Who's "missing" so far?

[Class of 61]

Got to admit, today is a fun day, watching the list of verbals expand to "signee".... by my rough count, we now have 20 kids signed, but at least another five who've either been mentioned on AZZ recently OR have been listed as verbals, have NOT come on board... they are:

Gallon- the 6'5" WR from Fla.
Redfield- LB from Columbus Watterson (His teammate faxed in earlier today)
Burbrink - WR from MD.- possible "preferred walk-on"
Givens - RB who seems to have bounced around a bit..originally at Pitt
Colvin- ***DE from Ill. who'd make a perfect "bookend" to the other DE already signed

Could be more than I'm listing, but these seem to be the most notable.

[falconfan1]

Colvin's LOI is in. Major kid IMO.

Go Falcons!

[Falcon137]

Colvin is now signed.

[Oldballcoach61]

Refield wont be signing NLI , as he is a walk on. But he will be coming to BGSU.

[Class of 61]

Colvin's LOI is in. Major kid IMO.

Go Falcons!

FF1, If anyone would know this, you would.... do "preferred walk-ons" sign LOI's...or are they "free" to go anywhere else. I'm looking at the status of Burbrink in particular, who's listed as a verbal or commit, AND supposedly has an 'offer' from BG (His only one).

[orangeandbrown]

Here's the story behind the delay for Colvin

http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1183896

[falconfan1]

61, preferred walk ons do not sign any letter. Preferred walk ons can go anywhere but, broadly, once these student-athletes make their plans public, they typically take a laser like focus on getting themselves ready for Div 1 football at that school. Preferred walk ons are most often student-athletes with perhaps one or two mitigating factors physically or athletically that keep them out of that scholarship group. They are absolutely recruited in the sense that they are evaluated, communicated with, visit etc. Many become contributors- sooner or later- at the higher level.

While we have several of those high level contributors from this category on this year's team, perhaps the best known example at BG is DB Martin Bayless from Dayton. Preferred walk on, contributor, scholarship, All MAC and 10 year NFL player. Without a single D 1 offer coming out of HS in the early 80's.

We apparently have at least four of these student-athletes coming to BG next season. All four have made their plans public in the last few days. You mention Hyattsville DeMatha MD WR Ryan Burbrink. Fine slot receiver on a team that went all the way to the title game vs Good Council this year. Small frame but quick and good enough to be invited to the elite Chesapeake Bowl all star game for eastern players- opposite team from BG QB signee Matt Johnson who was the game's MVP. Another poster mentions Col. Bishop Watterson Matt Redfield. Tackling machine for state champions who was helped by BG signee Hunter Maynard occupying a couple of blockers per snap. Also played FB but I would say he is a LB/special teams fellow.

The Lima News announced today that the two leaders of the state small school champion Delphos St Johns Blue Jays would attend BG as preferred walk ons. This was arguably the best small school team in state history going undefeated in the Ohio's toughest small school league and winning the state TITLE game 77-6. Chris Pohlman is a first team all state LB. A guy who played best in the biggest games. Made plays in pass coverage and known as a big hitter. An imposing fellow, it is possible he could be a battering ram FB or a DE. Jordan Leininger was first team all state in 2009 as a RB. He switched to QB this year to help the team and had a fine year running and throwing. A playmaker. Just an athlete at heart.

The common denominator in these four self announced preferred walk on student-athletes? They are all leaders on state champion or near state champion teams at high bar college prep high schools. Looks like we are seeking that type of player/student in this category. And that is good.

Go Falcons!

[Class of 61]

61, preferred walk ons do not sign any letter. Preferred walk ons can go anywhere but, broadly, once these student-athletes make their plans public, they typically take a laser like focus on getting themselves ready for Div 1 football at that school. Preferred walk ons are most often student-athletes with perhaps one or two mitigating factors physically or athletically that keep them out of that scholarship group. They are absolutely recruited in the sense that they are evaluated, communicated with, visit etc. Many become contributors- sooner or later- at the higher level.

While we have several of those high level contributors from this category on this year's team, perhaps the best known example at BG is DB Martin Bayless from Dayton. Preferred walk on, contributor, scholarship, All MAC and 10 year NFL player. Without a single D 1 offer coming out of HS in the early 80's.

We apparently have at least four of these student-athletes coming to BG next season. All four have made their plans public in the last few days. You mention Hyattsville DeMatha MD WR Ryan Burbrink. Fine slot receiver on a team that went all the way to the title game vs Good Council this year. Small frame but quick and good enough to be invited to the elite Chesapeake Bowl all star game for eastern players- opposite team from BG QB signee Matt Johnson who was the game's MVP. Another poster mentions Col. Bishop Watterson Matt Redfield. Tackling machine for state champions who was helped by BG signee Hunter Maynard occupying a couple of blockers per snap. Also played FB but I would say he is a LB/special teams fellow.

The Lima News announced today that the two leaders of the state small school champion Delphos St Johns Blue Jays would attend BG as preferred walk ons. This was arguably the best small school team in state history going undefeated in the Ohio's toughest small school league and winning the state TITLE game 77-6. Chris Pohlman is a first team all state LB. A guy who played best in the biggest games. Made plays in pass coverage and known as a big hitter. An imposing fellow, it is possible he could be a battering ram FB or a DE. Jordan Leininger was first team all state in 2009 as a RB. He switched to QB this year to help the team and had a fine year running and throwing. A playmaker. Just an athlete at heart.

The common denominator in these four self announced preferred walk on student-athletes? They are all leaders on state champion or near state champion teams at high bar college prep high schools. Looks like we are seeking that type of player/student in this category. And that is good.

Go Falcons!

FF1,
Thanks for the info...not just on the kid from Md. but also the other kids.... (KNEW I was asking the right guy).. my oldest son was actually a preferred walk on at OSU for Lacrosse "back in the day" (around 1988)...only difference was...he made the team as a freshman, eventually became a team captain as well as one of OSU's all time scoring leaders.... and never saw a PENNY of scholarship money, partly due, I guess, in that OSU wasn't funding the program like it does now... I know Dave Clawson mentioned a couple of this year's walkons who earned scholarships, justifiably so, based upon winding up as starting DB's.

Finally, looking forward to getting back to BG on Sat. for the doubleheader...want my 8th gr. granddaughter to see the women play in particular...she's not a bad player, but seemed a bit "down" at end of season in terms of coming back next year to play at HS level. Hope this will be a boost for her...not to mention Joyce and me.

[Class of 61]

Here's the story behind the delay for Colvin

http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1183896

O and B,
Thanks for the link....I wasn't thinking about the Chicago area getting NAILED with all the snow...Here in Cleve. most schools were closed due to the ice storm that hit here, not the snow, which is still falling as I type this at 5:56pm.

[able1]

There's a 2 time all Ohio combo kicker that we still have a chance to pick up. He had BG at the top of his short list but was never offered. He's more of a punter at the college level, and they're always at the bottom of the list when it comes to an offer, so that's not a huge surprise.

As a senior, he averaged around 41-42 yards a punt for a team that likes to angle kicks to the sidelines to take returners out of the game. As a pk, he makes me think of Brian Leaver. Forget kickoffs and long fgs, but he's very accurate inside 45. That could help put some pressure on the stable of place kickers we already have. Expect Tate to get his shot right away.

He's down to BG and Dayton. Dayton really wants him. If the coaches are willing to take him as a walk on with the possibility of earning a scholarship in the future, he may still end up a Falcon. With no true punter on the roster, a 2 time all state guy who's willing to walk on would be a huge steal.