2004 recruiting priorities

[PerunaPunch]

Stallion,

Ikus asked for a strong, quick DT. I was merely pointing out that we already have one in Adami.

While I agree that having quality rotation at DT is critical (I think Jimmy Johnson proved your that theory for you), I think DT is starting to look relatively deep comparted to some other areas of critical need.

At DT we have: Adami, Walker, Johnson, Karrington, Denman, and Bean (plus several freshmen who I'm not familiar with). I think we can all agree that Adami is a lock at one starting spot. For whatever it's worth, both Walker and Bean played some last year. Karrington is big, fast and supposedly a stud in the making. Darrin Johnson is a physical monster who Bennett and Co. say will play in the NFL.

My assumption is that the 2-deep at DT will be: Adami, Walker, Karrington, Johnson. All quality players.

Compare that to what I consider to be a need area like OT. We've received spotty production from one tackle, and who knows who will be the other tackle.

Same can be said for TE, and we need receiver to complement Comet this year (hopefully one who will be the heir apparent for the following season).

So sure, given limitless resources I'd take DTs and DEs all day long. I love what a dominating D-line can do for a team. I just think we have numerous other holes to fill before we start going 3- and 4-deep quality at DT.

[Fresh]

"Do you recall two seasons or so back when SMU was out of DBs?"

No. Who played DB when we were "out"?

[No Quarter]

Fresh,
I'd have to hunt for (possibly) retained media guides and programs to name many players, but one of the knocks on Cavan (seen on MM and maybe this board) that year was that he'd failed to anticipate/foresee the manpower needs of his team and recruit accordingly. There were not many upper classmen. One walk-on who was the squad for a couple of years was Blake Biggers who was one of the smaller (physically) DB since the resumption of football at SMU.

[Mickey]

d_pony and No Quarter,

You both said we are losing 4 seniors next year. I count 11 and that is why I assumed we could sign 15 as I anticipate 4 underclassmen will leave.

SRs- cunningham, hrncir, kincaid, bischoff, johnson, james, moodley, rutledge, price, reindl, harris

[This message has been edited by Mickey (edited 02-25-2003).]

[No Quarter]

Mickey -

SFAIK, Otto named the players who will complete their eligibility in 2003, except for Cunninham, and they total ten. I think your list adds D.D. Johnson who was shown as a senior last season in the SMUMustangs roster. Was he in fact held out in 2002? My forecast was based on ten, not four.

I did agree that probably more than ten scholarships will be open next year, but let's wait until the end of the year to get a handle on transfers and so on.

[Mickey]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Otto:
<B>As long as you're realistic, PonyTales.

Sorry - didn't mean to omit Comet and DD Johnson, 2 of my favorite Ponies. (Thanks, Mickey)</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No Quarter-

Otto listed nine having left off Cunningham and DD Johnson. There are 11 returning Srs. I added 4 underclassmen as leaving and came up with 15 scholarships available for next recruiting season. You have one more ship to give out since we have 11 seniors not 10 presently on the team.

DD got a RS year for 2001 and is now practicing in the off season with the team. He will play next year.

You got me on SFAIK, what does that mean?

[This message has been edited by Mickey (edited 02-25-2003).]

[No Quarter]

Thanks for the information about D.D. Johnson's redshirt year.

I had thought underclassmen departing had been accounted for with the new signings, so thanks again.

SFAIK = so far as I know.

[Mickey]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by No Quarter:
<B>Thanks for the information about D.D. Johnson's redshirt year.

I had thought underclassmen departing had been accounted for with the new signings, so thanks again.

SFAIK = so far as I know.</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

SFAIK- NEVER EVER would have guessed it. Sure tried though.

This year's signing of 23 recruits offsets the graduating seniors, plus any scholarships they already had available, plus any underclassmen they know won't return.

If everyone reports next August, SMU will be full at 85 scholarships. If someone doesn't report for any reason- grades, transfer, etc., they could in theory sign one more as long as they have no more than 85 on scholarship. Johnny Fitzgerald was a late signee last year as one of the recruits that signed didn't qualify. More than likely, what will happen if a scholarship now becomes available is that they will award one to a walk-on or carry it over to next year.

In a previous post, I assumed that we would have 15 scholarships availble to sign recruits for the 04 class.That includes 11 graduating seniors and the assumption that 4 underclassmen would not return. Stallion thinks that we will have 18 to 20 scholarships available for the 04 recruiting class which means that he thinks 7 t0 9 underclassmen won't return. He is probably right. Right now, we will only have 11 available, but history says that we will have more than that and most people believe that 4 to 9 underclassmen won't reurn for whatever reason. Those that choose not to return will probably be players that were signed by Cavan.

[d_pony]

i said we had 10 seniors on the team and was guessing that we would lose 4 unederclasmen- it is my understanding that Leroy Price is no longer on the team but i could be wrong - that is how i got to 10 instead of 11 seniors

[Mickey]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by d_pony:
<B>i said we had 10 seniors on the team and was guessing that we would lose 4 unederclasmen- it is my understanding that Leroy Price is no longer on the team but i could be wrong - that is how i got to 10 instead of 11 seniors</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I count 11 seniors including Price. Is he not coming back? It is possible since he is a fifth year redshirt. Does anyone know if he is working out with the team?

Like you, I assumed that 4 underclassmen will not return next year. Some posters think it will be more.

[hpfan]

I think the D-line platform is in place for some time to come. Every year going forward the coaches will have the luxury of bringing in a key depth guy that will develop into a starter to support coach Fello's four DE/DT attack. So maybe one DT and one DE next year only. BTW I will bet money Darrin Johnson will become a OT opposite Urbanus this season..

[Corso]

So you're going to have Johnson, a redshirt freshman, unseating Sterling Harris, a senior? Or do you mean next year as in 2004?

[Stallion]

hpfan you may think the DL position is solid-but let me remind you none of those guys you have mentioned except Adami have proven a thing in Division 1, most were not recruited for that position and/or in fact most weren't highly recruited at all. I've got a BIG ? at DLM for years to come-easily the biggest ? on the team. Let's see Karrington, Walker, Johnson et al make their first tackle before you are so sure that we're solid there. I have little doubt that SMU coaches would be more than happy to sign as many as 3-4 Top DTs if they could find quality. You are better off recruiting excess defensive lineman as opposed to excess offensive lineman because its much easier to move a lineman from defense to offense as opposed to offense to defense.

[hpfan]

CORSO As to Darrin at OT I agree to 2004 as a potential starter and as to 2003 a learning backup and great at goaline....Stallion I hope I am right but your caution is certainly in order. I am sure you would agree to the potential but the proof will probably be more clear about four games into the season..

[Pony Fan]

In my opinion, we have NEVER had enough defensive linemen who were big and could run and that includes the early 80's. We had some great ones back then but not near enough depth. I would take all of the defensive linemen we could every year, as you can usually move them to offense if they don't pan out on defense.