeing up spots for “surprises”.

 

[Exit 4]

Speculation is fun (and lifeblood of sites like this) but they know how to manage their roster. This isn’t their first rodeo... they likely know they really aren’t in the running for kids offered/or are a kid’s option 3 or 4 freeing up spots for “surprises”.

First rodeo? Who says the staff doesn't know what its doing, not me.

Pudge tossed out the notion that we could exceed the roster cap. I wanted him to outline with specifics within the context of the recruiting rules of just how we could do that given we have already backwards filled the 2017 class. In many past years the staff could play the backwards call fill trick to create room for surprises late in the cycle. However, we have already factored that into this cycle to get seven more, otherwise it would be four more.

So, what's the roster magic to add an eighth to this very class? because it seems to me the only magic involves adding them to the 2019 class as a deferred enrollment.

As for surprises, sure - I could see that - to replace anyone from the list of seven that falls out.

 

[ktuck911]

"Bubble picks?" We just used the three early enrollees to backwards fill the 2017 class. The only way we get beyond 7 more kids beyond the commits we have is if we find kids that have already signed an NLI and left early (which is really a transfer) or just plain grey shirt kids. Another option is to not recruit a kid, have them come as a walk on and offer a scholarship after they arrive on campus.....those kids however can't be recruited and so we aren't going to hear about them this winter.

or maybe we somehow get them to do a Kevin Mensah... wait throughout the Summer, find out if other kids are transferring out after Spring Semester? Would it work that way?

 

[Exit 4]

or maybe we somehow get them to do a Kevin Mensah... wait throughout the Summer, find out if other kids are transferring out after Spring Semester? Would it work that way?

Mensah, like the Aussie punter and Jay Rose ended up eating into the 25 man cap for 2017.

One way to get more kids that are not transfers would be to not recruit them officially, have them show up on campus and walk on to the team in August, then we can award them a scholarship (from the 85 cap), but they cannot play their freshman year. Look up the so called blueshirt recruiting rules, its perfect for states with lots of local talent that are willing to take the risk that staff will following through. That said, since the kid can't play that fall, its like a 2019 kid anyways or effectively a deferred enrollment.

 

[Palatine]

Are you saying we could exceed the 25 head cap? If so, how could we do that unless you think Randy will ask kids to defer enrollment, which means they could walk during the deferral period.

It happens all the time. Not really sure how it works. The key is the 85 man rule. If we get 26 incoming, then it's likely they picked up the extra kid because they knew a scholarship player was leaving before the next semester. Plus, there are two kids already enrolled.

 

[Exit 4]

It happens all the time. Not really sure how it works. The key is the 85 man rule. If we get 26 incoming, then it's likely they picked up the extra kid because they knew a scholarship player was leaving before the next semester. Plus, there are two kids already enrolled.

Dude, where have you been? This discussion is about a recruiting class with 28 kids and how we get it higher yet. 28 is the conceivable possible max based on what we know because we have three backwards fills via early enrollments of Lazarus, Nyadu and Banks.

For all, the latest recruiting bylaws on this issue, scroll down in the link. Note, we could add more than 28, but someone would have to defer...its not magic.

Legislative Services Database - LSDBi

 

[uconnbill]

Come on maybe UConn is greyshirting a player or two like those SEC schools do all the time

 

[ktuck911]

I just hope we get some COMMITTED Grad Transfers that can contribute... a couple of big uglies on D would be nice... Games are won in the trenches. With Foley, our only BIG DT going to the NFL, we currently have 2 DTs that have been on the roster for at least a year, both around 6'1 and straddling the 300lb line. Unless T. Jones is a superfrosh it's kinda clear we need more beef up front...NOW

 

[Pudge]

First rodeo? Who says the staff doesn't know what its doing, not me.

Pudge tossed out the notion that we could exceed the roster cap. I wanted him to outline with specifics within the context of the recruiting rules of just how we could do that given we have already backwards filled the 2017 class. In many past years the staff could play the backwards call fill trick to create room for surprises late in the cycle. However, we have already factored that into this cycle to get seven more, otherwise it would be four more.

So, what's the roster magic to add an eighth to this very class? because it seems to me the only magic involves adding them to the 2019 class as a deferred enrollment.

As for surprises, sure - I could see that - to replace anyone from the list of seven that falls out.

While you keep YOUR nice little Excel spreadsheet ... it is far from the official one kept by the DofOperations. I suspect that HCRE accurately - with all known potential slots - knew what he was saying by the number 26. We really don't know the status of each of the returning players. I'm not saying you are wrong; I am saying CFB has incredible moving parts.

 

[Stainmaster]

While you keep YOUR nice little Excel spreadsheet ... it is far from the official one kept by the DofOperations. I suspect that HCRE accurately - with all known potential slots - knew what he was saying by the number 26. We really don't know the status of each of the returning players. I'm not saying you are wrong; I am saying CFB has incredible moving parts.

You seem to have this insatiable desire to be seen as the foremost expert here, as well as extreme jealousy of others whom you see as threatening that...what’s going on here? So much to unpack.

 

[UConnJim]

Exit 4 is correct on the math for a given year. You can bring in 25 in a given year, but you can bring in more than that number if you have slots from the previous years with early enrollees, or if you defer enrollments. Also, kids that sign sometimes don't make it academically, so you plan on that by signing above 25.

When you have a development program, like UConn, the key is to bring in kids to see how good they are and how much you can develop them. Thus bringing in close to 25 kids every year is a must and then you manage the roster. Diaco did not understand this and he had recruiting classes of 15, 23, and 16, which is woefully inadequate and why Edsall is dealing with a depleted roster.

 

[Exit 4]

While you keep YOUR nice little Excel spreadsheet ... it is far from the official one kept by the DofOperations. I suspect that HCRE accurately - with all known potential slots - knew what he was saying by the number 26. We really don't know the status of each of the returning players. I'm not saying you are wrong; I am saying CFB has incredible moving parts.

What my sheet is not official?! Gee whiz!? Shocker - why didn’t anyone tell me!

So, go ahead tell me how you add more kids without deferrals or go ahead an edit your statement to mean you think terry will have replacements for some of the seven kids I named which is fine, but it’s not what you said originally. I wouldn’t be acting this way if you didn’t bring a needlessly smug attitude to the discussion that you seem to know less about than you realize.

By the way, the status of returning players isn’t exactly relevant to Uconn in this cycle since we already have established that we have over 28 scholarship slots for fall 2018.

 

[Pudge]

You seem to have this insatiable desire to be seen as the foremost expert here, as well as extreme jealousy of others whom you see as threatening that...what’s going on here? So much to unpack.

And your agenda?

My FB recruiting view is HCRE is predictable. The Quant/IT guy he brought from Maryland Ryan Steinberg, frankly, made this year a more efficient effort of turning over rocks. But, having watched 10+ years of Edsall, there are clearly familiar expected outcomes.

Watching Twitter? I’m not the only one that appreciates the BY guys doing that; but I won’t. 15 years ago, you found public info - occasionally- on who UConn was after. However, the nature of Edsall is - for the most part - you will not know who he really has targeted. If you woke up on Feb 1 10 years ago, you could easily find 3-5 surprise UConn FB Commits.

Then ... there’s this strain in our FB Fanbase that we will never be any good or Win 9 games again unless we start beating Michigan State or Maryland or Georgia Tech for Players. Get more kids with Offers. Some 4 Stars. We won before without swooping in and putting those in Storrs. We will recruit better and better players at UConn ... as we get better. The Fanbase shows.

What’s going on with the BY ennui? It’s a generational chasm. The Ready Shoot Aim aspect. My advice? Root for the Women’s BB. Enjoy the UConn BB season. (I mean Penders and baseball) Throw yourself into Hockey. This isn’t UConn AD at its worst ... we got rid of Diaco.

 

[Hornet22]

"Bubble picks?" We just used the three early enrollees to backwards fill the 2017 class. The only way we get beyond 7 more kids beyond the commits we have is if we find kids that have already signed an NLI and left early (which is really a transfer) or just plain grey shirt kids. Another option is to not recruit a kid, have them come as a walk on and offer a scholarship after they arrive on campus.....those kids however can't be recruited and so we aren't going to hear about them this winter.

And I don’t think these kids would mind grey shirting as their egos aren’t involved because they have little to no offers.