Recruiting 2014

[byu71]

What do you consider elite? Like Alabama? Where they are competing for a national championship year in and year out? No.

Do I think they can be a consistent top 25 team that every so often busts in to the top 10 and flirts with a spot in the four team playoff? Sure.

For BYU it all starts with LDS talent, not LDS recruiting. BYU does not land all of the top LDS kids but they land the majority of them. The ones we do miss on, other than a few I am not sure how many are game changers.

Look at some of the top LDS kids we have lost over the years.

Start with Haloti Ngata he was an absolute beast in college and is an NFL hall of famer. He would have played on teams at BYU that went 5-7, 4-8, and 5-6. Adding him sure they would have been better but they are not 3 or 4 wins better by adding a defensive tackle.

Just off the top of my head I think of guys like Will Tukuafu, Star Lotulelei, Manti Te'o, Sione Fua, Simi Fili, Stephen Paea. THese guys are all great players but they do not play positions where BYU has lacked great players.

Now look at the skill position guys and name the last top flight LDS skill player BYU has lost?

Going back to 2007

Top two LDS QBs were Jason Munns and Cade Cooper, BYU landed both of them they were both 4 star kids
Top LDS RB: Matt Asiata, he was a JC kid and BYU already had Harvey Unga and didn't feel the need to sign a JC running back. Instead they sign JJ Diluigi who was not LDS but a 3 star commit.
TOP LDS WR: Marcus Mathews, 4 star that BYU landed
Top LDS TE: Devin Mahina (4 star) signed with BYU

2008
TOP LDS QB: Jacob Bower as a JC transfer, he was already at BYU once.
Top LDS RB: Jerry Bruner, BYU landed him and he ended up transferring to Washington state and quit football. Top Utah RB that year was Sausan Shakerin from Alta, he was not LDS and never gave BYU a chance. He also retired early due to injuries I believe. (which I predicted based on his upright running style)
Top LDS WR: Jake Murphy again he ended up at BYU initially and transferred after his mission. Hindsight he would have probably done well last year at BYU and we could have used him.
Top LDS TE: Austin Holt, #4 Tight end in the country and he ends up at BYU and has a disappointing career

2009
QB: Jeff Manning, Manning ended up at Utah State but this was the same year Riley Nelson committed to BYU so we didn't need a qb.
RB: Adam Hine- 4 star, signed with BYU.
WR: Brett Thompson- 4 star signed with BYU
TE: Richard Wilson 4 star signed with BYU

2010
QB: Jake Heaps, top qb in the country ( 5star)signed with BYU
RB: AJ MOore (3 star) signed with BYU, also we picked up Josh Quezada in this class
WR: Ross Apo (4 star) signed with BYU
TE: Bryan Sampson (3 star) signed with BYU

2011
QB: Alex Kuresa (2 star) signed with BYU
RB: Harvey Langi (4 star) signed with Utah (for now)
WR: Travis Still (3 star) signed with Utah (I am pretty sure his career is over)
TE: Colby Jorgensen (3 star) signed with BYU

2012
QB: Tanner Mangum (4 star) signed with BYU
RB: Joe Te'o (2 star) BYU didn't offer and now he is playing at California JC, instead BYU signed Jamaal Williams
WR: Dylan Collie (3 star) signed with BYU
TE: Steven Richards (2 star) signed with BYU

2013:
QB: Luke Falk (2 star) signed with Washington state. BYU offered Billy Green over Falk. Also the top kid in Utah was Cooper Bateman a 4 star that signed with Bama but is not LDS.
RB: Aofaga Wily (2 star) committed to Hawaii, BYU didn' toffer
WR: Talon Shumway (3 star) signed with BYU
TE: Harrison Handley (3 star) signed with Utah


The point is for the most part BYU is getting the top LDS talent, D-line and linebacker even if we lose guys they are not taking BYU to an elite level unless they were all in the same class. We are always solid at those positions. The skill position players is where BYU needs to step up in order to compete. The top LDS guys just aren't good enough in most years to compete. If they truly want to be elite they need to find guys like Hoffman, Jamaal Williams, Todd Watkins, etc. Hopefully Kurtz is that guy this year.

Alabama is super elite. I wouldn't even ask to be considered with some who are considered elite, but have fallen from grace lately, like USC and Florida. Florida St. was where they were, but I still considered them elite because of what they had done and what they had the potential for.

I just know if you name a team whether I would put the elite tag on them or not. I tried to define the criteria. Maybe the criteria would be how about you say the name and at least 1/3 of all college football fans would tie them with the word elite. For me to be in the same breath as Wisconsin, Oklahoma St., Stanford, UCLA, Iowa, Louisville, Texas A.M., Missouri, and schools at that level would be great. So I am not looking for world beaters, however I would like to be better than we have been the last 4-5 years. Have we finished in the top 10 in the last 8 years? Really can't remember.

Either we aren't recruiting well enough or the coaches aren't coaching well enough to get to the level I talked about. Where we probably differ is you think we could get there on a consistent basis and I think MAYBE once in a while if we land a weak enough schedule. I am hoping you would be the one who is right.

[Goatnapper'96]

If by 'effed up' you mean they prioritized him lower than two other guys. And I don't know how you make that determination as a fan.

What I mean is BYU had identified 3 good LDS DE's in this recruiting class. All 3 showed good BYU interest in that 2 of the 3 committed for some portion of time and the other was supposedly very interested in an offer. It appears that when the dust settles BYU might not land one of them. I think that is an eff up. It is a results oriented business.

[The_Douger]

I just don't think you can have enough depth in the trenches. We are thin by the end of every year. We need more lineman who can start and more that can step in if someone goes down. I'm frustrated that we might only get one of these three guys. I'd have tried to make room for all of them. Yes, I understand we're in a scholarship crunch.

[cougjunkie]

I just don't think you can have enough depth in the trenches. We are thin by the end of every year. We need more lineman who can start and more that can step in if someone goes down. I'm frustrated that we might only get one of these three guys. I'd have tried to make room for all of them. Yes, I understand we're in a scholarship crunch.

Big difference between depth and talented depth.

BYU signed 8 O-lineman last year, 5 of them JC transfers.

They also had 3 returning starters, and 3 other players with playing experience. Yet they still shit the bed. Depth was not an issue last year, but talent was.

This season they are loaded with upper classman all of whom played last year, I am not sure I expect much improvement.

D'Ondre Wesley
Edward Fusi
Solomone Kafu
Michael Yeck
Brock Stringham

All of these lineman started at one point or another and all of them will be seniors
Josh Carter
Tim Duran
Both JC transfers that will be seniors

Terrance Alletto
Tui Crichton
Ryker Matthews
Again they all played and 2 of them started pretty much the entire year when healthy, they will be juniors.

Brayden Kearsley
Kyle Johnson
Brad Wilcox

They will be sophomores and all 3 started at least one game last year.

That is 11 returning players that started at least 1 game last season.

Add Mama, Chandon Herring and Austin Chambers. Along with Redshirts Thomas Shoaf, Cole Jones, and Addison Pulsipher.

I am shocked we can't find 5 really good lineman.

My ideal starting 5 would be:

Wesley at RT
Kafu at RG
Kearsley at C
Mama at LG
Matthews at LT

I think that is a very good O-line. If Mama does not come move Kearsley to LG and Alletto was solid at Center last year.

[byu71]

What I mean is BYU had identified 3 good LDS DE's in this recruiting class. All 3 showed good BYU interest in that 2 of the 3 committed for some portion of time and the other was supposedly very interested in an offer. It appears that when the dust settles BYU might not land one of them. I think that is an eff up. It is a results oriented business.

KC is a true loyalist, bless his heart. When I jumped off the Crowton ship I think the only two I saw still standing on board were KC and Indy.

[MarkGrace]

Please don't list Mama in there. It gets my hopes up and I don't want to be crushed.

[kccougar]

KC is a true loyalist, bless his heart. When I jumped off the Crowton ship I think the only two I saw still standing on board were KC and Indy.

Your memory is slipping, old man. I doubt I ever made a single post about Crowton.

[The_Douger]

Please don't list Mama in there. It gets my hopes up and I don't want to be crushed.

Just plan on him not coming, and be surprised and happy if he does.

[Donuthole]

Just plan on him not coming, and be surprised and happy if he does.

Said no woman ever.

[byu71]

Your memory is slipping, old man. I doubt I ever made a single post about Crowton.

Hopefully you noted I used the term "I think" unlike others on here who seem to think every post they make is accurate.

Secondly, I was really speaking metaphorically. This is not a criticism, but wouldn't you agree when it comes to loyalty to the BYU establishment you would be one of the last men standing.

[kccougar]

Just read on CB that Leiataua is still visiting BYU. He'll be there on the 31st. That will be a big weekend for BYU.

[MarkGrace]

Nice. Then there's still a chance.

[Blueintheface]

BYU should consider showing them a few of the lip sync videos from the basketball team as a high pressure sales pitch. Just a thought.

[byu71]

Just read on CB that Leiataua is still visiting BYU. He'll be there on the 31st. That will be a big weekend for BYU.

So was the rumor he committed to Stanford false? It must be unless Bronco has had a change of heart about cutting off recruits if they say they are going somewhere else.

[kccougar]

So was the rumor he committed to Stanford false? It must be unless Bronco has had a change of heart about cutting off recruits if they say they are going somewhere else.

You'd fit right in on CB. You should consider making a return.