From ESPN

[50's PONY]

Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Rivals BYU, Utah boast solid classes

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By Bill Conley
Scouts Inc.

It's the BCS schools that attract most of the attention on signing day, but with the recent success of teams such as Utah and Boise State, it's no surprise that non-BCS schools and their conferences are gaining more national respect than ever before in the world of college football recruiting. Players know they can get an opportunity to be seen nationally and the chance to play early in a number of good, solid football programs. The 2009 class of recruits going to non-BCS institutions is impressive in terms of quality.

The biggest problem many of these schools face is closing strong in the last couple of weeks of recruiting. These schools have a tendency to get invaded by BCS schools that lose some of their battles for the top talent. The non-BCS football programs can't let up down the stretch; they need to work hard and hold on tight.



Boise State
The Broncos know how to win and, without a doubt, get the most out of their talent. The 2009 class of recruits reflects the success of the Boise State program. The Broncos are invading California; their three top recruits and six overall are from the Sunshine State. Led by accurate and instinctive quarterback Joe Southwick (Danville, Calif./Ramon Valley) and high-motor offensive lineman Charles Leno (San Leandro, Calif.), the Broncos' offense shouldn't miss a beat.



BYU
Over the years, Brigham Young has been one of the most consistent of all non-BCS programs. Unlike TCU, BYU has been successful with its high-powered offensive attack. It comes as no surprise that the Cougars' top two recruits line up on the offensive side of the ball. Richard Wilson (Spanish Fork, Utah) is the fourth-ranked tight end nationally. He is equally effective from the traditional tight end alignment or when flexed out. Wilson has tremendous concentration and can go up to catch the ball in a crowd. Another fourth-ranked player, center Terry Alletto (Parker, Colo./Ponderosa), is a big grab for the Cougars. Alletto is an undersized but quick center. He is consistent with his snaps when the quarterback is lined up under center or in a shotgun.



East Carolina
East Carolina hopes to compete for the Conference USA crown in 2009, and the Pirates are again putting together a very solid recruiting class, led by athlete Michael Dobson (Mount Airy, N.C.). Dobson doubles as a safety and a running back. He has great vision, balance and body control when carrying the football. At the same time, his athleticism and range would make him a very good collegiate safety. The toughest thing for the Pirates' staff will be deciding where to play him.



Houston
The resurgent Cougars are putting a ton of effort into recruiting, and it's paying off. Houston needs to strengthen its defense, and safety Thomas Bates (Baytown, Texas/Robert E. Lee) is a prime example of what they needed to add. Bates excels at lateral movement and displays great range.



SMU
This could be the surprise class of the non-BCS schools. Although the class is heavy with offensive lineman such as Joey Fontana (New Orleans, La./Brother Martin), the quality is very good. The Mustangs need to add some higher-caliber skill to the class, but they have done exceptionally well for a team with just one win in 2008.



Southern Miss
The Golden Eagles finished the 2008 campaign with five straight victories, and their success has continued on the recruiting front. Southern Miss has picked up a verbal from top-20 running back Kendrick Hardy (Monticello, Miss./Lawrence County). Hardy has a great blend of size and speed for a running back. He is a slashing back who can accelerate, and he possesses good top-end speed. Southern Miss lost a huge commitment from another top-20 position player. Defensive tackle Jamar Travis (Brewton, Ala./W.S. Neal) jumped to Auburn late in the process.




TCU

TCU won 11 games in 2008 primarily because of its stubborn and tenacious defense. The Horned Frogs are restocking their linebacking corps with commitments from Justin Isadore (Beaumont, Texas/Ozen) and Tanner Brock . Although these two outside backers are physically different, they both have good range and play well in space.

Don't think that the Horned Frogs are ignoring offensive talent. Arguably, their very best prospect in the class is Josh Boyce (Copperas Cove, Texas), one of Brock's high school teammates. Boyce is an explosive athlete with excellent speed and outstanding ball skills.



Tulane
Coach Bob Toledo and staff are putting together a strong and impressive class. Although there is plenty of defensive talent in this large class, the top player may be tight end Brock Sanders (Duluth, Ga./Northview). Sanders is a versatile athlete who has played on both sides of the football and should develop into a very solid tight end with physical and mental maturity.




Tulsa
Eleven wins and a bowl-game victory are signs the Golden Hurricanes are for real and creating a storm. Their success on the field has transferred to the recruiting front. The graduation of senior quarterback David Johnson made that position crucial for the Tulsa staff to fill. It's only fitting that Tulsa's top recruit is the nation's 20th-ranked quarterback, Shavodrick Beaver (Wichita Falls, Texas/Rider). Beaver is a talented dual-threat quarterback who displays awareness in the pocket and has the mobility to evade the rush.
Utah
Finishing as college football's second-best team has been instrumental in helping the Utes round up a very good class in terms of quantity and quality. Their top three verbals are linemen -- two offensive and one defensive. Huge offensive guard Kapua Sai (Honolulu, Hawaii/St. Louis School) is a powerful run-blocker, while offensive tackle Percy Taumoelau (Salt Lake City, Utah/Cottonwood) is a stout pass-protector.




Bill Conley is a recruiting coordinator for ESPN Scouts Inc. He previously worked at Ohio State for 17 years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.


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[FIVE-O-FAN]

I'll take that...

[SMU 86]

I'll take that...

Me too.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Me three!

[The PonyGrad]

Me fore.

[mrydel]

Me fore.

This belongs in "Other Sports"

[PonyTales]

That's pretty good pre-Signing Day pub on a national scale. Works for me.