Recruiting Defense

[CbusCuse]

We have some solid defensive depth for this coming season but beyond that we are really lacking young talented depth. Numbers wise we are in dire need of freshman defensive players in the upcoming class. Hopefully we have an outstanding year on D so we can get some solid talent. Some numbers to chew on regarding recent classes and defensive players we signed that were not Jucos:
2013 Class
Isaiah Johnson - DE/DT
Marquez Hodge - LB
Chauncey Scissum - Safety (most likely after a year in the program)

Seriously thats all of them excluding 5 Jucos. And the previous class the situation isn't much different and only compounds the issue. Excluding 2 Jucos in that class we have...

2012 Class
Marcus Coleman - DT
Josh Manley - DE
James Washington - LB
Wayne Morgan - S (Rumored to being moved there this spring)
Julian Whigam - CB

So in the last two classes combined we have 8 players that came in as freshman! Hope McDonald can recruit some defense too because we don't have much room to bring in too much offense.

 

[steve deberg]

I agree with you on the importance of recruiting defensive players in this year's class. However, don't forget that we likely have a few defensive underclassmen currently counting towards offensive positions.

Seeing what position switches happen is one of the things I am most intrigued about heading into this spring.

 

[RMH44]

Don't forget that Wayne Williams has three years of eligibility left.

To be perfectly honest...with Shafer as HC, I'm not worried in the least about recruiting quality defensive players.

 

[steve deberg]

Don't forget that Wayne Williams has three years of eligibility left.

Good point. Put Raymon and possibly Arciniega in that group too.

 

[Upstate]

To be perfectly honest...with Shafer as HC, I'm not worried in the least about recruiting quality defensive players.

Or at least players that he knows will fit the system perfectly.

 

[timkay99]

Hope McDonald can recruit some defense too because we don't have much room to bring in too much offense.

Why does everyone say this about McDonald? Have him build an offense that can score points and have the recruiting coordinator (Daoust) focus on recruiting defense with Shafer.

I think people are setting McDonald up for failure by expecting an offense that doesn't skip a beat, a top 25 recruiting class and the ability to pry top talent out of Florida on either side of the ball.

 

[CbusCuse]

Good point. Put Raymon and possibly Arciniega in that group too.

Having three years with those guys definitely is nice. I am high on all three of those guys. Really think they all of them will really help the program. But realistically that is still like they are class of 2011 guys who redshirted a year. We need some young guys on D.

 

[CbusCuse]

Why does everyone say this about McDonald? Have him build an offense that can score points and have the recruiting coordinator (Daoust) focus on recruiting defense with Shafer.

I think people are setting McDonald up for failure by expecting an offense that doesn't skip a beat, a top 25 recruiting class and the ability to pry top talent out of Florida on either side of the ball.

I'm just saying that everyone seems to be gung ho about McDonald as a recruiter but there really isn't that much he can work with numbers wise next year because of the need on D. I like his potential as a recruiter with some kids but really hope his offensive coordinator skills are comparable as that will have just as much of an impact and probably much more.

 

[rrlbees]

Why does everyone say this about McDonald? Have him build an offense that can score points and have the recruiting coordinator (Daoust) focus on recruiting defense with Shafer.

I think people are setting McDonald up for failure by expecting an offense that doesn't skip a beat, a top 25 recruiting class and the ability to pry top talent out of Florida on either side of the ball.

Well, he himself did say we would have a top 25 class next year.

Sent using my Commodore 64

 

[timkay99]

Well, he himself did say we would have a top 25 class next year.

Sent using my Commodore 64

There are things coaches say as facts and then there are things coaches say to induce excitement in the fan base. If Syracuse lands just one 4-star from Florida that had legit offers, McDonald would have done his job in that area. To be a top 25 class, you need a lot more then that.

I feel that, if this class doesn't look good on paper, people will blame McDonald (wasn't he supposed to be an ace recruiter?) as opposed to Daoust. Expectations are a bit high on McDonald, IMO, and part of that is due to twitter.

 

[rrlbees]

There are things coaches say as facts and then there are things coaches say to induce excitement in the fan base. If Syracuse lands just one 4-star from Florida that had legit offers, McDonald would have done his job in that area. To be a top 25 class, you need a lot more then that.

I feel that, if this class doesn't look good on paper, people will blame McDonald (wasn't he supposed to be an ace recruiter?) as opposed to Daoust. Expectations are a bit high on McDonald, IMO, and part of that is due to twitter.

Being the recruiting coordinator doesn't necessarily mean you are the best or the lead recruiter. A lot of it is administrative.

 

[timkay99]

Being the recruiting coordinator doesn't necessarily mean you are the best or the lead recruiter. A lot of it is administrative.

Obviously. But, do you truly think McDonald can handle OC responsibilities and lead recruiter responsibilities on 75% of our targets during the course of the season?

I think it is silly to expect him to do that. Which is why if he snags a 4-star from Florida, I will be happy with the class in regards to his contribution.

 

[TheCusian]

I love how we are arguing over assigning blame for a bad recruiting class in the future. Expectations are high so we have to make sure we undergird them with "realistic expectations."

Lets just see how it plays out.