View of the 2014 class as constituted

[SANJAY]

I saw gobulls83's question about what to be excited for in this class in the other thread and thought I would just start a topic on it.

Ignoring the stars I have a run through of my thoughts on the various commitments. My comments are an amalgamation of watching some of the video out there, reading public website and papers and also dreaded pay site information. I have also added on some recruits some concerns which is not meant to disparage any of them just providing information. Everyone else's thought are welcome too.

There's probably 1 or 2 that end up flipping their commitments because some of them are still being heavily recruited by some top end programs.

A common theme running throughout the class is that they are athletic. The athleticism reminds of the classes under Leavitt where you get athletes in and figure out positions later. Under skip the program recruited more to specific positions. I favor the old method as given our place in the recruiting pecking order it is best to get as many athletes and develop them.

QB-

only recruit is quinton flowers. Great leader on a high level program. Accuracy is a concern, but by all accounts the kid works hard. Has a level of athleticism that would indicate cwt would incorporate some designed runs for the QB.

Deiondre porter is interesting because although he is projected at DB his stats at QB (53 all purpose TDs) are eye popping. I think he wants to be a DB as that is where he thinks he can get to the next level.

RB-

WR-

Stanley clerveaux has good size and good hands. Expect a redshirt.

Ryshene Bronson has great talent and size. If he finds the work ethic to match his talent he could be special. However the knock on him is inconsistency. Probable redshirt.

Tyre McCants is a jack of all trades. Reading newspaper accounts of his exploits in niceville is impressive. Explosive from the backfield, out wide and in the return game. I was not real high on him before the season but the staff knew what they wanted in him. The concern I have is where he fits into this power run offense as he is a little on the small side for the receivers in that offense (sub 6') but he could find time at returner and in the slot.

Rodney Adams is the Toledo transfer. Expect him to contribute right away. Good size and explosive. Hate what happened to bring him home (mother passed away) but glad to have him.

Tajee Fullwood is an athlete that probably ends up on the offensive side of the ball. Kid's nickname is Hollywood... Not sure if it is self given. He does not lack for confidence and is another one that can be dangerous with the ball in his hand.

TE-

Marlon Pope is the immediate need for a blocking TE that poses a reasonable receiving threat. Watching last season you could see that Our TEs struggled blocking.

Nick Nataro was an Arizona recruit. He is a contribute in 2 years type with a Redshirt year and time to physically develop. He has the frame to be a big TE though.

Elkanah Dillon- huge kid with a ton of athletic ability. He was apparently the staff's #1 target at TE. Not sure he is ready to contribute right away at TE but they may find a way to get the athleticism on the field somewhere.

OL-

Michael Smith- big time blocker on a big time Miami central program. Staff took his commitment last March which is indicative of where he rates on the staff's list.

Michael Galati- great film. Real mauler and seems to have some nasty. Which you like in a lineman.

Bruno Reagan- out of state player. Don't have to much on him.

DL-

Eric Mayes - committed to usf last year but had to go to prep school. Last year he was listed as a 6'4" 240 pound DE and now is listed as a 6'5" 270 pound DT. What to believe? He's probably a DT now but if he still has that athleticism he'll be keeping linemen off the LBs effectively. He has 5 years to play 4 like any incoming freshman.

Demetrius hill- not sure what we have here. Read good things but always hard to gauge juco linemen. On the other hand this is the same juco that gave us Jacquian Williams and JPP.

LB-

Jimmy Bayes is expected to end up here. He is a rangy athlete. Question is can he stay explosive with additional weight. If so he will be very good at the OLB.

Juwuan brown- good size and speed. He is getting some interest from some real good defensive teams who have belatedly recognized his talent.

Nick Holman - good size already. Should grow into the Ben off it/Tyrone Mckenzie sized middle linebacker we have not had in a while. I think he's a couple years away.

Legrand Harley- the immediate plan for middle linebacker. We need the help there so he'll get his chance right away.

DB-

Deatrick Nichols- starter at Miami central and had some big offers before shutting down his recruitment early. Already enrolled.

Deiondre Porter- great athlete who played QB in high school. Could find a slot here or on offense.

Devin Abraham listed at 5'10" but may be our best CB recruit. Kid can flat out cover. Given how well our freshmen played this past season he may be on the way to a redshirt but he may be ready and does not lack for confidence. Best part is he is already on campus.

Mazzi Wilkins is from plant high school. Solid size and skill. Always good to get the local kids from the big programs.

Kendall Sawyer is a lee county kid. Athletic and fast.

Jamie Byrd will hit. And hit again. Covers a lot of ground and will be a missile across the middle. Only question I have is how good he can be in pass coverage. I have him penciled in as a starter at one safety position.

Still need:

Offensive tackle. AJ Allen is the biggest get here being a plug and play juco with great size, but we'll see what happens. Denzel ward should also be a get here to start building the tackles.

Running back: Miami central's yearby is the pipe dream but d'ernest Johnson is the real get. Charlie strong leaving UL may help us here. Marlon Mack is committed to UCLA but he may also be a late add to the RB corps.

LB- need josh black from local sickles high school. Would provide a lot of speed at the OLB.

Not to pump the class up too much (because every class has busts) but given our general lack of athleticism right now this class could change that very quickly.

[gobulls83]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to type this all up, it's really helpful. I will reference it often between now and signing day.

[SANJAY]

I like to hear myself talk... Or type. Hope it's informative.

[El_Toro_86]

Great synopsis! No mention of Vincent Jackson. Is he still in play?

Thanks again for taking the time to put this together.

[Reliable Source]

Good read. I'll plug a hole in your text. Bruno Reagan is a 288# OG who was 50-0 as a Hvwt wrestler last yr. Didn't enroll early so as to leave us additional room for incoming JUCOs and to support his HS wrestling team. Loved Walt Wells but is sticking to his commit even though Walt is gone. National Judo Champ, he knows about leverage and training. He has become my favorite recruit in this class. Great kid.

 

more than ever before. I have high hopes for the remainder of the class. I think Flowers and Porter remain in play. I think we are sitting on a surprise QB recruit and I think Johnson stays home to play. Would still love to see more action on the DL and OL, but those sexy guys don't get much pay site attn. Dead period ends the 15th, we are hosting Big time on the 17th. It's game time.

Edited January 7, 2014 by Bullwinkle

[Flowers4Heisman]

Thanks

 

I like to hear myself talk... Or type. Hope it's informative.

 

Thanks for doing this! Very helpful.

[SANJAY]

I missed Vincent Jackson. Not sure he is a need really at LB. He is a need though for purposes of re establishing our bond fides in local recruiting.

However, I think he ends up with his hand on the ground and becomes a DE. He'd be a pretty athletic DE but only an averagely athletic LB, IMO. If we can get him he could be a pass rush specialist type his first couple years while building up to be an every down DE because he does have a knack to get in the backfield. Think Bruce Irvin at WVU.

There's some other kids out there that we are after and the shake up at UL may help us on a couple.

January 17 is the big weekend for official visits. Expect a bunch of kids in and may set off a flurry of commitments immediately after if we are lucky.

[charsibb]

Sanjay, you rock!! Many thanks for this.

[Hem]

Good read. I'll plug a hole in your text. Bruno Reagan is a 288# OG who was 50-0 as a Hvwt wrestler last yr. Didn't enroll early so as to leave us additional room for incoming JUCOs and to support his HS wrestling team. Loved Walt Wells but is sticking to his commit even though Walt is gone. National Judo Champ, he knows about leverage and training. He has become my favorite recruit in this class. Great kid.

 

more than ever before. I have high hopes for the remainder of the class. I think Flowers and Porter remain in play. I think we are sitting on a surprise QB recruit and I think Johnson stays home to play. Would still love to see more action on the DL and OL, but those sexy guys don't get much pay site attn. Dead period ends the 15th, we are hosting Big time on the 17th. It's game time.

This would be the biggest get of the class IMO. If D'ernest Johnson commits to us, we are in business big time. From what I heard it was down to us and the Ville as his top 2 and you've got to think we are sitting pretty now that Strong is off to Texas. Kid has the talent and size to play immediately.

 

We pull in Ward, Johnson, VJr, and a surprise QB and we are looking at one of our better recruiting classes in program history..coming off of a 2-10 season. Jan 17th will be a huge day for us, let's keep our fingers crossed that it's fruitful.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/recruit-search-results?keywords=d%27ernest+johnson&sport=football&sport_id=1&year=2014

 

http://rivals.yahoo.com/michigan/football/recruiting/player-Denzel-Ward-142070

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Vincent-Jackson-130548;_ylt=A0SO80IMJsxSj0QAl6VXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzOGhvcGc4BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMwRjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDM0M18x

Edited January 7, 2014 by Hem

[Bulls On Parade]

Looking forward to seeing this team slowly purge the players Holtz recruited.