Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com

Ok, im not sure how many of you care to read this but I have created a ranking of all MAC teams' recruiting classes for this year. This ranking is based on grades and info from espn.com (and we all know how accurate that is) so take it for what its worth. I was just having a little fun.

So I based the rankings on a couple different critera, listed by importance:

-Average rating of all players (100=highest possible rating)
-Rating of Highest Rated Player
-Number of Players Nationally Rated
-Total Number of Players

Here are my results:

1. Bowling Green

No, it isn't biased. BG had the highest average rating of any MAC school. Looks like Clawson is off to a good start.
Key Recruits: Jordan Hopgood, Tim Moore, and Alex Bayer.
Average Rating: 61.9



2. Central Michigan

A close second, at that. With 17 ranked players, and the largest class in the MAC at 30, Central looks good to go.
Key Recruits: Jeff Fantuzzi, Leron Eaddy, Shamari Benton
Average Rating: 58.97


3. Miami

Miami looks to build on last season with a large and fairly strong class, including 12 Ohio recruits.
Key Recruits: B.J. Stevens, Pat Hinkle, Brian Slack
Average Rating: 58.6


4. Ball State

After a Cinderella run, you would think BSU would be at the top. Not so fast. This class is above average, but thats all.
Key Recruits: Jacob Green, Travis Freeman, Eric Williams
Average Rating:57.48


5. Western Michigan

Western's class consists of mostly midwestern kids, but they boast 4 Florida recruits, and 3 transfers from Georgia Military College.
Key Recruits: Mark Zielinski, Greg Peterson, Josh Hadel.
Average Rating: 56.46




Tied 6. Toledo

Ahhh yes Toledo. There has been some talk out of T-town, but im happy to report that this class is STATISTICALLY in the middle of the pack.
Key Recruits: Jermain Robinson, Eric Page, Terence Owens.
Average Rating: 54.95




Tied 6. Ohio

The Bobcats have a rich marching band history, but can they get it together on the field? Only time will tell
Key Players: john Lechner, Tim Edmonds, James Davis
Average Rating: 54.18




8. Northern Illinois

The Huskies have a class coming in, a decent class. Not a great one, but hey, better than nothing.
Key Players: Tyrone Clark, Jared Volk, Anthoney Wells
Average Rating: 53.4




9. Temple

The Owls have to second largest class in the MAC this year, but quantity doesn't always mean quality
Key Players: Evangelos Regas, Ryan Murray, Cody Bohler
Average Rating: 53.33




10. Buffalo

The defending MAC champs must have been spending too much time partying after the championship. Their recruiting class isn't too good.
Key Players: Carlos Lammons, Rick Perez, Matt Hornbuckle
Average Rating: 53.05





11. Eastern Michigan

Eastern's downhill slide in sports continue, with a bad recruiting class. Surprisingly, not the worst, however.
Key Players: DeVontae Payne, Willie Hickman, and Devon Davis.
Average Rating: 52.65





12. Kent State

One thing Kent has going for them is...well....uhhh....basketball!! This recruiting class won't help them. Bad is one word for it.
Key Players: Fabrice Pratt, Jeff Walker, Bryan Wagner
Average Rating: 48.95





13. Akron

Well, welcome to the basement Akron. With only 5 players worth mentioning, Akron better look to its upperclassmen this year.
Key Players: Chris Henderson, Nolan Procter, Jake Brandt
Average Rating: 47.76







A few notes: The MAC as a whole seemed to fair well this year. According to ESPn, the MAC had the second largest number of recruits, second only to the SEC. Again, number don't mean too much but kind of cool to think about.

Again this whole thing is for fun. ESPN may have missed recruits or God only knows what else. SO I only used the info available to me on ESPN. Ill see how the final standings end up this year versus my rankings.


GO FALCONS!!!!!

i don't know about BG being #1. I would put CMU at #1 because Jeff Fantuzzi is amazing. He could probably play in the Big 10

How rivals.com rated the MAC recruiting classes:

1. Kent State
2. Akron
3. Ohio U
4. Toledo
5. Miami
6. WMU
7. NIU
8. CMU
9. EMU
10. Ball State
11t. BGSU
11t. Buffalo
13. Temple

In comparing this with BG Warrior's ranking it just proves how inexact the science of recruit rankings is, especially for the non-BCS schools.

murphdogg wrote:i don't know about BG being #1. I would put CMU at #1 because Jeff Fantuzzi is amazing. He could probably play in the Big 10

With time many of these kids could have played in the Big 10. This is what I hate about Signing Day, we put to much focus on these shiny new toys. When many will never see any significant playing time. Signing Day is almost becoming as bad as the NFL Draft.

doughash wrote:How rivals.com rated the MAC recruiting classes:

1. Kent State
2. Akron
3. Ohio U
4. Toledo
5. Miami
6. WMU
7. NIU
8. CMU
9. EMU
10. Ball State
11t. BGSU
11t. Buffalo
13. Temple

In comparing this with BG Warrior's ranking it just proves how inexact the science of recruit rankings is, especially for the non-BCS schools.

Here is my annual Rivals.com team rankings don't make sense post. Rivals has Kent St. ranked higher than a number of teams which, based on Rivals own individual rankings, have better classes. Compare Kent St. to Iowa and Wake Forest -- two teams ranked immediatedly below Kent St. Kent St. has fewer 3- and 4-star players and many more players on the low end of the 2-star category.

doughash wrote:How rivals.com rated the MAC recruiting classes:

1. Kent State
2. Akron
3. Ohio U
4. Toledo
5. Miami
6. WMU
7. NIU
8. CMU
9. EMU
10. Ball State
11t. BGSU
11t. Buffalo
13. Temple

In comparing this with BG Warrior's ranking it just proves how inexact the science of recruit rankings is, especially for the non-BCS schools.

Talk about inexact: Their top 2 are my bottom 2. Haha. Good thing this was just for fun Based on ESPN's grades, Rivals' rankings are dumb. But who knows.....

Here is how College Football News ranks us...second only to CMU and 82nd overall.

Here is the link: http://cfn.scout.com/2/837258.html

murphdogg wrote:i don't know about BG being #1. I would put CMU at #1 because Jeff Fantuzzi is amazing. He could probably play in the Big 10

That's not sayin much these days with the big 10s slump in recent years. also most of america considers the mountain west more competitive than the big 10 now anyways.

Sidejudge wrote:Here is how College Football News ranks us...second only to CMU and 82nd overall.

Here is the link: http://cfn.scout.com/2/837258.html

I could be wrong on this, but weren't TWO of these three "QB's" actually listed at other positions during OUR intros..... One WR, and One LB/DE if I recall.

13. Akron

Well, welcome to the basement Akron. With only 5 players worth mentioning, Akron better look to its upperclassmen this year.
Key Players: Chris Henderson, Nolan Procter, Jake Brandt
Average Rating: 47.76

I would think Pat Nicely (QB) from Willoughby South would be a "key player" for the Zips?

Rollo83 wrote:

13. Akron

Well, welcome to the basement Akron. With only 5 players worth mentioning, Akron better look to its upperclassmen this year.
Key Players: Chris Henderson, Nolan Procter, Jake Brandt
Average Rating: 47.76

I would think Pat Nicely (QB) from Willoughby South would be a "key player" for the Zips?

Very true. ESPN didn't have him listed, go figure

BgWaRrIoR wrote:

Rollo83 wrote:

13. Akron

Well, welcome to the basement Akron. With only 5 players worth mentioning, Akron better look to its upperclassmen this year.
Key Players: Chris Henderson, Nolan Procter, Jake Brandt
Average Rating: 47.76

I would think Pat Nicely (QB) from Willoughby South would be a "key player" for the Zips?

Very true. ESPN didn't have him listed, go figure

They probably just forgot to call him and ask where he should be ranked.

Rankings mean little when you can't coach the players up to their ability...

great example... Notre Dame.

Plus.. when Urban Meyer came... he had to deal with lots of bad recruiting classes from Gary Blackney, and yet he immediately got a winner.

redskins4ever wrote:Rankings mean little when you can't coach the players up to their ability...

great example... Notre Dame.

Plus.. when Urban Meyer came... he had to deal with lots of bad recruiting classes from Gary Blackney, and yet he immediately got a winner.

There was a fair amount of talent on those poor Gary Blackney teams. Unfortunately they were some of the laziest human beings I've ever met. Urban came in and made the team realize they needed to work if they wanted to win, and those that didn't buy into that left.

Mazur always used to like to tell the story of the first OL meeting with Urban. Urban could not believe that we were a D1A football team that only had 1 OL that could bench 400+ pounds. Of course he laughed about it because he WAS that one guy, but still it's a pretty good indicator of the work ethic of a lot of those guys.

Urban motivated the ones that were willing to work and got rid of the ones who weren't. The talent was there. I think a lot of the same principals apply now. We have talent, I just don't think they've been put in a position to win on gamedays.