Commit #7 - Aaron Mclean

[BlueDogs]

We are going to be very big when we hit the field like "B1G" big.

 

[noeynox]

I think it's fair to analyze the recruiting based on peer offers to our commits without half the board jumping down your throat and citing player X as an example of where this was proven incorrect.

We've had a lot of success with under the radar players, no doubt, but while we built up a solid program we were never more than a fringe top 25 team. Which I think is actually a big accomplishment.


Is it reasonable to think we can return to that level given our conference situation? Not sure.

Just saying, I'm not a slave to the star system, in fact the sites be damned. I am concerned that otherccoaches of peer programs don't seem to be as a high on these kids as we are.

As always, time will tell.

Your post is 100% valid. I just think to most of us, recruiting under Diaco is looking exactly like we expected, except he is getting kids to commit sooner.

 

[John Greene]

It seems to me that HCBD is in the process if recruiting a team that will fit in well in the B1G. Big slow white guys, not that there is anything wrong with that since it would probably describe 90% of the BY.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Your post is 100% valid. I just think to most of us, recruiting under Diaco is looking exactly like we expected, except he is getting kids to commit sooner.

Personally, I'd like to see more offer lists like Murphy has. But it's silly to speculate how these kids will pan out in college. Just have to hope the staff knows what they're doing.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Personally, I'd like to see more offer lists like Murphy has. But it's silly to speculate how these kids will pan out in college. Just have to hope the staff knows what they're doing.

At this point, with the roller coaster and then downhill slide we've been no since really, 2008-2009, I just want to see us have adequate numbers of players that have actually been recruited with a plan throughout a period of time. I really don't care too much anymore about the quality - thinking about it that is - of course I care that we have high quality players - but I agree - you just got to hope the staff knows what they're doing with their evaluations. I just want to see our numbers of actual scholarship recruits that have gone through the whole process start to go up. We need consistency in the coaching staff, and we need a consistent approach to recruiting to regularly have enough players every year, spring and fall, to disperse 85 scholarships per year among a roster that has been recruited for the level of competition we have on our schedules.

 

[UConnJim]

I like what Diaco is doing. He is recruiting athletic kids with big frames that can be developed. Redshirt most/all of them the first year. Most top P5 schools are not going after kids that have to be developed as they go after the most developed kids that are easier to project and/or closer to contributing. Grabbing kids that need to be developed is an area in which UConn excelled under Randy Edsall and I think it is the right strategy for UConn football.

My only concern with the early verbals is that other schools may make a run at them down the road.

 

[sportsart]

At this point, with the roller coaster and then downhill slide we've been no since really, 2008-2009, I just want to see us have adequate numbers of players that have actually been recruited with a plan throughout a period of time. I really don't care too much anymore about the quality - thinking about it that is - of course I care that we have high quality players - but I agree - you just got to hope the staff knows what they're doing with their evaluations. I just want to see our numbers of actual scholarship recruits that have gone through the whole process start to go up. We need consistency in the coaching staff, and we need a consistent approach to recruiting to regularly have enough players every year, spring and fall, to disperse 85 scholarships per year among a roster that has been recruited for the level of competition we have on our schedules.

Have we been running the program at less than 85 scholarship players for the past 5 years? No wonder we sucked.

 

[John Greene]

At this point, with the roller coaster and then downhill slide we've been no since really, 2008-2009, I just want to see us have adequate numbers of players that have actually been recruited with a plan throughout a period of time. I really don't care too much anymore about the quality - thinking about it that is - of course I care that we have high quality players - but I agree - you just got to hope the staff knows what they're doing with their evaluations. I just want to see our numbers of actual scholarship recruits that have gone through the whole process start to go up. We need consistency in the coaching staff, and we need a consistent approach to recruiting to regularly have enough players every year, spring and fall, to disperse 85 scholarships per year among a roster that has been recruited for the level of competition we have on our schedules.

Carl, recruiting is like dressing at work, we should try to recruit for a level of competition that is above our current level of competition. Recruiting for our current level is a way to insure we never get to a higher level.

 

[Dynasty]

Carl, recruiting is like dressing at work, we should try to recruit for a level of competition that is above our current level of competition. Recruiting for our current level is a way to insure we never get to a higher level.

That's not true.

 

[UConnRock]

McLean and Freeborn are guys that have excelled in other sports and football wasn't their first sport. Guys that UConn has had that are similar are Blidi who played soccer and didn't play football until his jr year in HS and Ryan Griffin who played hoops. These guys are earning nice pay checks in the nfl. Finding these guys and developing them was an Edsall specialty. Diaco is going along the same track with the new Balis the new S&C coach. He is looking at these 6'4" + frames and visualizing what they could be in 2-4 years. The simple fact is that 16 and 17 year olds with that height are not going to be big time stars until they grow into their bodies.

Do I wish Uconn could make a splash and win a couple of recruiting battles? Yes.....but there are lots of very experienced UConn coaches on the recruiting trail who see tons of potential. It will be fun to watch these kids throughout their sr seasons and see how much they develop.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Carl, recruiting is like dressing at work, we should try to recruit for a level of competition that is above our current level of competition. Recruiting for our current level is a way to insure we never get to a higher level.

That actually is a recipe for disaster.

 

[cttxus]

I like what Diaco is doing. He is recruiting athletic kids with big frames that can be developed. Redshirt most/all of them the first year. Most top P5 schools are not going after kids that have to be developed as they go after the most developed kids that are easier to project and/or closer to contributing. Grabbing kids that need to be developed is an area in which UConn excelled under Randy Edsall and I think it is the right strategy for UConn football.

My only concern with the early verbals is that other schools may make a run at them down the road.

This. Our "secret" weapons right now are 1) our facilities and 2) our highly experienced coaching staff, including Matt Balis. All of these guys love teaching young; men with raw talent and a desire to be part of something great, into real men and an unstoppable force. Think United States Marine Corps. This love for teaching was one of the common threads you saw as each new member of the coaching staff was announced by HCBD. It seems HCBD's strategy is to leverage these two strengths to the max.

 

[The Viking]

Like UConnJim and cttxus, I also like what Diaco's doing. He's a realist. I think he found out quick he can't wave a Notre Dame magic wand around and get recruits. He's come to a realization of the place this program is in, the conference we are in and the perception of our team to recruits.

I have a feeling at first he was a bit jarred by reality but now he and his staff came up with a new gameplan - a halftime adjustment if you will - to go aggressively after guys quickly who have character and size and pairing these kids with this new strength guru and a coaching staff he believes in.

THAT is how he intends on getting the hottie on Prom night. Not by asking the hottie when she's a senior and she can a pick of the litter, but going after the girl no one thinks twice about but has a lot of potential to grow into hottie-ness while they're both freshmen.

I like our odds better of him landing the possible freshman hottie than the current senior hottie.

 

[weyuo]

We're back where we started from Sportsart. We got to a new years day game, and we're back where we started from. My hope is that when we get there again, we've learned from the past.

What's that? Make sure the head coach boards the same plane as the players on the way home?

 

[UconnFamily]

Its still early in recruiting game guys. I wouldn't spend an excessive amount of time on the ratings of these 2 star commits, who I cerebrate a few of them in no time will eventually ascend to 3 stars. Diaco and crew will eventually bring in some 3 star commits and maybe a 4 star by the time the recruiting process is over. If we don't get a 4 star, who cares. In the mean time they're endeavoring to find some diamond in the rough kind of guys and develope them like Khalil Mack (Buffalo), Sio Moore, Jimmie Ward (N. Illiniose), Darius Butler etc... were developed.

 

[UConnDan97]

Welcome to the Dog Pound, Aaron!!!

 

[FAIRTIDES]

I'm not doing this to pick on Graham Stewart. He seems like a good kid and I sincerely hope he has success over the next two seasons.

That said, if you followed his recruitment out of HS he was very closely followed. The Currant did a big piece on his recruiting, Rivals had him as a 3*, he eventually decided on BC instead of UCONN, saying some rather silly things that 17 year olds are likely to say. Then Florida comes sniffing around and low and behold, he is a 4* recruit and rescinds his verbal to BC and commits to Florida.

Plays some ST there as a true frosh - quite an accomplishment - and then they want to move him the following season to FB. Mind you, the LB crew that Florida had for the following season was not as good as the one UCONN had with Sio, Yawin and Johnson. Graham decides to transfer and ends up at UCONN. So we've seen him play a little and I will ask this simple questions, has his level of play been that of a Fincher, Lansanah, Lutrus, Wilson, Moore, Smallwood? Take a look at how those guys rated out on TOS...

You're making a really relevant point about recruiting. But given what's come to light S & C-wise, I think evaluation of returnees should be put on hold until the new staff's impact takes hold; one way or the other. Graham looked like a different kid at the spring game. And while one big (very big) hit does not make a LB, he did knock the snot out of someone (I forget who). He also looked quicker, at least, to me.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Seven commits in for year one of recruiting and an obvious theme is occuring. Take very good athletes who excel at multiple sports, one of which is football, and coach 'em up. These are big kids who haven't been playing football year round since age 6.

 

[pj]

The service academies and others have shown you can put together competitive teams by focusing on a power running game that, in our case, will be complemented by a power passing game to 6'6" WRs and TEs. That can make a successful, reliable, clock-consuming offense, and if you can get enough speedy athletes for the defense, you can have a good team. It's a good strategy. At the moment, it may be the only one open to UConn.

 

[UConnDan97]

All I know is this: If you have a 6'6" WR with ANY wheels whatsoever, you are going to have a successful offensive player. The level of success will depend on the level of wheels. Keep in mind that he will be going up against defensive backs that are a half-foot shorter...

EDIT: Also, you've gotta figure that this kid has the hands if he's a hoops player too. Just sayin'...

 

[BNich]

All I know is this: If you have a 6'6" WR with ANY wheels whatsoever, you are going to have a successful offensive player. The level of success will depend on the level of wheels. Keep in mind that he will be going up against defensive backs that are a half-foot shorter...

EDIT: Also, you've gotta figure that this kid has the hands if he's a hoops player too. Just sayin'...

I think of Dorial Green-Beckham for one (first 6'6" WR that comes to mind) RU had a WR as well. There have been plenty of tall WR's with adequate speed that have been successful. He looks like he has plenty of room to fill out and add muscle. Don't be surprised if he is a pass catching tight end/WR down the road. I mentioned Fuchs in the same post in another thread I believe. A lot of similarities.

 

[Skiblets]

The vibe around this program has been completely transformed. We may not see it on the field this year but watch out in the fall of 2015. Oh and one more thing Hathaway and Pasqualoni

 

[tjhusky]

From St. Marks website:

Fifth Former Aaron McLean was named to the All-New England Class C football team. This is a rare honor for a St. Marker—McLean is only the second SM player so recognized over the last decade—and especially so for a junior. McLean led St. Mark’s in receiving this year and he led the entire ISL in touchdown receptions with 10, earning All-ISL status.​

In Bob we trust.

 

[Sportsman5]

From personal experience I can tell you that there are a ton of high major d1 athletes that don't get offered by any of the big boy schools. In fact there are a ton of athletes who could play in the NFL that don't even play in college because they go to small high schools and no one identifies their raw potential early enough. I've seen kids side by side with 4 star athletes rated by the sites who have as much potential to be star players but don't play d1. The key is finding athletes who haven't lifted consistently or been coached by top high school coaches. They can make massive progress as a redshirt freshman.

 

[UConnJim]

From personal experience I can tell you that there are a ton of high major d1 athletes that don't get offered by any of the big boy schools. In fact there are a ton of athletes who could play in the NFL that don't even play in college because they go to small high schools and no one identifies their raw potential early enough. I've seen kids side by side with 4 star athletes rated by the sites who have as much potential to be star players but don't play d1. The key is finding athletes who haven't lifted consistently or been coached by top high school coaches. They can make massive progress as a redshirt freshman.

It's called Northeast football. Kids in the Northeast don't focus on football like they do in other parts of the country. In places like Texas and Florida, you find developed athletes who have been focusing on football and are ready to step in and play Division 1 football. But, their upside is pretty limited as they have been developed. These types of kids are few and far between in the Northeast. That's why you see kids like Kendall Reyes, Scott Lutrus, Ryan Griffin, Donald Thomas... blossom in college as they train and get top coaching.

Developing tall and big framed athletes is the best strategy for UConn football and I am a believer in Diaco's strategy. I also expect Diaco to bring in a couple of developed athletes per year who are ready to step in and play.

 

[noeynox]

It's called Northeast football. Kids in the Northeast don't focus on football like they do in other parts of the country. In places like Texas and Florida, you find developed athletes who have been focusing on football and are ready to step in and play Division 1 football. But, their upside is pretty limited as they have been developed. These types of kids are few and far between in the Northeast. That's why you see kids like Kendall Reyes, Scott Lutrus, Ryan Griffin, Donald Thomas... blossom in college as they train and get top coaching.

Developing tall and big framed athletes is the best strategy for UConn football and I am a believer in Diaco's strategy. I also expect Diaco to bring in a couple of developed athletes per year who are ready to step in and play.

This is starting to change though. Your starting to see full year conditioning for football at the HS and youth level in CT. I expect to see FBS prospects to increase into the high teens low twenties in about dozen years or so.

 

[UConnJim]

This is starting to change though. Your starting to see full year conditioning for football at the HS and youth level in CT. I expect to see FBS prospects to increase into the high teens low twenties in about dozen years or so.

I'm not so sure about that. I live in the Northeast and kids play other sports like hockey and basketball in the winter and lacrosse and baseball in the spring. In Texas and Florida, there are many kids that just focus on football. And spring football in the South is a sport.

If a guy like Jeff Adrien lived in Texas, he probably would have been a defensive end. Ben Gordon would have been a defensive back. The Northeast develops plenty of athletes, but they are not generally focused on football.

 

[jdb50]

Welcome to another Hungry Husky. If this trend keeps up there is going to be hell to pay for 5'11" guys with 18" verticals in pick up games at Guyer Gym.

 

[Dooley]

LOVE this class! Diaco is doing what we should have been doing for years: hire a top strength coach and take advantage of our on-campus facility. By the time these 6'4" and taller frames are upper classmen, they are going to have the builds of NFL players. Welcome aboard Aaron!

 

[uconnfan68]

That actually is a recipe for disaster.

Which? Dressing for the next level, or recruiting for the level you're stuck on?