A Few Signing Day Thoughts
posted by Scott Hood, Tuesday, February 03, 2009
So, I do believe I pass the snicker test when it comes to evaluating recruiting classes on a basic and elementary level.
However, one thing I will never claim is recruiting doesn’t matter. Because it does. While it’s true that you don’t need a roster full of four and five star recruits to win championships, it certainly helps. It’s no coincidence that great players make great coaches.
After saying that, it’s my opinion that considering everything that has gone on with the USC football program – everything from the way the season ended with three straight losses to the dizzying turnover of the coaching staff – this year’s recruiting class is pretty darned good.
In fact, I would say it's fairly remarkable.
Now, did USC get everybody they wanted? No. Having Michigan sneak into the Palmetto State and steal four-star OL prospect Quinton Washington from under USC’s noses is extremely disappointing.
In addition, failing to make Sam Montgomery’s final three schools is a major letdown as well. If Alshon Jeffery doesn’t sign with USC, that development would leave an empty feeling of unfulfillment towards the final three players on USC's board.
However, as the recruiting pundits often remind us, you can only get a maximum of 25 players into school every year, so you can’t sign everybody.
Of course, the recruiting gods have also smiled on USC as well in the final days before Signing Day. Four-star DE Leon Mackey literally fell into their laps last weekend when Virginia Tech played hardball and refused to let him out of his LOI unless he signed with a school outside the ACC.
Clemson thought they had a commitment from Mackey. Oops.
Moreover, DeVonte Holloman switched from Clemson to USC when Tommy Bowden was fired as the Tigers’ head coach midway through the season. If Holloman had stuck with his Clemson commitment would Stephon Gilmore have ended up a Tiger? You hope not, but never know what 17 and 18-year old boys are thinking about.
Simply, in the ruthless and often merciless and mysterious game of recruiting, you win some and you lose some. No one ever bats 100 percent. Especially in this internet-driven age when major prospects are easily swayed by promises of grandeur.
In my opinion, USC did very well at a number of positions, including running back, defensive end and the secondary.
Jarvis Giles appears to be a star in the making, while Ben Axon could be underrated. I listened to Jamie Newberg talk about both RB’s in glowing terms on the radio Tuesday afternoon and he certainly knows a lot more about recruiting than I do. He’s also watched a lot more tape than I have too.
In short, I’ll afford his opinion a lot of weight.
I’m sure a lot of fans are like me and have questions about the quarterback position. Without question, Chris Smelley’s decision to transfer caught the staff by surprise. So, they had to start recruiting a quarterback extremely late in the process.
I don’t know much about Andrew Clifford, so I can’t comment on his abilities. His list of offers isn’t particularly impressive, but I’ll give him the benefit of a doubt until I’m able to see him take a few snaps in pre-season practice in the fall.
USC did particularly well on the defensive side of the football during this latest recruiting cycle.
With the No. 1 defensive end class in the country, defensive line coach Brad Lawing should have plenty of tools to work with after this recent crop arrives on campus in the fall. I count 14 scholarship defensive linemen for 2009, which is plenty.
They filled a major need at linebacker with the two JUCO signees and expect to sign a whole bunch of defensive backs. Overall, I like the direction of the USC defense in terms of talent.
One position I am concerned about long-term is the offensive line. Sure, USC will have plenty of players this season and possibly the next. But, there is one nagging reality lurking out there: 10 of USC’s 16 scholarship O-lineman in 2009 are juniors or seniors.
New offensive line coach Eric Wolford will face serious depth issues in a couple of years unless USC signs a horde of offensive linemen next year. A few, I’m sure, will be junior college guys.
And the recruiting merry-go-round goes on and on.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Okay, here’s the deal. I don’t profess to be a recruiting expert. I leave that stuff to Tony Morrell and others. But I do follow it, sometimes casually and sometimes more attentively.
So, I do believe I pass the snicker test when it comes to evaluating recruiting classes on a basic and elementary level.
However, one thing I will never claim is recruiting doesn’t matter. Because it does. While it’s true that you don’t need a roster full of four and five star recruits to win championships, it certainly helps. It’s no coincidence that great players make great coaches.
After saying that, it’s my opinion that considering everything that has gone on with the USC football program – everything from the way the season ended with three straight losses to the dizzying turnover of the coaching staff – this year’s recruiting class is pretty darned good.
In fact, I would say it's fairly remarkable.
Now, did USC get everybody they wanted? No. Having Michigan sneak into the Palmetto State and steal four-star OL prospect Quinton Washington from under USC’s noses is extremely disappointing.
In addition, failing to make Sam Montgomery’s final three schools is a major letdown as well. If Alshon Jeffery doesn’t sign with USC, that development would leave an empty feeling of unfulfillment towards the final three players on USC's board.
However, as the recruiting pundits often remind us, you can only get a maximum of 25 players into school every year, so you can’t sign everybody.
Of course, the recruiting gods have also smiled on USC as well in the final days before Signing Day. Four-star DE Leon Mackey literally fell into their laps last weekend when Virginia Tech played hardball and refused to let him out of his LOI unless he signed with a school outside the ACC.
Clemson thought they had a commitment from Mackey. Oops.
Moreover, DeVonte Holloman switched from Clemson to USC when Tommy Bowden was fired as the Tigers’ head coach midway through the season. If Holloman had stuck with his Clemson commitment would Stephon Gilmore have ended up a Tiger? You hope not, but never know what 17 and 18-year old boys are thinking about.
Simply, in the ruthless and often merciless and mysterious game of recruiting, you win some and you lose some. No one ever bats 100 percent. Especially in this internet-driven age when major prospects are easily swayed by promises of grandeur.
In my opinion, USC did very well at a number of positions, including running back, defensive end and the secondary.
Jarvis Giles appears to be a star in the making, while Ben Axon could be underrated. I listened to Jamie Newberg talk about both RB’s in glowing terms on the radio Tuesday afternoon and he certainly knows a lot more about recruiting than I do. He’s also watched a lot more tape than I have too.
In short, I’ll afford his opinion a lot of weight.
I’m sure a lot of fans are like me and have questions about the quarterback position. Without question, Chris Smelley’s decision to transfer caught the staff by surprise. So, they had to start recruiting a quarterback extremely late in the process.
I don’t know much about Andrew Clifford, so I can’t comment on his abilities. His list of offers isn’t particularly impressive, but I’ll give him the benefit of a doubt until I’m able to see him take a few snaps in pre-season practice in the fall.
USC did particularly well on the defensive side of the football during this latest recruiting cycle.
With the No. 1 defensive end class in the country, defensive line coach Brad Lawing should have plenty of tools to work with after this recent crop arrives on campus in the fall. I count 14 scholarship defensive linemen for 2009, which is plenty.
They filled a major need at linebacker with the two JUCO signees and expect to sign a whole bunch of defensive backs. Overall, I like the direction of the USC defense in terms of talent.
One position I am concerned about long-term is the offensive line. Sure, USC will have plenty of players this season and possibly the next. But, there is one nagging reality lurking out there: 10 of USC’s 16 scholarship O-lineman in 2009 are juniors or seniors.
New offensive line coach Eric Wolford will face serious depth issues in a couple of years unless USC signs a horde of offensive linemen next year. A few, I’m sure, will be junior college guys.
And the recruiting merry-go-round goes on and on.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Previous Blog Entries
Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.