Michael Barone

[Stallion]

here's a guy SMU might take a close look at-6-4, 245-250 5.0, North Mesquite-previously was looking at a long list of Top 20 programs like Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Nebraska, K-State, Colorado and Maryland who have backed off. Previously, Rivals reported an offer from Arkansas, but right now the only offer on the the table is NMSU. He had a visit set up to Maryland and an alleged offer to visit from LSU. Now he's interested in visiting SMU and TCU and also interested in Army. Played TE in high school mostly as a blocker ala Vincent Chase. Recorded only about 4 catches as a junior and senior but he projects as a TE, DE or OLM all areas SMU could use some help. Rates a 2 star on both Rivals and the Insiders and a 5.3 on Rivals. Good size, decent quickness who might be an asset after a redshirt year at several positions. In April he was rated as the No 94 prospect in Texas according to the the Insiders Texas Top 100. No. 57 prospect in the DMN Area Top 100.

<small>[ 12-30-2003, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: Stallion ]</small>

[PonyFan]

I agree, he sounds like an interesting prospect, but at 5.0 in the 40, could he play DE or TE? Sounds like an OL waiting to happen, if he can handle the addition of 40 or 50 (or more) pounds. Then again, that would take a couple of years -- can we wait that long on him?

[bhop]

Any idea why so many D-1A programs have backed off this guy?

[Stallion]

They ALL have. Who cares as long as he's the best recruit availiable-this happens every year when a kid starts hearing from recruiters telling him how great he is and he'll come up with a list of USC, OU or LSU or whoever is hot at the time. Honestly, very few of SMU's recruits over the last 15 years dreamed of playin for dear ole SMU. They dreamed of playing for UT, OU, A&M or winning programs and didn't even consider SMU until it was obvious that wouldn't happen. Besides if we offered Barone then the Cheerleaders could boast that we signed a kid who considered LSU, Nebraska, Colorado, K-State and Arkansas-its the kinda B.S. we've been hearing from the same posters for years now.

[HFvictory]

Barone had a good JR (all-district) year and was expected to have a great SR season because of more emphasis on throwing the ball, especially to him. Instead he had 3 catches for 40 yards. Has 40 times in the 5+ range and suspect hands. Too slow to hold blocks on blitzes, etc. Not enough speed for a DE.

His rankings based upon his JR season.

[Hilltopper]

Originally posted by Stallion:
They ALL have. Who cares as long as he's the best recruit availiable-this happens every year when a kid starts hearing from recruiters telling him how great he is and he'll come up with a list of USC, OU or LSU or whoever is hot at the time. Honestly, very few of SMU's recruits over the last 15 years dreamed of playin for dear ole SMU. They dreamed of playing for UT, OU, A&M or winning programs and didn't even consider SMU until it was obvious that wouldn't happen. Besides if we offered Barone then the Cheerleaders could boast that we signed a kid who considered LSU, Nebraska, Colorado, K-State and Arkansas-its the kinda B.S. we've been hearing from the same posters for years now.

Please correct me if I'm mis-reading your post, but are you really suggesting that a guy's status according to recruiting analysts is more important than how good a player he actually is? I know that coaches look at a lot more than 40 times, etc., in determining a player's value, but if he can't play, it doesn't matter how pretty Bobby Burton thinks he looks, right? If nobody else wants a guy, perhaps there's a reason, right?

[Stallion]

...."Who cares as long as he is the BEST RECRUIT AVAILIABLE" If we didn't take the kids the Big 12 and BCS schools backed off from we literrally would have trouble fielding a team.

<small>[ 12-31-2003, 08:35 AM: Message edited by: Stallion ]</small>