2011 BYU recruiting........

[statman]

So what position does Alex Kuresa play? I like the kid because he's a gamer. But where does he fit?

In the slot or DB

[byu71]

WTF is that a lot of irrelevant old guys spend far too much time worrying about 17 year old kids that due to missions may not see the field for 4 years. I include myself in that group.

I'll admit that I'd have liked to see a more exciting LOI day but I get excited by wins not by hype. As others have mentioned, the dearth of LDS talent and returning missionaries played a large part in this "lackluster" signing group so I'll take the wait and see approach to judge this team.

I am with you. I don't get excited over any recruit that says he has mission plans. Don't get me wrong, I am glad we got them, but why get excited. How many Collies come along. More of them come along and are busts after they get home than play a significant role before they leave.

I think of them as a recruit for next year if they are coming home off of their mission this year.

[Blueintheface]

Other than Sampson there is nobody in this class who I think sees the field at all next year. The only ones I can see playing before Jake Heaps' elgibility is used up are perhaps some of the Bingham kids at DL. There are some potential players, as I eruditely pointed out, but none of them will get their turn until about 2014.

And yet I still think, and I'm sure you'd agree, that with current players we have a pretty decent team this fall. It may not manifest itself until games 3 or 4, much like last year (ok more like game 9 in 2010) but by November we will get a preview of what a great couple of season await in 2012 and 2013.

[Blueintheface]

I am with you. I don't get excited over any recruit that says he has mission plans. Don't get me wrong, I am glad we got them, but why get excited. How many Collies come along. More of them come along and are busts after they get home than play a significant role before they leave.

I think of them as a recruit for next year if they are coming home off of their mission this year.

Saying that, I have to admit that I do think Utah's recruiting class at least on the surface seems much better so they have every reason to be excited. Again, you never know, but they appear to have earned some pretty nice recruits at key skill positions that BYU just didn't get.

To be honest, for the first time in...well ever...I'm actually less interested in LOI day than I am in BYU basketball. Perhaps had more names been mentioned throughout the offseason leading up to LOI day I'd have paid more attention but anticipating a Sweet 16 run is just too much to ignore.

[TripletDaddy]

Saying that, I have to admit that I do think Utah's recruiting class at least on the surface seems much better so they have every reason to be excited. Again, you never know, but they appear to have earned some pretty nice recruits at key skill positions that BYU just didn't get.

To be honest, for the first time in...well ever...I'm actually less interested in LOI day than I am in BYU basketball. Perhaps had more names been mentioned throughout the offseason leading up to LOI day I'd have paid more attention but anticipating a Sweet 16 run is just too much to ignore.

Nobody knows how these kids will pan out. Why would that matter today? These kids were stars in HS and that is what matters today.

Are you going to wait until the 2011 season is over, sit on your couch and evaluate, and then allow an ex-post facto feeling of euphoria rush over you for the recruiting class of 2008?

The fun of LOI Day is that you get to see how the schools are perceived by the recruiting base. The better schools tend to haul in higher ranked recruits.

BYU's class this year is problematic, at least IMO.

[Guest]

We all know this class lacks the big star power of years past but I think that is simply due to no signings of the "skill positions" other than Alex Kuresa which is not a big recruit and doesn't get many people excited regardless of his stats in high school.

That said, this class has some great kids that will be impact type players. I think Pulsipher, Heder, and the Bingham 4 are legit talents as well as Mathews. Corbin Kaufusi and Suminson are Projects. Olomua will never play a down at BYU.

Hadley and Sampson if Sampson doesn't pull a Walt Williams/Eddie Scipio and actually makes it will both contribute immediately. I am pleasantly surprised we didn't sign a WR out of Timpview, Orem, or Provo. I am hoping we never do again. Hale, Wilkerson, Ashworth, Kukohiko, Christiansen, etc... all were the worst WRs we have ever had at BYU.

[Blueintheface]

Nobody knows how these kids will pan out. Why would that matter today? These kids were stars in HS and that is what matters today.

Are you going to wait until the 2011 season is over, sit on your couch and evaluate, and then allow an ex-post facto feeling of euphoria rush over you for the recruiting class of 2008?

The fun of LOI Day is that you get to see how the schools are perceived by the recruiting base. The better schools tend to haul in higher ranked recruits.

BYU's class this year is problematic, at least IMO.

I'm not downplaying the lackluster nature of this class nor am I signalling the doom of future BYU classes, I'm simply commenting on all of the hand-wringing and/or exhuberance (not you DDD, just fans in general).

Sure, hearing accolades from the recruiting base would be fantastic, and I'd be much more excited right now, to be sure, but it doesn't diminish what I think will be a great BYU team this fall. I wasn't counting on too many freshman to play this year anyway, because unlike last year we have young talent returning.

More than anything I'm just pleased it appears that spring ball will see an offensive and defensive line healthy for the first time in forever. We might actually hear accurate information on both sides of the ball given the warm bodies we have to practice with.

[byu71]

Nobody knows how these kids will pan out. Why would that matter today? These kids were stars in HS and that is what matters today.

I don't know if by "these kids" you are referring to 4-5 star kids vs lower rated kids and walk ons in general. If so, I hear that quite a bit. We don't know how these kids will turn out and then they point to a walk on who is great and a 4 star who became a dud.

Well, that may be true on an individual basis, however, my guess is a recruiting class year after year with 3 thru 5 star kids will prove to have better teams than 3 star to walk on recruits year after year will. Even if the coach of the 3 below stars is a great as Bronco.

[cougjunkie]

Nobody knows how these kids will pan out. Why would that matter today? These kids were stars in HS and that is what matters today.

Are you going to wait until the 2011 season is over, sit on your couch and evaluate, and then allow an ex-post facto feeling of euphoria rush over you for the recruiting class of 2008?

The fun of LOI Day is that you get to see how the schools are perceived by the recruiting base. The better schools tend to haul in higher ranked recruits.

BYU's class this year is problematic, at least IMO.

BYU is unique in the sense that you have to look at the RMs from the 2008 class and combine them with the kids that are coming in from the 2011 class.

Look at their class this way.

1. Adam Hine- 4 star RB
2. Brock stringham- 3 star OL (A former DE said he will be the best lineman in the program before long)
3. Jordan Smith- 3 star WR (ran a 4.45 before leaving on his mission, 6'4)
4. Michael Yeck- 2 star OL
5. Kevan Bills- 2 star DE
6. Cameron Comer- 3 star CB (6'1 200 pounds, Brandon Bradley size)
7. Solomone Kafu- 2 star DT (switched to OL)

This does not include Pritchard, Alisa, Hadley, Sorenson, etc. that have already played a year and proven their worth.

8. Aulelio Olomua- 3 star DE/TE (6'5 235)
9. Brian Rawlinson- 2 star OL (6'5 285)
10. Matt Sumsion- 2 star Athlete (TE/DE, 6'8 220)
11. Preston Hadley- 2 star CB (good size 6'1 200)
12. Joe Sampson- 3 star DB (6'0 200)
13. Ryker Matthews- 3 star OL (6'6 285, US ARmy game invite)
14. Corbin Kaufuis- 2 star TE/DE (6'6 265 another athlete type)
15. Adam Pulshiper- 3 star LB (6'2 235 with a lazer timed 4.65 40)
16. Colby Jorgensen- 3 star TE (6'7 215, once again can play multiple positions)
17. Lene Lesatele- 3 star DE (6'3 245)
18. Stehly Reden- 2 star DE (6'6 245)
19. Kesni Tausinga- 3 star DT (6'1 279)
20. Uili Laupaho- 3 star OL (6'7 285)
21. Manoa Pikula- 3 star FB (6'1 230)
22. Austin Heder- 2 star LB (6'2 230)
23. Baker Pritchard- 3 star LB (6'3 230)


That is pretty solid class in my opinion. Also tons of flexibility all of these kids can play multiple positions especially all the recruits that are 6'5+ and 220-250 pounds you can play them at OLB, DE, OT, TE and WR gives BYU a ton of flexibility at plugging holes.

[MartyFunkhouser]

This is a waste of time. I don't get the approach. It might not hurt with Kuressa as he might see the writing on the wall fast enough, but with Hague BYU wasted at least one year and perhaps two-three pussyfutting around letting the kid play the position he wanted to play.

I've never quite understood why BYU coaches don't just tell players, you are playing this position. Sure the player may be pissed when they are moved, but you in the long run they will be happier playing even if it isn't their preferred position.

[cougjunkie]

I've never quite understood why BYU coaches don't just tell players, you are playing this position. Sure the player may be pissed when they are moved, but you in the long run they will be happier playing even if it isn't their preferred position.

Not a knock on KWhit but he has a reputation for doing exactly that. Recruiting a kid at the position they want to play and then switching them as soon as they get in to school. I actually agree with you though step up as the head coach and tell the kid where he is going to play.

[Goatnapper'96]

BYU's class this year is problematic, at least IMO.

BYU is held hostage by it's recruiting base. As your analysis shows it is problematic. Tomorrow you might conclude black kids might find Provo uncomfortable!

The LDS Church giveth Jake Heaps, Ross Apo and Zac Stout in 2010 in 2011 the LDS Church taketh away!

[MarkGrace]

This isn't exactly a newflash, but we deal in LDS kids. When the LDS talent isn't there in a particular year, our classes are going to end up looking like this. Not much you can do about that. 'Napper mentioned that Langi was probably the only blue chip LDS guy out there, so what are you going to do? There were no Heaps, Apo, KVN, Stout, etc. to be had this year.

[LiveCoug]

Here is a list of next year's prospects.. It's early, stars will change and prospects will be added, but how does it looke next year?

http://byu.scout.com/a.z?s=338&p=9&c=4&yr=2012

[Goatnapper'96]

This isn't exactly a newflash, but we deal in LDS kids. When the LDS talent isn't there in a particular year, our classes are going to end up looking like this. Not much you can do about that. 'Napper mentioned that Langi was probably the only blue chip LDS guy out there, so what are you going to do? There were no Heaps, Apo, KVN, Stout, etc. to be had this year.

What made last year so great was the momentum and energy created by the blue chip Mormons spread into landing some really solid non-LDS kids. Only one of whom has quit so far. At times it seems BYU recruiting is real cyclical. Last year had great inroads into non-LDS areas, while this year it appears that while the needs were small and the room at the inn also small, the coaching staff went real easy and appear to be losing the one exciting recruit who could help right away.