Targus, for 2012 (given the current state of our recruiting class) what position(s) would you like to see the team target? Understanding that even with high recruits, we might not see them on the field for the next year or two... sounds like DE might be a weakness next year, but longer term, is there any spot that the program should look to shore up in the next six weeks or so? Ed O.
* I forgot about Anthony Wallace too. 6'1", 235# FR LB - Both Rivals and Scout had him as 6th best LB in nation. The kid is just a FR and already built like a mack truck. He clocked an amazing 4.55 40 despite his size. He should be incredible. Ed - I think our core is set for several years and right now we just offer the best talent out there at every position and see what unfolds. CB, Rover, S, DE. Keep going with what works and like others have said, go after top talent - all positions - even WR - but it's difficult right now to see how HS players fit in with so much talent. It almost seems counterproductive to be so deep because some players don't get the PT to develop. Take Maehl. He developed before our eyes and got time partly because of depth - 9 rec in 2007, 39 in 08, 53 in 09 and 77 in 10. Too much depth now?? 2013 we have a verbal from Tyner and I think he could be the #1 RB in the nation by this time next year. We currently have verbals from five DE's, so sheesh. I dunno! I'm just a fan!
I think he played two years at College of San Mateo... so that'd give him two years to play one remaining, right? Ed O.
I should have been more specific. I was thinking of a MLB with NFL size for the future. I know that Clay and Alonso both are back next year, but if the idea is to upgrade recruiting, a blend of those two should be the type of athlete to focus on, at least initially.
Understand and I agree with you. Just pointing out we're pretty sweet at LB for the immediate future and we have some great young talent - big and quick guys too. Remember Clay Matthews at USC? He was a 190# walkon with one single offer! http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bowls/2008-12-30-rosebowl-usc-matthews_N.htm
I sure hope White can get healthy. Thats a highly touted TE Corps with Lyerla, White, Bayless, and French.
Currently we are mainly targeting guys at these positions. RB - We were looking at Foster, Trey Williams, and Russell Shell, but the ship has sailed for all of them. Luckily we got Tyner's verbal for next year. WR - Thomas Johnson/Jaydon Mickens/Darreus Rogers or if we don't get either of those guys then Javon Williams(Dion Lewis) will probably commit to us right way if Oregon offers. TE - Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick OT - Kyle Murphy and Menelik Watson OG - Poutasi DE - DeForest Buckner DE - Arik Armstead DT - McCarthy CB - Kevon Seymour S - Shaq Thompson There's obviously other guys we would take but these are the guys we are pursuing a lot. Though we will probably miss on McCarthy, Murphy, Thompson, Fitzpatrick, Mickens, Rogers, Seymour, and Armstead.
JH over at DT is saying the staff has counted 18 commits. There are only 17 publicly known commits so that means that 1 has given their verbal to the coaches but has not yet announced it. I'm pretty sure this is DeForest Buckner as he canceled both his trips to Cal and UCLA after Kelly's visit with him and I think he's waiting to announce at the Semper Fi game which is the day after the Rose Bowl.
a recent rivals article has Oregon waiting on hearing back from the NCAA on whether *4 Arizona WR & (cousin to Dion Jordan) Javon Williams will qualify before they offer. According to him, grades/SAT scores aren't the issue but rather if classes he took at a private school during his Sophmore year will count. If he clears and Oregon offers him, he's stated that he will be a Duck STOMP
Justin Hopkins says two big time linebackers who are committed elsewhere are visiting on Jan 20th. He says he can't divulge who it is at this time, but he says we have a pretty good chance of landing one of them. Why though would we turn down a visit from Kwon Alexander but still be looking at other linebackers? Anyways my guess is the two linebackers are Jabari Ruffin and Peter Jinkens. Also visiting are Byron Marshall Stetzon Bair Alex Balducci Thomas Johnson Darreus Rogers
character? qualifying issues? lack of true interest/just wants a free trip out west? Could be any number of things though I don't think it was talent those are the rumors I've been reading. Jinkins hails from Freshman LB Anthony Wallace's HS. There is a 2013 DT from there that has Oregon at the top as well STOMP
Jinkens and Thomas Johnson are both from Skyline, which is a pipeline school for Texas. They are both (SHOCKINGLY! ) Texas commits. Wallace never got an offer from Texas, otherwise I gotta think he'd have ended up there. It'd be great if we could scrape another recruit or two from Skyline because it's a heck of a football factory, but I have doubts that we'll get many with regularlity given its systematic feeding of the Longhorns. Guess we'll see what happens after January 20, huh? Ed O.
according to a rivals article, A.Wallace received an offer from Texas Feb. 2010 when he took an OV there... he ended up with offers from pretty much everybody else. http://rivals.yahoo.com/Cal/football/recruiting/player-Anthony-Wallace-85198 btw... the Skyline HS 2013 DT I was refering to is Kerrick Huggins. Here is a recent quote from him responding to a question of what school he hopes to play for... "Oregon - I'm a Duck fan," he said. "I love the colors and my man Anthony Wallace is up there. He and I have played together for a while and I want to keep it up." STOMP
Two things. 1. I have confirmed that Jabari Ruffin is one of the Linebackers visiting us on 1/20. The other I don't know yet but I've heard that he might actually visit 1/13. 2. Rivals has unveiled the first five stars of 2013 and wouldn't you know it Tyner is one of them. http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1311402
Cool. Thanks, STOMP. ESPN didn't have that info, and I read a Texas-based blog entry (clearly written before Feb of 2011) talking about why they weren't going to offer him. Nice. I'll read up on him. Ed O.
