How do we pull Cyrus Gray to the Hilltop?
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:13 pmI 100% admit that this is a thread that is only happening because it’s July 30th, and I have NOTHING else to talk about. And keep in mind that this is about how to sell the School to Cyrus Gray, not about predicting the future.
No matter where you fall on the scouting service ratings war, I think you have to admit that bringing Cryus Gray into this recruiting class would be a total coup. But how do you convince a fellah who has offers from the National Champs, several National Powerhouses, and even A&M (if you want to throw some old SWC animus into the picture)?
To our advantage, we have location: We’re the hometown D1 program for him. We have a Wild Card: Terrance Wilkerson. We should also be playing up the fact that if Gray comes to SMU, he’ll have every opportunity to be “The Guy†for 4 years. Can any of the other schools make that same claim? Lets Start there:
SMU Current RBs on the Roster that will be there in 2009, when Gray would start after a Redshirt year (which may be something we can burn if that induces him to come out to the hilltop, though it would be a shame).
James Mapps
Chris Butler
That’s It. The 2009 Starting Tailback will be up between those two, anyone brought in this year (Gray) and any true freshmen for 2009. Gray has to know that if he Signs with SMU, his position as a 4 year starter on this team is as close to a lock as possible. Miami, A&M, Florida, Notre Dame, Arizona, and Kansas, are all stacked with young talent at RB. Even in the best case scenario, Politics will keep Gray in the backup role for at least a year at any of these schools. The Talent in front of him is going to get a chance to flame out before he gets on the field regardless of how well he performs in the off season. This may or may not be true, but I’d sell it that way. “You’re just another piece of meat at Miami. At SMU, the Offense will be built around you. Penn State, Cal, Louisville, and Okst, aren’t loaded at the position, but none of them look to have such a clear cut opportunity that SMU has. If he wants a shot at setting some records, SMU’s his school. I would point out to him that DeAngelo Williams would have had a great shot of breaking the Career rushing record had he not split time his Freshman year. So having a weaker conference and four years to chip away at the record, Cyrus Gray could be the all time leading Rusher, a distinction that would earn him a first round draft slot in the NFL. Or, he can go to Florida and hold Chevon Walker’s helmet while he signs Autographs.
Speaking of Building the offense around such a talented back: Gray Coming to SMU is the only chance that Terrence Wilkerson has of ever becoming a D1 Starting QB. If we have a back who can consistently dominate the game, the emphasis of the offense will be to get the ball to Grey. The implication should be: If we can get someone of Gray’s caliber, we’ll need to get Wilkerson a shot at QB, but if we can’t dedicate to the running game, we’ll need a more traditional passer behind center. OK, this will require us to use the Jedi Mind trick on him, so that he doesn’t notice that Logan Turner and Zach Rhodes are both dual threats… But I do think that linking his career to Wilkerson's could very well tip the scale in our favor. Though you certainly don’t want it to look like you’re ransoming Wilkerson (come here or Terrence will never see the field!).
Anyone have any other reasons to come to SMU?
-CoS
No matter where you fall on the scouting service ratings war, I think you have to admit that bringing Cryus Gray into this recruiting class would be a total coup. But how do you convince a fellah who has offers from the National Champs, several National Powerhouses, and even A&M (if you want to throw some old SWC animus into the picture)?
To our advantage, we have location: We’re the hometown D1 program for him. We have a Wild Card: Terrance Wilkerson. We should also be playing up the fact that if Gray comes to SMU, he’ll have every opportunity to be “The Guy†for 4 years. Can any of the other schools make that same claim? Lets Start there:
SMU Current RBs on the Roster that will be there in 2009, when Gray would start after a Redshirt year (which may be something we can burn if that induces him to come out to the hilltop, though it would be a shame).
James Mapps
Chris Butler
That’s It. The 2009 Starting Tailback will be up between those two, anyone brought in this year (Gray) and any true freshmen for 2009. Gray has to know that if he Signs with SMU, his position as a 4 year starter on this team is as close to a lock as possible. Miami, A&M, Florida, Notre Dame, Arizona, and Kansas, are all stacked with young talent at RB. Even in the best case scenario, Politics will keep Gray in the backup role for at least a year at any of these schools. The Talent in front of him is going to get a chance to flame out before he gets on the field regardless of how well he performs in the off season. This may or may not be true, but I’d sell it that way. “You’re just another piece of meat at Miami. At SMU, the Offense will be built around you. Penn State, Cal, Louisville, and Okst, aren’t loaded at the position, but none of them look to have such a clear cut opportunity that SMU has. If he wants a shot at setting some records, SMU’s his school. I would point out to him that DeAngelo Williams would have had a great shot of breaking the Career rushing record had he not split time his Freshman year. So having a weaker conference and four years to chip away at the record, Cyrus Gray could be the all time leading Rusher, a distinction that would earn him a first round draft slot in the NFL. Or, he can go to Florida and hold Chevon Walker’s helmet while he signs Autographs.
Speaking of Building the offense around such a talented back: Gray Coming to SMU is the only chance that Terrence Wilkerson has of ever becoming a D1 Starting QB. If we have a back who can consistently dominate the game, the emphasis of the offense will be to get the ball to Grey. The implication should be: If we can get someone of Gray’s caliber, we’ll need to get Wilkerson a shot at QB, but if we can’t dedicate to the running game, we’ll need a more traditional passer behind center. OK, this will require us to use the Jedi Mind trick on him, so that he doesn’t notice that Logan Turner and Zach Rhodes are both dual threats… But I do think that linking his career to Wilkerson's could very well tip the scale in our favor. Though you certainly don’t want it to look like you’re ransoming Wilkerson (come here or Terrence will never see the field!).
Anyone have any other reasons to come to SMU?
-CoS
