The 95th best recruiting class

[Husky25]

Noel Thomas has shown promise. Brian Lemelle and Dhameer Bradley has shown promise too when TJ Weist took over. What happened this past year with these two is a mystery, size maybe? Diaco likes tall players. IMO these two should of got more playing time. Tim Boyle has struggled, OL maybe? all I know is that all QB's struggled behind the OL. Kyle Schafenacker is a big (6'4 290 lbs) OG from St. Thomas Aquinas out of FL. I don't see why he hasn't been given a chance, not Diaco's player maybe? who knows. a lot of them transferred too so there's a lot that played a factor. Because we had a 65 ranked recruiting class and a lot of them transferred or some haven't played because of coaching changes doesn't mean stars doesn't matter.

Where did I say stars don't matter?

Diaco indicated during the season that Schafenacker wasn't going to see the field. I took that to mean technique, not size. The O-line was gawdawful. If he could offer anything he should have been given a shot (everyone else seemed to get one). Regarding the skill positions, AS THE O-line goes, so goes the rest of the offense.

 

[Kevin Caliendo]

RE could find talent. He wasn't a good recruiter, in fact he turned off tons of coaches and rankings coordinators as anyone in the business. but, he found athletes and developed them into players, many who went on to play in the pros. PP was a terrible recruiter and terrible developer of talent. Diaco? I can't imagine his BS plays well after a 2-win season and I saw almost nothing last year to say any player developed. but it was one year. We will know more after this season.

I doubt Nick Saban could get a top 20 class to Storrs, playing in the AAC with home games in front of 8k people. RE's model is the one every coach in new england should stock to. Find linemen who are smart and can develop, build around that, and find enough athletes to run the ball well and tackle effectively. if you a re lucky enough to get a good QB, then maybe you can crack the top 25.

 

[UconnFamily]

Where did I say stars don't matter?

Diaco indicated during the season that Schafenacker wasn't going to see the field. I took that to mean technique, not size. The O-line was gawdawful. If he could offer anything he should have been given a shot (everyone else seemed to get one). Regarding the skill positions, AS THE O-line goes, so goes the rest of the offense.

Never said you said stars don't matter. I was responding to this: "top 65 rated recruiting class. But what did the players do once they got to UConn?"

 

[upstater]

Serious question do you have any proof that these recruiting sites rank kids based off of the school they commit to?

Because whena player decommits from UConn and goes to a mid to top P5 school, they jump 1 or 2 stars?

 

[Confident Carl]

That was sarcasm... trust me I'm one of the realistic poster who knows stars matter.

Now this big dude, (think he is a no star) Motekiai Langi is 6'7" 410Lbs. A massive human being. BYU's coach Bronco Mendenhall gave him a scholly even though he hasn't played a stich of football. A BYU coach observed him playing pick up basketball. He saw that he was light on his feet and not fat. Like Mendenhall say's in the video, surely they can teach this young man how to do something! He said he shook his hand and it came up to his elbow. This guy is big enough to give him two scholarships!

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf...angi-playing-pickup-basketball-143425956.html

 

[Husky25]

Never said you said stars don't matter. I was responding to this: "top 65 rated recruiting class. But what did the players do once they got to UConn?"

I think you at least implied it in your last sentence. If a player leaves or doesn't play due to coaching change, I still consider that as not being appropriately developed. Star ratings matter, but they go out the window on the first Thursday in February.

 

[UconnFamily]

Because whena player decommits from UConn and goes to a mid to top P5 school, they jump 1 or 2 stars?

You do realize these kids get evaluated by the individuals who work for the recruiting sites all year right? it doesn't stop because a kid commits early. They get evaluated during there Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior and through out there Senior year. By the time these kids finish there junior year most of these kids get their stars, by and after their Senior year they can either earn, lose a star, or it stays the same. The sites don't just sit around and see what kids get offered by what program and say okay he has an Alabama offer lets give him 5 stars.

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

The star system is not nearly as exact as the star system in basketball, there are just too many players to rate.

I do feel like this year there were more kids with P5 offers than we have ever gotten before. Thats a trend in the right direction for sure...imo.

 

[huskymedic]

I'm not against us recruiting 2 stars. I'm against us recruiting a whole class full of 2 stars with some expecting us to win a whole lot of games. I know we can't just pluck 3, 4, and 5 star kids, but I think we should try harder to have them commit. If Temple, Tulsa, San Diego State, UCF, Cincinnati, and Memphis can get them 4 and 5 star players to commit or transfer then I don't see why we can't.

Help me understand the highlighted statement - "we should try harder"?

 

[UconnFamily]

I think you at least implied it in your last sentence. If a player leaves or doesn't play due to coaching change, I still consider that as not being appropriately developed. Star ratings matter, but they go out the window on the first Thursday in February.

Your right I guess I lost myself in the end their... Lol

 

[Husky25]

Your right I guess I lost myself in the end their... Lol

No worries. Just want to be on the same page.

 

[upstater]

You do realize these kids get evaluated by the individuals who work for the recruiting sites all year right? it doesn't stop because a kid commits early. They get evaluated during there Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior and through out there Senior year. By the time these kids finish there junior year most of these kids get their stars, by and after their Senior year they can either earn, lose a star, or it stays the same. The sites don't just sit around and see what kids get offered by what program and say okay he has an Alabama offer lets give him 5 stars.

I don't know why you wrote all that.

I am telling you what happens. The second they recommit to a big school, they jump in stars.

Within hours.

 

[UconnFamily]

Maybe I'm wrong, but didn't Diaco say he's not going to focus on the stars or kids with a lot of p5 offers? he's going to focus on RKG's? Couldn't that be a reason why a lot of the kids committed are projects? Temple has 2 four star commits. I think they tried really hard to get these kids. Temple isn't more attractive than UConn, so why can they get high three star and four star players, but we can't? Maybe cause Diaco is focused more on RKG's?

 

[HuskyV]

NFL Teams spend millions to research 3-10 QB's each year & get it wrong consistently:

JaMarcus Russell (No. 1 overall in 2007), Joey Harrington (No. 3, 2002), Matt Leinart (No. 10, 2006), Brandon Weeden (No. 22, 2012); Blaine Gabbert (No. 10, 2011), Brady Quinn(No. 22, 2007), J.P. Losman (No. 22, 2004), Christian Ponder(No. 12, 2011), Kyle Boller (No. 19, 2003), Vince Young (No. 3, 2006)

I am not worried at all about being #95, based on high school game tape & some agility drills for 16-18 year old kids.

 

[UconnFamily]

I don't know why you wrote all that.

I am telling you what happens. The second they recommit to a big school, they jump in stars.

Within hours.

Hey, it was your choice to read it. I guess you see what I don't see.

 

[upstater]

Hey, it was your choice to read it. I guess you see what I don't see.

Just the facts.

 

[UconnFamily]

Just the facts.

Lol... Guess so

 

[huskymedic]

Chart: Comparing the top 25 teams to their recruiting rankings;
http://coachingsearch.com/article?a=Chart-Comparing-the-top-25-teams-to-their-recruiting-rankings

 

[huskymedic]

Temple has 2 four star commits. I think they tried really hard to get these kids. Temple isn't more attractive than UConn, so why can they get high three star and four star players, but we can't? Maybe cause Diaco is focused more on RKG's?

Nah - it's because one's s a legacy. Nothing to do w/ level of effort on this one.

Temple_FB Feb 04, 7:10am via Twitter Web Client
DYK: Kareem Ali Jr.'s dad played football at Temple and his mom ran track? TRULY #TempleMade.

 

[upstater]

Lol... Guess so

We just saw this with Nolan Ulizio.

 

[UconnFamily]

We just saw this with Nolan Ulizio.

It was going to happen regardless. Eventually he was going to get his 2 stars even if he stood committed to us.

 

[UCFBfan]

If Temple, Tulsa, San Diego State, UCF, Cincinnati, and Memphis can get them 4 and 5 star players to commit or transfer then I don't see why we can't.

Out of curiosity, and I mean this seriously, how many of those 4 or 5 star players that committed to those universities were from in-state. You are looking at schools in California, Oklahoma, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. All of which are high level recruiting grounds. UConn is at a severe disadvantage geographically speaking. We can't play the "you can play home games in your own state" card with 99% of 4 or 5 star recruits. So that statement about those schools getting 4 or 5 star recruits might be a bit skewed.

 

[UconnFamily]

Nah - it's because one's s a legacy. Nothing to do w/ level of effort on this one.

Temple_FB Feb 04, 7:10am via Twitter Web Client
DYK: Kareem Ali Jr.'s dad played football at Temple and his mom ran track? TRULY #TempleMade.

They still had to compete with top schools in the country, but I'll give you that one. What about T.J Simmons? Kid is from FL with offers from Ohio State, Penn State, Florida, Auburn, Notre Damn, Ole Miss, UCLA, etc... but yet he chose Temple? We need to sell these kids hard. Didn't Rutgers bring their recruits around NY in a limo to have fun? it was something like that.

 

[formerlurker]

I know that negative posts are generally frowned upon in this establishment....but I'll take the risk. I also know that the star system is subjective. But, how do we ever improve with a recruiting class somewhere between 90 and 100? (depending on who's rankings you look at)

The minute you admit to being negative, in anything, is the minute I stop listening.

I hope we improve by this 95th ranked class being stocked with 22+ young men who look at academics, Football and life the same way. I'm not the soapbox, motivational speaker we all hate but I truly believe in positive thinking over doom.

 

[UconnFamily]

Out of curiosity, and I mean this seriously, how many of those 4 or 5 star players that committed to those universities were from in-state. You are looking at schools in California, Oklahoma, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. All of which are high level recruiting grounds. UConn is at a severe disadvantage geographically speaking. We can't play the "you can play home games in your own state" card with 99% of 4 or 5 star recruits. So that statement about those schools getting 4 or 5 star recruits might be a bit skewed.

Temple has a four star commit from a FL kid.

 

[UCFBfan]

Temple has a four star commit from a FL kid.

Yeah I just saw you post that after I posted mine. Thanks. I wasn't trying to be a dick, just was curious if there was a correlation.

 

[Dizzy21]

It was going to happen regardless. Eventually he was going to get his 2 stars even if he stood committed to us.

He had two stars before Michigan was in the game, the only place that he increased was espn. The other places he remained the same, so I have no clue why people keep bringing this up. Hell, if what everyone says is true about star jumping, u lizzy should be far above a 2 on rivals because he committed to Michigan.

 

[UconnFamily]

Yeah I just saw you post that after I posted mine. Thanks. I wasn't trying to be a dick, just was curious if there was a correlation.

It's cool... I don't mean to be a dick either... to anyone.

 

[formerlurker]

Yeah I just saw you post that after I posted mine. Thanks. I wasn't trying to be a dick, just was curious if there was a correlation.

It's cool... I don't mean to be a dick either... to anyone.

Good job my friends. That's the Boneyard I love.

Can't we all just say we don't mean being dicks and apologize?

 

[huskymedic]

They still had to compete with top schools in the country, but I'll give you that one. What about T.J Simmons? Kid is from FL with offers from Ohio State, Penn State, Florida, Auburn, Notre Damn, Ole Miss, UCLA, etc... but yet he chose Temple? .

I have absolutely nothing against the kid and I hope he succeeds after all the adversity he faced but ya gotta wonder how many of those old offers were still in play after he broke his leg and missed almost his whole senior season. (Some of those offers were back in 2013). He also rebounded from an ACL in his Soph. year.

Hey - he has speed and he could be the next Bernard Pierce but a proverbial red flag goes up when his final choices came down between Marshall and Temple after all those original offers (only two schools he visited after de-committing from UCLA).

Sometimes recruiting just comes down to good luck, right place right time and catching a break or two (no pun intended)...