Signings

[Stallion]

Well if you include Lindley and McCray at S then maybe we did all right there. I was the first one to suggest that McCray looked like a nice SS type but I've been assured by many close to the situation that he will be a LB-and he was listed as an LB today. Lindley has been rated as a CB-great prospect no doubt-perhaps Bennett mentioned Lindley and McCray would be safeties and that would ease my concerns there. We agree we got numbers at OLM and DLM but we still need a HUGE upgrade there in talent even on the second unit. I'm not happy with our talent there at all even if all of of last years class come through. If you compare the talent depth at RB with the talent depth at OLM and DLM there is a huge difference. We are only one deep with the type of athletes I'd like to see at LB too. Until these guys prove otherwise, I consider every WR on our team a "sleeper prospect" as they were in High School-although I'm really kind of excited about the kid from Grand Prairie. We've got a long way to go.

<small>[ 02-04-2004, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: Stallion ]</small>

[JasonB]

Agreed. But you have to fix one hole at a time. Our depth situation and our quality situation has been resolved at Corner and to some extent saftey (depending on who moves there) and QB. Our depth situation is now settled across the board - we shouldn't have walkons creeping into the 3 deep anymore. Now the coaches are at a point where we can finally concentrate on upgrading the talent at the other positions in future recruiting classes.

Here is depth chart as far as "BCS offers" is concerned (we are man-wise three deep at all positions except 1 OT and one OLB position):

QB: 2
RB: 6
WR: 1 (out of 9 positions)
TE: 1
OG: 2 (out of 6 positions)
OT: 1 (out of 6 positions)
C: 1
DE: 2 (out of 6 positions)
DT: 2 (out of 6 positions)
OLB: 2 (out of 6 positions)
MLB: 2
CB: 7 (out of 9 positions)
SS: 2
FS: 2

Obviously, we have a ways to go, but it looks a hell of a lot better now than it did two years ago, that is for sure! The good news is that we have at least one player at each position who was offered by a BCS school, a claim which we have not been able to make in quite a while.

Linebackers and linemen will definately be the points of emphasis next year.

[Mike Damone]

And, I also hear there's still the possibility of a JUCO DT in the wings.

I have no idea who this might be. But looking at rivals top 60 jucos, there are two unsigned DT's who are at Texas schools. Probably not either of them, but two possiblities I found from very minimal research.

[Stallion]

I've heard that too but all I'll say is that its probably a kid who is not eligible to sign until he graduates from JC in the spring-so there's probably some more work to do. Interesting and I admit could be rather significant as far as discussions about the SMU Model go. I don't know the specifics about the academic eligibility of this prospect. BTW for those that don't know-a kid who is a non-qualifier out of HS now has to graduate from JC before he can transfer to a Division 1A school. If he was a god JC prospect with his academics in line then he almost surely would have signed at mid-term so he would have been eligible for spring practice. BTW JasonB I think your chart goes a long way in showing exactly what I mean about the need to upgrade the talent level at all positions other than RB and CB. Very demonstrative. And I'd certainly agree that the top 6 or so in this class are much more highly recruited than the Top 6 in the 2000, 2001 and 2002 classes

<small>[ 02-04-2004, 09:33 PM: Message edited by: Stallion ]</small>

[Mike Damone]

Well, it would be huge if it happened, but no need to worry about it until May.

[PerunaPunch]

Also, on the subject of talented linemen... You also have to factor in that we have an extremely talented walk-on in Ben Pointer (sp?) who may deserve a ship next year, and also that we'have a solid commitment one of the top tackles in the nation already for '05 in Chris Hall.

There are too many question marks right now for anyone to be secure in our OL, but the talent level is going up, uP, UP!!