This is the first season I have ever attempted to keep up with recruiting throughout the whole cycle (from NSD to NSD), but I still find myself not knowing much about many of these prospects.
The player pages, master lists and new recruiting ticker are of great benefit, but the enormous and steady amount of information makes it difficult to not only catch up, but then to just keep up with it all.
I'll continue to read through those, but I'd really appreciate if someone could offer some additional insight / background into both those players included in Sab's excellent mock class listing, and possibly others who didn't make the list, but some felt should have.
Either working on Sab's list, or from any other similiar reputable source, here are some examples of information that I'd find helpful and would greatly appreciate:
1. Sab listed those players whom he thinks we'll sign - but how confident is he / are you / we in their actual signing come NSD? For example, the consensus seems to be that some players are "locks", others are "likely locks", unknown, doubtful, etc. Which category do most of you believe them to be in? I want to focus on those players who are most "in-play" so to speak - and not give a lot of time to those who are at opposite ends of the predictive spectrum of either being "locks" or "pipedreams".
I'll offer my input here, but others are free to join since I may be biased toward my list.
Of the committed players, the most likely to decommit is Risean Broussard to LSU. I think we have a 75% chance of holding on to him. Second would be Bruce Irvin to UGA, but I think we hold on to him as well. I'll address the rest in another post.
2. Who didn't make Sab's list that likely should have? Why?
I'll answer this in the vein of "could have." RB Michael Dyer (most possible big name RB), RB Keon Williams, (TN RB we have a good shot at if we want) WR Matt Milton, (Kiffin's type of receiver) JC QB Cameron Newton (rumored to be on the coaches "want" list but they want to see him in action this fall) DT Kelcy Quarles, (dad played for South Carolina, but he loves the Vols) DT Shariff Floyd, (could be the next and last tackle we take. Said to like the Vols) CB Terrence Mitchell, (Loves Monte. From Tampa) K/P Michael Palardy, (unofficialed here already. Has a scholly offer) and DT Richard Ash (probably the Pahokee prospect we have the best shot at.)
3. Who made the list that likely shouldn't have? Why?
I'll leave that for someone else.
4. Who are the best (i.e. 4-5 star) and biggest "reaches" who we're after right now, but we have a small chance of actually landing them?
James Hurst, Seantrel Henderson are the biggest reaches IMO. We have a better shot at Henderson but he is from Minnesota and likely to stay up North. You can throw in any of the top running backs, but I would say Michael Dyer is the one we are most likely to land. I think he's going to stay home and play for the Razorbacks.
5. Who is most likely to be the biggest pleasant surprise come NSD?
IMO DE Ego Ferguson.
6. Who is most likely to be the biggest dissappointment come NSD?
I would go with James Stone just because it would hurt to lose him to a team like Bama.
7. Which players are most likely to commit first, or who are suspected of already given a silent commit, if any?
Scroggins and Dion Bailey for the first part and ATH (listed as a S) Dietrich Riley for the last.
8. Who's most likely just stringing us along, but probably won't give us serious consideration in their final decision?
This could apply to about 50 prospects really. I don't know that anyone is necessarily "stringing us along," but there are many prospects that list us in their top 5 that will end up signing elsewhere. That's a hard one to answer really. If I had to pick a name, I'd go with Fre'Shad Hunter. I think he's NCSt-bound.
9. Who are the 3-5 "must-have" players who will set the tone (and likely, most of the ranking / success ) for the 2010 class?
For us it's Jesse Scroggins and James Stone. Those two's decisions will ultimately decide the direction of this class. We can afford to miss Stone, but we really cannot afford to miss Scroggins in relation to your question.
10. Who are the 3-5 players who could have the most immediate and greatest impact on the class (i.e. we would jump or fall several ranks with their signing with us or elsewhere)
I can only think of one really and that's Scroggins.
11. Who are the players we're essentially settling for because we couldn't get the one we wanted, or who might not be the perfect "fit" but are the best available this season?
I don't think you can answer that with anybody at this point. It's far too early and too many names are left on the board.
Again, I am keenly aware of the many resources available to those such as myself - and I have and will continue to use, enjoy and appreciate them all - but garnering this additional information from those kind souls who may be kind enough to take the time to provide it would also be most appreciated by myself, and likely others.
Thanks in advance, and again, great job on the list, Sab!
Thanks.:hi:
