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Rank your top 5 newcomers (freshmen, JUCOs, transfers, etc.) for 2011. Red shirt freshmen don't count. The ranking shouldn't be based on what type of career you think they will have, but who will have the biggest impact this year. Have fun...

5. Arrius Holleman - This is the one I'm most iffy about because of JJ's penchant for sticking with one group of WR's the whole game. But he was probably the biggest steal of last year's class and if he was in a passing offense during high school he might have been ungettable for us. If we have injuries I see him getting a shot. If not, maybe he starts to get reps towards the end of the season like Keenan Holman did as a freshman last year.

Only video I could find is an interview:



4. Daren Kitchen - He has the height that a lot of our DB's don't. Since our secondary is our worst unit on D, he could get a chance somewhat early. I definitely think he has a shot in the return game.

Video on Rivals

3. K.C. Nlemchi - With the departure of my favorite player, he basically gets a free pass to backing up Line. With the pounding Line will take this season, he will have to be ready if Line goes down again with an injury. Even though he's not a burner, he's got some nice moves and he'll be a nice change of pace back at certain spots.



2. Maurice Hood - Again, our secondary is the weakest link in our D, so any help will be great. This assumes he will make it in to SMU, but hopefully he will join the ranks of other JUCO secondary notables, Rock Dennis and Sterling Moore. He had some decent stats at Tyler and was an All-American, so hopefully he can step right in.



1. James Richardson - Next to Moreland, probably the recruit from last year I was most excited about. Electric returner and a damn good hitter. I can see him taking over KO and punt return duties day one, just not sure if the coaches feel the same about throwing him out there at A&M. Regardless of when, I think he will be our main returner at some point this season. He can hit, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him as a gunner on ST this year as well. I don't think he breaks into the rotation at CB this year, but he will be a major contributor on ST and will help us win a game or two. I think his upside is tremendous and could leave here in a few years as our Damaris Johnson.

What you are doing is like hunting ducks with a bow and arrow.

1. Daren Kitchen
2. Maurice Hood JC
3. Rishaad Wimbley
4. James Richardson
5. K.C. Nlemchi

Hood is not is school - will be here in january

If it's true Hood is out. I would like to state that Rodney Hubert is the biggest sleeper in this class. He has great form and was basically a shut down corner for his school. If he can put on even a little size he may have a shot to break in to the no. 4 spot.

Nlemchi is and will be a beast.

If Longoria was healthy he had the most chance to make an impact if he won the punting job. If Moreland was here, he would have been a guy you could have seen get some PT at the OLB spot. Thats two big ifs. Really not sure there are a lot of FR that are expected to come in an make an impact this year.

I could see Arius Holleman getting some PT the way Keenan Holeman did last year. The young corners might get a little PT but not enough to make an impact IMO.

ozfan wrote:What you are doing is like hunting ducks with a bow and arrow.

unlike most of the "scientific" analysis people throw on here?

1. nlemchi is going to have to sho he can block first.
2. totally agree with not throwing a true freshman out there returning kicks first game. didn't we try that last year at Tech? as i recall, it was an unmitigated disaster.

Junior wrote:1. nlemchi is going to have to sho he can block first.
2. totally agree with not throwing a true freshman out there returning kicks first game. didn't we try that last year at Tech? as i recall, it was an unmitigated disaster.

And one of those players is now gone, although not the one with the bigger errors

Good point on Nlemchi.

d_pony wrote:Hood is not is school - will be here in january

If a kid can't graduate from JUCO in 2 1/2 years then I wouldn't count on it too hard. Those guys usually end up disappearing from the internet. Same thing happened to about 3 other JUCOs SMU signed who couldn't graduate from a JUCO in 2 1/2 years and they were never heard from again

Stallion wrote:

d_pony wrote:Hood is not is school - will be here in january

If a kid can't graduate from JUCO in 2 1/2 years then I wouldn't count on it too hard. Those guys usually end up disappearing from the internet. Same thing happened to about 3 other JUCOs SMU signed who couldn't graduate from a JUCO in 2 1/2 years and they were never heard from again

Not a juco signee but reading this reminds me..wonder whatever happened to Aron Franklin ?

Whatever happened to the great Rynn Clark and Scardino Daniels-they all couldn't get out of JUCO-the NCAA Standards for JUCO transfers is EXTREMELY low-basically all you need to do is graduate and there is no SAT/ACT requirement. Franklin went back to JUCO a semester late after quitting or never showing up. Not sure his present status. Its amazing not one of these JUCOs has made it back to SMU-or even Division 1A except perhaps Rickey Collins who committed to TCU. Gamble is good enough-we'll have to see on him.

Former 4 Star SMU recruit Ryan Clark is a senior DB at Lamar University along with 2010 3 Star SMU LB recruit Anthony Beard that quit here last summer.