Football recruiting 2023

[vu72]

Can we generalize on how DIII stars translate into DI non-scholarship?

Extremely well I would think.  Basically the same level.  We all know of D3 programs we wouldn't want to paly against.  Like Mount Union or St. Thomas for that matter. St. Thomas was runner-up twice since 2012 and we all have seen how that program translated into the Pioneer League.

[Turf and Grid Iron Dad]

VU72 - I think you are a bit behind the times. NIL has changed everything for non-scholarship D1. PFL can be considered scholarship with the proper donors. Schools like St Thomas, Dayton, SD and Davidson now have donors that can offer NIL that will equal most other FCS scholarship programs. A significant separation in PFL has started and will continue until something governs NIL. 

[VULB#62]

VU72 - I think you are a bit behind the times. NIL has changed everything for non-scholarship D1. PFL can be considered scholarship with the proper donors. Schools like St Thomas, Dayton, SD and Davidson now have donors that can offer NIL that will equal most other FCS scholarship programs. A significant separation in PFL has started and will continue until something governs NIL.

Holy $H!+ !!!!  We are so screwed. We have no structure in quaint little Valparaiso (or among our alumni) to even begin to support this.

This NIL thing absolutely sucketh.

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Bennett McCormick WR -
6'3 185  - Catholic Memorial - Wisconsin i

Notes: Same High School as Ben Nimz, had a basketball scholarship offer to Portland State

RB: Beidl , Thomas , Anoh (22)
WR: McCormick
OL: Rosen , Stierheim , Mickelberry (22), Owsley, Hemmersbach, Meyer, Russell, Pauley (22)
DL: Morris , Batres, Petrie, Zeff
DB: Geiman (19)

High School class in parenthesis


————-

Gridiron Turf Dad I agree to an extent. Top of line D3 would still do very well in PFL. A lot of money hid in "need base" scholarship

And as a rep from NCSA told me in 2012 sometimes we "need" a left tackle

[VULB#62]

Catholic Memorial just won* yet another WI D4 State Championship. That is a good program.

* CORRECTION:  lost 21-23. However, they have been perennial state champs. 

Two Rivers, where I live, took CM to the wire in the semi 14-20.  TR's only loss all season. TR is led by two Juniors, a  6'2" 185# QB and a 6' 210# RB. The RB ran for over 2,000 yds as a soph and over 1300 yds this regular season (12 games).  The reason for the reduced production was the maturing of the QB who threw for over 1000 as a soph but broke the 2000 yd threshold in 2022 and completed passes at a 74% rate.

TR should be back in the playoffs again next season with these two kids a year older and most of the team returning.

I tried to get the VU staff interested in both players, but pretty much heard crickets in reply. The University of Minnesota, however, is pretty interested in the RB and the QB has inquiries from a couple of D-Is already. By not at least inviting the kids to a Valpo prospect camp this summer, an opportunity to create an early relationship goes wasted.

[usc4valpo]

Blame Emmert and the NCAA academic idiots for the NIL mess. If they showed some level of compromise and pro activity toward this instead of getting slammed by the Supreme Court. The NIL out of control environment may cease to exist.

[historyman]

Two Rivers, where I live, took CM to the wire in the semi 14-21.  TR's only loss all season.

On the contrary, They lost to Trois-Rivières, Quebec by a river.

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Jimmy Pouba - 6'0 195 DB - College of Sequoias , SO

HS teammate of Owen Cherry, had offer from Drake / San Diego out of HS. Went JUCO

RB: Beidl , Thomas , Anoh (22)
WR: McCormick
OL: Rosen , Stierheim , Mickelberry (22), Owsley, Hemmersbach, Meyer, Russell, Pauley (22)
DL: Morris , Batres, Petrie, Zeff
DB: Geiman (19), Pouba (21)

High School class in parenthesis

[VULB#62]

Looks like the portal is being hit pretty hard.

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Gavin Houser - 6'1 180 LB/RB - Elkhart - IN

Power back, playmaker on defense. 62 touched on this but this class is light in terms of High School Seniors at this point (14). I have 70-75 returning players and Fox likes to bring in about 115-120 guys in the fall. Either Valpo is behind on recruiting or there will be ample transfers. Roughly 20-25 spots left.

Needs:

QB-Only Appel / Keefe on roster, Keefe had multiple PFL offers out of HS. Imagine that is the 1-2 moving forward. Tough sell to a high schooler, maybe a bounce back or juco guy here

WR- Someone has to play. Del Castillo was injured last year but played in '21 , Solomon Davis is the only real returner with experience. Big sophomore class

OL-Complete rebuild but they have brought in multiple guys. Denecke went back to Maine , need to fill quickly.

Defense we will be fine front 4 returns, think all 8 return from end of season rotation, LB-Doerer leaves but Annis comes back, Hines and Sciarroni back for 5th/covid years, Chilton, Days, Franco, Rao return out back. Geiman an experienced piece to help right away.

Offense was better last season but need to figure out / find a sustainable identity. Unless another scholarship RB falls from the sky.

RB: Beidl , Thomas , Anoh (22)
WR: McCormick
OL: Rosen , Stierheim , Mickelberry (22), Owsley, Hemmersbach, Meyer, Russell, Pauley (22)
DL: Morris , Batres, Petrie, Zeff
LB: Houser
DB: Geiman (19), Pouba (21)

High School class in parenthesis

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Isaiah Fowler 6'1 270 OL/DL - Chesterton , IN

Love the focus on northern Indiana grabs. Butts in seats. If game atmosphere gets better the kids will come

RB: Beidl , Thomas , Anoh (22)
WR: McCormick
OL: Rosen , Stierheim , Mickelberry (22), Owsley, Hemmersbach, Meyer, Russell, Pauley (22) , Fowler
DL: Morris , Batres, Petrie, Zeff
LB: Houser
DB: Geiman (19), Pouba (21)

High School class in parenthesis

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Austin Brown - 6'2 210 LB -Lemont -  Illinois

RB: Beidl , Thomas , Anoh (22)
WR: McCormick
OL: Rosen , Stierheim , Mickelberry (22), Owsley, Hemmersbach, Meyer, Russell, Pauley (22) , Fowler
DL: Morris , Batres, Petrie, Zeff
LB: Houser, Brown
DB: Geiman (19), Pouba (21)

High School class in parenthesis

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Brenden McIlvenna 6'4 280 - Guerin Catholic - Indiana

Finally getting some local wins over Uindy, Saint Francis, and Marian

RB: Beidl , Thomas , Anoh (22)
WR: McCormick
OL: Rosen , Stierheim , Mickelberry (22), Owsley, Hemmersbach, Meyer, Russell, Pauley (22) , Fowler, Mcilvenna
DL: Morris , Batres, Petrie, Zeff
LB: Houser, Brown
DB: Geiman (19), Pouba (21)

High School class in parenthesis

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Michael Comber 6'5 275 OT - Verona - Wisconsin



RB: Beidl , Thomas , Anoh (22)
WR: McCormick
OL: Rosen , Stierheim , Mickelberry (22), Owsley, Hemmersbach, Meyer, Russell, Pauley (22) , Fowler, Mcilvenna, Comber
DL: Morris , Batres, Petrie, Zeff
LB: Houser, Brown
DB: Geiman (19), Pouba (21)

High School class in parenthesis

[vu72]

Comber had offers from several D2 programs yet chose Valpo.  No doubt the D2 programs had much better facilities.  so why Valpo?  Two guesses. First is academics, he is a very good student. Second, is D1.  Those D2 programs would probably beat the snot out of Valpo yet kids want to say they played D1. 

[valpofb16]

Somewhat disrespectful vu72 this team took Illinois State to the wire last year and played Dartmouth close.


Wins over San Diego and IWU (who would be a top 25 D2 school), but





New Commit: Johnny Bebie 6'0 185 Rocky River OH -
DB



RB: Beidl , Thomas , Anoh (22)
WR: McCormick
OL: Rosen , Stierheim , Mickelberry (22), Owsley, Hemmersbach, Meyer, Russell, Pauley (22) , Fowler, Mcilvenna, Comber
DL: Morris , Batres, Petrie, Zeff
LB: Houser, Brown
DB: Geiman (19), Pouba (21), Bebie

High School class in parenthesis

[vu72]

Somewhat disrespectful vu72

Not my intent. Love Valpo and played some football there. It is the pull of high academics and playing a national level game schedule versus a bus ride schedule that no doubt appeals to many recruits.

[David81]

Comber had offers from several D2 programs yet chose Valpo.  No doubt the D2 programs had much better facilities.  so why Valpo?  Two guesses. First is academics, he is a very good student. Second, is D1.  Those D2 programs would probably beat the snot out of Valpo yet kids want to say they played D1. 

D2 is sort of an odd place. I'm not knocking any of the schools or programs that play at the level. Rather, it lacks an identity to me. By contrast, for some reason, I'm always curious about what the D3 football playoff picture looks like. All of these smaller school powerhouses like Mount Union, North Central, and so on.

Still, I know there's plenty of playing talent in D2. We've seen it recently with MBB, in Kevion Taylor and Nick Edwards.

[valpofb16]

Talked to my buddy who played at Saint Francis (NAIA) about this.


Not a monumental talent difference between D1 Non scholarship , Good NAIA, and Good D2 (and Whitewater/Mount Union)

Fall off is a really after you get passed the Ivy League. After the above levels there is another major drop in talent.

Really comes down to FASFA / Pell Grants vs Partial athletic scholarships at NAIA and D2

[vu72]

Talked to my buddy who played at Saint Francis (NAIA) about this.


Not a monumental talent difference between D1 Non scholarship , Good NAIA, and Good D2 (and Whitewater/Mount Union)

Fall off is a really after you get passed the Ivy League. After the above levels there is another major drop in talent.

Really comes down to FASFA / Pell Grants vs Partial athletic scholarships at NAIA and D2

Here are the scholarship limits for football:

D1 FBS    85
D1 FCS    63
D2          36
NAIA       24

These of course can be split up among many athletes.

[usc4valpo]

I agree with 72. The scores against Dartmouth and Illinois State were still decisive. It's a 60 minute game.

My daughter goes to NW Mo. St, and believe me that game wouLd be like NM State.

[valpofb16]

New Mexico State beat liberty 49-14. With all due respect that is a much different level than your daughter's D2 school.

Valpo lost to a Gliac playoff Truman State team 34-7 Fox's first year in, which was basement of program since 2015. Truman went 10-2, Valpo went 1-11.

More realistic this version of Valpo would be an upper third team in the Gliac or similar conference.

To call a 7 point game decisive is kinda odd against Illinois State. Dartmouth ran one in with 30 seconds left.

Not much of a difference and Valpo competes probably with 95% of D2 schools.

2014 Valpo (Dave's first year) beat William Jewell who beat both Uindy and Truman that year

[valpofb16]

New Commits:

Nicolas Lendino - 6'0 175 - CB - Nequa Valley - IL

Austin Lambert - 6'4 240 - DE - Olentangy Berlin - OH

RB: Beidl , Thomas , Anoh (22)
WR: McCormick
OL: Rosen , Stierheim , Mickelberry (22), Owsley, Hemmersbach, Meyer, Russell, Pauley (22) , Mcilvenna, Comber
DL: Morris , Batres, Petrie, Zeff, Fowler, Lambert
LB: Houser, Brown
DB: Geiman (19), Pouba (21), Bebie, Lendino

Class up to 26 a few weeks before signing day, including xfers. Very large refocus on the Midwest. Still in need of QBs and WRs

[IndyValpo]

New Commits:

Nicolas Lendino - 6'0 175 - CB - Nequa Valley - IL

Austin Lambert - 6'4 240 - DE - Olentangy Berlin - OH

RB: Beidl , Thomas , Anoh (22)
WR: McCormick
OL: Rosen , Stierheim , Mickelberry (22), Owsley, Hemmersbach, Meyer, Russell, Pauley (22) , Mcilvenna, Comber
DL: Morris , Batres, Petrie, Zeff, Fowler, Lambert
LB: Houser, Brown
DB: Geiman (19), Pouba (21), Bebie, Lendino

Class up to 26 a few weeks before signing day, including xfers. Very large refocus on the Midwest. Still in need of QBs and WRs

I know they had a QB visit recently. It is a tough one with 2 young QB's returning. However you walk in as #3 on the depth chart.

Is our Punter coming back? We certainly Ned a kicker.

[valpofb16]

New Commits:

James Langen - 6'4 230- DL - Lowell- IN

Caron Tyler - 5'11 180 - QB - Chapparal - CA


Tyler is a 3* on 247 coming in at QB which I believe is a program first. Even if he comes in for 2 years and transfers up. A massive grab.

QB: Tyler
RB: Beidl , Thomas , Anoh (22)
WR: McCormick
OL: Rosen , Stierheim , Mickelberry (22), Owsley, Hemmersbach, Meyer, Russell, Pauley (22) , Mcilvenna, Comber
DL: Morris , Batres, Petrie, Zeff, Fowler, Lambert, Langen
LB: Houser, Brown
DB: Geiman (19), Pouba (21), Bebie, Lendino