mid year recruiting status

smazza · July 9, 2006

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Big East Recruiting: Mid-Year Grades

By: Bob Lichtenfels

East Recruiting Analyst

Date: Jul 7, 2006

Let's take a mid-year look at the recruiting efforts in the Big East Conference. The average grade is based on the star system of Scout.com, the players who are ranked as one-star I have included as two-stars. Three of the teams in the conference Cincinnati, Louisville and South Florida have yet to receive their first verbal pledge for the class of 2007.

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Cincinnati

Average- 0.00

The Bearcats have yet to secure a verbal this season. There's no reason for Bearcat fans to worry, they only had one pledge at this time last year. The bulk of the 2006 class was landed late in the year and into January.

The Future: The Bearcats have several prospects who could come there way including defensive end Solomon Thomas (Lakota West, Ohio), Jordan Mabin (Nordonia, Ohio), Dewey Elliot (Fairfield, Ohio), Chris Givens (Chillicothe, Ohio) and Charlie Hatcher (Hamilton, Ohio). Thomas has several suitors and will be a challenge to land for Mark Dantonio. Thomas performed well at the Ohio State senior camp and earned an offer from the Buckeyes. Mabin is another who may be tough to land, most have him penciled in as a Pitt commit, but he has yet to pull the trigger. Mabin performed well at camps at Penn State and Michigan. Elliot has a number of offers, academics could be a concern. Givens could be a realistic possibility, but don't overlook Ohio. Charlie Hatcher would be a big get for the Bearcats.

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Connecticut

Average- 2.75

The Huskies were rocked by the Florida Gators taking Aaron Hernandez, but Randy Edsall won't live and die with one recruit. The Huskies have new facilities and the same work ethic, which is a bad thing for fellow Big East schools and a good thing for UConn fans. Edsall is one of the best young minds in the game. The Huskies landed one of the regions top kickers Dave Teggart (Algonquin Regional, Ma.). then the Huskies ventured into Edsall's homeland and secured verbals from three of the Keystone State's finest linebacker C.J. Marck, offensive lineman Gary Bardzak (Pottsville, Pa.) and quarterback Cody Endres (Trinity, Pa.).

Star of the Class: Cody Endres

Sleeper of the Class: C.J. Marck

The Huskies lost out in the Pat Bostick sweepstakes, but recovered well and landed a gem in Cody Endres. C.J. Marck could be a potential All-Conference type linebacker. Bardzak is a lineman, so people won't think much about him until about two years from now when he is a solid contributor. Running back Robbie Frey could end up as a Huskie, but only time will tell.

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Louisville

Average- 0.00

The Cardinals have yet to secure a verbal from this class and as the same with the Bearcats last year they had one commitment at this time. The Cardinals do most of their damage later in the process.

The Future: The Cardinals are in on a number of highly touted prospects including tight end Adrien Robinson (Warren Central, Ind.), defensive tackle Antonio Jeremiah (Hilliard Darby, Ohio), running back Dale Martin (Bolingbrook, Ill.), quarterback Stephen Garcia (Jefferson, Fla.) and wide receiver Doug Beaumont (Male, Ky.). Landing Beaumont would help ease the loss of Vic Anderson who committed to West Virginia.

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Pittsburgh

Average- 3.00

The Panthers have been challenged by the loses of Nick Sukay, Josh Marks, and Gino Gradkowski, but they have not done a bad job thus far. For fans it will likely depend on their ability to land Toney Clemons. The biggest pluses for Pittsburgh to date have been filling needs on the offensive line and landing the top quarterback in the state. The gems of the class are quarterback Pat Bostick (Manheim Township, Pa.) and offensive lineman Chris Jacobson (Keystone Oaks, Pa.). Dan Matha (McDowell, Pa.) was a need and a must get for the Panthers. Pitt has taken two relatively unknown commodities from the state of Florida in Buddy Jackson (Cypress Bay) and Nick Krupa (Santaluces). Neither of the two had any other offers. Jackson ran a (4.31) at camp, so that alone makes him intriguing. Some view booth as reaches this early in the game, only time will tell. Greg Gaskins (William Penn, Pa.) and John Fieger (Upper Perkiomen, Pa.) are two lineman who could add depth to a need position. Linemen are tough to evaluate so you never know for sure what you are going to get a C.J. Davis or a Zach Schlundt. Myles Caragein was a big pick-up for the Panthers, now it's just a matter of figuring out where he will play defensive end or will he grow into a defensive tackle. Our guess is Caragein plays tackle. Dom DeCicco could turn out to be the best player in the Pitt class, he has that much athletic ability.

Star of the Class: Pat Bostick

Sleeper of the Class: Greg Gaskins

The Panthers appear to be players for former Ohio State running back Erik Haw. Henry Hynoski and Bo Williams could be Panthers, and would give them a nice RB/FB combo. Cameron Holland could also be a Panther relatively soon, unless he shocks locals and chooses North Carolina. UNC did take Richard Quinn two years ago and most thought he was headed to Pitt, but Holland being a City-League kid would be a big upset. Pat Bostick will be under a lot of pressure from day one, can he handle it? We think so.

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Rutgers

Average- 2.75

The Scarlet Knights have done quite well for themselves. You will hear from a lot of recruits that Rutgers has great facilities. That catches people off guard, but having seen them for myself, I will say they can match-up with anyone in terms of facilities. Once Rutgers starts landing the big-fish in New Jersey look out. last season Rutgers had zero commits at this time, my what a difference a year and a bowl game make. Greg Schiano and his staff have some momentum now. The Scarlet Knights have landed three of New Jersey's best players in offensive tackle Keith Newell (Trenton), cornerback Al-Majid Hutchins (East Orange) and defensive tackle Wayne Thomas (Nottingham). Florida is a place where Rutgers does well, but being that there are so many prospects in the state some don't get evaluated until later. The Scarlet Knights have done well landing tight end Fabian Ruiz (Miami Sunset), offensive lineman Edwin Alvarez (Miami Central) and tight end Justin Francis from the Sunshine State. Rutgers also landed defensive end Desmond Wynn (St. Mark's, Del.) and Scout.com four-star prospect Joseph Lefeged (Good Counsel, Md.).

Star of the Class: Joseph Lefeged

Sleeper of the Class: Edwin Alvarez

Lefeged is a lot better than most people think he is. This is a kid who is athletic as anyone and makes plays sideline-to-sideline. It is tough to call Alvarez a sleeper with an offer sheet like he has, but we will just because he is still relatively unknown. Rutgers has done well landing the top cover corner in the state in Al-Majid Hutchins and best defensive tackle in the state already in Wayne Thomas. The Scarlet Knights may not land Anthony Davis, but they did land a pretty good offensive tackle in Keith Newell. If the Rutgers program can keep improving early in the season more New Jersey and Florida kids will take notice.

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West Virginia

Average- 3.22

My what a difference six months makes in the recruiting world. I for one was critical of the Mountaineer staff for not fully capitalizing on a huge Sugar Bowl win over the Georgia Bulldogs. Well, little did I know. The Mountaineers are definitely capitalizing on it now and are on the verge of a very special class. It always helps when you have one of the nation's top high school programs in your backyard, it is even better when those kids desire to attend the hometown school. West Virginia landed two studs from Morgantown high in quarterback Charlie Russell and defensive tackle Junius Lewis. Obviously, with a quarterback like Pat White running the show, fans tend to want to see more athletic kids at the position. That of course will be a debate for as long as Russell and fellow quarterback Bradley Starks (Orange County, Va.) are on the same team. I like Russell and I think he'll be a very good if not exceptional college quarterback. Then, there is that part of me who remembers people saying Pat White would never be a college quarterback. I think it's safe to say Pat has proved the naysayer's wrong. Will Starks be another Pat White? He could be, but he could also end up at another position with Russell in the fold. West Virginia needed offensive linemen, so of course they went out and snagged three of them early in the process. The Mountaineers won tough recruiting battle's over Pittsburgh for Gino Gradkowski (Seton LaSalle, Pa.) and Donny Barclay (Seneca Valley, Pa.). West Virginia also snagged another in-state prospect in Chad Snodgrass of (Nitro). Snodgrass had a tremendous combine at Louisville. Lewis is tenacious and he defines non-stop motor in a football player. Victor Anderson broke a lot of hearts in Kentucky, when he committed to the mountaineers. After seeing him in person and watching his highlight film it is easy to see why. Brandon Hogan (Osbourn Park, Va.) impressed the staff with a tremendous effort in camp and he bolsters another need position. Terence Kerns is an interesting pick-up. The (Thomas Johnson, Md.) running back could end up at a number of positions, but the bottom line is that he is a football player.

Star of the Class: Charlie Russell

Sleeper of the Class: Gino Gradkowski

Call me crazy, but after watching Gradkowski in camp and thinking about him with Rick Trickett, makes me think Dan Mozes II. Russell is a Scout.com four-star and ranked as the No.22 rated quarterback in the nation and he may be under rated. If the Mountaineers can repeat last seasons success as most expect, they could have a top 10-15 class nationally.

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South Florida

Average- 0.00

The Bulls have yet to secure verbal pledge No. 1, but they did not have a commitment until October last season. The Bulls are coming of a successful campaign, which should mean a better recruiting class this year. The bulls do well considering every team in the country recruits Florida and you are competing with the Big Three.

The Future: (Mandarin) defensive back Charlton Sinclair will be checking out the Bulls closely. keep an eye on defensive end Terrell McClain (Pensacola), offensive lineman Kenneth Peaks (Woodham) and defensive end Darren Poe (Lafayette).

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Syracuse

Average- 2.42

The Orange have garnered seven commitments thus far including a pair of teammates from (Greensburg Central Catholic, Pa.) quarterback Cody Catalina and safety Max Suter. The Orange have also landed hard-hitting safety Ryan Gillum (Liberty, Ohio). Syracuse has landed two prospects from New Jersey and Maryland as well linebacker Mike Mele (Manasquan, N.J.) and D' Amon Merckerson (St. Mary's) represent the Garden State. Defensive back Jamere Knox (Wicomico) and Zary Stewart (Douglass) represent Maryland.

Star of the Class: Cody Catalina

Sleeper of the Class: Ryan Gillum

Catalina should challenge Andrew Robinson to be the quarterback of the future for the Orange. Greg Robinson and his staff are in on a number of high profile kids in New York, now they must start landing a few. Coaches are graded a lot by keeping the in-state kids at home and that is something they will need to address. Syracuse fans would love to see Doug Hogue, Rob Gronkowski, John Elliott and Lansford Watson stay home, will it happen?