SMU Recruiting needs

[JasonB]

Here is my preliminary list. I assume 19 ships, because Bennett said recently he expects to have 18-20 available:

1 QB
1 RB
1 FB
2 WR
1 TE
2 OG
2 OT
1 C

offense: 11

1 DE
1 DT
1 OLB
1 MLB
1 CB
1 SS
1 FS

Defense 7

1 P

Special Teams 1

Overall 19 ships.

Currently, we have filled these spots:
Jessie Henderson - RB
Rivals 2 star
Rivals ranking 5.4
All purpose back
5'8, 165. 4.4
Number 93 in Rivals Texas top 100
No other offers (early commit).

Andrew McKinney - FB
Rivals 2 star
Rivals rating 5.3
6'3, 230, 4.5
No other offers, committed in July.

Bobby Chase - WR
No other information.

Vincent Chase - TE
Rivals 3 star
Rivals rating 5.6
6'5, 243, 4.7
Rivals 12th best tight end in the country
Number 50 in Rivals texas top 100
Offers from Florida, K State, LSU,
Nebraska, Oklahoma, Syracuse,
Wisconsin

Jonathan Lindley - CB
Rivals 2 star
Rivals Rank 5.4
5'10, 170, 4.42
Offered by Baylor, UTEP.
Committed early, in June.

So, according to me , we are still filling:
1 QB
1 WR
2 OG
2 OT
1 C

offense: 7

1 DE
1 DT
1 OLB
1 MLB
1 SS
1 FS

Defense 6

1 P

Special Teams 1

Overall 14 ships.

We are chasing these prospects for the open positions:

Donald Massey - WR
Rivals 3 star
Rivals rating 5.5
6'0, 165, 4.4
Rivals number 52 WR
Offers from Arkansas, Baylor, GT, K St,
ND, TCU, SMU

Nate Cook - WR
SuperPrep Number 78 in Texas
6'2, 178, 4.6
No rivals rating.
Offers from Colorado, Baylor, Arizona
Committed to Baylor.

Eddie Rollmann - OG
Rivals 2 star
Rivals rating 5.3
6'4, 280, 5.2
Offered by Arizona, Arkansas, GT, Houston,
Tulsa

James McClinton - DT
Rivals 3 star
Rivals rating 5.7
Rivals number 25 DT
Number 39 in Texas top 100
Number 59 in Midlands sweet 66.
6'1, 289, 5.2
Offers from Kansas, Arizona, Az State,
Baylor

D'Nerian Wrighter - FS
Rivals 3 star
Rivals 5.6 ranking
Rivals number 24 saftey
Number 57 in Texas top 100
6'1, 205, 4.41
offers from Arkansas, Colorado, TCU

[Horseshoe]

For the most part, I agree with your assessment of our needs, with a couple of exceptions:

1. Don't think we need a running back (and as far as I can tell, Henderson projects as a slot receiver - and he's so fast that getting the ball in his hands in the open field will look like Blake Warren returning punts against UTEP). Coming back next year, we have Foy Munlin, Richuel Massey, Cedrick Dorsey and Johnnie Fitzgerald. We're solid there for a year.

2. I don't think we need to sign a punter. We do need better punting, of course, but I'm convinced Ryan Mentzel can do the job. He has very good mechanics in his kicking motion. He just needs better blocking in front of him, he needs to get the ball away more quickly and he needs more confidence so he can sit back there and relax.

3. I'd reduce by one the number of linebackers you have on the list. We have numbers, if not experience, returning next year with D.D. Lee, Reggie Carrington, Cole Horton, Avery Cleveland, Cory Muse and Zach Hall. I say add one - whichever prospect holds the most promise - and ride it out for a year. We're going to be young at linebacker next year.

Then, take those three scholarships and add one more defensive tackle, one more defensive end and another DB - preferably someone with the size to play safety and the speed to play cornerback (right - those guys are growing on trees....)

And you forget we have WR Bobby Chase coming in from JuCo. He's a big guy with great hands.

[BUS]

We need at least two DT's. Folks we are REAL thin there. Maybe three is they are good enough.

No more RB's fopr now. Let's get the line together. I may not know what is coming next year as the red shirts come off but I believe that we need to stock up on BIG MEN.

You know my chant.
GSS

[SMUFan]

I'm right there with you, BUS. I want enough big linemen that when the Ponies walk through the tunnel, the other team looks at them and mutters "holy s***, those guys are huge." Nothing like a little pregame intimidation.

[Casey]

Not the most subtle way of putting it, SMUFan, but I like the way you think!