2012 FB Recruiting
by drhustle on Dec 8, 2011 10:10 AM EST
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PrintSo as we start to see the reports rolling in about new recruits, I started thinking, "What are our biggest priorities?"
In basketball, it seems, we always know what Pitino is going after...there's only 5 guys on the court at a time so there really isn't much mystery as to what we need.
With football its a different story. Charlie needs 30+ upper level players to compete every week, along with another bunch of good subs. I took a quick look at our current depth chart and this is what I found.
We "start" only 4 seniors on offense (RB- Anderson, WR - Bellamy, TE - Chichester, and RT - Kessling). And out of those 4 only Kessling is an every down player, the other 3 rotate pretty much all game with younger players.
On defense we only start 2 seniors (DE - Savoy and MLB - Heyman). Savoy was in a rotation with 5 freshman or sophomores at the DE slot, so I'm not too worried about replacing him right away, especially with players like Marcus Smith, BJ Butler, BJ Dubose, and Deionterez Mount that have shown signs of greatness when they've gotten their chance.
The slot I am most worried about is replacing Heyman. He was the heart and soul of our defense this year leading the team in both tackles and interceptions and second in sacks. The downside about having stud senior lead your squad is that his backups get very little PT and experience for the future.
So , what do you think, what direction would you like to see Charlie go as the recruiting "season" heats up. The current class is stocked full of DBs and linemen with a few LBs mixed in. It seems as though recently he's going for some big bodies (TEs and DLs) because you can never have too many of them.
I for one, though, think that getting a game changing RB would be great for Teddy. As CarolinaCard showed us this year, we do not have a very good running game (especially on 1st down). If we can get a Back (is that Ace Wales?) that can make running on first down worthwhile then our offense will become so much more dynamic. Our O-line is only going to keep improving with the quality and quantity we are amassing, but I really think that the best thing would be an upper level back that can take a little of the attention off of Teddy and open things up for our stud receivers to make plays down the field. Dom Brown and J Wright have proven to be solid players, but I think we can all see that neither are game changers capable of taking over games like Eric Shelton, Mike Bush, or even Kolby Smith or Bilal Powell.
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What ever happened to the RB that transferred from SC?
He was sitting out this year but thought he was eligible in 2012???
With re: to replacing Heyman
I think they’ll move Preston Brown back to the MLB spot and try to break in somebody new at the SAM backer. And Daniel Brown returns, I assume to retain his WLB spot.
I think you’re assuming that players are ready immediately in football recruiting. You need to focus more on what your needs will look like in 2-3 years than immediatly (although filling any holes is obviously the first priority)
We are going after some high ranked line-backers, such as Dawson.
At RB, our best hope of getting better play will come from Brown making big strides at his position as he will now get plenty of practice at it, and Wright returning to last year’s form, which he is very capable of. Also, with the improved offensive line next year, the running game should improve.
Yes, that is Spike Lee.
by TheRealSlimShady on Dec 8, 2011 12:58 PM EST reply actions
Running backs
Dom Brown is going to be a monster next year. Wright will also show improvement. The big problem this year was a young, inexperienced OL. Brown began showing us, late this season, what he can do when the OL opens up some holes for him. I look forward to seeing him bust some big ones next year.
And let’s not forget redshirt freshman-to-be Corvin Lamb. From all accounts, he makes greased lightning look slow.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
Don't forget Greg Scruggs!!
Scruggs is a senior too. He might not be on the last depth chart because of injuries (hopefully he will be good to go for the bowl game).
For the most part UofL is a team of freshmen and sophmores, those guys get a year older and i expect some true and RS freshmen will challenge at some positions. UofL is still at the point where they really just need athletes, so keep bringing ’em Charlie!
I really think UofL is at the point right now that Clemson was at last year, Clemson had a great year and might be a top 5 team next year…i don’t think it is impossible to say that UofL will be next year’s Clemson, and if so, maybe a legitimate top 5 team by 2013.
I know 2013 is a long way away but think about this:
UofL’s 2013 roster notables
QB—Bridgewater (JR)
RB—Brown (SR), Wright (SR)
WR—Rogers (JR), Harris (JR), Parker (JR)
DE—Butler (SR), Mitchell (SR), Dubose (JR)
SS—Smith (SR)
CB—Johnson (JR)
I’m leaving off some good players, and God knows who Strong can reel in and what he can do with them over the next 2 years…I’m telling you UofL will be a beast in 2013!
Looked like Preston Brown seemed to be coming on Strong as of late in the season...too
i think Jeremy Wright is similar to how Russ Smith is coming along…..
He will only get better with time..not to mention D. Brown…
I’d like to see an aggressive Defensive Tackle come in and dominate myself ….
but whatever 4 the team as long as we win— GO CARDS!!
"....train is comin...I'm tellin ya...the train is comin.."
-Coach V. Bedford UofL DC-
by DIEHARDCARDFAN on Dec 8, 2011 7:35 PM EST up reply actions
you want an aggressive DT to come in an dominate yourself?
To each his own bro
by I WantReeceBack! on Dec 9, 2011 12:26 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
I think everything will be fine.
From what I hear Corvin Lamb is the real deal and Ace Whales is not much of a priority as of right now. From what I’ve been told Nick Dawson is the number one priority for HCCS, and it’s a two horse race between UofL and Clemson. Dex will definitely be missed next year, and I personally think Dawson make a big difference. Maybe not early in the season, but I could see him coming on strong the last half of the season. It would also be great if HCCS could some how get Josh Harvey-Clemons. Im not sure where he would play, but with his size and atleticism HCCS would find a spot. So far I like UofL’s current 18 commits, but I feel like we will see some surprise recruits end up on the UofL commit list over the next 6 weeks. I feel the fact that Florida St. is underachieving, Florida had a down year, and Miami was awful will greatly benefit the Cards recruiting. Not to mention the success Teddy, Eli, Michaelee, John Miller, and BJ Dubose had this year could sway some Florida guys our way.
Calling it right now
2012 we win the Big East outright and snag more BCS bowl hardware. Finish close to if not just inside the Top 10. 1 or 2 losses at most. Haven’t seen the schedule but it’s an even year, and that typically helps us in football. Our defense is going to be freakishly good. Our offense is going to be incredibly balanced (like the Petrino days). We’ll probably lose only one BE game after going 5-0 non-conf.
12/10 visits
This is a big weekend for UofL they are hosting 5 guys:
OLB Keith Brown (4*) Illinois commit
WR Herb Waters (3*) Miami commit
OLB James Brown (3*) Miami commit
DE Pedro Sibiea
OLB Lamar Atkins Illinois commit
i know 4 of these 5 have already committted elsewhere but they are coming to Louisville tomorrow and with Rob Zook being booted at Illinois i think CS and company have as good a shot at Brown and Atkins as the new Illinois coach. Waters, Brown and Sibiea are all HS teammates and might want to all go to the same school (something UofL might be willing to do, that maybe Miami is not).
Let’s hope Mike posts some good news over the weekend about these guys.
The assumed loss of Brohm/Petrino at Illinois could be great for Louisville's recruiting,
especially with the local players
by UL is my hot hot sex on Dec 9, 2011 4:41 PM EST up reply actions
Anybody who's still taking visits
isn’t fully committed in my book. In the words of a very bad musician, “It don’t mean nothin’ till you sign it on the dotted line.”
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
Hard to guess how committed any of the Miami guys could be right now
that’s a pretty large black cloud looming over the program. Voluntarily foregoing a bowl game is all fine and good, but there are going to be severe sanctions leveled on that team.
Sibiea commits!!
Rivals and Scout are both reporting that DE Pedro Sibiea (6-3, 251) committed to the Cards over the weekend while visiting. Sibiea is the 3rd D-linemen to commit to the Cards over the past week or so, and it looks like Strong and company are serious about beefing up the front line.
No word on the other 4 that visited, but I’m happy with just the one and who knows one of the other guys might still have UofL in the mix.
by Hawkins3403 on Dec 11, 2011 11:18 PM EST up reply actions
Richard Marx
The song’s one redeeming quality was that it featured Joe Walsh on guitar.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
Early Signees?
Anyone heard if UofL will have any early signees this year (meaning they can take part in spring practice in the spring of 2012, but still be classified as a freshman in the fall of 2012). Last year they had 5, one of them was named Teddy Bridgewater…maybe you have heard of him?…he did see the field a time or two this season (just in case you haven’t followed the Cards all that close this year).
My guess: TE Ryan Hubbell (JUCO transfer), S Gerod Holliman (JUCO) and DT DeAngelo Brown (freshman)
by UL is my hot hot sex on Dec 12, 2011 5:30 PM EST up reply actions
QB DaMarcus Smith?
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
hope so
i was hoping at least Holliman would, if he lives up to his recruit rankings he could be starting next fall.
speaking of Holliman, i know he didn’t academically qualify this year and ended up going to prep school/JUCO, will he still have 4 years of eligibility left or will he be a sophmore in the fall?
if he didn't qualify, he still has 4 years of eligibility
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
* if he went to prep school and not juco
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
He still has four years of eligibility
Prep school/Military academy: If a prospect does not graduate from high school in four years he can enroll in a fifth year of high school at a preparatory school or military academy. The prospect’s high school GPA is locked and can only be improved by retaking courses. A prospect does not lose college eligibility while competing for a prep school or military academy but will be considered a non- or partial-qualifier when enrolling at an NCAA institution.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Dec 13, 2011 3:34 PM EST up reply actions
Another huge weekend of visits 12/16-12/17
UofL is hosting some of their biggest targets this weekend:
Pos rank *s Name
- OLB 4* Josh Harvey-Clemons
- OLB 4* Nick Dawson
- TE 3* Kerwin Harrison
- RB 3* Anthony Wales
- WR 3* Kedrick Davis (UNC commit)
Harvey-Clemons does have visits scheduled at Florida St and Georgia next month, so i wouldn’t expect a commit from him on Saturday.
Dawson hasn’t visited anyone yet but has been offered by just about every school in the BCS…I like it that UofL is playing a bowl game this year in Dawson’s home town.
Harrison has already been to Cincy and Rutgers. He doesn’t have any more scheduled but is being recruited by several more schools.
Wales is from Louisville, hopefully will decide to stay home.
Davis has committed to UNC, but with that school looking at future sanctions, Davis is looking around.
I don’t know if Strong and co. can get any of these guys to commit this weekend, but hopefully he can win them over. I think the fact that so many freshmen play for UofL right now, shows recruits that if they can compete they can play right away…if they go to Florida St. they will more than likely sit on the sidelines or maybe play on special teams until they are a junior or senior.
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