Official 2013 Class Recruiting Updates Thread

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Killjoy said:
You have identified and interesting topic that I wished I understood better, i.e. the use of film in evaluating players. One can certainly learn from film but what is the best way to do this? I am also sure the strength of the opponent needs to be factored in the evaluation but again how do you do that. If anybody has any insights on this topic please feel free to give them.
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It's nice if you can watch actual game footage of the players not just highlights. But I'm not sure where you can find that, sometimes I've been lucky enough to find some on youtube. I know Raphael Webb has at least one I watched on youtube. You can try to check out what class the kid's school is in to gauge strength of opponents. I also check out who else is on the players team sometimes, and that was something that made me like Webb even more. I looked up some numbers and it seemed like he got about 2/3 of the carries, but his back up was a junior with offers from Florida, Miami, FSU, UCLA, and OSU already, that made me think well if his backup is that good that must mean something. Then I read something about his team winning state and saw the stats he put up in the playoffs and they were really impressive. I saw they beat miami central and I remember us recruiting a bunch of kids from that school a couple years ago so I knew he was playing some talented teams. Also figured Gainesville would be in one of the higher classes in Florida.
 

This may be stating the obvious - but let's not forget - part of recruiting is projecting how these 17- and 18-year-old young men are going to develop over the next 4 or 5 years. A kid may look great on film in HS - but may have already peaked in his physical, mental and emotional development. Another kid may not look so great right now, but has much more potential for growth. Another kid may overwhelm the competition based on sheer physical talent, but may not be coachable.

I think there's a tendency to watch a few (carefully edited) minutes of a highlight reel, and decide that recruit X is the greatest thing since sliced bread. The difference between guys on a message board (no offense intended) and people who do this for a living, especially coaches, is that the coaches are looking long-term. They're thinking about how recruit X will look in 2 or 3 years - how much weight will he put on? will he lose any quickness? will he have to, or need to, move to a different position.

I submit that most educated fans can tell a great player when they see him. The real trick is to see a player who has the potential to be great, but hasn't reached it yet.
 


Much of this is done through programs like HUDL. This software allows for games film to be instantly dropped into a format that can be edited. Teams now use this technology to share film of their games. (My coach used to drive and meet the next weeks apponent and exchange VHS) It allows the ability to share with a list of people who are approved members (Parents, Officials, AD's, Players, College Coaches). For instance some teams share it with all the schools in their conference. The MIAC uses this for all their teams. It is cut so that every play is shown from the side camera and an endzone view. Very slick. It also allows for editing with voice, arrows, slow-motion, etc. Some High schools are slow to get on board because they are dealing with minors and affraid of who might get film. However, some teams send it to their players and parents right after games.
 




short ornery norwegian said:
This may be stating the obvious - but let's not forget - part of recruiting is projecting how these 17- and 18-year-old young men are going to develop over the next 4 or 5 years. A kid may look great on film in HS - but may have already peaked in his physical, mental and emotional development. Another kid may not look so great right now, but has much more potential for growth. Another kid may overwhelm the competition based on sheer physical talent, but may not be coachable.

I think there's a tendency to watch a few (carefully edited) minutes of a highlight reel, and decide that recruit X is the greatest thing since sliced bread. The difference between guys on a message board (no offense intended) and people who do this for a living, especially coaches, is that the coaches are looking long-term. They're thinking about how recruit X will look in 2 or 3 years - how much weight will he put on? will he lose any quickness? will he have to, or need to, move to a different position.

I submit that most educated fans can tell a great player when they see him. The real trick is to see a player who has the potential to be great, but hasn't reached it yet.
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+1. Nicely said!
 


Minnesotagg said:
Rivals and Scout loved Brews first class too. Didn't translate to wins.
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To be fair to Rivals and Scout, I think a big reason for lack of success from that class was because so many never played or left earlier than expected. Vincent Hill, Sam Maresh, Kevin Whaley, Tramaine Brock, Brodrick Smith, Terrell Combs, and Jewhan Edwards were all highly recruited/rated players who never played or left early.
 



Marcus tweet: "@TomLemming told me #Gophers could be 8th or 9th in his #B1G 2013 recruiting rankings. Not as bad as other recruiting sites. But not good."

Go Gophers!!
 

Minnesotagg said:
Rivals and Scout loved Brews first class too. Didn't translate to wins. Lemming is often called out because he about the only evaluator that people know. What other talent evaluators do you know by name?

One thing about Kill. He looks for a certain type of player with a certain attitude which may or may not be evident in tape analysis. MN is not going to out-recruit many programs right now. How can you put faith into talent evaluators that grade based on offers?

An example in basketball is Damien Lillard. He played in Oakland where everyone could see him. No great offers. One from Boise State (not a basketball power). Goes to Weber State and now is the best rookie in the NBA.

In my estimation, a class full of 3 stars gives you a chance with good coaching. Let's hope Jerry can coach them up.[/QUOTE]

Absolute +1
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Back when I was living in NE and around their program (1994-99) they recruitnics always talked about recruiting a body type on the O Line more than recruiting a highly rated kid. Seemed like every year NE would bring in 2-3 scholarship kids and 4-6 walk ons who were 6'3-6'8 220-260# and then 3-4 years later that kid would be 310# and mean as hell. They had a great program to add bulk and quickness on to kids with the right body type coming out of high school. I see Kill doing a lot of this as well on our O line and hope for similar payoffs in year 4 and 5 and onward.

Kill also does this on D recruiting a lot of safeties and ends and building linebackers and takles out of them. Build size without losing quickness is the way to go if you can't beat out the helmets for more developed kids.
 


RyanBurnsGI ‏@RyanBurnsGI
#Vanderbilt has offered Florida RB Rapheal Webb (@ShoouuuNation) Webb visited #Minnesota last weekend and has a #Gopher offer.
 

BleedGopher said:
Marcus tweet: "@TomLemming told me #Gophers could be 8th or 9th in his #B1G 2013 recruiting rankings. Not as bad as other recruiting sites. But not good."

Go Gophers!!
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Interesting that Lemming also said that OSU, MICH, & NE are top 3 and the rest 4-12 are all very close.
 



Tedric Thompson really liked his Colorado visit. Looks like we have a battle there. I hope his brother being on the team tips the scales in our favor.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
This may be stating the obvious - but let's not forget - part of recruiting is projecting how these 17- and 18-year-old young men are going to develop over the next 4 or 5 years. A kid may look great on film in HS - but may have already peaked in his physical, mental and emotional development. Another kid may not look so great right now, but has much more potential for growth. Another kid may overwhelm the competition based on sheer physical talent, but may not be coachable.

I think there's a tendency to watch a few (carefully edited) minutes of a highlight reel, and decide that recruit X is the greatest thing since sliced bread. The difference between guys on a message board (no offense intended) and people who do this for a living, especially coaches, is that the coaches are looking long-term. They're thinking about how recruit X will look in 2 or 3 years - how much weight will he put on? will he lose any quickness? will he have to, or need to, move to a different position.

I submit that most educated fans can tell a great player when they see him. The real trick is to see a player who has the potential to be great, but hasn't reached it yet.
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Well stated but I would add in addition to the middle part: Fans watch a highlight film and think recruit x is going to be the next big thing. Coaches watch full seasons on kids and evaluate them in person.

I have always found it funny how fans will look at a highlight video and determine a kid is going to be a great player. The bottom line is anyone who is being looked at by a Big Ten school is going to have a kick butt highlight video and will have been one of the best players on his high school team. If he wasn't he wouldn't be getting recruited by a BCS conference.
 

btowngopher said:
RyanBurnsGI ‏@RyanBurnsGI
#Vanderbilt has offered Florida RB Rapheal Webb (@ShoouuuNation) Webb visited #Minnesota last weekend and has a #Gopher offer.
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Real bad news. He is from Gainesville, FL. I would think he is off our board with an offer of SEC football and a game or two in his hometown.
 


per Sid:

Gophers land walk-ons

Unfortunately for the Gophers, interest in Fairhope, Ala., cornerback Nate Andrews started to intensify after his outstanding performance in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic, so the Gophers suffered their only decommitment to date when Andrews wound up saying he would play for Florida State instead.

Furthermore regarding recruiting, the Gophers could have will have their highest number of walk-ons under Jerry Kill this fall, providing they are admitted to school.

So far, already there are seven offensive players who plan to join the team without scholarships: Jeff Borchardt, a wide receiver from Wayzata; Michael Conway, a quarterback from La Crosse (Wis.) Aquinas; Chad Fanning, a lineman from DeLaSalle; Nick Hart, a tight end from Prior Lake; Connor Rhoda, a quarterback from Cretin-Derham Hall; Matt Leidner, a lineman from Lakeville South; and Chandler Wright, a lineman from Wayzata.

Wright was first-team all-state; Leidner, the brother of Gophers quarterback Mitch Leidner, was second-team; Borchardt made the second team as a returner; and Hart was an honorable mention.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/189130371.html

Go Gophers!!
 




RyanBurnsGI ‏@RyanBurnsGI
I'm hearing Indiana TE Nate Wozniak has committed to #Minnesota over Miami (Fl.) this morning. Working on confirming.
 

RyanBurnsGI ‏@RyanBurnsGI
Confirmed. Just received a text from Indiana TE Nate Wozniak saying he's committed to #Minnesota over Miami (Fl.). 6-10 TE everybody.

Good Get!!!!
 

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