2011 BYU recruiting........

[Jacob]

What , he has been to at least one camp hasn't he? I thought that was a must before he could get an offer. Am I wrong?

Jr day? Gurney said that most guys at Jr day don't attend the camp.

[Uncle Ted]

Jr day? Gurney said that most guys at Jr day don't attend the camp.

The rumor is that he plans to commit after taking all of his official trips. Of course, if he plans on committing to BYU then why is taking the trips?

[Goatnapper'96]

The rumor is that he plans to commit after taking all of his official trips. Of course, if he plans on committing to BYU then why is taking the trips?

The youngster has a top 6. I thought the magic number was a top 5 because that is the number of recruiting trips one can take. I am thinking one of his top 6 is being strung along.

Saying that, time will tell but it is looking to me that Pau'u and Mangum are going to be BYU's best pickups in this class. From appearances a bit lackluster.

[byu71]

The youngster has a top 6. I thought the magic number was a top 5 because that is the number of recruiting trips one can take. I am thinking one of his top 6 is being strung along.

Saying that, time will tell but it is looking to me that Pau'u and Mangum are going to be BYU's best pickups in this class. From appearances a bit lackluster.

It would be nice to know the reason some of these "top" LDS kids pass on BYU.

Is it the power and lure of the big time programs. Down deep do they know they would have a hard time lasting. Is it some of them just don't like the supposed atmoshpere down there.

I do know something about teenage athletes, but I would like to really know. Maybe the answer is a combination of those things.

I think Bronco early on said we would get em all, at least all of them from Utah. That was naive and I give him a pass on saying that. If we beat big time programs and become a top attraction because of our winning ways and do get to a BCS game, I don't care if Bronco only recruits kids with their duty to God award. However, right now I would like to get all the top kids.

[Goatnapper'96]

It would be nice to know the reason some of these "top" LDS kids pass on BYU.

Is it the power and lure of the big time programs. Down deep do they know they would have a hard time lasting. Is it some of them just don't like the supposed atmoshpere down there.

I do know something about teenage athletes, but I would like to really know. Maybe the answer is a combination of those things.

I think Bronco early on said we would get em all, at least all of them from Utah. That was naive and I give him a pass on saying that. If we beat big time programs and become a top attraction because of our winning ways and do get to a BCS game, I don't care if Bronco only recruits kids with their duty to God award. However, right now I would like to get all the top kids.

I think it is a mixture of many things. From where I sit it appears to me that it is often feast or famine. Take Heaps' year for example. BYU lands Heaps, Rowley, Apo, Kaufusi, Fua, Mulitalo, Stout, Ho-Ching and Tuiloma. All of those kids had offers from big time programs, save perhaps Tuiloma who I think was one that just fell through the recruiting cracks. IMO, that is 8-9 LDS kids in one class with big time athletic potential. That class is aided with non-LDS recruits in Jordan Johnson, Quezada and Fabulije (who obviously transferred). 3 non-LDS recruits in one year where I would have been overjoyed to get one. I think part of it was the hype started by Heaps and that just became contagious. It often appears that recruiting is cyclical and I wonder if the BYU coaches are resting a bit or just not as aggressive subconsciously because of all the young talent at their disposal. I am just concerned about some rough years post Jake Heaps.

Last year I don't think there was as much high end LDS talent. This year it appears there isn't as much as Heaps' SR year either but I think there is more this year than last. I think BYU will land Pau'u and they are pretty likely to keep Mangum. It appears likely they will lose Kaumatule, Hinds, Biegal, Fanaika and Aflaava. I would be happy with this class if BYU could get two out of the 5 I think they are going to not land. IMO that would be 50% and that is about as high as I think you can expect BYU to get.

Edit: I forgot Blair Tushuas, so that would be 4 non-LDS recruits in one year that appear really capable. I just wonder if one loses a bit of their recruiting edge when they see the young talent BYU has in the program. Perhaps that is why it seems so cyclical under Mendenhall.

[byu71]

I think it is a mixture of many things. From where I sit it appears to me that it is often feast or famine. Take Heaps' year for example. BYU lands Heaps, Rowley, Apo, Kaufusi, Fua, Mulitalo, Stout, Ho-Ching and Tuiloma. All of those kids had offers from big time programs, save perhaps Tuiloma who I think was one that just fell through the recruiting cracks. IMO, that is 8-9 LDS kids in one class with big time athletic potential. That class is aided with non-LDS recruits in Jordan Johnson, Quezada and Fabulije (who obviously transferred). 3 non-LDS recruits in one year where I would have been overjoyed to get one. I think part of it was the hype started by Heaps and that just became contagious. It often appears that recruiting is cyclical and I wonder if the BYU coaches are resting a bit or just not as aggressive subconsciously because of all the young talent at their disposal. I am just concerned about some rough years post Jake Heaps.

Last year I don't think there was as much high end LDS talent. This year it appears there isn't as much as Heaps' SR year either but I think there is more this year than last. I think BYU will land Pau'u and they are pretty likely to keep Mangum. It appears likely they will lose Kaumatule, Hinds, Biegal, Fanaika and Aflaava. I would be happy with this class if BYU could get two out of the 5 I think they are going to not land. IMO that would be 50% and that is about as high as I think you can expect BYU to get.

Edit: I forgot Blair Tushuas, so that would be 4 non-LDS recruits in one year that appear really capable. I just wonder if one loses a bit of their recruiting edge when they see the young talent BYU has in the program. Perhaps that is why it seems so cyclical under Mendenhall.

Maybe it is just cyclical. Although I just smiled when people talked about what a great recruiter Heaps was, maybe I should been more believing.

I am just not in the camp that has Bronco as an awesome recruiter. However, given the restrictions he recruits under, maybe he is. There are enough restriction though without him adding his own, IMHO. Again if he wins and I don't mean 9-3 because he beats up on teams that really should be playing flag football, he can recruit anyway he wants.

[Portland Ute]

It would be nice to know the reason some of these "top" LDS kids pass on BYU.

However, right now I would like to get all the top kids.

I'm fairly surprised at these comments.

I love you, man...<tearing up>, but they seem pretty cougarboard-esque.

Maybe you were being a bit sarcastic. Maybe not.

As an "outsider", albeit biased, there are many reasons a recruit would pass on BYU.

Quite simply, there are better football programs that get more attention out there. Oregon, USC, ND (okay, maybe not better, but higher profile), UCLA, the Big12, SEC, etc...

Inside Utah, you have kids that have grown up going to release time seminary and have been around LDS kids all the time. They may very well not want to go to BYU because they want to experience other things.

A % of in-state LDS kids might just want to get out of state. Similar to the above.

Some of them, gasp!, might have even grown up watching the U. and are diehard fans of the U.


Some may be very well behaved LDS kids that just don't want to put up with the BYU environment.

Some may be LDS kids with skeletons in the closet and they don't want to deal with the Honor Code.

Some may not like Bronco. I know...unthinkable.

There are plenty of LDS kids, good ones even, that just don't like BYU.

[Goatnapper'96]

Maybe it is just cyclical. Although I just smiled when people talked about what a great recruiter Heaps was, maybe I should been more believing.

I am just not in the camp that has Bronco as an awesome recruiter. However, given the restrictions he recruits under, maybe he is. There are enough restriction though without him adding his own, IMHO. Again if he wins and I don't mean 9-3 because he beats up on teams that really should be playing flag football, he can recruit anyway he wants.

BYU had Haule Jamora committed Heaps' year. Do you really think Jamora hit all of the various additional restrictions your are referencing that Mendenhall adds? I thought we had established that type of talk was a smokescreen. Have you had your meds today, oldtimer?

That is the strange aspect of Heaps class. In addition to those he landed he had recruits from Jamora and Schwenke before they went elsewhere. I am skeptical Jamora could have lasted at BYU, but I still lament the loss of Schwenke. While Bronco might have paraded as a tough guy with cutting his scholarship my instinct is Mendenhall did that to fan the smokescreen knowing full well that if he kept the promise to Kona open, it would have gone unfulfilled.

I think Mendnehall is trying to improve his recruiting by going to a younger and more charismatic staff, so part of me agrees with you and thinks Mendenhall is doing his best to rectify a shortcoming on his staff. It doesn't appear to be bearing fruit this year but recruiting has become a real long term process. Further there is still much to go in this year so perhaps all is not lost yet.

[byu71]

I'm fairly surprised at these comments.

I love you, man...<tearing up>, but they seem pretty cougarboard-esque.

Maybe you were being a bit sarcastic. Maybe not.

As an "outsider", albeit biased, there are many reasons a recruit would pass on BYU.

Quite simply, there are better football programs that get more attention out there. Oregon, USC, ND (okay, maybe not better, but higher profile), UCLA, the Big12, SEC, etc...

Inside Utah, you have kids that have grown up going to release time seminary and have been around LDS kids all the time. They may very well not want to go to BYU because they want to experience other things.

A % of in-state LDS kids might just want to get out of state. Similar to the above.

Some of them, gasp!, might have even grown up watching the U. and are diehard fans of the U.


Some may be very well behaved LDS kids that just don't want to put up with the BYU environment.

Some may be LDS kids with skeletons in the closet and they don't want to deal with the Honor Code.

Some may not like Bronco. I know...unthinkable.

There are plenty of LDS kids, good ones even, that just don't like BYU.

I am afraid you are in love with my body and not my mind.

I referenced all those things as reasons kids may not "legitamately" not choose BYU. What I said is I would like to know from those kids which of those "reasons" is the one they aren't choosing. I don't like the speculation over on CB that the kid was, "not worthy", "had bad grades", "doesn't want to go on a mission" et. al. I want to know the real reason. I doubt that will happen though as most kids choose not to offend those of their faith who consider BYU to be where the "best of the church" hang out.

After recognizing those things, it is still not unreasonable for me to "want" to get all the best LDS kids. Heck, I want all the best non-LDS kids too.

[byu71]

Have you had your meds today, oldtimer?

I have backed off on my meds. I don't like how nice and amiable I have become when I am on them.

You are right. What we decided years ago is still in force. Bronco talks to the "two" fan bases within the base. He does know what it will take to win though and knows that is really his "job".

I guess I just get bugged "when I am not on my meds" that those things he says gives so many of the folks on CB a boner. I wish they would concentrate on getting one the regular way.

[Art Vandelay]

I think Joe Sampson is likely as talented a db prospect as BYU has had in some time. I don't know if he is at the same level of physical ability, in his position group, as Ryker Mathews but he is a great prospect.

Saying that there is part of me that is a bit apprehensive about Joe. I think Joe is a stud gifted, but he is the type of stud that mid-majors like Utah and BYU have to take chances on. I am glad that he chose BYU, but I think we should temper our excitement and expectations about him contributing. While I think his natural ability is as high as that at many big time BCS level programs, my instinct is many of those programs passed on him not because his cousin was a Broncoite doing more with less vertical height than Steve Young's mister happy did during Steve's thirties...or something like that. My point is I believe that big time schools cooled on Joe because they recognized that it might take him 3 years at a JC to get his associates. Now he did get his associates and he is elgible to play at BYU for next year, that is great for BYU. But BYU's defensive scheme seeks to maximize BYU's strength which is older, more mature players recognized for high football IQs more frequently than eye popping natural athleticism. I have my concerns that Joe will be able to get the reps and experience neccesary to master any position on the field enough to garner any playing time. Heaven knows I hope I am wrong, as I think a defensive backfield of Sampson at the BC, Eason at FC, Spencer Hadley at FS and Dan Sorenson at SS could be really good by October. But I think it likely we will see Eason and Buckner at CBs and Sorenson and Uale at safeties. This is why I have my reservations......

I see the most likely endstate of Sampson at BYU as not real well. I don't think he will demonstrate that he knows where to be often enough in practice, despite his awesome athleticism, to earn any meaningful playing time. He will not be happy. I could see Sampson getting depressed or frustrated and either transferring to a FCS or smaller level division or getting kicked out for grades or some undisclosed HC violation. It has the early signs of potential disaster, IMO. Fans who are aware of his awesome athleticism will whine like the women of Srbrnca that Bronco is playing Uale because of Uale's "real life experiences." I am looking at you '71 as the String Puller in Charge to lead this whining!

That whining will annoy me as I don't accept that Bronco thinks Travis' door knocking experiences make him a better football player but rather Travis knowing where to be on the field. With Sampson I think the most gifted 4 dbs are Sampson, Eason, Sorenson and Spencer Hadley. However, BYU doesn't play a system with a lot of man to man coverages where athleticism can compensate for "position mastery." Perhaps this season they can move in that direction but I doubt it as while these kids are better athletes than Quinn Gooch might have been they are still not elite college level athletes. I just don't think Hadley can pick up enough of the nuances of the schemes to take over at FS with one fall camp and I have my concerns that Sampson will ever know any one position well enough to play, but the ingredients are there for an enormous whine fest should BYU slip up in any or some of their tough matchups next year.

Are you mixing up Preston and Spencer? I've never seen Spencer listed anywhere other than ILB. In fact, I have been surprised to learn, there is a decent shot he goes into fall camp listed as a starter. I think he eventually, settles in as a backup this year, who sees a fair amount of action.

[Uncle Ted]

I referenced all those things as reasons kids may not "legitamately" not choose BYU. What I said is I would like to know from those kids which of those "reasons" is the one they aren't choosing. I don't like the speculation over on CB that the kid was, "not worthy", "had bad grades", "doesn't want to go on a mission" et. al. I want to know the real reason. I doubt that will happen though as most kids choose not to offend those of their faith who consider BYU to be where the "best of the church" hang out.

After recognizing those things, it is still not unreasonable for me to "want" to get all the best LDS kids. Heck, I want all the best non-LDS kids too.

After BYU offered Tuni Kanuch a scholarship I really don't see how anyone can speculate about bad grades (Tuni's GPA: 2.59 ACT: 18).

Considering that BYU is playing at least two games in Texas this year I have to wonder why they are not going after some more talent down this way. If they want to keep recruiting california kids then maybe they should try scheduling game or two in that state.

[Portland Ute]

I am afraid you are in love with my body and not my mind.

I referenced all those things as reasons kids may not "legitamately" not choose BYU. What I said is I would like to know from those kids which of those "reasons" is the one they aren't choosing. I don't like the speculation over on CB that the kid was, "not worthy", "had bad grades", "doesn't want to go on a mission" et. al. I want to know the real reason. I doubt that will happen though as most kids choose not to offend those of their faith who consider BYU to be where the "best of the church" hang out.

I understand. Probably more of an issue for CB. It's hard to expect recruits that sign with other schools to explain their decision so as to avoid speculation on CB.

After recognizing those things, it is still not unreasonable for me to "want" to get all the best LDS kids. Heck, I want all the best non-LDS kids too.

I understand. Want is a lot different than expect. I want all in-state Utah players of quality to go to the U. I don't, however, expect it. No different.

[Goatnapper'96]

Are you mixing up Preston and Spencer? I've never seen Spencer listed anywhere other than ILB. In fact, I have been surprised to learn, there is a decent shot he goes into fall camp listed as a starter. I think he eventually, settles in as a backup this year, who sees a fair amount of action.

Spencer or Preston....all those Hadley's look the same to me!

[Goatnapper'96]

Are you mixing up Preston and Spencer? I've never seen Spencer listed anywhere other than ILB. In fact, I have been surprised to learn, there is a decent shot he goes into fall camp listed as a starter. I think he eventually, settles in as a backup this year, who sees a fair amount of action.

If I could return to this thread, why play Spencer Hadley this year at ILB if he is not a starter? I hearken back to the decision to play Bryan Kehl in 2005 as a backup at OLB. How much better would BYU have been in 2008 if Bryan would have still had one more year of elgibility. With the linebacker situation as it is, is Spencer going to provide any better play than BYU could not get from Ogletree, Jorgenson and Leing-Wei? Now as I read the tea leaves the BYU ILB position is more adequately stacked for future use than what the BYU OLB was post Bryan Kehl, but I wonder if it will be a wasted year for Spencer to play a back up role. Let him RS and then play a back up role with limited reps next year and then after Kaveinga, Jorgenson and Ogletree graduate he will be more than ready to step into one of the starting positions. Just seems to me a dumb allocation of resources. I give for an example Uona Kaveinga, I was glad he was not allowed to play last year. He would not have made much of a difference on last year's team as the offense was going to struggle regardless if he was on the field or not. However, I doubt the offense is going to struggle when Uona is a senior in 2012.