Texas Football's Recruiting Analysis
Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 3:21 pmSMU 2007 recruiting recap
INSTANT CONTRIBUTORS: No matter the level of football, size along the line matters, and Josh LeRibeus will provide that for the Mustangs. A local product (Richardson Berkner), LeRibeus can play on either side of the ball, but SMU would be wise to keep him on offense. ... With offers galore, Derrius Bell decided to stay close to home and picked SMU. Though not a tall player, he has the speed and quickness to be a lockdown corner. ...
A YEAR AWAY: Logan Turner played at two different high schools his junior and senior seasons, but the results were the same: tons of passing yards and touchdowns. He's the son of a coach (the reason for him switching schools), so you know you've also got a thinker and a player who understands the game. ...
DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH: He's already proved he can be a team player by switching positions when G.J. Kinne moved to town, but Gilmer's Jamell Kennedy also proved versatile by moving to WR his senior season. He was just short of 1,000 yards on the season. Given time to further get the position down, he could be a speedy threat for SMU. ... Though he flew under many people's recruiting radar, Youri Yenga was well known -- especially to his competition. The Euless Trinity product was the Dallas Morning News' defensive player of the year. He might need some time to adjust from playing on the line to a likely switch to linebacker. ... Mexia coach Larry Adair said Kelvin Beachum is somewhat raw, but if he can gain weight and strength, he has unlimited potential.
ADDRESSING NEEDS: Playing at the same school as John Chiles didn't help him spread his name, but Bradley Haynes is a solid pickup. With SMU losing three of its top receivers to graduation, don't count out Haynes for early playing time. ... SMU will miss three safeties from the 2006 team, most notably Joe Sturdivant. Rock Dennis leaves a junior college career where he played both CB and S, so he could provide immediate relief.
THIS JUST IN: Three players (De'Von Bailey, DJ Emerson and Ryan Leonard) weren't listed as SMU commitments prior to signing day.
YOU HEARD IT HERE: "I think Kelvin's going to bring a great deal to SMU. He's got a long way to go, but in the next 4-5 years, he has the ability to be a guy we might be seeing on Sundays. he's going to have to live in that weight room and eat right. He's about 270 (pounds) right now, but he'll get up to about 310 before it's over with."
-- Mexia HC Larry Adair on Kelvin Beachum
"SMU got a steal with Josh Robinson. He didn't move to defensive until Week 5 of his senior year, so most people haven't seen how good a down lineman he is. He's got a great frame and runs like a deer. Definitely one of the most underrated players out there, and he can contribute right away."
-- South Garland HC Mickey Moss on Josh Robinson
“They were the first ones to offer him. He really wanted to play QB. They offered him as a QB. He’s extremely fast and strong. He has a good, strong arm."
-- DeSoto HC Dave Meadows on Terrance Wilkerson
"He picked them for the proximity and his mom, she’s a single-parent. He wanted her to be able to watch him play. SMU has his major (architectural design), they have a great program for that. He thought he could play early. By far, I think he’s one of the best offensive lineman in the state, right up there with (UT signee Trey) Allen. He’s a great run-blocker. He can bench 350 [lbs], and squat 550 [lbs]. He's ready to go right now. He’ll need to learn to pass-block, we only threw 5 to 6 times a game. But they have one of the best offensive line coaches, who's coached in the NFL. It's such a good suit for Josh."
-- Richardson Berkner HC Jim Ledford on Josh LeRibeus
SMU MUSTANGS 2007 SIGNEES (23)
Player HT, WT 40 Pos. High School
De’Von Bailey 6-2, 200 N/A WR/DB Lawton (Okla.) Eisenhower
Kelvin Beachum 6-4, 270 5.2 OL Mexia
Derrius Bell 5-9, 160 4.4 WR/DB Dallas Hillcrest
JT Brooks 5-3, 215 5.8 OL Arlington Martin
Szymon Czerniak 6-5, 245 N/A DL Houston Stratford
Rock Dennis 5-10, 180 N/A DB Garden City (Kansas) CC
D.J. Emerson 5-10, 170 N/A DB Brookshire Royal
Patrick Fleming 6-4, 205 N/A TE Cypress Creek
Ben Goldthorpe 6-3, 240 4.8 DL Denton Ryan
Bradley Haynes 6-3, 200 4.6 WR Mansfield Summit
Julian Herron 6-0, 200 4.5 LB Arlington Bowie
Jamell Kennedy 5-11, 165 4.5 ATH Gilmer
Ryan Leonard 6-1, 292 N/A DT Lewisville (Naval Prep)
Josh LeRibeus 6-3, 320 5.2 OL Richardson Berkner
Derek Lily 6-3, 285 5.0 OL Mansfield
Aldrick Robinson 5-10, 170 4.4 WR Waxahachie
Josh Robinson 6-3, 210 N/A DE/LB South Garland
Bryce Tennison 6-3, 290 5.4 OL Round Rock McNeil
Kelly Turner 6-4, 250 5.1 OL Highland Park
Logan Turner 6-1, 180 4.7 QB Springtown
Terrance Wilkerson 5-10, 167 4.6 ATH De Soto
Youri Yenga 6-2, 220 N/A DE/LB Euless Trinity
INSTANT CONTRIBUTORS: No matter the level of football, size along the line matters, and Josh LeRibeus will provide that for the Mustangs. A local product (Richardson Berkner), LeRibeus can play on either side of the ball, but SMU would be wise to keep him on offense. ... With offers galore, Derrius Bell decided to stay close to home and picked SMU. Though not a tall player, he has the speed and quickness to be a lockdown corner. ...
A YEAR AWAY: Logan Turner played at two different high schools his junior and senior seasons, but the results were the same: tons of passing yards and touchdowns. He's the son of a coach (the reason for him switching schools), so you know you've also got a thinker and a player who understands the game. ...
DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH: He's already proved he can be a team player by switching positions when G.J. Kinne moved to town, but Gilmer's Jamell Kennedy also proved versatile by moving to WR his senior season. He was just short of 1,000 yards on the season. Given time to further get the position down, he could be a speedy threat for SMU. ... Though he flew under many people's recruiting radar, Youri Yenga was well known -- especially to his competition. The Euless Trinity product was the Dallas Morning News' defensive player of the year. He might need some time to adjust from playing on the line to a likely switch to linebacker. ... Mexia coach Larry Adair said Kelvin Beachum is somewhat raw, but if he can gain weight and strength, he has unlimited potential.
ADDRESSING NEEDS: Playing at the same school as John Chiles didn't help him spread his name, but Bradley Haynes is a solid pickup. With SMU losing three of its top receivers to graduation, don't count out Haynes for early playing time. ... SMU will miss three safeties from the 2006 team, most notably Joe Sturdivant. Rock Dennis leaves a junior college career where he played both CB and S, so he could provide immediate relief.
THIS JUST IN: Three players (De'Von Bailey, DJ Emerson and Ryan Leonard) weren't listed as SMU commitments prior to signing day.
YOU HEARD IT HERE: "I think Kelvin's going to bring a great deal to SMU. He's got a long way to go, but in the next 4-5 years, he has the ability to be a guy we might be seeing on Sundays. he's going to have to live in that weight room and eat right. He's about 270 (pounds) right now, but he'll get up to about 310 before it's over with."
-- Mexia HC Larry Adair on Kelvin Beachum
"SMU got a steal with Josh Robinson. He didn't move to defensive until Week 5 of his senior year, so most people haven't seen how good a down lineman he is. He's got a great frame and runs like a deer. Definitely one of the most underrated players out there, and he can contribute right away."
-- South Garland HC Mickey Moss on Josh Robinson
“They were the first ones to offer him. He really wanted to play QB. They offered him as a QB. He’s extremely fast and strong. He has a good, strong arm."
-- DeSoto HC Dave Meadows on Terrance Wilkerson
"He picked them for the proximity and his mom, she’s a single-parent. He wanted her to be able to watch him play. SMU has his major (architectural design), they have a great program for that. He thought he could play early. By far, I think he’s one of the best offensive lineman in the state, right up there with (UT signee Trey) Allen. He’s a great run-blocker. He can bench 350 [lbs], and squat 550 [lbs]. He's ready to go right now. He’ll need to learn to pass-block, we only threw 5 to 6 times a game. But they have one of the best offensive line coaches, who's coached in the NFL. It's such a good suit for Josh."
-- Richardson Berkner HC Jim Ledford on Josh LeRibeus
SMU MUSTANGS 2007 SIGNEES (23)
Player HT, WT 40 Pos. High School
De’Von Bailey 6-2, 200 N/A WR/DB Lawton (Okla.) Eisenhower
Kelvin Beachum 6-4, 270 5.2 OL Mexia
Derrius Bell 5-9, 160 4.4 WR/DB Dallas Hillcrest
JT Brooks 5-3, 215 5.8 OL Arlington Martin
Szymon Czerniak 6-5, 245 N/A DL Houston Stratford
Rock Dennis 5-10, 180 N/A DB Garden City (Kansas) CC
D.J. Emerson 5-10, 170 N/A DB Brookshire Royal
Patrick Fleming 6-4, 205 N/A TE Cypress Creek
Ben Goldthorpe 6-3, 240 4.8 DL Denton Ryan
Bradley Haynes 6-3, 200 4.6 WR Mansfield Summit
Julian Herron 6-0, 200 4.5 LB Arlington Bowie
Jamell Kennedy 5-11, 165 4.5 ATH Gilmer
Ryan Leonard 6-1, 292 N/A DT Lewisville (Naval Prep)
Josh LeRibeus 6-3, 320 5.2 OL Richardson Berkner
Derek Lily 6-3, 285 5.0 OL Mansfield
Aldrick Robinson 5-10, 170 4.4 WR Waxahachie
Josh Robinson 6-3, 210 N/A DE/LB South Garland
Bryce Tennison 6-3, 290 5.4 OL Round Rock McNeil
Kelly Turner 6-4, 250 5.1 OL Highland Park
Logan Turner 6-1, 180 4.7 QB Springtown
Terrance Wilkerson 5-10, 167 4.6 ATH De Soto
Youri Yenga 6-2, 220 N/A DE/LB Euless Trinity