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Biggest needs in the 2016 class?

Duff Man

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The 2015 class is mostly wrapped up, so it is time to shift some of our focus to 2016. It will likely be a small (14-16) class and spring practices will provide some clarity to need positions, but where do you see us focusing in 2016? My early guess is QB, WR, and the secondary will be the positions the coaches will focus most on.
 
I think WR could be an area of focus, but I think they like their current group and will focus on developing. Is QB really a position of focus next year with Sefo, Montez and Apsay? Obviously, you want to upgrade as much as possible at that position but those are 3 guys that were pretty decent prospects coming out of HS.

I agree about the secondary and would add LB as the biggest area of focus. They have a stud in Gilliam (as long as he can remain healthy) and a decent player in Olugbode, but after that, who do they have that excites anyone? Maybe DeaySean Rippy? They severely lack speed at the position and I believe that should/will be their biggest area of focus.
 
Do you think that's part of the reason why we took so many this year?
In a way. The numbers have to work out somehow. If the coaches continue to sign 3-4 tweeners at DE every year, that should be a red flag.
 
They will need to find a player who is ready to come in at WR as well as TE. Unless Kinney blows it up that is still a huge need. The LB recruiting is laughable at this point so will see what the focus is there.
 
I hope the class turns out to be a little bigger but it will be tight to fill needs.

We have three young QBs but solid programs virtually always take one a year.

RB is still short and lacks someone who has taken charge, add one

WR is an area where we have numbers but not quality, need some attrition then add at least one who is a factor, not just a body.

TE need but don't know if they will address it.

OL we did well this year but you have to keep that depth chart flowing, add at 2

DL, We went heavy this year but will be losing some key guys inside, need at least 2, one inside one outside

LB, a disaster area for us. need at least 2 quality kids

DB. Hard to say but again will be losing at least a couple, we play in the PAC need 2

That totals 11. From there we have to get quality. Time to start beating some other PAC schools on guys.
 
Not sure you can make much of a definitive statement on WR, Undefeated. You could argue the depth is very suspect and that outside of Spruce and Fields, the rest are unproven. Bobo has shown flashes, but even then, a sharp drop off to the next guy from him. Maybe spring practices adds some clarity to the position, but I would bet the coaches view it as a big need going forward regardless.
 
Ther will be the usual foundation:

1 QB
1 RB
4 OL

Got to figure that the baseline is 1 each from WR, TE, DT, DE, LB and DB.

That's 12, plus Bennion signing after his mission.

My guess (and the need) is for the rest of the class to be speed guys.
 
Ther will be the usual foundation:

1 QB
1 RB
4 OL

Got to figure that the baseline is 1 each from WR, TE, DT, DE, LB and DB.

That's 12, plus Franke signing after his mission.

My guess (and the need) is for the rest of the class to be speed guys.

Bennion?
 
Regardless, this class will be interesting to watch. Coaches are going to need to be pretty selective at most positions.
 
Regardless, this class will be interesting to watch. Coaches are going to need to be pretty selective at most positions.
Yep. You can not go into the 2016 recruiting period like they did in 2015. Got to be very selective, especially with kids who can be had at the last minute.
 
I hope the main focus next year is on guys with high ceilings. Any standard RB shouldn't cut it, we need a the guy. Same for WR and QB. TE definitely seems like it'd be a priority. OL and DL naturally, but have to be limited especially on the DL.
 
I think LB gets addressed this year by the new coach. We have Falo and Hockaday signed up but I'm not sure that sticks.
New DC will have his own system and it's unfortunate but required for him to be honest with recruits if they simply don't fit that system.
 
I think LB gets addressed this year by the new coach. We have Falo and Hockaday signed up but I'm not sure that sticks. New DC will have his own system and it's unfortunate but required for him to be honest with recruits if they simply don't fit that system.
Makes sense to me.
 
WR is the biggest need on offense. CB the biggest need on defense. Of course, WR hasn't really been figured out yet in this class either.
 
that would certainly reinforce the need. TE is right there as well depending on how this shakes out.
I can't figure TE out. Huge need and the top target seems destined for a grayshirt while Keeney had a rough redshirt year. Seems pretty precarious to me.
 
Honestly, I hope the coaches hold off on WR after losing out on Brown.

Unless they can get somebody surprising I agree. Last thing we need is another placeholder taking up a slot that could be used for someone who could be a difference maker.

I'd rather leave the scholly unused for a year than to take a guy who is going to use one for four years without adding anything special and WR is a position where you need at least some guys who are special.
 
that would certainly reinforce the need. TE is right there as well depending on how this shakes out.

Talk about a position that CU has been horrible at recruiting.

Since the signing of Klopfenstein in the 2002 class, these have been our TEs:

2003: Joe Sanders
2004: none
2005: Riar Geer
2006: Steven Fendry
2007: none
2008: Ryan Deehan, Ryan Wallace
2009: DaVaughn Thornton
2010: Justin Favors, Henley Griffon, Harold Mobley, Kyle Slavin
2011: none
2012: Vincent Hobbs, Sean Irwin, Austin Ray
2013: Connor Center
2014: Hayden Jones, Dylan Keeney
2015: none

Of course, the best of the bunch was Nick Kasa... but he was a DE until his senior year.

In short, we've had a decade of guys who didn't do anything to pressure a defense and stretch the seam except for Kasa's one year. Who since Klop has been a point of emphasis in a defensive game plan due to at least being involved for a lot of pass targets? Kasa only caught 25 balls as a senior. Geer with his 36 catches as a senior, but that's about it.

This is not a high bar here: about 3 catches a game. We haven't had a tight end who could both do that and be a threat in the deep third since Graham. And even though that's been rare here, we at least had big dudes who helped make the run game go while having good hands: Lepsis, Fauria, Klopfenstein, Sypniewski. I think Irwin is one of those latter types of guys, but we need to complement him with another Kasa type. Hopefully that's Keeney from the current roster. And this absolutely must be a point of emphasis going forward.
 
I've said it a lot, but I'll repeat it here - TE is probably the most difficult position to project at the college level. Most high schools don't utilize the TE. It's a matter of time and resources. *Most* high schools are run-first because in order to instill a passing game, you need a quarterback and OL that can pass protect... and receivers. TEs are the very last piece of the passing game puzzle, and not one that probably 95% of high schools ever even bother with. So in order to recruit a TE, you're probably looking at undersized OL, WRs that can bulk up, linebackers who "fit the mold", or fullbacks. Getting a TE right out of high school is pretty unusual. Guys like Daniel Graham don't come along very often.
 
I've said it a lot, but I'll repeat it here - TE is probably the most difficult position to project at the college level. Most high schools don't utilize the TE. It's a matter of time and resources. *Most* high schools are run-first because in order to instill a passing game, you need a quarterback and OL that can pass protect... and receivers. TEs are the very last piece of the passing game puzzle, and not one that probably 95% of high schools ever even bother with. So in order to recruit a TE, you're probably looking at undersized OL, WRs that can bulk up, linebackers who "fit the mold", or fullbacks. Getting a TE right out of high school is pretty unusual. Guys like Daniel Graham don't come along very often.
Here's the thing though: we really are not even getting quality blocking TEs. Obviously Graham was special, truly a great all-around TE. But we don't even have one dimensional TEs on the roster right now. That really needs to change.
 
Here's the thing though: we really are not even getting quality blocking TEs. Obviously Graham was special, truly a great all-around TE. But we don't even have one dimensional TEs on the roster right now. That really needs to change.


I agree. I guess I'm merely pointing out that TE recruiting is a crap shoot. It's a very difficult position to project at the college level.
 
Holic touched on it, but I wouldn't be surprised if some current commits go elsewhere after the new DC evaluates them. I know MacIntyre has a reputation for sticking to his word, but have to think he lets the new guy be brutally honest with poor fits, maybe even allowing him to pull an offer or two. If so, it may change predictions in this thread - I hope that happens and benefits the Buffs in the end.
 
TE and OLB. Honestly dumbfounded what is going on with these two positions.

Also:

Anything but DL/OL
 
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