Football Recruiting 2018

[VU2014]

The coaches have been hitting the recruiting trail hard. They've made a lot of offers the last weeks and just landed a commitment last night.
https://twitter.com/byrdbro68/status/937544255727456256

[valpofb16]

12/04/2017 Commits:

DE: Adrian Guzman Valparaiso HS (IN) 6'4 215
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8141382/59f9fd59f560680c8477013f#
Other Offers: NA
Played primarily DT last year, absolutely huge frame, showed ability to pass rush


OL: Aaron Byrd Bradley HS (IL) 6'3 280
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/5039987/59f65d95bed70d0dd022d6cd
Other Offers: Rose-Hulman, Olivet Nazarene
Good run blocking moves well projects as a guard, Pass protection looks good as well

[VULB#62]

Checking out Jason Mirran's Twitter, I picked up these bits and pieces:

[tweet]935141246967992320[/tweet]

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[tweet]933069485858103296[/tweet]

6'2, 275 DT/DE

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/667859/59af092a5cb42c0df0507562

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[tweet]937676703027081216[/tweet]

6'4, 270 T/C

https://www.hudl.com/profile/4645732/devin-golden

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[tweet]937516159150280705[/tweet]

6'2, 229 DE/TE/MLB

http://www.hudl.com/profile/5291331/chris-dascher

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[tweet]937453099840655360[/tweet]

5'9, 140, WR/CB, 4.45 40

https://www.hudl.com/profile/4139233/tyrese-jackson

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[tweet]937140023102726146[/tweet]

6'4, 288 G/C/T, 4.5 GPA

https://www.hudl.com/profile/6181821/jacob-kaplan

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[tweet]937183027255545856[/tweet]

6'2, 198, QB/P

https://www.hudl.com/profile/4026406/mike-hohensee

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[tweet]935563003063361545[/tweet]

6'2, 190lb. DB, 4.8 40 (Florida)

https://www.hudl.com/profile/7606751/jakai-linwood

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[tweet]93563452097972224[/tweet]

6'3, 220 lb, TE/OLB/LS (Florida)

http://www.hudl.com/profile/8082380/ramsey-baty

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[tweet/]935680820089470976[/tweet]

6'2, 205 lb. SS/WR, 4.61 40 (California)

https://www.hudl.com/profile/6668127/jack-ohearn

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[tweet]936017910266556416[/tweet]

WR, 4.49 40 (Florida)

https://www.hudl.com/profile/4804970/joshua-alexander

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[tweet]936287518483517441[/tweet]

6'4, 235, DE/DT, 4.9 40 (Florida) (3.55 GPA)

http://www.hudl.com/profile/5306487/sebastian-bruno

[VUGrad1314]

Offers? I thought VU football was non-scholarship Are we contemplating a move up to schollie-FCS football and a move to the MVFC?

[VULB#62]

Offers? I thought VU football was non-scholarship Are we contemplating a move up to schollie-FCS football and a move to the MVFC?

No.  Absolutely, NO. Despite being non-scholarship in FB , all D-I athletes will have to sign a national letter of intent because we are D-I.  Part of that process is extending an offer (AKA, "invitation to apply").  It is non-binding on both sides.  The FB staff is merely saying "we'd like you to play football for Valpo."  There is no scholarship offered. And unlike a scholarship offer, the player will have to apply and go through the standard financial aid process.  As in most schools in the PFL, Valpo FB will have a certain number of applicants that will be given a priority screening. Along those same lines, I would also assume that Dave and his staff might have a little input into the amount and types of financial aid the university will commit to the kid (like if the aid package needs to be bumped up a little to ensure we get that player). 

But it is still tough.  I remember this kid Bama Powell.  He came in as a freshman in 2013 at 6'3, 320.  By the end of the season he dominated the nose position  (for a very poor Carlson team).  He actually was FCS scholarship caliber talent. He was an engineering major.  He left that next year and I understand that financial aid was one reason. Never found out where he eventually wound up.  Had he stayed, he would have been a defensive mainstay of Dave Cecchini's first teams.

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/BoilerAD/status/943484063805005824

[vu72]

Offers? I thought VU football was non-scholarship Are we contemplating a move up to schollie-FCS football and a move to the MVFC?

No.  Absolutely, NO. Despite being non-scholarship in FB , all D-I athletes will have to sign a national letter of intent because we are D-I.  Part of that process is extending an offer (AKA, "invitation to apply").  It is non-binding on both sides.  The FB staff is merely saying "we'd like you to play football for Valpo."  There is no scholarship offered. And unlike a scholarship offer, the player will have to apply and go through the standard financial aid process.  As in most schools in the PFL, Valpo FB will have a certain number of applicants that will be given a priority screening. Along those same lines, I would also assume that Dave and his staff might have a little input into the amount and types of financial aid the university will commit to the kid (like if the aid package needs to be bumped up a little to ensure we get that player). 

But it is still tough.  I remember this kid Bama Powell.  He came in as a freshman in 2013 at 6'3, 320.  By the end of the season he dominated the nose position  (for a very poor Carlson team).  He actually was FCS scholarship caliber talent. He was an engineering major.  He left that next year and I understand that financial aid was one reason. Never found out where he eventually wound up.  Hand he stayed, he would have been a defensive mainstay of Dave Cecchini's first teams.

I read someplace that a recent gift (or possibly a commitment for a future gift from an estate) was partially to assist financially for football players.  I wonder how that will work.  Could it be treated as giving funds to assist biology majors but instead it is football players?  I wonder how that will impact the non-scholarship aspect of Valpo football?

[VULB#62]

That is a very good question. Teams like Jacksonville and USD used what I believe were called President's Scholarships to augment financial aid to some FB players. Abuse of that got both on PFL probation and forefiture of wins. At least I think that was the case.

In my mind (which is not necessarily logical or stable  ) I would have to think that in order to meet the PFL non-scholarship criterion, financial aid would have to come from common sources available to all applicants and be totally need-based.  Grants for, say, a great artist or musician, or an academic grant to a very bright mathematician are a reward for those specific talents in the form of a "scholarship" that can be augmented by other financial aid based on financial need. In the case of a scholarship fund to support, in this case, the 'talent' of football, that would not comply with our non-"scholarship" commitment.

From the possibly flawed perspective I stated above, I can't see how a fund like the one you cited could be used. On the other hand, that same fund could easily endow the HFBC seat, as many Ivy schools do, or underwrite a recruiting budget (MBB has such an endowment). I just don't know how the money could go directly to a player.

[JD24]

That is a very good question. Teams like Jacksonville and USD used what I believe were called President's Scholarships to augment financial aid to some FB players. Abuse of that got both on PFL probation and forefiture of wins. At least I think that was the case. In my mind (which is not necessarily logical or stable  ) I would have to think that in order to meet the PFL non-scholarship criterion, financial aid would have to come from common sources available to all applicants and be totally need-based. 

Valpo has three levels of these types of scholarships. Board of Directors, Presidential and Honors from highest to lowest. These are all available to all students which is the criteria for non scholarship programs.

[VULB#62]

Thanks, 24, for that info. So it is discretionary. The key is whether it is applied universally or disproportionately to support a football program?

[JD24]

Thanks, 24, for that info. So it is discretionary. The key is whether it is applied universally or disproportionately to support a football program?

I believe that is the case. Valpo reviews every student for the awards.

[valpofb16]

Early attrition report

Graduation:
#4 JJ Nunes
#10 Jarrett Morgan
#16 Ryan Clarke
#17 Brandon Riley
#30 frank catrine
#34 Jay slone
#43 John Regan
#56 Tristan DE LA Rosa 
#98 Jake Simpson

Left team:
#6 Logan Pfizenmayer
#39 Jack Buckey
#46 Josh baker
#51 Nick Antonacci
#61 Sean Pierce
#64 Sean Stephens
#86 Kevin Wright


Returning to team:
#15 Isaac Lane

[valpotx]

Congrats to the graduates!

[JD24]

Congrats to the graduates!

to be.

[valpofb16]

I believe over the New Years we pulled in another recruit

OL Jordan Adkins Concord 6'4 255
Other offers: Eastern Kentucky

[IndyValpo]

Early attrition report

Left team:
#6 Logan Pfizenmayer
#39 Jack Buckey
#46 Josh baker
#51 Nick Antonacci
#61 Sean Pierce
#64 Sean Stephens
#86 Kevin Wright

No surprise we lost some OL.  We had 18 on the roster (I think) and zero graduated plus we now have two committed for next year.  Both Pierce and Antonacci were centers so we need to add one.  Pfizenmayer saw some action at LB and special teams.  I thought Wright (based on his highlight tape) looked like a player.

[JD24]

Early attrition report Left team: #6 Logan Pfizenmayer #39 Jack Buckey #46 Josh baker #51 Nick Antonacci #61 Sean Pierce #64 Sean Stephens #86 Kevin Wright

No surprise we lost some OL.  We had 18 on the roster (I think) and zero graduated plus we now have two committed for next year.  Both Pierce and Antonacci were centers so we need to add one.  Pfizenmayer saw some action at LB and special teams.  I thought Wright (based on his highlight tape) looked like a player.

Kevin Wright transferred to Snow College which is a pretty good JC program in Utah.

[valpofb16]

Donny Navarro and Dilan Scargle have also opted for juco and won't be returning. Oh well plenty of freshman players have left past two years, We will be alright.

[VULB#62]

Both are big losses. They were starters. Wonder why.

[valpofb16]

Going to go juco to try and get another offer. Grass isnt always greener

Mike Scheerhorn: Florida State (D1) DNP
Cole Anderson: Colorado State (D1) career special teams
Steve Holman: UTSA (D1) career special teams
Denzell Conway: Transferred to Lindenwood (D2) played 0 snaps, transferred back and played scout team
Vincent McPherson: Walked on at Georgia State (D1) did not play a down
Jake Newman: Grad transfer Miami (OH) (D1) did not play a down
Keenan Franz: Stevenson (D3) played in 6 games 2017 non starter
Merek Pierce: Southern Methodist (D1) did not play a down
Domonique Bobo: Quincy (D2) third running back in rotation 2017
Torrin Sallis: Geneva College (D3) Starter
Kyle Petroff: Uindy(D2) did not play a down

[valpotx]

Good luck to both, but their numbers were a bit deceiving versus their overall talent.  I am sure that they can get some time at another FCS scholarship school, however.

[JD24]

Both are big losses. They were starters. Wonder why.

Cost.
Grades.
Weather.

[VULB#62]

Cost:  maybe, but after one year that cost could decrease in prportion to value. This is another era but I had a partial aid package as a freshman, but I checked in with Walt Reiner about possible more aid and going into my soph year (as a starter) doubled my grant. That can be negotiated, I believe.

Grades:  no knowledge here.

Weather: At least  Navarrow is from IL and his family would have a lot less to travel to any away games anywhere.

My thought is that both these kids think they could be playing at a much higher level and are gambling on that.

16's previous post kinda summarizes the end result. Same thing happened with talented  kids at our level during the Carlson era. None excelled or even played much if at all at the next level.

Unless a kid is an absolutely great player who is head and shoulders above the Valpo level (and think they are pro material) why move on except to get a full ride to ride the bench. What  is inspiring about that?

But I still want to know what happened to Bama Powell.

[valpofb16]

Bama had a horrible attitude and often cried at practice (no kidding), was down to 3rd string spring when coach Chick came in, often referenced he should be playing at a higher level, and didn't maintain grades.

Didn't play anywhere else just left Valpo.

[VULB#62]

Hmmmmmmm..... that's interesting.