Please explain something to me

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:20 pm

Name one player that came into the program at 170 and got bulked up to "LB size"...off the top of my head, I'm drawing a blank

BGGrad01 · Post by **BGGrad01** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:14 pm

Flipper wrote:Name one player that came into the program at 170 and got bulked up to "LB size"...off the top of my head, I'm drawing a blank

Out of curiosity, I looked up the recruit lists from the past 5 years. The lightest converted LB was Aaron Davis, who was listed at 182 when he signed.

There were a lot of "did he ever play a down at BG?" names on those lists and some "it would have been nice if things would have worked out" names. Luke Alexander being one of the latter.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:12 am

BGGrad01 wrote:There were a lot of "did he ever play a down at BG?" names on those lists and some "it would have been nice if things would have worked out" names. Luke Alexander being one of the latter.

Part of the recruiting process, I guess. There are several names in each class that come with much promise, but for one reason or another, never pan out. Alexander, Latkiewicz (sp?), etc.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:12 am

Just for reference purposes, here is what happened to our recent recruiting classes:

2003 class - 23 recruits, seven left/leaving the program having completed their eligibility at the position listed on the recruitung data sheet, two changed positions, 14 left before completing their eligibility.

2004 class - 18 recruits, 6 still at original position, 7 have changed positions, 5 left the program

2005 class - 26 recruits, 9 still at original position, 5 have changed positions, 1 JUCO graduated, 11 left the program

2006 class - 24 recruits, 15 still at original position, 4 changed positions, 5 gone.

2007 class - 20 recruits, 18 at original position, 1 changed postion, 1 left.

I think that everyone is giving a pass on the 2003 class as that is when Urban left and Brandon got a real late start on recruiting. Nonetheless, 60% left the program. That ain't good.

But looking at the first three classes (2003,4,&5), only 33% of the players signed are still on the team at the position they were originally recruited at. I have no idea what other schools numbers are, but that seems really low to me. Between guys leaving and changing positions, it seems that a lot of players are not meeting expectations. Thoughts?

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:23 am

Who changed positions in 2007 and who left...I really can't remember

BGGrad01 · Post by **BGGrad01** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:04 am

Flipper wrote:Who changed positions in 2007 and who left...I really can't remember

Wooldridge was listed as a LB on the original recruit list. I believe he moved to RB.

I looked through the list and don't know who left.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:17 am

Flipper wrote:Who changed positions in 2007 and who left...I really can't remember

Woolridge was listed as a LB on the recruit signing sheet and is a CB on the last roster. Hmmm, that is opposite of what we normally do. What's up with that? FWIW, he is listed as 5'9", 190 in both places.

Anthony Smith, a 6'1", 187 lb DB from Orange, NJ is no longer listed on the latest roster.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:24 am

Woolridge being listed at LB had to be a misprint...they talked about him as a RB or a DB at the signing event. I don't think he even played LB in HS...although Willie Geter did.

I'm not sure that Smith ever made it to campus.....not that it matters

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:10 pm

I think your right about Woolridge being listed incorrectly last year. That seems to ring a bell.

No comment on all the other guys that have left or changed positions over the years?

daspollak · Post by **daspollak** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:21 pm

Before you look at the numbers of how many recruits make it to graduation you need to consider a few things. One a college program cannot have more than 85 scholly players at one time. Some guys are going to get cut, because they just cannot cut it as D1A football players. Second some guys will never even see campus as they will never have the grades to qualify for college. Some may get to campus but be under academic suspension after the first semester (Stanley) and have their scholly removed soon after. Go look at any program and they will have similar numbers to BG. We are a small school and we try to recruit the best athlete possible. We need to get players who can change positions, and are willing to be part of a team (AT).

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:44 pm

Warthog wrote: No comment on all the other guys that have left or changed positions over the years?

Nah...it happens in football...and men's basketball

. I've heard coach Brandon say he probably took some chances on guys that first year that he wouldn't have otherwise....I think the other class that has a lot of holes in it is 2005, we lost a number of kids to academics and transfers to 1AA. If he hadn't pulled a STELLAR class in 2006 I don't think GB would have gottent that extension. I'd have to do a bigger study of the MAC or college football to see what a normal attrition rate looks like...since ours doesn't really bother me, I doubt I'm going to do that.

So far as guys changing positions...my favorite story on that topic is Arkansas DE Jamaal Anderson. He came to Arkansas as a highly regarded WR prospect and left as a DE chosen in the top 10 picks of the 2007 NFL draft

Oh...speaking of the 2006 class a pair of very highly regarded RB's from that class, Brown and Mahone wound up on defense...and the new kid from Ravenna...Davis...is said to have been the object of a lot of discussion from the offensive coaches but he's staying at DB. It doesn't happen as often as it does the other way, but occasionally the defense wins the "I want him " player battle

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:47 pm

daspollak wrote: We need to get players who can change positions, and are willing to be part of a team (AT).

That's a point worth noting...if nothing else the degree of enthusiasm our players show for tackling (esp O'Dro so far as tackling) their new assignments shows that we have a group of guys that are willing to sacrifice for the good of the team.

takeoffeh · Post by **takeoffeh** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:53 pm

Maybe I'm thinking of something different here, but I didn't think as a DI player on scholarship, that they could be cut do to athletic performance.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:12 pm

takeoffeh wrote:Maybe I'm thinking of something different here, but I didn't think as a DI player on scholarship, that they could be cut do to athletic performance.

I don't know the exact answer either. But I believe it is something like a year-to-year renewable scholarship. But as long as you meet the terms of the agreement, the scholarship cannot be taken away. That is, just because you suck, you can't have it taken away. But if you get caught with drugs, or skipping classes, etc, you can be deemed in 'default' and the scholarship 'non-renewed'.

Does anyone know better?

JoeFalcon · Post by **JoeFalcon** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:12 pm

Flipper wrote:
Warthog wrote: No comment on all the other guys that have left or changed positions over the years?
Nah...it happens in football...and men's basketball I'd have to do a bigger study of the MAC or college football to see what a normal attrition rate looks like...since ours doesn't really bother me, I doubt I'm going to do that.

A Western Michigan beat writer recently analyzed their last three football recruiting classes. There's washouts, position changes, transfers and pleasant surprises just like BG.

http://tinyurl.com/3y6rk2