Looking back on the 2006 Recruiting Class Part II: Top Recruit

[Buffnik]

The following 12 recruits have all started for the Buffs during their respective careers.

HI DE B.J. Beatty
CA CB Cha'pelle Brown
AZ CB Jalil Brown
TX LS Justin Drescher
ID QB Cody Hawkins
CA DE Marquez Herrod
CA WR Scotty McKnight (PWO)
HI LB Michael Sipili
CA ATH Jimmy Smith
CO TE Nate Solder
CO OG Keenan Stevens (PWO)
CA RB Demetrius Sumler

Who was the best pickup for the Buffs?

 

[ScottyBuff]

Tougher choice in this poll. Some great CB's in that bunch and McKnight, but without Solder at LT for the last two years I shudder to think about how much worse things would have been.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

The best recruit imo has to be Jimmy Smith. If Jimmy can get his act straight he'd be a first day draft pick next spring.

I can also see an argument for Solder as well. But Solder has struggled pretty badly at T. Is it his fault or is it on the coaches? I say it's on Hawk. You have to develop that kind of talent.

 

[wsp4820]

The best recruit imo has to be Jimmy Smith. If Jimmy can get his act straight he'd be a first day draft pick next spring.

I can also see an argument for Solder as well. But Solder has struggled pretty badly at T. Is it his fault or is it on the coaches? I say it's on Hawk. You have to develop that kind of talent.

This. Who's been most important would be between Solder and McKnight, but Smith has to be the best pickup from a talent perspective. He's also been a solid to very good performer on the field. Teams stopped throwing to his side last year.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

It would be very painful to imagine how inept our offense would be without McKnight.

 

[JimmyBuff]

I voted Scotty.. His production is hard to ignore on a team that has no offensive identity and incompetent coaches. I'm not as high on Smith as most around here.. I'd probably pick Herrod second and then Brown..

 

[wsp4820]

I voted Scotty.. His production is hard to ignore on a team that has no offensive identity and incompetent coaches. I'm not as high on Smith as most around here.. I'd probably pick Herrod second and then Brown..

If Herrod improves on his play from last year (which was very good), I think I'd have to agree with you once all is said and done. He made a huge leap from the sophomore to junior year.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

If Herrod improves on his play from last year (which was very good), I think I'd have to agree with you once all is said and done. He made a huge leap from the sophomore to junior year.

A HUGE leap. I was pretty impressed with him.

 

[Duff Man]

This one really was not that tough for me. McKnight has been the only consistent producer on offense for three years now, and that is playing out of his natural position.

 

[jahbrahakala]

Chapelle Brown made the most impact

In terms of contribution, Chapelle Brown started/played as a True Freshman and then four years thru his Senior year. He has terrific body of work - stats, which. Speak for themselves. His athleticism and desire made up for his 5'7 height. Jimmy Smith may be an Nfl first rounder and have the best single season of contribution, but over four years Chapelle made the biggest impact imo.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

In terms of contribution, Chapelle Brown started/played as a True Freshman and then four years thru his Senior year. He has terrific body of work - stats, which. Speak for themselves. His athleticism and desire made up for his 5'7 height. Jimmy Smith may be an Nfl first rounder and have the best single season of contribution, but over four years Chapelle made the biggest impact imo.

Chap is the man. One of my favorite players. The only problem I have is him not being able to lock down a starting job. I know he's a team player, but he's still a liability when we play man on man vs a 6-4 receiver.

Correct me if I am wrong but our two starters at CB are Jalil and Jimmy. Chap has always been our nickel back. That's how I saw it last year.

 

[White_Rabbit]

I went with Jimmy, but I could have easily went with McKnight. Jalil Brown has also had his moments as well as Herrod, and of course Solder with his all Big 12 year, although I had trouble seeing it.

 

[lvbuff]

Ginger has done well in a group of very good LBs. He has a motor and I expect big things out of him this year

 

[jahbrahakala]

Chap is the man. One of my favorite players. The only problem I have is him not being able to lock down a starting job. I know he's a team player, but he's still a liability when we play man on man vs a 6-4 receiver.

Correct me if I am wrong but our two starters at CB are Jalil and Jimmy. Chap has always been our nickel back. That's how I saw it last year.

As far as starting goes, the system doesn't really count the nickel back fairly. Chapelle played 804 plays last year to Smith's 801 & Brown's 699. He played 824 plays in '08 and totaled 2,509 over 46 games played. If Smith & Brown play 824 next year, they won't match that, both in the 2,000 - 2,100 range.

I agree, all 3 of these guys have made an impact. On a performance basis, his numbers stack up as well. He made a 3rd down stop every 67 plays to Smith's 101 & Brown's 91 plays. His pass break ups per game of 0.5 aren't far off of Smith's 0.6 and Brown's 0.7. But you are right about matching up against the taller recievers. Chapelle had a Pass breakup every 100 plays, Smith every 82 and Brown impressively every 62 plays. He had 4 Ints while causing 2. Smith and Jalil have 3 Ints a piece over 3 years. So in line with Chap here. Again in TD saves he lags rhe taller guys with 2 vs Smith's 4 and Jalil's 10! On a Total Tackles basis Chapelle had 257 vs Smith's 113 and Jalil's 121. I doubt either of them will top 100 next, nor should they as traditional CBs.

But maybe it's not fair to compare the nickel spot to the others. Totaling Sacks, Tackles for Loss, and for Zero Yards Chapelle has 39 of these to Jimmy & Jalil's 8. This along with his overall numbers over 46 games gives Chapelle the nod for me. Though other two are great as well imo. Jalil might even have more upside than Jimmy Smith. I think 6-7 of his 19 pass break ups in last year alone were dropped Ints. Hopefully he'll mange to hold on to them next year.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

As far as starting goes, the system doesn't really count the nickel back fairly. Chapelle played 804 plays last year to Smith's 801 & Brown's 699. He played 824 plays in '08 and totaled 2,509 over 46 games played. If Smith & Brown play 824 next year, they won't match that, both in the 2,000 - 2,100 range.

I agree, all 3 of these guys have made an impact. On a performance basis, his numbers stack up as well. He made a 3rd down stop every 67 plays to Smith's 101 & Brown's 91 plays. His pass break ups per game of 0.5 aren't far off of Smith's 0.6 and Brown's 0.7. But you are right about matching up against the taller recievers. Chapelle had a Pass breakup every 100 plays, Smith every 82 and Brown impressively every 62 plays. He had 4 Ints while causing 2. Smith and Jalil have 3 Ints a piece over 3 years. So in line with Chap here. Again in TD saves he lags rhe taller guys with 2 vs Smith's 4 and Jalil's 10! On a Total Tackles basis Chapelle had 257 vs Smith's 113 and Jalil's 121. I doubt either of them will top 100 next, nor should they as traditional CBs.

But maybe it's not fair to compare the nickel spot to the others. Totaling Sacks, Tackles for Loss, and for Zero Yards Chapelle has 39 of these to Jimmy & Jalil's 8. This along with his overall numbers over 46 games gives Chapelle the nod for me. Though other two are great as well imo. Jalil might even have more upside than Jimmy Smith. I think 6-7 of his 19 pass break ups in last year alone were dropped Ints. Hopefully he'll mange to hold on to them next year.

I stand corrected. :thumbsup:

 

[ScottyBuff]

All of the arguments about which of stud DB's Cha'pelle, Jalil, or Jimmy makes me really think that Nate Solder was the best recruit from that class. Because we had 3 really good Cornerbacks, any one of them would have been replaced by another. But who would have played LT for us the last two years? Miller. Don't think so. Dannewitz? would not have been ready (but expecting great things in 2011). Tau? never healthy.

Without Solder we would have even more thoroughly dominated over the last two years. I know that many people doubt his "Big 12" first-team selection, but I think as an individual player he is very solid, we see the holes caused by the rest of the line being subpar. I love Chap and Jimmy Smith, and really think Jalil will be great for us this season, but Solder is irreplaceable.