2010 Signing Day

[lawdog]

How time flies...won't be long until the first week or so in February.

OK, the unfortunate reality is that the Terriers had a down year, for the first time in a good while. Virtually all successful teams do.

The good news is that we have a substantial amount of young talent returning, plus opportunites for new signees to be a part of something special in the future. Thoughts on where we hope to focus our next recruiting class?

[Ruckus]

QB, couple of OLs, WR, 1 or 2 RBs, a DL or 2, 3 LBs (at least), a DB or 2, and maybe a punter. All of this is affected by who is available.
I am not sure how many schollies we have to give but by my count/guess 13 - 15.
Position with immediate need: QB and LB.

[Oak Grove]

All of the positions that Ruckus mentioned are high priorities in my opinion, and I agree that QB and LB are the most pressing. The only other one I would add to the list is mabye one TE with good size (by good size, I mean someone in the 6'3" to 6'5" range, with a 240 lbs.-plus frame), good hands, and decent speed. Another Fenn Allen would do nicely.

Whoever we sign this year, they need to be ready, from a physical standpoint at least, to play immediately. At present we don't have the luxury of investing scholarships in "project" guys who may or may not pan out.

[Ruckus]

OG, I don't think we will see another TE this year. Inman and the transfer from USC will be back, as well as Brad Miller, freshman Barnes, and the sophmore from Cola. I agree on the need for bigger, more athletic TEs. But Inman is, in my opinion, is a really good athlete and almost on par with Allen. The USC transfer is another good athlete. Miller is a little small as is Barnes. I understand however the coaching staff really liked Barnes in his workouts as apparently he runs well and has good hands which prompted them to offer him.
I tend to follow the TEs closely because that is what I played back in the day. Funny how times change. Miller and Barnes would have been avg to good size 20 -30 years ago, but now are small for the position.

[Oak Grove]

Inman's a senior academically, but has a medical redshirt from the 2008 season. I'm glad to hear that he'll be back. That will make a big difference at the position. He sure made a great catch down near the goal line against Samford!

[Grimjack]

Personally, I don't think we need another TE or punter. Barnes will be back and Reed was an all-state punter. Maybe another QB. Definitely a couple of safeties and OL's, and 1 0r 2 RB's. This team is young and now experienced. I expect more wins each of the next 3 or 4 years.

[Ruckus]

Yes he did. That was harder than he made it look. He is very fluid and has good size. He has also trimmed down from a couple of years ago. Gaston is a big dude too. He runs well and has good hands. I like our TEs next year. I will be interested in seeing Barnes healthy.

[football fan 59]

A punter/kickoff man might be just what we need with the graduation of Tommie. Remember the problems last year with punting and kickoff coverage. Wofford has never been one to allow one person have all the duties. Just a thought.

[drpnut]

The Lambert kid from Woodruff said he would sign on the spot if Wofford offfers him... Anybody know if we will go after him?

Give reasons why or why not please.

Ruckus , OG, anybody chime in on what you think.

[lawdog]

I am sure the coaches know more about him than most anyone here, and will make a careful call. Sounds a little like Dane Romero to me, however, and that ain't bad.

[Oak Grove]

From what I've heard, Lambert's been offered by Air Force. I've never seen the kid play, but like Ruckus said on an earlier thread, if Air Force wants him, then he must be a player.

Also, for anyone who doesn't know, the QB at Bolles School in Jacksonville--a tremendously talented passer and runner--is giving us some consideration. Of course, he's going to have his pick of a host of offers, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Wofford--the college, not necessarily the football program--will win him over. Even if we don't have stickers on our helmets!

[BigJohn94]

I know you can never have too much of a luxury at QB, and not to take anything away from Mitch, but we have Mr. Kass waiting in the wings. I know I did a little bashing earlier this year about giving him time to learn the system, etc., but if he is our future at the position, let him learn with experience. It would be knice to have a backup such as the kid from Woodruff. I also kinda "ooohh and aaahhhh" at the idea of Mitch at halfback. Just me sitting back in my own little microcosm and thinking.

[terrier06]

QB, couple of OLs, WR, 1 or 2 RBs, a DL or 2, 3 LBs (at least), a DB or 2, and maybe a punter. All of this is affected by who is available.
I am not sure how many schollies we have to give but by my count/guess 13 - 15.
Position with immediate need: QB and LB.

If we're only taking 1 WR, I'm pretty sure that spot has been taken. However, I'm sure we wouldn't turn down anyone that could help stretch the field.

Speaking of freshman WRs, does anyone know what position Simmons is playing now? He came in as a WR but apparently moved to HB just in case, though he never played. Even though he probably red-shirted, it'd be interesting to see what position he plays down the road.

[Ruckus]

OG, that certain QB from Fla known as Northend Jr. is from Jupiter Christian. He is a 2 star recruit per Rivals and as plenty of options, mostly out of the Colonial and Yankee conferences (and Ivy) with some other opportunities perhaps in the SoCon. Not to brag on our good friend Northend, but the kid can flat play. Looks just like Doug Flutie to me.
Air Force recruits heavy in the southeast esp. since former FU Asst HC Clay Hendrix went there several years ago as OL coach. I know Clay well and quite frankly, most knowledgeable FU people say when they lost Clay they lost their program (I don't think it's lost but you get the idea). Anyway, Clay recruits Ga and the Carolinas heavily and is a great judge of talent. If he has offered the kid from Woodruff then I expect he can play. BUT: 1) the service academies have no scholarships and have no limitations on how many kids they can bring in; so they bring in as many as they can and if they wash out so be it(see Cody Getz from Buford Ga who we recruited hard; he made the full roster as a freshman; but the amazing option QB Desi Rodriguez from Cali is apparently warehoused at the AF Prep School); 2) The Byrnes offense inflates numbers of the QB (see Willy Korn) and you have to be careful at what you are getting in the player. I have no idea about us recruiting the kid from Woodruff, I have never seen him play, but it worries me only AF, El Cid, and WC may be interested in him and 2 of those are only lately interested. If he is that talented, one would think the attention would be sooner although I understand they have only been running the offense for the past 2 years (after Freddie Brown left). I don't know about his wheels which is a big question and determining factor. I know we have other QBs higher up our list but who knows what will happen.
Simmons was supposedly moved to HB. Don't know if that is a permanent move or not. I expect it's because he can fly and we really need playmakers back there. But he is small and needs to get some weight on his frame. We might see him return to WR before it's over.
MA at HB looks more and more attractive to me. Kass should be given the opportunity to show what he can do in the spring and let's hope he is up to speed and ready. If we sign another "big time" QB (as in ability, not necessarily heighth; right, Northend?), we could definitely see some positions switching. I am not a fan of the 2 QB system but I think we just about have to split some time for the health of our QBs and viability of our system.
Whoever said we should be signing people who can help us immediately as we don't have the luxury to wait on projects developing is dead on. We have too many projects not working out or taking too long already IMO. Although the last 2 classes have been different, I am tired of us signing kids that don't jump out at you on paper or film. If kids can play, it should be obvious. I'd like to think we are past the days of mining for hidden diamonds in the rough. I want some S-T-U-D-S..........in size,speed, and/or heart.

[Oak Grove]

OG, that certain QB from Fla known as Northend Jr. is from Jupiter Christian. He is a 2 star recruit per Rivals and as plenty of options, mostly out of the Colonial and Yankee conferences (and Ivy) with some other opportunities perhaps in the SoCon. Not to brag on our good friend Northend, but the kid can flat play. Looks just like Doug Flutie to me.

Oh, I'm sorry. All this time, I thought we were talking about the kid from Bolles. I've got to do some additional research now!

I was the one saying that we can no longer afford to sign a bunch of works in progress. If there's one area where I've felt like the Ayers administration has fallen short over the years, it's been recruiting. A program that has achieved as much success as we have in this century should be able to compete for top FCS-level recruits. I know that Coach Ayers has always taken pride in forming a cast of misfits that no one else wanted into a winning team. And we've managed to land some really quality "cast-offs" in the past, but I'm with you, Ruckus. We need to be getting our share of the studs, as well!