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Archive for the tag “recruiting”

06 Feb 2013
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Signing Day!

Today is the day that teenagers–at least the slow-to-decide or overly-dramatic ones–decide which college football franchise they will be associated with  for the next 4-5 years.  There are lots of battles to watch today–will Clemson overcome Florida State in the recruiting rankings?  Can Louisville or Miami make a run at them?  Can the new coaching staffs at North Carolina State, Boston College, and Syracuse close strong?  Will Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Virginia keep themselves close to the upper echelon, despite disappointing seasons?  Is Notre Dame back?  How about the rest of tobacco road–will Duke, North Carolina, and Wake Forest show that they are not just places for hoops recruits?  And does anyone, anywhere really give a crap about Maryland?

Well, we know the answer to the last question–no!  Even the Big 10 shrugs with a “meh,” and refers to maps and markets.  But everything else is unanswered.  Tune in here and elsewhere for recruiting information on this huge day.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Recruiting and tagged , , , , , , , ,
05 Feb 2013

The Denver Kirkland saga (and why the recruiting game is so difficult)

Think back to when you were 17 or 18 years old.  Like me, I’m sure you had no clue where your life was headed.  Now, magnify the stakes.  High school football players are thinking years ahead and their chances of getting into the NFL.  Millions of dollars are potentially on the line.  Indecision sets in.  Every school you visit has solid coaches, tradition, and facilities.  Some offer immediate playing time.  Maybe your family roots for the home-town school, but you have your eyes set on a school hours away.  Making this decision is hard enough.

Apparently, four star Denver Kirkland was taking too long to decide.  On Thursday, rumors began spreading and confusion was rampant.  The move seems almost inconceivable.  You recruit a player for over a year.  He’s a 4-star offensive lineman, the teammate of a recruit you are coveting, and from one of the most powerful high school programs in a state rich with talent (Booker T. Washington High School).  But it happened.  On January 31st, Al Golden and the Miami Hurricanes pulled his scholarship because he wasn’t ready to commit.  Pundits and recruiting analysts were split.  Some couldn’t believe you’d pull an offer for a kid you just spent so much time recruiting.  Others side with the school, noting that you have only so many scholarships and you can’t run the risk of not filling your needs.  In this case, Miami is desperate for defensive lineman.  However, the repercussions and shock-waves set in quickly.  Kirkland’s coach, Ice Harris, took to twitter to blast the school.  He went on the radio the next day to criticize how Al Golden and UM handled the situation.  Miami may have just burnt a crucial bridge and recruiting pipeline.

The Denver Kirkland saga unfolding in Miami is a text-book example of the crazy, zany world of recruiting.  On various message boards, rumors (read: unsubstantiated and nothing publicly reported on) have spread that UM invited Denver Kirkland and his family on campus to talk things over.  If you believe the rumor, UM re-offered Denver Kirkland and the recruiting bridge has not been burned.  The Miami Herald reported on February 2nd that Kirkland said “thanks, but no thanks.”  We really won’t know for sure until Wednesday.  Was it a misunderstanding?  How did UM find a new scholarship for Kirkland after it didn’t exist on Thursday?  What could you possibly say to smooth things over?  One thing is obvious: whoever gets Kirkland is getting a talent.  I think he always wanted to be a Cane, but his trust may have been too damaged to reconcile.  I think he signs at 9:20 AM on Wednesday donning the Florida State hat.  The combination of Ira Denson and Denver Kirkland may just be the answer to the Seminoles woes at offensive line.  Chop em.


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Posted by Duke in ACC only, FSU Correspondent, Predictions, Rankings, Recruiting and tagged , , , , , , , ,
31 Jan 2013
8 Comments

Signing Day, One Week Away… Predictions

We’re getting so close to “the big day”. If you’re a true college football fan, you know exactly what I’m talking about. That’s right, the day your team signs its new recruiting class and fills team needs is approaching. Most of these high school signees, recruits, or soon to be local campus celebrities (whatever you want to call them) will represent your school on and off the football field for the next several years, so pay attention. As we head into next Wednesday, February 6th, also known to many as National Signing Day, we’ll peak at an early prediction to see how the current ACC’s top classes should stack up. Loads of blue-chip recruits are making final decisions next Wednesday. Let’s shake the magic eight ball and see what happens…

2013 ACC Recruiting Class Predictions:

1. Clemson (Currently 18 verbals, should make major noise on NSD. 3 of the top 5 recruiting battles left include the Tigers. Still in the running for blue chippers in DT Adams, DE Lawson, OT Crowder, and CB Alexander. Dabo has aces in the hole as usual; I’m calling it a top 10 class when the smoke clears. The Tigers like it near the top, may stay for a while with this class.)

2. Florida State (Currently 18 verbals, with stellar recruits on the line. While the Noles had a few recruits part ways over the last few days, they should easily make up ground with blue chip OLB Thomas, WR Cunningham, and possibly DT Bryant among others. Jimbo will make it happen once again, bank on a top 10 class.)

3. Miami (Currently 13 verbals, also in the running with many studs. While the class is currently small, they pack a nasty punch. Still in it until the end for OLB Thomas, DT Bryant, RB Collins, and WR Coley all from the South FL football hotbed. Despite rough times with the NCAA, they’re making it happen. We’ll call it a U top 20-15 class)

4. North Carolina (Currently 18 verbals, looking to throw more on the pile. While most of their guys are already locked in, the biggest battle will be against Tennessee for WR North. North stays close to home, and UNC lands the big fish. They also have a shot at TE McNeil and ATH Summers to name a few. We’ll see Tarheel blue in the top 25 next Wed.)

5. Virginia Tech (Currently 22 verbals, already almost close to a full signing class before the fax flood gates open up. All of the current commits are 3 and 4 stars. Still heavy favorites for ATH Parker and possibly DE Bellamy. The Hokies will be on the cusp of reeling in a top 25 class).

Best of the rest:

6. Pitt
7. UVA
8. NC State
9. Syracuse
10. GT
11. Wake
12. Maryland
13. BC
14. Duke

If your personal rankings stack up a little different, leave a comment below and tell us why.

Posted by JBCoop in ACC only, Clemson correspondent, Conference News, Football, Opinion, Predictions, Rankings and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
30 Mar 2012

Tar Heels to Lose 4 or 5 Players to NBA

In an announcement that was equal parts expected and dreaded, North Carolina has announced that at least three of its players are going to make themselves eligible for the NBA Draft.  Sophomore Harrison Barnes, junior John Henson and sophomore Kendall Marshall are all entering the NBA draft.  In addition, senior center Tyler Zeller has also played his final game for the Tar Heels.  As if that were not enough, reserve freshman forward James Michael McAdoo is also considering his options.  As such, the Tar Heels will be losing 4 or 5 players to the NBA.

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams provided a very classy statement:

It’s a great day for three youngsters who are taking another step toward their ultimate goal of playing professional basketball.  On a very small stage, it’s a sad day for me because I won’t get to coach them again. All Tar Heel fans will miss them greatly, as well. I really look forward to watching Harrison, John and Kendall play in the NBA.  I know they will be very successful. They have been and will always be great Tar Heels.

Do not weap for the Tar Heels, however, as they have the fifth rated incoming class.  According to ESPN, North Carolina has the top rated point guard prospect in Marcus Paige, the eighth rated power forward in Brice Johnson, the the 21st-rated small forward in J.P. Tokoto, and the 17th-rated center in Joel James.  So it is just a matter of reloading for the Tar Heels.

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball and tagged , , , , ,
01 Feb 2012
1 Comment

Signing Day Update

According to MaxPreps, the ACC had five teams pull in top-25 recruiting classes.  Most of the school names on the list are the ones that you would expect–Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, and Michigan.  And it is no different with the ACC teams that made the list–especially the top 4 of Florida State, Miami, Clemson, and Virginia Tech.  Impressively, Virginia cracked the list as well.

Florida State edged out Miami to have the 6th best overall class and the best class in the ACC.  Both schools were probably disappointed to see Florida take the 5 spot ahead of both of them.  For Florida State, it is yet another great class to build on its young foundation and bright future.  But, at #7, Miami showed that the off-field issues are not going to stop the talent from flowing in.

At #11, Clemson took advantage of its nice season.  Again, however, the Tigers finished behind in-state rival South Carolina in these rankings. Even the disappointing (and then some) Orange Bowl performance did not prevent the class from being outstanding.

Virginia Tech landed in at #16, which is pretty much what the Hokies are expected to do most years.  Perhaps more surprising is that in-state rival, Virginia, cracked the top 25.  After a great rebound season under new coach Mike London, the Cavaliers look to challenge Virginia Tech each season.

Obviously, these rankings do not mean much in the big picture.  Texas, Ohio State, and Notre Dame have all had issues in recent years converting top 5 recruiting classes into top 5 seasons.  But it’s all fans have to go by right now.

So congratulations to these five schools and their new recruits.  And congrats to all the future ACC players that signed letters of intent today.

 

 

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Football and tagged , , , , , , ,

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