FB Recruiting 2020

[IndyValpo]

New Commit: DE Chase Folkestad 6'1 230 O'Connor HS, Phoenix, AZ

Other Offers: Southwest Baptist, Minnesota Crookston, Saint Anslem, Western Colorado, Pacific, Fort Lewis

HS National Rank: 2335

Commits:
OL-Carpenter
OL-Byrd
DE-Folkestad
LB-Robbins
DB- Backes

Glad he didn't pick Minn-Crookston. They along with St Cloud State are dropping football.

[valpofb16]

New Commit: OL Mason Fortner Wadworth HS, OHIO. 6-2 270.

Other offers: Urbana University, Tiffin, Siena Heights, Ohio Dominican

HS National Rank: 890

Played LT in HS. Recruits landing a lot faster this year than usual. Also quality of schools going up as we have recruited 1 kid outside the top 3000

Commits:
OL-Byrd
OL-Carpenter
OL-Fortner
DE-Folkestad
LB-Robbins
DB- Backes

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Andrew Covert OL Gabriel Richard HS, Mich. 6-8 325.

Played RT in HS, teammate of the Hebdas

Other Offers: Lawrence Tech, Madonna College, Concordia University

HS National Rank: 8608

OL size is definitely improved, will be young. Also last few commits have passed up D2 offers for non scholly PFL

Commits:
OL-Byrd
OL-Carpenter
OL-Fortner
OL-Covert
DL-Folkestad
LB-Robbins
DB-Backes

[IndyValpo]

New Commit: OL Mason Fortner Wadworth HS, OHIO. 6-2 270.

Other offers: Urbana University, Tiffin, Siena Heights, Ohio Dominican

HS National Rank: 890

Played LT in HS. Recruits landing a lot faster this year than usual. Also quality of schools going up as we have recruited 1 kid outside the top 3000

Commits:
OL-Byrd
OL-Carpenter
OL-Fortner
DE-Folkestad
LB-Robbins
DB- Backes

I was trying to put some context in the recruiting ratings. If the website I found is accurate there are:
FBS 125 schools
FCS 129
D2 169
D3 250
NAIA 96

So not counting JC there are 769 schools playing football. 423 are D2 or higher meaning if each of those schools adds 20 that's over 8,400.

[valpofb16]

The ratings posted are their HS football teams national ranking according to maxpreps.

If the numbers you ran were correct, us getting heavy contributing players from top 3,000 schools is impressive with non scholarship football.

Fox's familiarity with the Midwest seems to be planning out early.

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Kurt Kessen Utica HS, Mich. ATH 6'3 230

Played H, TE, and DE in HS, projects as a DE or H in college, something we don't have currently

Other offers: N/A

HS National Rank: 6165

Commits:
ATH- Kessen
OL- Byrd
OL- Carpenter
OL- Fortner
OL- Covert
DL- Folkestad
LB- Robbins
DB- Backes

That is 8 commits early December, all good sized kids from the Midwest

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Brian Robinson Mallard Creek HS, North Carolina. RB 5'8 185

2nd leading rusher on team, 5.4 per carry, can catch out of backfield too

Other Offers: N/A

HS National Rank: 110!

Commits:
ATH-Kessen
RB-Robinson
OL-Byrd
OL-Carpenter
OL-Fortner
OL-Covert
DL-Folkestad
LB-Robbins
DB-Backes

9! In December! Wow

[valpofb16]

Roster news

Ruszkowski quit, was 5th string QB for most the season.

Russell and McKeag are done playing both related to injury. Russell horrific leg injury and McKeag nagging ones dating back to last season

Berkemeier quit which was a bit of a head scratcher, was only freshman not to RS

[IndyValpo]

Roster news

Ruszkowski quit, was 5th string QB for most the season.

Russell and McKeag are done playing both related to injury. Russell horrific leg injury and McKeag nagging ones dating back to last season

Berkemeier quit which was a bit of a head scratcher, was only freshman not to RS

So Ruzskowski was ahead of Salyers meaning we only have #4 and #6 returning.

Obviously QB is a recruiting need. I know we had in home visits with a Ty Poorman from Florida and Bailey Parker who played at East Noble near Fort Wayne this week.

Parker has among other offers a PWO with IU.

[valpofb16]

My apologies Rusz was behind Saylers.

Would be shocked to see a true Fr be the starter at QB next season. However they have 4 games to work with per FR.

Staff really likes Saylers and thinks he's the future. Nimz gets his shot too both come from winning programs.

[valpo64]

The Bailey Parker kid form East Noble H S, Kendallville, IN(just north of FW) also is a strong defensive backfield guy/safety who has commanded interest  for his defends.  He is a good athlete and was a very good QB.

[IndyValpo]

Would be shocked to see a true Fr be the starter at QB next season. However they have 4 games to work with per FR.

Agreed however having 2-3 QB's get hurt in not unusual for us.

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Zykee Bogan Houston County HS, Georgia 5-10 180 OLB

Will Play the CRU Position coming in next year, also could play safety

Other Offers: Jacksonville University (PFL Win!), Hanover, Avila University, Clarke University, Lawrence University, Southwest Minnesota State, Rockford

HS National Rank: 1031

Commits:
RB-Robinson
TE-Kessen
OL-Byrd
OL-Carpenter
OL-Fortner
OL-Covert
DL-Folkestad
LB-Robbins
OLB-Bogan
DB-Backes

Note: Kessen appears to be recruited at the TE position.

[vu72]

Valpo's national draw continues to amaze me.  We already have commits from seven different states.   

[bbtds]

Other Offers: Jacksonville University (PFL Win!), Hanover, Avila University, Clarke University, Lawrence University, Southwest Minnesota State, Rockford

Maybe the fact that Jacksonville is dropping their football team has a lot to do with Valpo beating them out for this recruit. 

[JD24]

North Dakota, North Dakota State(!!!), Illinois State for the games we hope most of the players return to campus in a state of some sort of marginal mobility for '20, '21 and '22 respectively. That's 3 2019 playoff teams including the No. 1 FCS team. North Dakota State and Illinois State are playing each other today.

For the lesser thrashing for '20 it's CCSU again in CT. Another FCS playoff team in 2019. Then home and home vs. Dartmouth for '21 and '22. Dartmouth was Ivy League championship this year and only lost a close one to Cornell which really wasn't all that great this year. Dartmouth opened with Jacksonville this year and beat the dead program 35-6. For '23 and '24 it will be St. Francis(PA) which could be an easier matchup and potentially a winable game.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/football/news/2019-20/19576/valpo-football-announces-future-nonconference-games/

[valpotx]

Fox is definitely being aggressive in scheduling.  I like it!

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Jake Vickers, Canton HS Mich. TE 6'3 240

Other Offers: Lawrence Tech

HS National Rank: 3628

Commits:
RB-Robinson
TE-Kessen
TE-Vickers
OL-Byrd
OL-Carpenter
OL-Fortner
OL-Covert
DL-Folkestad
LB-Robbins
OLB-Bogan
DB-Backes

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Nolan Garrard, Niles HS. Mich, OL 6'8 305

Other Offers: Aurora (Ill.), St. Norbert

HS National Rank: 9394

Commits:
RB-Robinson
TE-Kessen
TE-Vickers
OL-Byrd
OL-Carpenter
OL-Fortner
OL-Covert
OL-Garrard
DL-Folkestad
LB-Robbins
OLB-Bogan
DB-Backes

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Preston Evans Perrysburg HS, Ohio 6'2 215 TE

Other Offers: N/A (Bowling Green, Toledo Visits)

HS National Rank: 1598
Commits:
RB-Robinson
TE-Kessen
TE-Vickers
TE-Evans
OL-Byrd
OL-Carpenter
OL-Fortner
OL-Covert
OL-Garrard
DL-Folkestad
LB-Robbins
OLB-Bogan
DB-Backes

[ValpoFB60]

Hate to see that most of these guys don't have any other competitive offers. Doesn't bode well for the future

[valpotx]

Holy crap, we signed some OL beef today!  Fox is obviously trying to get some massive OL, probably with the hopes that he can develop some under-the-radar guys.

[valpofb16]

Added a ton of size at OL and TE today. Had no ability to run ball last year and it starts up front. Looks like they've taken raw large student focused athletes with hopes or retention and development.

A few notes from signing day.

1. We gained another DB (JUCO Christian Day from PA) and Brock Johnson (FB from TX)
2. Bogans, Robinson are signing after dead period
3. Fortner looks ready to go.
4. Still roughly 30 spots available.
5. No QBs, only 2 for spring. Chick had one year where Clarke was the only spring QB. Could be similar.

Overall hard to judge class because it's 2/3 not completed. From the team last season WR, QB, OL,DB we're our biggest concerns moving forward. We addressed one today at least numbers wise. Lets see how it all shakes out in February. No kicker either.

[usc4valpo]

The line was awful last year, but the italent at RB was lacking big time last year too. I hope they get some young guns with some speed.

[JD24]

Brock Johnson (FB from TX)

This guy appears to be a Fullback in name only. I looked at his highlights and he lined up in the backfield and ran the ball but didn't seem to play as a typical for these times fullback. More of an H-back or TE. He also appears too tall to be a true FB. Whatever he's called, his highlights indicate some ability.