2016 Football Recruits

[VULB#62]

Just trying to give this discussion its own space.

[VU2624]

Brandon Vickrey ‏@BrandonVickrey Jan 17

More Valpo football commits: OT Solomon Kamara @kamara72 Plainfield, Ill. & DE Jimmy Zajac @Jimmy50Zajac Tinley Park, Ill.

Another confirmed @valpoufootball commit from today is C/DE @seanpearce51 from Grayslake, Ill.

.@valpoufootball getting a slew of commitments, including Cincinnati duo TE/FB Brannen Martin @Brannen13 & OLB @Kyle_Farwick  @LaSallePride.

also was mention of a Florida OL in addition to what Brandon tweeted.

[IndyValpo]

I have been able to scrap together the following QB's that we have offered. There may be others....

Conner Lovely    Aurora, IL
Michael Frankl   Ames, IA
Zach Hazlett   Dublin, OH
JP Petricca   Orland Park, IL
Luke Shepherd   Grayslake, IL
Joey Moore   Lombard, IL
Jimmy Seewald   Dearborn, MI
Peyton Huslig   Andover, Kansas
Anthony Binetti   Huntley, Illinois
Danny Carollo   Lake Bluff, Illinois

[VULB#62]

Here are some more named commits to the 2016 class and the goals for the recruiting class:
[tweet]691347384970952704[/tweet] (6-2, 220, 4.9 40)
[tweet]691330686989406208[/tweet] (6-2, 270)
[tweet]689841240066535425[/tweet]
[tweet]689840754726842368[/tweet]

[VULB#62]

Adding some data

Brandon Vickrey ‏@BrandonVickrey Jan 17

More Valpo football commits: OT Solomon Kamara (6-3, 275, 5.2 40)@kamara72 Plainfield, Ill. & DE Jimmy Zajac (6-6, 235, 5.2 40) @Jimmy50Zajac Tinley Park, Ill.

Another confirmed @valpoufootball commit from today is C/DE @seanpearce51 (6-3, 280) from Grayslake, Ill.

.@valpoufootball getting a slew of commitments, including Cincinnati duo TE/FB Brannen Martin (6-2, 248, 4.9 40) @Brannen13 & OLB @Kyle_Farwick  (6-0. 200)@LaSallePride.

also was mention of a Florida OL in addition to what Brandon tweeted.

Also the link to DT/OG Devan Hunt (Edina, Minnesota) who is deciding between U of North Dakota as a preferred walk-on and Valpo (financial aid package)

http://www.scout.com/college/football/recruiting/story/1632176-hunt-talks-valpo-offer-und-commitment

... and some data:  6-4, 295, 5.3 40  If he comes, the staff sees him as a DT.  He certainly has the size we need up front.

[IndyValpo]

Add OL Ron Williams (6-2, 300)  Jacksonville, FL
       RB Austin Petrie (5-10 210) Livonia, MI

[VULB#62]

Adding more data.....

Add OL Ron Williams (6-2, 300)  Jacksonville, FL (5.80 in the 40 ) hopefully he has a quick first step -- his 24" vertical might be indicative.  Watching the Hudl tapes he pulls right and left quite frequently and cleans house inside.
       RB Austin Petrie (5-10 210) Livonia, MI (4.53 in the 40 and a 29" vertical)  Makes people miss and can outrun most HS DBs.

[VU2624]

Adding more data.....

Add OL Ron Williams (6-2, 300)  Jacksonville, FL (5.80 in the 40 ) hopefully he has a quick first step -- his 24" vertical might be indicative.  Watching the Hudl tapes he pulls right and left quite frequently and cleans house inside. RB Austin Petrie (5-10 210) Livonia, MI (4.53 in the 40 and a 29" vertical)  Makes people miss and can outrun most HS DBs.

Petrie's highlights indicate good football speed and he's got nice size for a RB at this level. Defenders bounce off him.

[IndyValpo]

Jack Buckey (6-2 215) LB South Bend, IN

[VULB#62]

Nice size. Couldn't find any Hudl clips on him though.

BTW, I went back to the 2012 roster just to see how some of our better seniors  looked as freshmen. Alex was 6-3, 235 as a freshmen -- not much change by the time he was a senior -- actually played at 225 his last two years which was better for speed. John Guilford, on the other hand, came in at 6-4, 205 and played at 6-4, 260 as a senior -- shows what maturity and weights can do.

[vu72]

Nice size. Couldn't find any Hudl clips on him though.

BTW, I went back to the 2012 roster just to see how some of our better seniors  looked as freshmen. Alex was 6-3, 235 as a freshmen -- not much change by the time he was a senior -- actually played at 225 his last two years which was better for speed. John Guilford, on the other hand, came in at 6-4, 205 and played at 6-4, 260 as a senior -- shows what maturity and weights can do.

Still, the kids coming in are a lot bigger than 260!

[VULB#62]

Nice size. Couldn't find any Hudl clips on him though.

BTW, I went back to the 2012 roster just to see how some of our better seniors  looked as freshmen. Alex was 6-3, 235 as a freshmen -- not much change by the time he was a senior -- actually played at 225 his last two years which was better for speed. John Guilford, on the other hand, came in at 6-4, 205 and played at 6-4, 260 as a senior -- shows what maturity and weights can do.

Still, the kids coming in are a lot bigger than 260!

True, but my point was the potential if the frame was there.  Guilford in his last two years was a beast and played at a great weight for a DE.   As for this class, DE Jimmy Zajac at 6-6, 235 has the frame to grow into a 255-265 body while still getting stronger (he runs a 5.2 40 now so I wouldn't want him any heavier than that if he is to stay at DE). Another DE, Shawn Pearce at 6-3, 280 should get trimmer (270ish?) but get stronger/quicker.  At DT, if Devan Hunt enrolls, at 6-4, 295, he'd pair up nicely with a bigger Tristan De La Rosa who played at 275 as a soph. Hopefully another big (6-2 or taller, 270 or bigger), agile DT shows up in the class.

One of the more evident shortcomings of the defense was size across the front.  Commentators made that point at both the EKU and JU games.  If we stick with the even front (4 DL and 3 LBs) we need the front 4 to be in the 280 (or bigger) range for the DTs and the DEs should both be in the 255-265 range with some height.  Last season we played DelLa Rosa at 275, Scoville at 245 at the DT and Guilford (260) and Cody Cotton (210) at DE.

[IndyValpo]

One of the more evident shortcomings of the defense was size across the front.  Commentators made that point at both the EKU and JU games.  If we stick with the even from (4 DL and 3 LBs) we need the front 4 to be in the 280 (or bigger) range for the DTs and the DEs should both be in the 255-265 range with some height.  Last season we played DelLa Rosa at 275, Scoville at 245 at the DT and Guilford (260) and Cody Cotton (210) at DE.

Agreed, whatever happened to Doepke. He played a lot as a freshman then got hurt. He has the necessary size. I wonder if we will move some OL's over during the spring.

[VULB#62]

Agreed, whatever happened to Doepke. He played a lot as a freshman then got hurt. He has the necessary size. I wonder if we will move some OL's over during the spring.

That might happen.  Based on 2015 roster numbers (excluding seniors) and being unable to account for non-returnees ....

There are 11 DEs (3) and DLs (8).  Of which 5 are 6-2 or taller and weigh 235 or more.  Only 1 of the 5 is a junior -- the rest are sophs and freshmen.

There are 16 OLs.  Of which 12 are 6-2 or taller and are 235 or heavier.  Only 1 of the 12 was a R-Soph, and 11 were freshmen.

For a better roster balance 2-3 OLs could convert to DE/DTs.  But that depends greatly on skills and speed (and a defensive mindset -- which IS DIFFERENT from being an OL).

This data also gives more perspective to the roster makeup for 2016.  Our stable of linemen (regardless of O or D) is 27.  Of that 27, going into 2016 we will have 18 sophomores, 7 juniors, and only 2 seniors. Wow, still very young up front on both sides of the ball.

UPDATE:  More data:

        Current potential returnees from the "published" 2-deep at the end of the season:
            OL:  Average HT: 6-2 ⅔; Average Weight: 273 (268 without 320 lb. Terrance Roberts who skews the picture a bit)
            DL:  Average HT: 6-2 ¼; Average Weight: 244

       Given my 'arbitrary' OL (285) and DL (265) target thresholds, any doubt that we need to get bigger is laid to rest, yes?

MORE RELATED STUFF....

       I compared the OL 2-Deep from game #2 SHU with the game #11 JU 2-Deep.  Interesting. 

       We lost/lose Nate Koeneman to injury and graduation and Sam Matternack to graduation.  So among the others BU LT Terrance Roberts,  starter at LG Shannon Taliafero (replacing Jones), Connor Rettig (starting after Nate went down), BU at LG and RG Houston Underwood, and BU RT Tom Schofield all appear on both as either starters or backups. Starting players on the SHU 2-Deep who are not on the JU 2-Deep were sophomores LG Jonathan Hammond and RG Kyle Jones (both of whom are not returning for 2016) and freshman Alex Cotton who was a backup RT (could have been hurt?).  New to the JU 2-Deep are starter at LT Brian Lang (Freshman 6-4, 255), starter at LG Eric Rentschler (Freshman 6-2, 285), and BU C Jack Jarnigan (Freshman 6-3, 270).

One LAST observation (I promise -- on this post)

       I looked at the pictures of our underclassmen linemen and came to a generalization.  With a few exceptions most of the heavier players still have a lot of baby fat to shed and muscle to build.  Hope they are living in the weight room between now and Spring ball.[/li][/list]

[VULB#62]

National Signing Day is in 6 Days.  It will be nice to actually see the first wave of committed recruits. 

[tweet]692794502709383168[/tweet]

[VU2624]

2 DBs, a LB...specifically mentioned as a MLB, and a WR are the latest commits.

Haven't seen a QB listed yet which is extremely concerning at this point.

[VULB#62]

With you on the QB.

[IndyValpo]

Updated list of QB candidates, only one has committed that I am aware of...

QB   Zach Hazlett   Dublin, OH   
QB   JP Petricca   Orland Park, IL   
QB   Luke Shepherd   Grayslake, IL   
QB   Joey Moore   Lombard, IL   
QB   Jimmy Seewald   Dearborn, MI   
QB   Peyton Huslig   Andover, Kansas   
QB   Anthony Binetti   Huntley, Illinois   
QB   Danny Carollo   Lake Bluff, Illinois   
QB   Conner Lovely   Aurora, IL   
QB   Chris Duncan   Woodland Hills, CA   
QB   Patrick Bringingstool   Chippewa Valley, MI   
QB   Michael Frankl   Ames, IA   Drake


There may be others.....

[VULB#62]

Indy, what's your source?

[IndyValpo]

Twitter, sadly I was bored one weekend and I went through our coaches followers looking for QB's. My guess is there are others I missed.

[vu72]

Luke Shepherd committed to St. Cloud State and Payton Huslig to Garden City CC

[VU2624]

Twitter, sadly I was bored one weekend and I went through our coaches followers looking for QB's. My guess is there are others I missed.

Even more sadly, I did the same searching for any current JC QBs who coaches might be following. Didn't find any.

[VULB#62]

Tomorrow is National Signing Day.

Here's an early list of 2016 commits from Brandon
[tweet]694303429737517056[/tweet]

Note the two Valpo HS commits.  Heavy on Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. 

Conspicuous in their absence are big DLs and QBs, as we noted previously.  Let's hope that we see some of each tomorrow. Things don't end tomorrow though.  If we don't pick up some now, the second wave (after scholarship FCS schools close their books) gives us other opportunities. There is also the transfer route.  FCS QBs who see the writing on the wall and realize they might be aced out of a significant playing role are also good targets for Valpo.  Butler's record setting QB, Matt Lancaster, who transferred from Illinois State, is a prime example.

My fingers are crossed.

[IndyValpo]

Add another LB:
Michael O'Brien 5-11 210 Mason, OH

[VULB#62]

Yup.  Here's Brandon's tweet on him:

[tweet]694350631348363264[/tweet]

Check out his Hudl highlights.  Goes to the ball really well.

Observation on the earlier list -- only one Florida player this time around out of the 19 names we have (now including O'Brien).  That could be because former coach, Kurt Mattix, was responsible for that state and he left right after the season ended.

Oops. Just noticed Jack Buckley ( Buckey) was listed twice, so it's 18.