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Post by BearDownMU on Oct 21, 2014 14:25:20 GMT -5
Here is a list of recruits that have committed, as reported by SoConRecuiting.com
RB Donte Maxson (5-11 200 4.4) Largo, FL
WR Marquise Irvin (6-4 200 4.55) Gurley, AL
TE Chase Westfall (6-4 225) Dalton, GA
OG Mitch Mathes (6-3 284) Lagrange, GA
DE Destin Guillen (6-6 250 4.8) Berea, SC
LB Will Coneway (6-0 207 4.6) Atlanta, GA
CB Eric Jackson (5-8 170 4.5) Powder Springs, GA
Do any of you know any of these guys from HS competition?
Obviously, we still have full classes to fill out, and everything is a point of emphasis, but it seems like we are doing well on the recruiting side. It's hard to tell because I don't really know the cadence of FCS recruiting. Obviously it's different than FBS. But on the SoConRecruiting site, the only SoCon team with more commits is Furman. Anyone know what a normal class size should be?
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Post by BearPunz4Dayz on Oct 21, 2014 14:43:24 GMT -5
I think we recently got a commitment from Blake Jones. DT/DE 6'1" 265 Hamilton, Georgia.
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Post by FUBeAR on Oct 21, 2014 15:27:57 GMT -5
Class size can be as big as a typical FBS program or as small as the low teens in numbers, depending the number of scholarships available (graduates, departures, 5th year guys that decide not to come back, injuries, etc.). Other than having 22 fewer schollies (if I did my math right), the biggest difference in FBS and FCS is that the schollies can be 'split' and can be combined with academic (Mercer Money) and other aid (Hope Scholarships, etc.). This makes it a 'game' with many more variables than an FBS program...and we all know how difficult it is for those guys to count noses...apparently. So...the partials and the fulls all get lumped in (sometimes) and you can see FCS programs 'sign' 40+ guys on Signing Day. My advice in following FCS Recruiting is don't worry about tracking the number of signees. Just look at the individual kids (full game vids are BEST, but highlights will do), consider their competition in HS (it does matter, particularly in terms of them playing early...not as much later on) and think of where your team's needs lie...in the next 2 years....projecting out farther than that will drive you crazy.
To take it to Mercer's situation, it's even more crazy because of the start-up, 100+ kids in Yr 1, 50 or so in yr 2, some of those getting schollies in 2014, transfers, 20 2014 FR signees, very few departures of players that are seeing the field, etc. From what I've heard from MOST of the parents I've spoken to, the Mercer Coaches are being honest when they are recruiting kids - "You will have an opportunity to play early" as opposed to "You'll start immediately!" 2 VERY DIFFERENT THINGS, but we all know kids and parents and spouses, and bosses....well, just people really...often hear what they want to hear. Sometimes that's great because kids do come in and start and they think, "Wow, those Coaches are great. They made a commitment to me that I was going to start and they've lived up to it."...and then sometimes they don't come in and start and they HEARD (as opposed to WERE TOLD) that they were going to start and they might feel they were misled. All of that said, no one can know what every coach (from Mercer or elsewhere) is telling kids and families...so please don't 'argue' with me...I've conducted my own very unscientific poll and I think our guys are doing the right thing on the Recruiting Trail.
As far as the guys you listed - my Hornets have not faced any of them, but I saw Mathes at camp this summer and watched his highlight vid - in a good program and very athletic. I like him. Much like Thomas Marchman this year, but I think Mathes 'body' may be even more college-ready than Marchman's was (not to take anything away from Marchman - he's amazing and will be 1st Team All-SoCon before he's done - mark my words). Have watched Coneway's vid and he, too, comes from a great program...and will LIGHT YOU UP. Needs some polish, but can play - I would compare him to Lee Bennett in this year's class. Haven't seen Jackson's vid, but I have talked to some of the folks at the 'Grove about him and he's extremely well thought of there. I did look at the Guillen kid's vid...he's raw and has not played against the best comp, but with his frame, athleticism, and aggressiveness, he's got a HUGE upside! That's all I got
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Post by BearDownMU on Oct 21, 2014 15:36:44 GMT -5
Also, Mathes had a Furman offer and Maxon had a Furman and Wofford offer, but both committed to Mercer. Like that. I'm sure as times goes on, we will see a lot of competing for the same guys.
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Post by BearDownMU on Oct 21, 2014 15:38:39 GMT -5
Also, Blake Jones had a 3.6 and made a 1410 on his SAT according to his Hudl. Strong.
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Post by BearDownMU on Oct 21, 2014 15:50:06 GMT -5
Just watched some of Donte Maxson's tape. He plays in 7A (one down from the largest in FL, schools 1800-2200 students) and he video games some folks. I didn't know their classification when I looked at the video and thought he might be playing on the lower end because he was smoking people. But he's from a bigger school. Guess that 4.4 is right or close, 'cause he's moving at a different speed in his highlight reel.
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Post by jackal on Oct 21, 2014 22:01:10 GMT -5
Also, Mathes had a Furman offer and Maxon had a Furman and Wofford offer, but both committed to Mercer. Like that. I'm sure as times goes on, we will see a lot of competing for the same guys. I imagine so. I would expect Furman, Wofford, and Mercer to compete heavily for recruits. Lamb also formerly recruited Alabama well, so I imagine Mercer will lock up with Samford a good bit too. You will also see a lot of recruiting against the service academies. Interestingly, I think the kid from South Carolina might be Mercer's first Palmetto State product. I was extremely surprised to see that Mercer had zero players from South Carolina on this year's roster. |
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Post by BearDownMU on Oct 21, 2014 22:57:56 GMT -5
You know what Jackal, I hadn't even noticed that. But you're right. No SC guys. Does seem a bit strange. Obviously they spent the vast majority of their time in GA. lol.
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Post by jackal on Oct 22, 2014 7:06:28 GMT -5
You know what Jackal, I hadn't even noticed that. But you're right. No SC guys. Does seem a bit strange. Obviously they spent the vast majority of their time in GA. lol. It was surprising to me considering Bobby Lamb was a player/coach/head coach in Greenville, South Carolina for close to 30 years. You would have thought there would have been at least one. Oddly enough, your SC recruit is from Berea, which is about a stone's throw from Furman's campus. For many Furman students of a certain generation, Berea is where the Walmart was located. That was before they built the nicer (is there such a thing?) Walmart in Traveler's Rest.  |
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Post by BearDownMU on Oct 22, 2014 9:49:15 GMT -5
Maybe it was a bit by design? Let GA kids know he's committed to GA players? Totally guessing. But you would think there would have at least been a couple.
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Post by bear38 on Oct 22, 2014 10:23:11 GMT -5
You know what Jackal, I hadn't even noticed that. But you're right. No SC guys. Does seem a bit strange. Obviously they spent the vast majority of their time in GA. lol. Although Mercer has been successful in recruiting in Tennessee partially (maybe mainly?) due to Coach Lamb's connections in the area, but also due to the fact that there are no Private FCS schools in Tennessee like Mercer, Samford, Furman and Wofford. |
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Post by jackal on Oct 22, 2014 12:00:38 GMT -5
Maybe it was a bit by design? Let GA kids know he's committed to GA players? Totally guessing. But you would think there would have at least been a couple. Lamb (and to a larger degree, Furman) has always been committed to Georgia. Lamb is from Georgia, his brother is a successful high school coach in Georgia, and I believe his father was even involved with UGA's football program in some capacity. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say Lamb's rosters at Furman were perhaps 1/2 to 2/3 full of Georgia players. In their business, I imagine D1 college coaches are committed to the best players they can get wherever they may be found. Furman fans have often griped about the Paladins sometimes inability to go after in state players, but I think it is always a numbers game. South Carolina has half the population of Georgia and 9 D1 football schools. There is just more availability in Georgia. |
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Post by BearDownMU on Oct 22, 2014 12:06:11 GMT -5
Maybe it was a bit by design? Let GA kids know he's committed to GA players? Totally guessing. But you would think there would have at least been a couple. Lamb (and to a larger degree, Furman) has always been committed to Georgia. Lamb is from Georgia, his brother is a successful high school coach in Georgia, and I believe his father was even involved with UGA's football program in some capacity. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say Lamb's rosters at Furman were perhaps 1/2 to 2/3 full of Georgia players. In their business, I imagine D1 college coaches are committed to the best players they can get wherever they may be found. Furman fans have often griped about the Paladins sometimes inability to go after in state players, but I think it is always a numbers game. South Carolina has half the population of Georgia and 9 D1 football schools. There is just more availability in Georgia. In an odd, Kevin Bacon-esque side note, Hal Lamb, Bobby's brother and the head coach at Calhoun High School, was our QB coach in high school. Really not that important other than the fact that I just found out they were related prior to this year. I'm slow, apparently. lol |
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Post by FUBeAR on Oct 22, 2014 12:48:33 GMT -5
Maybe it was a bit by design? Let GA kids know he's committed to GA players? Totally guessing. But you would think there would have at least been a couple. Lamb (and to a larger degree, Furman) has always been committed to Georgia. Lamb is from Georgia, his brother is a successful high school coach in Georgia, and I believe his father was even involved with UGA's football program in some capacity. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say Lamb's rosters at Furman were perhaps 1/2 to 2/3 full of Georgia players. In their business, I imagine D1 college coaches are committed to the best players they can get wherever they may be found. Furman fans have often griped about the Paladins sometimes inability to go after in state players, but I think it is always a numbers game. South Carolina has half the population of Georgia and 9 D1 football schools. There is just more availability in Georgia. Coach Lamb's father was a very successful HS Coach in GA for 32 years. He coached at Warren County HS for several years and then moved to Commerce HS for 22 years. I believe he won multiple GA State Championships there. His lifetime record was 249-103-11 / .701. He then joined the football staff at the University of Georgia as Coordinator of High School Relations for 18 years. So....um, yeah, Coach Lamb and the whole "Lamb-ily" are pretty well connected in GA HS Football. |
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