All kidding aside, LA Tech seems to be killing it this year in football recruiting. I know its early....too early......but I don't recall Tech getting this many commits this early in past seasons. And every one of these kids have offers from CUSA schools, equivalent G5 conference schools, or better (P5).

We have been very fortunate since joining CUSA recruitment wise.

(05-14-2015 12:47 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  We have been very fortunate since joining CUSA recruitment wise.

I think joining CUSA has made a HUGE difference (an improvement) in LA Tech's recruiting.

THANK YOU, CUSA!! (seriously!)

I think the coaching staff has helped as well. We've gotten away from JUCO players and our coaches seem to be getting in earlier on the high school kids and building relationships.

This is in reference to the two Monroe commits we've gotten the past two days:

Jonathan Ford
‏@theJFord The talk coming from #ULM is they can’t get local kids accepted. #LATech picked up two kids from @OuachitaLions with over 3.5 GPAs & ACT 20+

Jonathan Ford ‏@theJFord · 20h20 hours ago
#LATech offered them last spring, #ULM came in this spring.

I've heard several coaches in Shreveport-Bossier say they see Tech coaches more than any other school.

Agree... it's the coaching staff building long relationships more than CUSA.

ODU gets first commitment with 3* QB!

South Carolina Quarterback Commits - Va Pilot

Drayton Arnold

(05-14-2015 02:19 PM)Fatalisk Wrote:  ODU gets first commitment with 3* QB!

South Carolina Quarterback Commits - Va Pilot

Drayton Arnold

Congrats.

Tech adds DB Reggie Cleveland (5-11 180) from Scotlandville Magnet in Baton Rouge, La...that makes our 2016 class about 1/3 full.

http://247sports.com/Player/Reggie-Cleveland-82858

Tech adds the 13th rated player in the state of Arkansas. 3* CB Kiondre Thomas (6-0 168) from Northside HS in Ft. Smith AR. Thomas has an offers from Tulsa and stAte.

http://247sports.com/Player/Kiondre-Thomas-35367

(05-14-2015 12:50 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 12:47 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  We have been very fortunate since joining CUSA recruitment wise.

I think joining CUSA has made a HUGE difference (an improvement) in LA Tech's recruiting.

THANK YOU, CUSA!! (seriously!)

I don't know about LaTech's recruiting history or strategy, but I imagine you'll have a much easier time recruiting in CUSA since local/regional kids will be able to have their families see them play much more often than during your WAC days. More opportunities to see them play at Southern Miss, North Texas, Rice, UTSA vs Idaho, New Mexico, Utah State, etc.

(05-19-2015 07:40 AM)RedParallax Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 12:50 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 12:47 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  We have been very fortunate since joining CUSA recruitment wise.

I think joining CUSA has made a HUGE difference (an improvement) in LA Tech's recruiting.

THANK YOU, CUSA!! (seriously!)

I don't know about LaTech's recruiting history or strategy, but I imagine you'll have a much easier time recruiting in CUSA since local/regional kids will be able to have their families see them play much more often than during your WAC days. More opportunities to see them play at Southern Miss, North Texas, Rice, UTSA vs Idaho, New Mexico, Utah State, etc.

All this is true.

But I would also say that LA Tech's recruiting is being helped immensely by the "new" coaching staff of Skip Holtz, the soon to be completed "South End Zone" project stadium renovations, and Tech's recent successes on the field, particularly in 2011, 2012, and 2014. Success builds success.

(05-19-2015 02:14 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(05-19-2015 07:40 AM)RedParallax Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 12:50 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 12:47 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  We have been very fortunate since joining CUSA recruitment wise.

I think joining CUSA has made a HUGE difference (an improvement) in LA Tech's recruiting.

THANK YOU, CUSA!! (seriously!)

I don't know about LaTech's recruiting history or strategy, but I imagine you'll have a much easier time recruiting in CUSA since local/regional kids will be able to have their families see them play much more often than during your WAC days. More opportunities to see them play at Southern Miss, North Texas, Rice, UTSA vs Idaho, New Mexico, Utah State, etc.

All this is true.

But I would also say that LA Tech's recruiting is being helped immensely by the "new" coaching staff of Skip Holtz, the soon to be completed "South End Zone" project stadium renovations, and Tech's recent successes on the field, particularly in 2011, 2012, and 2014. Success builds success.

I agree. I think it's mostly the coaching staff. Dykes didn't recruit LA and AR as much as we do now. We were recruiting California with him. He was a heavy JUCO guy. We weren't getting in early on kids like we are now. It's getting earlier and earlier every year. We've got an offer out to a 2018 QB.

(05-19-2015 07:40 AM)RedParallax Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 12:50 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 12:47 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  We have been very fortunate since joining CUSA recruitment wise.

I think joining CUSA has made a HUGE difference (an improvement) in LA Tech's recruiting.

THANK YOU, CUSA!! (seriously!)

I don't know about LaTech's recruiting history or strategy, but I imagine you'll have a much easier time recruiting in CUSA since local/regional kids will be able to have their families see them play much more often than during your WAC days. More opportunities to see them play at Southern Miss, North Texas, Rice, UTSA vs Idaho, New Mexico, Utah State, etc.

One nice advantage we had in the WAC was the promise of two free trips to Hawaii during a football career.

WE are at 8 players with three 3* players already. I have been very impressed with the character and quality of kids Skip has brought to Ruston. I am hopeful that will translate well on the field.

Rice currently has the following commits:

Jude-Anthony Ekpe, LB, Hendrickson, Pflugerville, TX, No other offers
Javante Hubbard, DE, Alief Elsik, Houston, TX, No other offers
Dasharm Newsome, CB, Cy-Ridge, Cypress, TX, SMU and Army
Will Phillips, LB, Franklin, Franklin, TX, No other offers
Paxton Segina, WR, Vandegrift, Austin, TX, Air Force
Dylan Silcox, S, East Chambers, Winnie, TX, No other offers

Rice recruits a lot from small towns, which is I think why a lot of these guys don't have a lot of other offers. When one looks at our roster, there aren't a ton of kids from the "football factories" with the exception of Driphus Jackson from Cedar Hill, Brady Wright from Cy-Fair, Alex Lyons from Desoto, Luke Turner and Darrion Pollard from Gilmer, and Dennis Parks from Judson.

(05-14-2015 12:47 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  We have been very fortunate since joining CUSA recruitment wise.

I really have to say that LaTech really seems to be building something very good in Ruston...for the long term. It does seem, to me anyway, that they are going to be the team to chase over on that side, for several years to come.

No disrespect to any other team in the West. Personally, I want to see every team improve so the Conference builds its bona fides. And, I'd love to see USM as the top team in the West. Just an observation on where we seem to be at the moment.

(05-20-2015 06:48 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 12:47 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  We have been very fortunate since joining CUSA recruitment wise.

I really have to say that LaTech really seems to be building something very good in Ruston...for the long term. It does seem, to me anyway, that they are going to be the team to chase over on that side, for several years to come.

No disrespect to any other team in the West. Personally, I want to see every team improve so the Conference builds its bona fides. And, I'd love to see USM as the top team in the West. Just an observation on where we seem to be at the moment.

Thank you for the kind words. I must give most of the credit to a solid coaching hire n Skip Holtz who has done a great job of recruiting HS kids and supplementing them with Grad-transfers. The West is very deep and we should consider ourselves luck to compete on a yearly basis here.

(05-20-2015 09:02 AM)pilot172000 Wrote:  

(05-20-2015 06:48 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 12:47 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  We have been very fortunate since joining CUSA recruitment wise.

I really have to say that LaTech really seems to be building something very good in Ruston...for the long term. It does seem, to me anyway, that they are going to be the team to chase over on that side, for several years to come.

No disrespect to any other team in the West. Personally, I want to see every team improve so the Conference builds its bona fides. And, I'd love to see USM as the top team in the West. Just an observation on where we seem to be at the moment.

Thank you for the kind words. I must give most of the credit to a solid coaching hire n Skip Holtz who has done a great job of recruiting HS kids and supplementing them with Grad-transfers. The West is very deep and we should consider ourselves luck to compete on a yearly basis here.

I just don't see how the west is very deep personally. I'm sure this will piss people off, but I pretty much see the west as a two horse race with La Tech and Rice.

The east is pretty much a two horse race as well with Marshall and WKU.

The rest on both sides of the conference have a lot to prove. I don't think the west or the east is significantly better / deeper than the other.

(05-20-2015 09:07 AM)Niner National Wrote:  

(05-20-2015 09:02 AM)pilot172000 Wrote:  

(05-20-2015 06:48 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 12:47 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  We have been very fortunate since joining CUSA recruitment wise.

I really have to say that LaTech really seems to be building something very good in Ruston...for the long term. It does seem, to me anyway, that they are going to be the team to chase over on that side, for several years to come.

No disrespect to any other team in the West. Personally, I want to see every team improve so the Conference builds its bona fides. And, I'd love to see USM as the top team in the West. Just an observation on where we seem to be at the moment.

Thank you for the kind words. I must give most of the credit to a solid coaching hire n Skip Holtz who has done a great job of recruiting HS kids and supplementing them with Grad-transfers. The West is very deep and we should consider ourselves luck to compete on a yearly basis here.

I just don't see how the west is very deep personally. I'm sure this will piss people off, but I pretty much see the west as a two horse race with La Tech and Rice.

The east is pretty much a two horse race as well with Marshall and WKU.

The rest on both sides of the conference have a lot to prove. I don't think the west or the east is significantly better / deeper than the other.

UTEP, UTSA, UNT have all already had good seasons in their short stint in CUSA. Don't count USM out for long, they have all the tools to be great again. As much as I would like it to be a two horse race every year, I think it will level out to a 3 or 4 team Division.