Ok, so far, we know we have 12 commitments thus far. So, other than those already commiting, which positions does everyone else want to see addressed? Here's my "shopping list" for the rest of the recruiting period. POS. (# of recruits I would like to see added) QB (0), I've read, with Cate's commitment, closes the door on that position for this recruiting class. And he's gonna be a good one once JaMarcus, Flynn and RP are gone--possibly opening the door for Cate to be a starter by his RS-Junior year. RB (?1), I think we're set unless Shankle (& Hewitt) commit, and Shankle is listed as a RB--but I beleive he's listed more as an ATH. Safety (1-2) I believe Clemons will be molded into the next LaRon Landry, and I believe McCray will be a safety as well dispite both of their "S/OLB" tags. I like the idea of their flexibility at both positions for future needs, but I think if all goes well, Clemons and McCray's more natural position might be as Safeties. But, given their flexibility to play OLB, I would like for us to go out and sign one, maybe even 2 true-safeties. OLB (2-3) Very similar to the above. With Gbadyu already in the fold as a possible OLB (most recent reports have him weighing in at 212 with a 4.52-forty), I think he makes the move here. He's so athletic and fast, that I think the OLB position fits him well. I would like to see at least 2 more (preferrably 3) OLB's: perhaps another athletic "speed-burner" like Gbadyu, and one run-stopping OLB, that could potentionally move to the inside ala Cameron Vaughn if need be. ILB (3-4) Cutrera looks to be a Lionel Turner prototype--big, solid body and athletic and quick enough to make plays on the outside. We need more of those guys like that: quick ILB's. Cutrera runs a respectible 4.7-forty for an ILB and I want to keep the "team speed" on the high end, so I would like to sign ILB's that run well--an invaluable aspect when going into a DIME formation, and being able to snuff out the run. We're sort of inexperienced as the ILB position goes this year. We've got guys very capable of producing for us on the inside, but it would be nice to lock up this position for the future and find an immediate battery-mate for Luke Sanders for '07 and beyond. DE (?1) Tillman and Levingston already on board this year. Al Jones and Ricky-Jean Francois last year. I think we're looking VERY good at DE for the future thus far. Tillman and Francois look to be the speed rushers while Jones and Levingston look to be the bull-rushers (i.e. Marquise Hill). So I think they compliment one another very well and will all get their fair share of playing time before long. So, having said that, I don't think this is a position where we have to "press" any longer, but it's a position that is so important, and a position that you "can never have enough of" so-to-speak. So I certainly wouldn't turn down another commitment from a DE. I think with the abilities of the DE's we have, it's not unlikely to see one of the above 4 leave early for the NFL, so having 5 commitments in 2 recruiting seasons might be wise. DT (2) Al Woods is a BEAST, and if it turned out that this is the only DT we sign this year, I certainly wouldn't be upset, BUT, just like the DE position above, you can never seem to have enough DT's (and OL for that matter), so I would like to see us land 2 more DT. Wroten, Williams and Brandon Washington are Sr's and Glenn Dorsey and Stewart will be Jr's next season, leaving only Favorite and Lyle Hitt as the only DT's to enter '06 as Sophomores and Woods as a Fresh. Don't like the idea of having only 3 DT's with experience entering '07. WR (1) We're so young and so LOADED right now, yet it never hurts to keep that going. They won't stay young forever you know. CB (2-3) Prude and Stevenson will be gone after this season and our projected starters for '06, Joseph and Chevis Jackson will be a Sr. and Jr. respectively. We need to shore up the CB spot and address it hard this year and next. This is a position that I think Shankle would fit in nicely should he commit. OL (2-3) Our starting OL will be gone after this season, or nearly gone depending on who starts other than Niswanger, Whitworth and Livings. Along with Allen and Boudreaux, we need to add at LEAST 2 more O-linemen this class. So, along with the 12 commitments we already have and counting the minimum # of prospects per position that I listed, that would give us 25 commitments for this class, and with 7 of them already a 4-star or higher, there's no reason to believe that this class won't be a top 10--even top 5 come February.
Good analysis, at RB, if he qualifies we'll be getting Keiland Williams, and he will enroll in January. He may be more talented than both of the RB's we have signed already.
Wups! I left out the TE position!!! How could I have done that?! Especially since Miles has said that he likes to utilize his TE's. Having said that, I would trim the number of ILB's and Safeties from my list down by 1 apiece and use those two spots to sign 2 receiving TE's.
Great analysis. I think, that if we can one 4 or 5 star wide receiver, we should get him a scholarship. But with the depth that we have I don't know if we should sign a 3 star just to sign one. 2 TE's would be ideal. I'd like to see atleast one super tight end prospect sign with us because I want to see what Miles can do with the position. Olb & Ilb - i guess 5 total. Do we have enough good looking prospects right now to get this many?? I sure hope we can sign some super O-line men this recruiting period. I say we get as many great prospects as possible at this position. I don't think 4 would be to many. CB & Saftey are really the only other 2 positions that will need replenishing.
In terms of a WR, I think you take a 3-star if you can. Obviously, if a 4 or 5-star guy comes calling, then that's the one you go with. But if we sign a WR, is there really that much difference between a 3 and a 4 star--especially at this point (i.e. with who we have already and what our WR group looks like for the next 2-3 seasons)? One thing that is almost certain reguarding any WR commitment from this year's class: He's gonna redshirt his first season. So, in that reguard, a WR signed this year has roughly 2 seasons of training and learning the system. Because by the time he is ready to contribute on the field, he'll have 2 years under his belt and a couple of years to actually play and by that time, any player can turn himself into a star-caliber player.
