Recruiting class of 2023

[ohio herd]

It almost seems that we are going to rely on the transfer portal now. Here we are a few months from the start of the season and only one player in the class so far. Has anyone heard from the Shewey building if this is our new approach? Looking on the main board it appears that most programs are doing the same.

 

[HerdGreen]

It almost seems that we are going to rely on the transfer portal now. Here we are a few months from the start of the season and only one player in the class so far. Has anyone heard from the Shewey building if this is our new approach? Looking on the main board it appears that most programs are doing the same.

Here in South Florida, lots of kids getting offers but schools are not accepting commitments

 

[BleedsGreen33]

It almost seems that we are going to rely on the transfer portal now. Here we are a few months from the start of the season and only one player in the class so far. Has anyone heard from the Shewey building if this is our new approach? Looking on the main board it appears that most programs are doing the same.

It's May. I'm not saying the portal isn't going to change things because it is, but it is way too early to worry about how many commitments we have.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Gotta feel for the freshmen coming in. Better grow up and produce, or be a victim of the quick fix portal. Especially at positions like QB.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

Gotta feel for the freshmen coming in. Better grow up and produce, or be a victim of the quick fix portal. Especially at positions like QB.

Yea I wouldn't got that far. Calling it the "quick fix" portal is misguided. Aside from the top maybe 1/4 of the portal entries which are now "guns for hire" (See Pitt WR Jordan Addison.), most of these players are guys that couldn't crack the two deep where they were or think they're better than they are. This is why over half of the last two portals entrants did not find teams. Save for Cain Madden look at all the guys that leave us for "greener pastures". There have been more Ty Tylers than there have been Cain Maddens.

Look down the list of the transfers we've taken over the years. We get transfers for four different reasons.

1. They got in trouble at their former schools. (See Juwon Young, Tyre Brady, Tavante Beckett)
2. They were getting out of Dodge (See Moo Moo Smith, Derrik Thomas, Jayden Harrison)
3. Chasing PT.
4. FCS Transfers looking for their shot. (See Michael Birdson, Alex Thomson, Cory McCoy)

Players from category three almost never pan out to be anything at all. Most recent example were Richardson from UK that caught something like 3 passes all season and the Woodyard kid from Nebraska that everyone was giddy about because of his speed and he didn't catch but a handful and then transferred.

More often than not our payoff has come from transfers that have fallen to us because they were forced to leave their current teams and needed a second chance. Guys like Randy Moss. Guys like D.J. Hunter. That's not to say category three is 100% misses because guys like Shawn Petty and Ricardo Williams (would have been a lot better had we left him at DE) gave us solid play.

We've also found success with category #2 because those guys were actually playing at their previous stops. Their programs were just a mess and they left. Smith and Thomas were part of the players leaving PSU after the Sandusky scandal and my assumption with Harrison is he wanted away from the wokeness mess at Vandy. Trotting that girl kicker out there like they did showed they really weren't serious about building a winning program.

I'm hoping Colombi can buck the trend too because Birdsong and Thomson were not good at all. I think he's better than them, but still.

I just think everyone needs to temper their excitement over the transfers we get until we see them hit the field because there's a reason they couldn't play or tumbled down the depth charts where they were. Yes I know they were at a P5, but we've used that logic before with guys like Donaldven Manning (former 4-star VT DB). Remember LeAnthony Williams? The 4-star DB that transferred in from Clemson? He had 8 total tackles on the season. As soon as it was announced he transferred here this board was buzzing with hype. Shane Simmons was another P5 addition last season and he really wasn't that much of a factor.

The portal is anything but "quick fix".

 

[Chris McLaughlin]

It almost seems that we are going to rely on the transfer portal now. Here we are a few months from the start of the season and only one player in the class so far. Has anyone heard from the Shewey building if this is our new approach? Looking on the main board it appears that most programs are doing the same.

This time last year we had three 2022 commits.

We didn’t get our first commit in the 2021 class until 5/25/20.

Our second commit in the 2020 class came on 5/22/19.

We only had two commits in the 2019 class until 9/9/18, when we got our third.

Long story short: this is normal.

 

[Chris McLaughlin]

Yea I wouldn't got that far. Calling it the "quick fix" portal is misguided. Aside from the top maybe 1/4 of the portal entries which are now "guns for hire" (See Pitt WR Jordan Addison.), most of these players are guys that couldn't crack the two deep where they were or think they're better than they are. This is why over half of the last two portals entrants did not find teams. Save for Cain Madden look at all the guys that leave us for "greener pastures". There have been more Ty Tylers than there have been Cain Maddens.

Look down the list of the transfers we've taken over the years. We get transfers for four different reasons.

1. They got in trouble at their former schools. (See Juwon Young, Tyre Brady, Tavante Beckett)
2. They were getting out of Dodge (See Moo Moo Smith, Derrik Thomas, Jayden Harrison)
3. Chasing PT.
4. FCS Transfers looking for their shot. (See Michael Birdson, Alex Thomson, Cory McCoy)

Players from category three almost never pan out to be anything at all. Most recent example were Richardson from UK that caught something like 3 passes all season and the Woodyard kid from Nebraska that everyone was giddy about because of his speed and he didn't catch but a handful and then transferred.

More often than not our payoff has come from transfers that have fallen to us because they were forced to leave their current teams and needed a second chance. Guys like Randy Moss. Guys like D.J. Hunter. That's not to say category three is 100% misses because guys like Shawn Petty and Ricardo Williams (would have been a lot better had we left him at DE) gave us solid play.

We've also found success with category #2 because those guys were actually playing at their previous stops. Their programs were just a mess and they left. Smith and Thomas were part of the players leaving PSU after the Sandusky scandal and my assumption with Harrison is he wanted away from the wokeness mess at Vandy. Trotting that girl kicker out there like they did showed they really weren't serious about building a winning program.

I'm hoping Colombi can buck the trend too because Birdsong and Thomson were not good at all. I think he's better than them, but still.

I just think everyone needs to temper their excitement over the transfers we get until we see them hit the field because there's a reason they couldn't play or tumbled down the depth charts where they were. Yes I know they were at a P5, but we've used that logic before with guys like Donaldven Manning (former 4-star VT DB). Remember LeAnthony Williams? The 4-star DB that transferred in from Clemson? He had 8 total tackles on the season. As soon as it was announced he transferred here this board was buzzing with hype. Shane Simmons was another P5 addition last season and he really wasn't that much of a factor.

The portal is anything but "quick fix".

Good post but I’d disagree on Shane Simmons. He played a ton and was a nice rotation piece at DE. Jayden Harrison also probably fits into category number three, and he was very good for us.

 

[MU PIKE]

The NIL and transfer portal have altered college football more then anything thing since they allowed freshman to play.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

Good post but I’d disagree on Shane Simmons. He played a ton and was a nice rotation piece at DE. Jayden Harrison also probably fits into category number three, and he was very good for us.

I'm not saying he was bad just not the hype when we got him. Too often we see "insert p5 school" and get all giddy convincing ourselves that because they were facing "insert p5 conference" competition that they'll dominate CUSA level competition. Which is ironic that we draw that conclusion given how mad we get when our level is discounted by the talking heads.

I disagree with Harrison. He's good and reading some Vandy stuff after he left they expected him to play for them last season.

Reading the Rivals Mainboard their locker room was severly fractured when they put that girl out there because she wasn't that good and they had a backup kicker that was better. Either way I'm happy to have him and believe he needs to get increased touches.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

The NIL and transfer portal have altered college football more then anything thing since they allowed freshman to play.

While this point is 100% true, it is also true that there is nothing to worry about in terms of having only 1 commitment at this time. I used to worry too and like clockwork we'd start pulling them in during the season and close strong in January.

 

[goherdorgohome2]

Travon Van… that kid just never got going. Originally committed to Florida

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Yea I wouldn't got that far. Calling it the "quick fix" portal is misguided. Aside from the top maybe 1/4 of the portal entries which are now "guns for hire" (See Pitt WR Jordan Addison.), most of these players are guys that couldn't crack the two deep where they were or think they're better than they are. This is why over half of the last two portals entrants did not find teams. Save for Cain Madden look at all the guys that leave us for "greener pastures". There have been more Ty Tylers than there have been Cain Maddens.

Look down the list of the transfers we've taken over the years. We get transfers for four different reasons.

1. They got in trouble at their former schools. (See Juwon Young, Tyre Brady, Tavante Beckett)
2. They were getting out of Dodge (See Moo Moo Smith, Derrik Thomas, Jayden Harrison)
3. Chasing PT.
4. FCS Transfers looking for their shot. (See Michael Birdson, Alex Thomson, Cory McCoy)

Players from category three almost never pan out to be anything at all. Most recent example were Richardson from UK that caught something like 3 passes all season and the Woodyard kid from Nebraska that everyone was giddy about because of his speed and he didn't catch but a handful and then transferred.

More often than not our payoff has come from transfers that have fallen to us because they were forced to leave their current teams and needed a second chance. Guys like Randy Moss. Guys like D.J. Hunter. That's not to say category three is 100% misses because guys like Shawn Petty and Ricardo Williams (would have been a lot better had we left him at DE) gave us solid play.

We've also found success with category #2 because those guys were actually playing at their previous stops. Their programs were just a mess and they left. Smith and Thomas were part of the players leaving PSU after the Sandusky scandal and my assumption with Harrison is he wanted away from the wokeness mess at Vandy. Trotting that girl kicker out there like they did showed they really weren't serious about building a winning program.

I'm hoping Colombi can buck the trend too because Birdsong and Thomson were not good at all. I think he's better than them, but still.

I just think everyone needs to temper their excitement over the transfers we get until we see them hit the field because there's a reason they couldn't play or tumbled down the depth charts where they were. Yes I know they were at a P5, but we've used that logic before with guys like Donaldven Manning (former 4-star VT DB). Remember LeAnthony Williams? The 4-star DB that transferred in from Clemson? He had 8 total tackles on the season. As soon as it was announced he transferred here this board was buzzing with hype. Shane Simmons was another P5 addition last season and he really wasn't that much of a factor.

The portal is anything but "quick fix".

I get that kids come here for various reasons. A P5 transfer comes here for a second chance to play. But our history at QB and QB development specifically, is poor. Since Lefty, we've had one multi year starter that's lead us to a league title and made all league. We can opine about Fro and what he would have done; and Litton? Please, I was glad to see that cancer go.

The incoming freshmen seem to have upsides but until they get on the field and play in a live situation, we don't know how they will pan out. The staff has to develop them and help them get better. If we have a chance to take a starter in the portal, we take them, the maturity and experience alone will be a huge benefit.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

I get that kids come here for various reasons. A P5 transfer comes here for a second chance to play. But our history at QB and QB development specifically, is poor. Since Lefty, we've had one multi year starter that's lead us to a league title and made all league. We can opine about Fro and what he would have done; and Litton? Please, I was glad to see that cancer go.

The incoming freshmen seem to have upsides but until they get on the field and play in a live situation, we don't know how they will pan out. The staff has to develop them and help them get better. If we have a chance to take a starter in the portal, we take them, the maturity and experience alone will be a huge benefit.

Are we taking starters though? I don't think we are. At least from the FBS.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

Travon Van… that kid just never got going. Originally committed to Florida

Not a transfer, but valid point. Though he rushed back from that ligament surgery too quickly and wasn't the same. Then Groom/Butler/Watson torched Rice and it was all she wrote.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Are we taking starters though? I don't think we are. At least from the FBS.

I'd take a Colombi type kid every year unless we had a definite front runner for the job. 2023 will be interesting to see what happens at the QB position.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

I'd take a Colombi type kid every year unless we had a definite front runner for the job. 2023 will be interesting to see what happens at the QB position.

You'd never know that if you kept taking 1 year rental QBs. We'd end up like WVU. Since Geno Smith was their last consistent starter that was recruited to them out of HS.

I'm holding out hope that Colombi will be good, but reading up on him he's never been able to win the starting job and keep it when he has gotten in there. Yes I know he started against the Big XII, but as I've mentioned above that doesn't automatically mean he'll dominate against the G5 and to be quite honest I am more worried about WR than QB because until that group gels and starts to have some dudes in it, it won't matter who is behind center. As of right now we have no playmakers at WR. This group only returns 10 TDs.

r-JR Shadeed Ahmed - I like him, but he's not really been a consistent week to week big play guy.
r-JR Talik Keaton - Tons of potential, but can't stay on the field for an entire season.
r-SO Jayden Harrison - As much as I like him and think he can be good we just haven't seen enough out of him yet. He's more of a quick twitch underneath guy anyways.
r-JR Caleb McMillan - has never really done anything in his three seasons
r-JR Corey Gammage - A lot of hype when we got his commitment and should be dominant with his size, but has yet to emerge as a consistent downfield threat.
r-SO Bryan Robinson - He's hyped up, but battled injuries at FSU and played in 4 total games.
r-FR Charles Montgomery
r-SO EJ Horton - there's been some buzz
6th YR SR Stone Scarcelle - flashed in practice and in limited action, but still not a "big play" WR.
FR Antonio Robinson
r-SO Jack Stakem - walk-on
FR Caden Burti
r-FR Cableb Coombs - 4-star talent that we hope develops for us
r-JR Timothy Allen - D-II transfer/walk-on

I'm am in no way saying none of these guys won't break out, but we don't have one established threat in this group that is stealing the focus of the opposing DC and DB Coach. This is the one position that Doc and his staff horribly mismanaged post 2015.

 

[goherdorgohome2]

Not a transfer, but valid point. Though he rushed back from that ligament surgery too quickly and wasn't the same. Then Groom/Butler/Watson torched Rice and it was all she wrote.

true

 

[HerdFB1]

I do see the transfer portal is a quick fix by many HCs. I do see it the portal working when a kid steps down a level P5-to-G5 or G5-to-FCS. The days are over when a coach has 4-5 years to win before getting fired.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

I do see the transfer portal is a quick fix by many HCs. I do see it the portal working when a kid steps down a level P5-to-G5 or G5-to-FCS. The days are over when a coach has 4-5 years to win before getting fired.

They may use it in an effort to get a quick fix, but that doesn't mean it will be. The one benefit you get in the portal that you don't with true freshman is that you get guys that have had a least one year in a college S&C program.

Still there is a reason why over the last two portal cycles a majority of the entrants did not find landing spots. Most of the guys in there are guys that could not play at their previous stops or guys that believed they were being held back by their previous schools. Like Ty Tyler. You do have some good talent in there, but if coaches are going to be looking to this portal as more than a supplemental deal they're going to be seeking employment elsewhere.

I'll also be the one to say this. If I were a HC I'd be careful who I take out of this portal. I'd be doing my due diligence to find out why they're in there because to me this portal has a fair share of quitters in it. Players that weren't willing to put the work in and wait their turn. They didn't see their name on the 2-deep where they wanted it in camp and they dipped.

 

[Catfanatic1979v1]

Wasn't Birdsong getting Phil Simms hype? Lol

 

[19MU88]

Wasn't Birdsong getting Phil Simms hype? Lol

No he wasn't. Lol lol

you must be thinking of Thompson

 

[Josh Stowers]

This time last year we had three 2022 commits.

We didn’t get our first commit in the 2021 class until 5/25/20.

Our second commit in the 2020 class came on 5/22/19.

We only had two commits in the 2019 class until 9/9/18, when we got our third.

Long story short: this is normal.

Camp season is about to get underway as well.

This allows us to get kids on campus for workouts as well as them visit on their own dime.

The next couple of months we'll start dialing in who we're going to send official offers out to in the fall.

Like @Chris McLaughlin said.....this is perfectly normal and even more so now with the portal.

 

[Weirgreen]

I’m not at all worried about the portal because it’s a useful tool to get back up players to add depth. Coach Huff admitted that toward the end of the season last year. We were very tired in the 4th quarter in a lot of games. i don’t think we are recruiting 11 starters, we’re recruiting 11 warm bodies so starters can rest.