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CU: Commitment to In-State Recruiting

Buffnik

Real name isn't Nik
Club Member
Junta Member
The first full recruiting year with Embree and company has been a welcome change in many ways. One area that really stands out to me is in-state recruiting. It's not even April, but we have 2 in-state commitments, we're in on all of the major prospects, and we're trying hard to lock them up.

I love this. Not only have we witnessed a talent drain over the past 5 years of a ton of guys that could have helped our program, but it goes beyond talent. Local prospects are important for the culture of the program because they connect with what "Colorado" is. They also help to connect the fan base, especially the casual fans. That's a foundation of the program.

To give everyone a snapshot of where we are on March 27, CU has already gained in-state commitments from DE Clay Norgard and DT Tyler Henington. CU is also believed to be in the lead (or strongly in the hunt) for QB Cyler Miles, OL Shane Callahan, OL Paul Thurston, OL Alex Kozan, OL Arthur Flores, TE Evan Baylis, and LB Kevin Davis.

Below is what the past 5 years looked like. Could we or should we have taken everyone? No. But this lists all the guys who accepted BCS offers or went to top mid-majors. There are also a ton of guys who signed on the front range with CSU, Wyoming and AFA. A number of them would have been valuable players for the Buffs, but I didn't list them here.

In 2007, we landed Ryan Miller, Shawn Daniels, Anthony Perkins and Ethan Adkins. We missed out on the following guys who signed at BCS programs (or could have): Clint Brewster (Minnesota), Steve Watson (Michigan), Phil Welch (Wisconsin), Drew Davis (Oregon), Ryan Hill (Nebraska), Devin Aguilar (Washington), David Angilau (BYU), Jared Campbell (Miami), Kyle Theret (Minnesota), Daniel Blackledge (Washington State), Alvin Logan (Washington), Corey Adams (Kansas State), Charles Hayes (Boise State).

In 2008, we landed Curtis Cunningham, Bryce Givens, Jon Major and Will Pericak from in-state. We missed out on the following guys who signed at BCS programs (or could have): Nolan Brewster (Texas), Collin Klein (Kansas State), Andrew Sampson (Arizona State), Jack Elway (Arizona State), Brock Stringham (BYU), Tyler Jackson (Boise State).

In 2009, we landed Zach Grossnickle, Jack Harris, Nick Kasa, Parker Orms and Davaughn Thornton from in-state. We missed out on the following guys who signed at BCS programs (or could have): Matthew Tucker (Arizona State), Terry Alletto (BYU), Alex Logan (Cal), Kendall Gregory-McGhee (Minnesota), Ryan Hewitt (Stanford), Jeremiah Sirles (Nebraska), Clarence Bumpas (Kansas State), Taylor Paxton (Northwestern), Charles Ragland (Cal), Terrell Thompson (Washington State).

In 2010, we landed Justin Castor and Kyle Slavin from in-state. We missed out on the following guys who signed at BCS programs (or could have): Chris Martin (Cal), Nduka Onyeali (Arizona State), Dillon Bonnell (Stanford), Danny Spond (Notre Dame), Mister Jones (Texas A&M), Kip Smith (UCLA), Austin Hinder (Cal), Mike Moudy (Nebraska), Joe Hemschoot (Stanford), Kain Colter (Northwestern), Kenny Bell (Nebraska), Jonny Miller (Syracuse), Kyle Klein (Kansas State).

In 2011, we landed Brady Daigh and Marc Mustoe from in-state. We missed out on the following guys who signed at BCS programs (or could have): Leilon Willingham (UCF), Brock Berglund (Kansas), Brendon Austin (Stanford), Adonis Ameen-Moore (Syracuse), Ezekiel Bishop (Arizona State), Kris Kentera (Vanderbilt), Rayshon Williams (UCF).

I look forward to better days ahead. This is just another example of a way Jon Embree is turning this program around. He gets it.
 
The next step is locking these guys up in the next few months. Apply a little pressure, get players to feel like they need to commit soon or risk losing their spot.
 
I should also add that I think Junior Day will be big for the in-state recruits. Think we will get at least one commit out of the weekend. Get Henington and Norgard talking to the other guys and watch what happens.

Have not heard a whole lot of confirmation, but I am guessing we will see all the in-state offers at Junior Day. Have you heard anything differently Nik?
 
Have not heard a whole lot of confirmation, but I am guessing we will see all the in-state offers at Junior Day. Have you heard anything differently Nik?

That's my expectation, but I haven't heard anything specifically. I'll post something on the premium sites to get Adam, Kyle and Andrew going on it.
 
Nik - I thought the former staff did a decent job until it became obvious that the product they were pushing was garbage. Many of the kids that got away early were either marginal BCS or lost to Stanford. As the years went on the mask was off and they had to find under radar kids. I still think they did that ok.

They failed to win and that killed it.

With that said I think these guys are better recruiters and have been quicker to offer.
 
With that said I think these guys are better recruiters and have been quicker to offer.

This is really what it comes down to for me. The Dillon Bonnell recruitment was the most glaring example, but there were others. Bonnell was getting offers from everywhere and CU waited nearly a month after he took an unofficial visit in late-March/early-April to offer him. Nduka Onyeali is the other glaring example, CU waited forever to offer him and he ends up the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. I admit I was skeptical of Onyeali, but I do not get paid to evaluate talent.

The early recruiting of the last staff flat-out sucked. There is no excuse for getting caught flat-footed when it comes to an in-state prospect.
 
I'm excited because it seems the staff has done its homework, but I do have one question. Are there any instate kids they should be slow playing? We have offers out to three instate tackles in Flores, Callahan, Kozan and Thurston. Thurston's film looks crazy-good to me. That kid can move and he's no waist bender. Should any two of them commit before Thurston, do we really take 3 ot's? Because I don't think there's any way you don't take Thurston.
 
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I believe we're taking 5 or 6 OLs this year. I don't think they're concerned about taking too many tackles. You can always move them to guard.
 
I really doubt the coaches would turn away Thurston in that situation. He should have a spot up to signing day if he needs that much time IMO (though he likely will decide before the season). I like Callahan quite a bit too. I think Kozan and Flores are solid prospects, but a step down from the top two. If we end up with 3 out of 4, I will be happy.

Honestly, the only OL offer that is a bit puzzling to me is Jordan Williams out of Texas.

Kevin Davis is probably the one in-state guy they are slow playing right now. He might have to earn an offer by performing well at the camp in June.
 
I'm excited because it seems the staff has done its homework, but I do have one question. Are there any instate kids they should be slow playing? We have offers out to three instate tackles in Flores, Callahan, Kozan and Thurston. Thurston's film looks crazy-good to me. That kid can move and he's no waist bender. Should any two of them commit before Thurston, do we really take 3 ot's? Because I don't think there's any way you don't take Thurston.

Good question and I think it may come into play at other positions. With the tackles you mention all of them are good enough athletes that they can move to other spots on the O-line so in that case I would take 3 OTs.

At the same time we may end up in a situation with DBs and RBs that we are already full when a better quality player at those positions is ready to commit.

Compared with the past few years of filling up on guys at the end who did not have offers from other BCS level schools or hoping that a guy would pass all his classes with grades he hadn't had before in high school to qualify this is a nice problem to have.
 
How good of a prospect is Kevin Davis the LB?

He's got the tools, but football in the Springs area leaves a lot to be desired. He'll camp again at CU this summer. That will go a long way to determining if we end up making a committable offer.
 
I believe we're taking 5 or 6 OLs this year. I don't think they're concerned about taking too many tackles. You can always move them to guard.

Thanks for the responses BB and Nik. I asked because there was some thought in one the profile threads about the guards being the "roadgrader" mold, which I suppose could fit Kozad, but I didn't see Callahan or Flores in that vein. Either way, I think the thought of locking down the best ol from this state every year is good.
 
Thanks for the responses BB and Nik. I asked because there was some thought in one the profile threads about the guards being the "roadgrader" mold, which I suppose could fit Kozad, but I didn't see Callahan or Flores in that vein. Either way, I think the thought of locking down the best ol from this state every year is good.

It is an important question. I do not know enough about Flores to say one or the other, but I do think Kozan fits the mold. Embree seems to like Alex Lewis quite a bit and we are already fairly young at OT anyway (projected starters are both sophomores), so you do not want to get too crowded at OT and try to force guys to OG that are not equipped to handle it.

The question will come up at some point for various positions. The change in the timeline for when written offers can go out also makes for an interesting situation.
 
This is really what it comes down to for me. The Dillon Bonnell recruitment was the most glaring example, but there were others. Bonnell was getting offers from everywhere and CU waited nearly a month after he took an unofficial visit in late-March/early-April to offer him. Nduka Onyeali is the other glaring example, CU waited forever to offer him and he ends up the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. I admit I was skeptical of Onyeali, but I do not get paid to evaluate talent.

The early recruiting of the last staff flat-out sucked. There is no excuse for getting caught flat-footed when it comes to an in-state prospect.

Especially when you're out doing those road trips around the state. What the hell was he doing if not building those relationships?
 
We have a pretty good shot at nearly every in-state player we've offered thus far. We are a lock for Kevin Davis too if we offer imo
 
Seemed like the previous regime had a philosophy of waiting to offer and recruit. Every year other teams in November would have 15 + commits and CU would have 3 or 4. I heard Hawkins say he liked to wait to see if he could find some sleepers that developed their senior year. Great in theory but I think it killed the perception of the class among recruits - why sign where no one else is signing.
 
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