Here is the Beef, But Will He Sign With US?

[Ponymon]

The University of Tulsa will be hosting Roderick Thomas, a 6-foot-4 and 321-pound lineman from Oklahoma City’s Northeast Academy thi weekend. Thomas might not be a household name to many, but according to Northeast Head Coach Ron Kroeger, he is quite a player.

“Roderick is a big boned, long armed kid with lots of potential,” stated Coach Kroeger. “He’s been getting interest from schools such as Missouri, Arkansas State, SMU, Colorado State, New Mexico State and others, as well as Tulsa. SMU has already made him an offer.”

This kid was a second team Tulsa All State selection. He runs a 5.1 forty, squats over 500 lbs and dead lifts over 600 lbs. He just started weight training LAST YEAR. So far we are the only school that has offered. Reportedly, he qualifies academically and wants to be a minister. (Gee do you think we could provide the training for that profession?)

I've got my fingers crossed we could get this guy, but Tulsa has been outrecruiting us this year (Why? I have NO idea!) so my hopes aren't too high.

[McAndless]

Tulsa, like many others, and I'm not referring to websites, have been outrecruiting us on their coaches ability to make a player-friendly, open-door atmosphere that hasn't seemed to hit the Hilltop yet. I'm not going to cite resources, but I talked to a recruit whom plans on signing with a C-USA rival primarily because of the relationship he forged with the coaching staff. He simply quoted, "Bennett is not the sort of coach I would see myself playing for." A bit concerning. Coaching matters in recruiting, too.

[PK]

Originally posted by McAndless:
...I talked to a recruit whom plans on signing with a C-USA rival primarily because of the relationship he forged with the coaching staff. He simply quoted, "Bennett is not the sort of coach I would see myself playing for." A bit concerning. Coaching matters in recruiting, too.

Perhaps he wasn't "promised" a starting postion by Bennett. Or perhaps the recruits we are getting don't care about what kind of coach they play for. There is no "one size fits all" at any school. We are getting some great recruits who I believe want to play for Bennett...so I am not too concerned that some kid liked another coaching staff better than ours. Its kind of like getting married...not everyone would be happy with you, but then at least one is happy enough with you to say yes when you ask.

[Lotus]

I don't know exactly what is meant by the aforementioned "open-door policy," but in the reading I've done about the guys who have committed to SMU -- and I spend altogether too much time reading about this stuff to really call myself sane -- it sounds like the coaches have been very up-front and honest with our recruits. It seems to me that most (if not all) have been told to show up in August expecting to play, although they also are being told that they will need to earn playing time. As far as I have been able to determine, nobody has been promised a starting spot, instead being told that they will need to compete and earn their jobs. If we have a bunch of talented recruits sitting out as redshirts, they'll get bigger and stronger for a year while learning the offense and defense, and it will happen only if the returning guys (including the 2003 redshirts) are better players. My sense is that the returning players are working as hard and enthusiastically as any SMU team in years, and the energy being spent on preparation is reaching heretofore unforseen levels. Personally, I plan to take a trip up to Dallas to watch the progress, because there are a lot of 2003 redshirts I'm very eager to see.

[Phil Fan]

Never heard of the guy. Is he an offensive lineman or a defensive lineman? Is he just big, or does he also have some ability? For a guy with his size, a 5.1 in the 40 isn't bad at all. Coach Bennett and Coach Fello would love the chance to coach a DT with that kind of size.

<small>[ 01-25-2004, 06:19 PM: Message edited by: Phil Fan ]</small>

[Tshoot]

Originally posted by Lotus:
I don't know exactly what is meant by the aforementioned "open-door policy," but in the reading I've done about the guys who have committed to SMU -- and I spend altogether too much time reading about this stuff to really call myself sane -- it sounds like the coaches have been very up-front and honest with our recruits. It seems to me that most (if not all) have been told to show up in August expecting to play, although they also are being told that they will need to earn playing time. As far as I have been able to determine, nobody has been promised a starting spot, instead being told that they will need to compete and earn their jobs. If we have a bunch of talented recruits sitting out as redshirts, they'll get bigger and stronger for a year while learning the offense and defense, and it will happen only if the returning guys (including the 2003 redshirts) are better players. My sense is that the returning players are working as hard and enthusiastically as any SMU team in years, and the energy being spent on preparation is reaching heretofore unforseen levels. Personally, I plan to take a trip up to Dallas to watch the progress, because there are a lot of 2003 redshirts I'm very eager to see.

[Tshoot]

Originally posted by McAndless:
Tulsa, like many others, and I'm not referring to websites, have been outrecruiting us on their coaches ability to make a player-friendly, open-door atmosphere that hasn't seemed to hit the Hilltop yet. I'm not going to cite resources, but I talked to a recruit whom plans on signing with a C-USA rival primarily because of the relationship he forged with the coaching staff. He simply quoted, "Bennett is not the sort of coach I would see myself playing for." A bit concerning. Coaching matters in recruiting, too.

[Tshoot]

I know for a fact that Tulsa does alot of promising to get guys in. Sometimes it pays off but in the long run it'll cost 'em. Bennett is very honest with these guys. He tells them that they are expected to compete and will have the chance. What more can a player ask for? Bennett is doing it the way it's supposed to be done. Tulsa does have the upper hand because of their recent turn around. Things change though. The Ponys are on the right track. Give it time. :hmm:

[giacfsp]

Originally posted by Phil Fan:
Never heard of the guy. Is he an offensive lineman or a defensive lineman? ....

??????????

[Ponymon]

He is a DEFENSIVE tackle!

[PonyTales]

Somehow I bet BUS and the rest of the PonyFans would love to see this guy join Desmond Jones and Brandon Bonds as big bodies in the rotation at DT. Mix them in with some of the quicker (albeit slightly smaller) guys, and the DT rotation looks a lot stronger.

[BUS]

get this large young man to DALLAS. Great place to get a good education, sun tan with great looking women and one of the best looking football stadiums in TEXAS.

Yep, this is what I want. How about two of them!! Then Adami can play D-End.

[Pony Fan]

We never offered this guy, trust me.

[gostangs]

Adami is the best we have in the middle - that does not mean that is where he belongs - we will know we are making progress in our defensive line when we never don't have a def tackle under 270 lbs. Any less needs to be an end. With his step off the line that is where he should play - and he should want to do that because whatever shot he has at the next level will be at end.

[Ponymon]

It doesn't matter whether we offered him or not, it looks like he will be a Golden Hurricane after his visit this weekend.