(02-04-2016 11:33 AM)EagleTough Wrote:  Some definite talent in this class, but it's even more of a guessing game with a lot of these lower rated kids in the MAC. Only a year or 2 in the program will reveal what we really have with this class. Bottom line, we still need to be better than 10th in the conference recruiting rankings, to have any chance to be better than a 6 win, middle of the pack team.

Cautiously optimistic about next year.

I agree but we need more than one game on the other hand I faith this staff is solid on finding hidden gems look at guys like brown tuttle
browning Daugherty how many fbs offers did they have but able to play at the fbs level

(02-04-2016 10:08 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(02-04-2016 09:51 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Nice interview with coach Creighton this morning on WDFN with Shep.

And zero coverage by Mlive. Of course they had their entire staff of bloggers in Ann Arbor.

At least we got some pub from Detnews and Freep.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/.../79792318/

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/colleg.../79771380/

(02-04-2016 12:39 PM)EagleHawk Wrote:  

(02-04-2016 10:08 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(02-04-2016 09:51 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Nice interview with coach Creighton this morning on WDFN with Shep.

And zero coverage by Mlive. Of course they had their entire staff of bloggers in Ann Arbor.

At least we got some pub from Detnews and Freep.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/.../79792318/

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/colleg.../79771380/

http://www.wdfn.com/media/play/26701291/

Coach Haygood is getting some love in media for his recruiting abilities...

http://www.scout.com/college/football/re...f-the-year

(02-04-2016 04:06 PM)emu steve Wrote:  Coach Haygood is getting some love in media for his recruiting abilities...

http://www.scout.com/college/football/re...f-the-year

Actually great to see. Hopefully the new DC is a good recruiter and can pick things up in his old Texas stomping grounds. Would love to see the recruiting budget increased, and this staff get our classes ranked up in the top 5 in the conference.

Yeah, I know, asking a lot!

(02-04-2016 06:08 PM)EagleTough Wrote:  

(02-04-2016 04:06 PM)emu steve Wrote:  Coach Haygood is getting some love in media for his recruiting abilities...

http://www.scout.com/college/football/re...f-the-year

Actually great to see. Hopefully the new DC is a good recruiter and can pick things up in his old Texas stomping grounds. Would love to see the recruiting budget increased, and this staff get our classes ranked up in the top 5 in the conference.

Yeah, I know, asking a lot!

Winning will help. Success breeds success. Right now they recruit against their own history in addition to the other schools.

A little O/T, or kind of dreaming, but MSU is expected to be four scholarship players over the 85 limit.

Like when Ohio U. picked up Stroebel (DE) from UofM, when teams have more players than the 85 scholarship limit things start happening...

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/colleg.../79819464/

Rob Hull has a nice article in the Echo on Keels.

http://www.easternecho.com/article/2016/...igning-day

(02-05-2016 05:12 AM)emu steve Wrote:  A little O/T, or kind of dreaming, but MSU is expected to be four scholarship players over the 85 limit.

Like when Ohio U. picked up Stroebel (DE) from UofM, when teams have more players than the 85 scholarship limit things start happening...

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/colleg.../79819464/

If scholarship players don't leave of their own free will, some will have their scholarship pulled. That's a nasty part of college football.

(02-05-2016 11:30 AM)ljmhurons Wrote:  

(02-05-2016 05:12 AM)emu steve Wrote:  A little O/T, or kind of dreaming, but MSU is expected to be four scholarship players over the 85 limit.

Like when Ohio U. picked up Stroebel (DE) from UofM, when teams have more players than the 85 scholarship limit things start happening...

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/colleg.../79819464/

If scholarship players don't leave of their own free will, some will have their scholarship pulled. That's a nasty part of college football.

Yes, scholarship need to be re-renewed year to year.

BTW, most schools WANT their players to graduate. BUT, once a player has his degree and if he has another year of eligibility, some let the player go (as graduate eligible transfers).

Some would rather than a new 4-year frosh recruit than a graduate student who may or may not be in the 2-deeps.

(02-05-2016 10:54 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Rob Hull has a nice article in the Echo on Keels.

http://www.easternecho.com/article/2016/...igning-day

Keels is one of these guys like Bolden from LSU a few years back, or many, many other highly rated guys out of high school. All the hype, stars, supposed talent, etc., that just never live up to expectations. Total wildcard.

Could be an impact player, rotational guy, or a total bust. Wouldn't get too excited until some real reports start coming in from Spring ball, etc.

However it shakes out, if OC comes back healthy, there will be a lot more competition and depth on the DLine, and that group should be much improved.

Of the other guys mentioned in this article, MacLean could play inside, or outside in the new 4 man front, depending on his weight. If he comes back in the 270+ range he could be better inside. Crosby was the scout team defensive MVP, so he should at least provide good depth at DE, if OC & Harris end up as the starters. Dunlap is just too small, (still only listed at 6' - 258 lbs as a junior) so I'm not sure how he fits in any more. Figueroa should make a big step up in his second year, after being thrown into the fire as a true freshman. He showed flashes and made some plays, but also looked a little overwhelmed at times and took too many plays off. Finally, Nick Dillon could surprise, or fade into obscurity. He was arguably one of our better recruits last year, but got injured, and disappeared. Hopefully he comes back motivated, bigger, stronger, and ready to make an impact.

OC is obviously a big key, and Michael Smith Jr. will also immediately add a strong, big body to compete on the interior.

Competition and some legit talent across the DLine, great to have!

don't be surprised if we add 1 or 2 grad transfers on the DL before August smith Jr could use a yr to learn the position

(02-04-2016 06:41 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-04-2016 05:47 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Borrowing from Steve's excellent seperate thread to explain Browning et al in this class:

Meanwhile, blueshirts represent the newest loophole for FBS programs to accumulate depth while not affecting their annual numbers. Like grayshirt recruits, blueshirts are counted toward the next season’s scholarship total.

There is one distinct difference, however. Unlike grayshirts, a blueshirt is able to enroll and participate in team events in the fall. This allows programs to get the best of both worlds: FBS schools can delay a scholarship for the following year, allowing them to over-sign beyond the 25-scholarship limit, and get the use of a prospect immediately rather than waiting until the following spring.

The use of a blueshirt was first popularized by New Mexico State, which would support its numbers by enrolling prospects right after the beginning of the fall semester and then place them on scholarship. Tennessee has also embraced the use of blueshirts under coach Butch Jones.

To me, this stuff is like buying lottery tickets but saying I'll pay only if it is a winner, even one buck.

The big thing about these blueshirts, etc. is that they are not the prime prospects. Ditto with preferred walk-ons.

If they pan out, the school and recruit win.

If they don't pan out, the school doesn't lose (nothing ventured, nothing lost), but the recruit did. The kid may never be offered that scholarship if he appears to be a low potential player (once on campus). The recruit may have passed up a scholarship at a lesser program and now has to 'reorient' and get to another program and try to get the $.

I assume the big question is can mom and dad support the player for say two years while he tries to live his dream (make the 2-deeps at his preferred school)? If not, take the guaranteed money and run...

of the 5 blue shirts browning and MacLean were great adds jury out on the rest

(02-06-2016 11:48 AM)emu79 Wrote:  don't be surprised if we add 1 or 2 grad transfers on the DL before August smith Jr could use a yr to learn the position

Would rather see a stud DB transfer or 2 at this point. Plenty of DL now. DB's need serious immediate upgrade, and doubtful to get it from all of these true freshmen.

Yeah we may be looking at some grad transfers at DB.

(02-07-2016 05:33 PM)EagleTough Wrote:  

(02-06-2016 11:48 AM)emu79 Wrote:  don't be surprised if we add 1 or 2 grad transfers on the DL before August smith Jr could use a yr to learn the position

Would rather see a stud DB transfer or 2 at this point. Plenty of DL now. DB's need serious immediate upgrade, and doubtful to get it from all of these true freshmen.

I'm only seeing 12 or 13 scholie guys on the dl, one has a medical condition and isn't Div I size, Andrews got shifted to LB and Justice Williams needs a year in the weight room.

I think with the 5 frosh signees we are at 17-18 guys in the DB.

I see some pruning of the roster before next August especially for guys that haven't made the 2 deep. Again harsh but reality.

WMU is 5 over the 85 so look for more players to depart that program.

(02-09-2016 05:05 AM)emu79 Wrote:  WMU is 5 over the 85 so look for more players to depart that program.

I have NO idea what they are doing in that program, but do remember that redshirt seniors, who graduate, may not be offered a scholarship for their 5th season.

So it is possible that they may have a few redshirts who will graduate in spring who aren't important cogs in the team's plans. They might not be offered a scholarship for 2016.

(of course, if they are from P5 schools, we'd like some to end up in Ypsi as graduate eligible transfers.).

So there are a few ways to get the number of scholies down to 85 beside things like gray shirting or running players off the team. And, of course, it isn't suprising to see a few players leave each school for whatever reasons.