Recruits committing on NSD

[cdriftt24]

I'm a little worried that we are in on some big names and they will be announcing on Signing Day.... I hope this doesn't come back to bite us again like Fitzpatrick did last year. I think this staff is smart enough that they learned from that. Joseph Lewis, Greg Johnson, Robinson (TE), and I believe others, are all announcing on signing day and we are in on them. I would love to have any or all of them, but hope we don't get blanked again on the big names late. Your thoughts?

 

[PeliniTheCrutch]

As long as they visited and Nebraska finishes in their top 3 and/or had a hat on the table, I'll be happy. Those are really the things that matter most.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Who knows what will happen or what backup plans the coaches have? Seriously. This is going to be very interesting down the stretch

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

As long as they visited and Nebraska finishes in their top 3 and/or had a hat on the table, I'll be happy. Those are really the things that matter most.

Yeah, did you want our hat on the table on the last day, with Eastern Michigan instead?

 

[jflores]

Tom Loy with CB picks of Greg Johnson and Jody Lewis to NU. Nice reversal of trend.

 

[headcard]

Tom Loy with CB picks of Greg Johnson and Jody Lewis to NU. Nice reversal of trend.

Wow, can't like that enough. I hope he knows something.

 

[meo1960]

Recruiting has got to be the worst, from a coaching standpoint. How do you even put together a class when you have kids hold out until the end, and flipping at the last moment.

If a coach were unethical, (like Ohio States or Michigans, where they have an abundance of riches), he could have 3-5 of his guys commit to a rival school and change on signing day. That would be one way of weakening your opponent.

 

[TruHusker]

Recruiting has got to be the worst, from a coaching standpoint. How do you even put together a class when you have kids hold out until the end, and flipping at the last moment.

If a coach were unethical, (like Ohio States or Michigans, where they have an abundance of riches), he could have 3-5 of his guys commit to a rival school and change on signing day. That would be one way of weakening your opponent.

Like no one would ever see the trend. How long do you think coaches would last once that word got out and it would.

 

[chicolby]

I'm admittedly not a recruiting expert, but I have to think the players let the coaches know before the hat reveal in most cases. Certainly in some cases, it is a surprise to all, but I would hope players would respect the guys who have gotten to know them and traveled to see them, spent hours writing handwritten letters to, etc. before the hat moment. If not, the guys who don't let the coaches in on it are just D-Bags.

 

[dinglefritz]

Recruiting has got to be the worst, from a coaching standpoint. How do you even put together a class when you have kids hold out until the end, and flipping at the last moment.

If a coach were unethical, (like Ohio States or Michigans, where they have an abundance of riches), he could have 3-5 of his guys commit to a rival school and change on signing day. That would be one way of weakening your opponent.

OU and Stoops did that to Callahan. Trying to remember the linebacker but he was a stud. What you do is you make sure you cover some must have depth needs and roll the dice on some difference makers. We have a QB and some quality WRs. Early enrollees are a HUGE advantage because that not only gets them there for spring ball but insures some of those needs are met. We've settled for guys for too darned long and it's time to keep our hat in the ring for guys that can take us to the next level. IF need be we have options. The difference is that we were settling for guys with 2 months to go under Pelini.

 

[8675309husker]

Phillip Dillards brother?? He didnt pan out for OU

 

[dinglefritz]

Phillip Dillards brother?? He didnt pan out for OU

No not him but I think he kind of did that too. White guy. Think he got in some trouble his junior year or something but was a multi year starter for them maybe even as a freshman. He yucked it up about how he had used Callahan. Travis Lewis maybe.

 

[HuskerO]

OU and Stoops did that to Callahan. Trying to remember the linebacker but he was a stud.

Phillip Dillards brother?? He didnt pan out for OU

I believe dinglefritz is talking about Travis Lewis (who is not Dillard's brother) and he had a really good career at OU. Not sure he did much in the NFL. I don't know why Lewis did what he did, but from what I understand he knew the entire time he was going to flip to OU. If true, total dick move.

I think Phillip Dillard's brother was Reggie Smith and I don't think he was ever committed to Nebraska. I think it came down to OU and Nebraska on the last few days though...

 

[dinglefritz]

I believe dinglefritz is talking about Travis Lewis (who is not Dillard's brother) and he had a really good career at OU. Not sure he did much in the NFL. I don't know why Lewis did what he did, but from what I understand he knew the entire time he was going to flip to OU. If true, total dick move.

I think Phillip Dillard's brother was Reggie Smith and I don't think he was ever committed to Nebraska. I think it came down to OU and Nebraska on the last few days though...

5.8 4star and he flipped on 2/7/2007 I think during a quiet/dead period. Basically prevented us from signing another quality backer that we desperately needed. He was a captain his junior and senior years for OU. Just looked it up.

 

[oldjar07]

Why don't we just recruit more than we need and drop them if we find someone better or just don't want them? A recruit can decommit at any time. I don't see why coaches can't drop a recruit if something changes.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

Why don't we just recruit more than we need and drop them if we find someone better or just don't want them? A recruit can decommit at any time. I don't see why coaches can't drop a recruit if something changes.

Because relationships are the lifeblood of recruiting. At a school that isn't in the middle of a recruiting hot bed, you cannot afford to make dick moves. High school coaches talk, players talk, 7 on 7 coaches talk, if you get a rep for doing guys dirty like that, tough to get back in good graces.

As was said earlier, coaches know where these kids are going in advance of the announcement. Watch activity of the schools that will have their hats on the table. A late commitment by a player we thought was passed on or who had removed a school from consideration is a sign. Sometimes with a guy like Foster Serell, you just leave a spot open, especially if your senior class to be is small. If he takes it, awesome. If he doesn't than you just fill it for a year with a walk on or maybe a grad transfer. Then use it again next year.

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

Why don't we just recruit more than we need and drop them if we find someone better or just don't want them? A recruit can decommit at any time. I don't see why coaches can't drop a recruit if something changes.

Because you gotta act like an insecure significant other that just waits til the other person is "ready", all the while, she's getting taken out back by the varsity team saying she's "gotta focus on herself."

Wait, what was I saying?

 

[spinner4]

I believe dinglefritz is talking about Travis Lewis (who is not Dillard's brother) and he had a really good career at OU. Not sure he did much in the NFL. I don't know why Lewis did what he did, but from what I understand he knew the entire time he was going to flip to OU. If true, total dick move.

I think Phillip Dillard's brother was Reggie Smith and I don't think he was ever committed to Nebraska. I think it came down to OU and Nebraska on the last few days though...

Dillard's brother was Gabe Lynn. Reggie Smith was a top safety recruit in 2005 that was rumored to be a silent commit all year for us.

As for Travis Lewis, he still claims there was no intent to sabotage the class. Supposedly he didn't like the cold and just did not want to play in the cold. Now here's karma for you - Lewis was drafted by the Lions. He was on and off the active roster for 4 years. Received 4 starts (his only starts) last year when the team was thin @ LB. Only recorded 1 career sack in the NFL. Cut in 2016 by the Lions, played on the practice squad for the Vikes in 2016. Never made an active roster in 2016 (or so I believe).

Now back to the Karma - had Lewis learned to play in the cold, he may have had a better NFL career. Can't play in the NFC north and dislike the cold even if you play in Detroit in a dome. Solider Field is cold. Lambeau field is cold. Before this year, the Vikes were playing outside.

So when some recruiters think of playing in the cold as a barrier to entry, think again. It could be used as an asset. Just look at arguably the top 10 RBs in the NFL. (early 2017 projections / 2016 stand out players)

1. David Johnson - Played for N. Iowa & is from Iowa. (played lots of football in the cold)
2. Le'Veon Bell - From Ohio, played football @ Michigan State. Still plays in the cold for the Steelers
3. Zeke Elliott - From Midwest (STL area) played for Buckeyes... So yes- experienced in the cold
4. Jordan Howard - From Alabama but learned to play in the cold in Bloomington. Plays in Solider Field. Can't afford to be afraid of the cold.
5. Jay Ajayi - Played at Boise. Lived part of his life in London & Maryland.
6. Melvin Gordon - From Wisconsin played @ Wisconsin
7. LeSean McCoy - From Pennsylvania. Played College Ball @ Pitt. Still kills it in the cold
8. DeMarco Murray - From NV. Struggled in Philly last year (only real year to play for a cold weather team)
9. Devonta Freeman - From GA. Always played in the South .
10. Carlos Hyde - From OH. Played for the Buckeyes. (lots of cold weather play)

So out of the top 10 potential RBs in the league only 2 have yet to prove they can play in the cold. Out of all those stud RBs Bama has had in the last 10 years, none of them are great in the NFL. Best has been Ingram and guess where he's from? Up north where its cold. Same with all those highly recruited RBs that USC landed that were from CA or the South? Does USC even have a RB in the NFL? Maybe this is all a coincidence but the numbers don't lie IMO. And you can do this with other positions too. QB - Brady (MI), Brees (IN), Ryan (MA), Roethlisberger (OH), Wilson (WI), Andrew Luck lived every where, & Aaron Rodgers lived part of his life in Oregon (so some exposure to cold).

Again, this may all be a coincidence but if I am a HS kid and all I've known is southern football and I have dreams of playing in the NFL and actually doing something, I may want to look into playing up North. Football is played a little differently in the cold and if you aren't use to it, you will be left behind. So when guys like Travis Lewis "are too cold to watch the 2nd half of a football game in the snow in Lincoln NE, that's probably a good sign that he's not strong enough to play in the playoffs at Lambeau field in January.

 

[HuskerO]

Dillard's brother was Gabe Lynn. Reggie Smith was a top safety recruit in 2005 that was rumored to be a silent commit all year for us.

That is correct. I just knew it was a highly rated DB that was interested in us up to the end. Thank you for clarifying.

As for Travis Lewis, he still claims there was no intent to sabotage the class.

He may be telling the truth. I personally have my doubts.

 

[oldjar07]

Because you gotta act like an insecure significant other that just waits til the other person is "ready", all the while, she's getting taken out back by the varsity team saying she's "gotta focus on herself."

Wait, what was I saying?

Exactly, the status quo gives recruits way too much power in the process. Recruits can decide whenever they want and can change their mind at any time. At the same time, coaches are supposed to accept their commitment at the time the recruit wants and aren't supposed to renege on a suboptimal committed recruit. Coaches are basically bending over backwards to get 17 year old kids to commit. Maybe I'm an idealist, but it should be the opposite.

 

[WHCSC]

Exactly, the status quo gives recruits way too much power in the process. Recruits can decide whenever they want and can change their mind at any time. At the same time, coaches are supposed to accept their commitment at the time the recruit wants and aren't supposed to renege on a suboptimal committed recruit. Coaches are basically bending over backwards to get 17 year old kids to commit. Maybe I'm an idealist, but it should be the opposite.

I think this is where Alabama is. If you want to have the privilege of basically picking your recruits, start winning it all every year.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

Exactly, the status quo gives recruits way too much power in the process. Recruits can decide whenever they want and can change their mind at any time. At the same time, coaches are supposed to accept their commitment at the time the recruit wants and aren't supposed to renege on a suboptimal committed recruit. Coaches are basically bending over backwards to get 17 year old kids to commit. Maybe I'm an idealist, but it should be the opposite.

And when the football player needs you more than you need them, you have that power. When your an average squad in middle America, no such luck.

 

[oldjar07]

Because relationships are the lifeblood of recruiting. At a school that isn't in the middle of a recruiting hot bed, you cannot afford to make dick moves. High school coaches talk, players talk, 7 on 7 coaches talk, if you get a rep for doing guys dirty like that, tough to get back in good graces.

As was said earlier, coaches know where these kids are going in advance of the announcement. Watch activity of the schools that will have their hats on the table. A late commitment by a player we thought was passed on or who had removed a school from consideration is a sign. Sometimes with a guy like Foster Serell, you just leave a spot open, especially if your senior class to be is small. If he takes it, awesome . If he doesn't than you just fill it for a year with a walk on or maybe a grad transfer. Then use it again next year.

That's probably true. There's definitely some risk to doing that and you could turn some recruits off that way. But for most recruits, I don't think it would effect their decision at all. I think the immediate reward of replacing a so-so recruit with a better recruit is greater than the potential risk of missing out on a guy a few years down the road who probably had a low chance on committing to us anyway.

I've heard Jim Harbaugh has done this. I'm not entirely sure if it's true or not, but his recruiting class is looking really good. And I think even he could be more aggressive with it.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

That's probably true. There's definitely some risk to doing that and you could turn some recruits off that way. But for most recruits, I don't think it would effect their decision at all. I think the immediate reward of replacing a so-so recruit with a better recruit is greater than the potential risk of missing out on a guy a few years down the road who probably had a low chance on committing to us anyway.

I've heard Jim Harbaugh has done this. I'm not entirely sure if it's true or not, but his recruiting class is looking really good. And I think even he could be more aggressive with it.

Recruits that can wait until signing day to announce are most likely the top recruit. They have the leverage. If you want them in your program, you hold a spot and wait. If you don't want them, or don't think there is a chance, you go down your list. The schools don't have to wait.

simple risk/ reward, supply and demand and pricing all rolled up together. Fewer high rated recruits, cost is high. More average recruits cost is lower. If a player has 20 schools who have him at the top of their board, he gets to call the shots. If a player is plan B, he can either go to another school or wait to see if Plan A goes elsewhere. If a school wants to wait for plan A with 20 suitors to decide, they risk losing plan B.

 

[oldjar07]

Recruits that can wait until signing day to announce are most likely the top recruit. They have the leverage. If you want them in your program, you hold a spot and wait. If you don't want them, or don't think there is a chance, you go down your list. The schools don't have to wait.

simple risk/ reward, supply and demand and pricing all rolled up together. Fewer high rated recruits, cost is high. More average recruits cost is lower. If a player has 20 schools who have him at the top of their board, he gets to call the shots. If a player is plan B, he can either go to another school or wait to see if Plan A goes elsewhere. If a school wants to wait for plan A with 20 suitors to decide, they risk losing plan B.

Recruits that can wait until signing day to announce are most likely the top recruit. They have the leverage. If you want them in your program, you hold a spot and wait. If you don't want them, or don't think there is a chance, you go down your list. The schools don't have to wait.

simple risk/ reward, supply and demand and pricing all rolled up together. Fewer high rated recruits, cost is high. More average recruits cost is lower. If a player has 20 schools who have him at the top of their board, he gets to call the shots. If a player is plan B, he can either go to another school or wait to see if Plan A goes elsewhere. If a school wants to wait for plan A with 20 suitors to decide, they risk losing plan B.

Ok, what I'm saying is why can't you take plan B and continue to go after plan A. If plan A decides to commit, you drop B. Why take the risk of holding a spot and potentially miss out on both A and B and then you have to go after C?

 

[jflores]

Ok, what I'm saying is why can't you take plan B and continue to go after plan A. If plan A decides to commit, you drop B. Why take the risk of holding a spot and potentially miss out on both A and B and then you have to go after C?

Because HS coaches and football circles realize you are a dick and stop sending you plan A, B, or C's.

Someone will inevitably say "but yah Saban". That's the glory of being Saban, there's one or two coaches like that, and the rest have to live by different rules. When your school can coax a Saban around, your school gets these perks.

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

Ok, what I'm saying is why can't you take plan B and continue to go after plan A. If plan A decides to commit, you drop B. Why take the risk of holding a spot and potentially miss out on both A and B and then you have to go after C?

In theory you're right, but it would kill a team to do it because recruiting is mostly a one way street.