The 2009 recruiting class is looking good so far.

[CacheMoneyMustang]

Makes sense that JJ would have more success recruiting offense. Hopefully the better offense will lead to a better record, and that success will in turn lead to better recruits all around, including defense.

Having said that I am surprised that there aren't more defenders, especially if gotribe on cbsportline is to be believed when he said, "One of the Hawaii sports radio show hosts commented a couple of weeks ago that June had told him in a phone call that he only had 2 defensive players at SMU that would even make the team at Hawaii."
(http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/messages/thread/11209841)

[jtstang]

Our biggest problem is DL and LB. We don't have very many recruits there. Therefore, this class doesn't appear to at this point to meet our most serious needs.

Jt's argument is solid even to a sunshiner like me.

What about the grey shirts that are coming off this semester? I do know that one of them was LB Robert Parker from Humble. He was a fairly touted prospect.

I can't remember who else grey shirted.

Well, candidly I was referring to the class listed in the original post, which has all of 5 defensive players, two of them even ranked (okay maybe I miscounted). Crapshoot? Yes, of course. But can you increase your odds by focusing on your needs? I think so.

[ponyboy]

I would be very interested in JJ's strategy. My guess is that he knows the defensive shortcomings but simply hasn't been able to yet convert on defensive linemen and linebackers. Another explanation might be that he wants to load up in the secondary for a bend don't break type of defense that somehow compliments what he's trying to do offensively. As it stands, we're going to get killed by anybody with a decent running game.

[BUS]

The original post shows 21 recruits. Can we not take 25?

I think to get to 25 we would have to release some dead wood that was on the team last year.

Matbe we get some last DT help.

[Stallion]

I'm telling you there are DEs that will eventually move to DTs-some of these kids are reportedly "big boys" already.

[ponyboy]

But will they be Division I DT talent?

[BUS]

I will back off the DT issue due to the fact that I do not know the design that is being put together.

I think of DT's at 295+ and 5.o To clog runniug lanes and take up two blockers.
DE at 250 to 270 and 4.8 to get up feild and rattle the QB.
LB's ar 220 to 260 and 4.7 or hopefully faster.
and to wrap it up at least 5-10 DB's ( taller and still fast is better )

I can be taught to like something else is it helps us win.

[ponyte]

At this point in our program, I just hope Jones recruits well enough for us to have a decent fantasy football team.

[mustangbill67]

I will back off the DT issue due to the fact that I do not know the design that is being put together.

I think of DT's at 295+ and 5.o To clog runniug lanes and take up two blockers.
DE at 250 to 270 and 4.8 to get up feild and rattle the QB.
LB's ar 220 to 260 and 4.7 or hopefully faster.
and to wrap it up at least 5-10 DB's ( taller and still fast is better )

I can be taught to like something else is it helps us win.

I was amazed watching USC in the Rose Bowl at the speed of its defense. One LB, forgot his name, was 6'3, 235 with a sub 4.3 40. Maybe someday

[White Helmet]

I think that was Taylor Mays, the S at 6'3" 235 andwas the fastest on the team

[mustangxc]

Scout and Rivals have big discrepancies in their ratings. Both list us as having 7 *** or better, but the only 2 recruits rated as *** by both are Joey Fontana and James Scott.

Scout
Chase Joubert
Joey Fontana
Mike Loftus
Braylon Williams
Ben Hughes
Brandon Henderson
James Scott

Rivals
Ryan Clark (****)
Chris Atchison
Joey Fontana
Darius Johnson
Deonte McDade
Marquis Frazier
James Scott

It's hard for me to tell who is legit. I thought Darius was a legit ***

[MustangIcon]

Scout and Rivals have big discrepancies in their ratings. Both list us as having 7 *** or better, but the only 2 recruits rated as *** by both are Joey Fontana and James Scott.

Scout
Chase Joubert
Joey Fontana
Mike Loftus
Braylon Williams
Ben Hughes
Brandon Henderson
James Scott

Rivals
Ryan Clark (****)
Chris Atchison
Joey Fontana
Darius Johnson
Deonte McDade
Marquis Frazier
James Scott

It's hard for me to tell who is legit. I thought Darius was a legit ***

If you watch some film or watched any of D. Johnson's games you wouldn't need to see his rating to know that he is very much legit.

[Stallion]

Hint: One 3 star SMU commit on Scout had 4 receptions on the entire year and is rated higher than Darius Johnson who is a 2 star on Scout. Scout is completely unreliable and inconsistent.

[Alaric]

Hint: One 3 star SMU commit on Scout had 4 receptions on the entire year and is rated higher than Darius Johnson who is a 2 star on Scout. Scout is completely unreliable and inconsistent.

I assume the 3 star you're talking about it Chayse Joubert at Duncanville who'd previously been at Arlington Grace Prep. My brother in law talked to one of the Duncanville coaches who said Joubert's a freak of an athlete (I think Rivals has him at 4.6). The coach said he's faster than that and an incredible athlete but that he wasn't good enough to start for Duncanville b/c he was really raw, hands weren't great. We'll see...those things can be improved upon but you'd think if he was such a great raw athlete, he'd be good enough to start even if he's raw...this HS coach (not the HC), was surprised at the scholarship offer...JJ must really be projecting here...

[Scoops]

I can't remember who else grey shirted.

Other LB grayshirt was Zach Line.
Parker and Line both will be enrolling in January, as will OL Josh Emshoff.