Football recruiting and baseball coaching

[Apis Bull]

Greg's Blog:

Another new football recruit for 2006?

Even on signing day, Jim Leavitt was over the NCAA's limit of 25 scholarships, knowing some of his recruiting class wasn't going to qualify academically. And as grades start to come in, potentially ruling out more recruits for 2006, the Bulls are lining up more players to make sure all 25 scholarships are used.

One day after breaking the news that linebacker Marvin Peoples was transferring from Maryland, we have another new name to offer up: Brandon Peguese, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound prospect from Greensboro, N.C., who was one of the state's most prolific pass rushers as a senior.

Peguese finished his senior season with 19.5 sacks, and while he was courted by East Carolina, most programs stayed away because of suspect academics. Peguese has apparently made enough progress in that department that USF is giving him a long look -- his high school coach Todd Shuping, told me Friday that "he's going to be there" at USF, though it's unclear whether he would be on scholarship initially.

Peguese likely fits USF as a linebacker initially, though if he could put on good weight during a redshirt year, he could be a good match as a quick defensive end. He helped Greensboro Grimsley to a 14-2 record as a senior, losing in the state championship game.

More baseball: In a span of 20 minutes Friday, I had two candidates for USF's baseball job call the program a "gold mine," an opportunity for a top coach to really take a program somewhere. The interest in this opening has been impressive -- new candidates who put their name in for consideration late this week include Ross Jones, Florida's top assistant and part of Pat McMahon's staff that reached the national title game just a year ago.

Another top assistant, made available when LSU fired Smoke Laval, is Tigers recruiting coordinator Henry "Turtle" Thomas -- he's led the recruiting effort at LSU the past seven years, after running Miami's recruiting for 12 before that. All told, he's had a recruiting class ranked in Collegiate Baseball's top 10 for 17 years in a row, with national championship rings from both programs.

More assistants from top programs? Former Brandon High coach Mike Bell, now at Tennessee, has his hat in the ring. So does Mark Kingston, an assistant at Tulane who previously worked at Miami. Notre Dame assistant Terry Rooney is young but worked in Florida on Stetson's staff. Head coaches are among the latest batch of names as well, such as Bethune-Cookman's Mervyl Melendez.

Doug Woolard has a wide range of candidates to choose from, so the question now is what direction he wants to go with the hire. Does he take a head coach with Division I experience, such as Maryland's Terry Rupp? A coach with success on a lower level and local ties, such as University of Tampa's Joe Urso? A top assistant from a top state program, such as FSU's Jamey Shouppe, or Florida's Ross Jones? There are viable successors ranging from 35 to 55, so Woolard can either choose a more short-term, experienced coach, or a young, less proven coach who could have a long run with the Bulls.

These applicants are from programs that are regulars in the NCAA Tournament -- Clemson associate coach Kevin O'Sullivan is still in this year's -- and they all say USF should be a program that expects to make the regionals every spring. Achieving that might be another challenge, but the applicants seem to be setting the bar high.

Another new football recruit for 2006?

[TyBull]

Come on Doug, make the correct decision......

[Apis Bull]

I think the decision is getting tougher each day.  Turtle Thomas is an intriguing candidate.  On the staff of two winning programs, Florida ties, and 17 years of top ten recruiting classes.

[Minotaur]

Greg's Blog:

More baseball: In a span of 20 minutes Friday, I had two candidates for USF's baseball job call the program a "gold mine," an opportunity for a top coach to really take a program somewhere. The interest in this opening has been impressive

Another new football recruit for 2006?

Sounds like (exactly) what Bulliever has been saying. Oh wise one, tell me who will be the next coach.

[turkeysoup]

not many people really care who the USF baseball coach is or there would be more people in the stands.

[Brad]

Another new football recruit for 2006?Sounds like (exactly) what Bulliever has been saying. Oh wise one, tell me who will be the next coach.

Indeed, many in the game think USF is/has been a gold mine - just not one "well mined".  We hire the right guy, we find immediate improvement and success.  

Who will it be?  We'll all find out in due time.

[Cubanbull]

I think for baseball not only must you be a good coach and recruiter but salesmen. I remember Fraser at UM and that man fund raise for their stadium and got baseball going big time there. Thats what we need someone who can sell the program to the community surrounding USF.

[SRQ]

Nice to have so many top-notch applicants.  Wonder what DWs timeline is?  When is the next open recruiting period?  Signing period?

[Joe]

Hopefully soon, there will be a big SEC school losing their coach this week from what I've been hearing (he will be going to another SEC school).

It would be nice to have 1st pick.

[Greg Auman]

Joe, tell more. You mean Vandy's coach going to LSU?