(10-31-2017 10:32 AM)bearcatdp Wrote: (10-31-2017 10:08 AM)BearcatMan Wrote: (10-31-2017 09:46 AM)Racinejake Wrote: (10-31-2017 09:06 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: (10-31-2017 07:46 AM)djtothemoney Wrote: Winning breeds success. When Lukey turns the bus around, we'll have a stronger chance at some of the top local guys.
Meh- He's recruited as much in the 513 area code as BK and BJ did after winning seasons. I really think our ceiling with local recruits is no more than 10-12 guys in a given class and the 5 star Cincinnati recruit is probably unattainable given the close proximity of OSU, Notre Dame, Michigan and other very high resource schools. You also have to consider half the community grew up a fan of another school and a good number of the ones that did grow up as fans feel the need to go away for college.
I tend to agree with this. It's hard to find too many real 'misses' this year of local recruits by the staff. I don't think you can consider a guy like Jackson Carman a miss. Even Hawkins to an extent based on the level of offers he had nationally. Maybe we have guys like Xavier Peters or Chase Wolf or Meechi Harris that give us a stronger look with more on-field success. But we've certainly punched above our weight with this new staff relative to on-field performance this year and last.
I'm of the same mindset...and personally, I don't think that even two of those names are misses. I think we took the better player in Bryant vs. Wolf and as far as Peters is concerned we have so many young LBs that I'm just not sure where we would fit him.
Another thought on this - if we finish every year with a top 40ish recruiting class, our program will be in good shape. We currently sit at 43 (on 247). I like the local recruiting and, I think most agree, we'd like to see higher quality "in the trenches" recruits being signed, but a top 43 class is as good as UC has had even in the best years. From there it depends on development and coaching, both or which are still unknowns with this staff. The results of those will become apparent over the next two years. As for the 2018 class, I'm hoping there will be a positive surprise or two over the next three months.
Oh absolutely...we went to BCS bowls with classes in the 60's and 70's. If we can get 40's level talent and develop them at an even close to comparable rate from what Kelly did offensively and Dantonio did defensively, then we'll be well on our way.
Looking at this class, I think there are clearly two guys who will contribute from Day 1 (Vann and Whyle) and potentially another 3-6 depending on circumstances (Bryant, Van Fossen, Hicks, Ward, Bush, Martin).
With our QB play, Bryant could potentially come in and pull the job away.
Van Fossen's versatility makes him someone who I could see us putting in situationally.
Hicks is athletic as hell and we'll need help in the WR ranks after all of the graduations.
Ward and Bush will probably end up in the same boat that Marquis Smith as this year...they'll be depth and will get a chance, especially since we're not experience or necessarily all that deep at CB.
Martin has been arguably one of the best DLmen in Northern Ohio and was just names a finalist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer defensive player of the year. I've seen him play twice (against Iggy and Padua on prospective scouts for the team I work with, Whitmer, and the team my cousin coaches for Toledo Central Catholic) and the kid's an impact maker...he's going to be a steal IMO.
