recruits at OSU game

[Dement-ed]

Anyone know how many are expected? Or if there are any big names expected to be there?

[Hoofprint]

I'm not sure about recruits at Saturday's game. On one hand, there should be a good lively crowd. On the other hand, we might get whipped, which can't be encouraging to recruits. I've always thought one of the hardest things a coach has to do is go in to a room full of recruits after his team got whipped and look the kid (and parents) in the eye and try to sell the program. The only thing I can think of is to say "look, we need you" and then offer immediate playing time, if not an immediate starting spot. But the great players expect that wherever they go. Sometimes I think we sell the coaches short in terms of how hard some parts of their job are.

[1411]

Paris RB Jessie Henderson will be there along with a couple of his HS teammates.

[Otto]

Cool - which teammates?
I keep reading about the big lineman (I think his name is Brunson) -- is he going to be there? How big is he now? Does he expect to play OL or DL in college?
Can you give us an update on his recruiting, 1411?
Thanks

[Charleston Pony]

looking forward to having Henderson's breakaway speed in that Mustang lineup!

[Recruiting Guru]

The player "Otto" is referring to is Chris Brunson, who has played on both lines for Paris High School. I have him listed a 6'2.5" and between 300 and 305 pounds. He's pretty quick for a big guy (the last report I got had him running anywhere from a 4.9 to a 5.2, but he plays quick.) His strength is good for the level of competition he's playing now, but he'll need to improve his conditioning and strength in college. An (assistant) coach at another school in Paris' district said he could be really quick if he dropped about 10 pounds. Some see him as a defensive tackle, but based on the film I've seen, and people I've talked to, I project him as a guard or even center at the next level. He's an extremely smart player who takes seems to thoroughly enjoy the wars in the trenches. With added strength, he could develop into a player similar to the traditional Nebraska offensive linemen -- an inch or two shorter than you'd like, but strong and using exceptional technique to become an overpowering blocker.

[Johnny Rock]

Does anyone know if any of the DISD recruits will be at the game Saturday? Johnny is always amazed at two things about players from the DISD system. First, Johnny is amazed at the number of Division 1 players that the district produces. Second, Johnny Rock is amazed at how many do not choose SMU. The Dallas Morning News had a column a season or two ago about TCU is beating SMU with many players that played high school football near SMU. TCU has several DISD players on their roster. My point is that Bennett's key to success is in his own backyard. Johnny hopes that Bennett has reached out to the schools in the DISD and has many players on our side lines for Saturday's game.

[Ikus]

Remember, Coach Bennett says he's going to recruit about a 300-mile radius, and he's specifically mentioned the importance of getting kids from Highland Park and from DISD. He's signed several HPHS kids (Karrington, Eidson, Berry, Wolcott) in his first two years, and has added at least three DISD guys (Darrin Johnson, Anthony Barnett, Desmond Jones). The DISD coaches know Coach Bennett from his days recruiting the area for other schools where he's coached, and they respect him. And the three DISD kids he got represent a huge jump over Coach Cavan, who didn't even try to recruit DISD kids (or at least that's what he said), figuring he couldn't get them in school. Just like winning takes a growth period, so does recruiting Dallas. Coach Bennett will achieve both.

[giacfsp]

I counted 33 guys on the field before the game who seemed to be the right age to be recruits. The only one I recognized -- thanks to PonyFans.com -- was Vincent Chase. I assume Jessie Henderson was there, and maybe some of the other commitments, too. So while my count might be off by a few (maybe a recruit brought a brother or a friend?), it looked like a nice turnout. And there were some really big guys in the mix! Not sure who they all were, though.

[Charleston Pony]

after last night's showing, Bennett can continue to promise guys the chance to play early for this program.

[Stallion]

....but he's got to play some freshman or they won't respond.

[GoRedGoBlue]

which he is doing, appearantly.

[westang]

After watching yesterdays game it became clear(no offense to those of us that are shorter)the coaches should not for the very near future, recruit any DB or WR who is not well over six feet tall, no matter how fast they say they are....

[Stallion]

it would be just as bad if you recruited tall CBs with average speed-there aren't more than a handful of kids in the state with good size and 4.3 speed. They go to the nation's top programs. SMU recruits from the remainder and is correct to look first for the speed and agility required to play Bennett's man-to-man schemes as long as he insists on playing that way. I really think that's the reason Bennett has as many 30 point losses in 15 games as Cavan had in 5 years. Somethings got to give there.