The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Quote:Stars of the night


Plum guard Mike McKee, a Kent State recruit and one of the top long-range shooters in the state, made five 3-pointers that led to a 39-point output as the Mustangs (2-0) built a 12-point halftime lead and defeated Erie McDowell, 57-44, in the championship game of the Plum tournament. McKee was also 16 of 17 from the free-throw line.

Just to let you know how our recruit is doing. 39 points is a good night's work. Way to go JC.

Plum guard, indeed

Not the same sport, but we landed that punter from PA. Not that we need a punter...

[quote]Pittsburgh (Pa.) Plum kicker/punter Patrick McAfee, 6-0 and 200 pounds, made his verbal pledge to Kent State. McAfee took his official visit to the MAC school over the weekend (12/3).

“I did the little verbal thingy to Kent,

More..

Quote:Stafford (Va.) North Stafford safety Jarvis Williams knew that his options were starting to close, and he made a commitment last week.

"Yeah, I just committed to Kent State," said the 6-foot-1, 185 pounder. "I liked the coaching staff and the way they run their defense. They were one of my top picks, and the others weren't going to offer."

Williams has not been able to set up an official visit as his team is still in the playoffs as they take on Hopewell in the state finals this weekend.

Williams is the fourth North Stafford player to commit to a Division 1-A program this recruiting season

At least this kid didn't say: "No one else offered". Just gave us a verbal...

[QUOTE]Johnstown (PA) Bishop McCort wide receiver and cornerback Shawn Lewis 5-8, 165, 4.35 showed his ability at the Penn State Nike Combine. During the 1 on 1 drills no one could cover Lewis, he had a 4.35 forty time, 34

Um, did we get any football verbals from someone that had ANY other offers? I'm not sure how to read that? Sounds a bit negative to me? However, I am not very up on the recruiting game...

Not commits, that I can see, but a bit of interest from some talent...

<a href='http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=344&p=9&c=4' target='_blank'>http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=344&p=9&c=4</a>

A little more football info from the Beacon...

Quote:Posted on Wed, Dec. 15, 2004

KSU's priority replacing Cribbs

Holdovers Smith, Cooper, Sitko will be joined by recruit Johnson in quarterback competition

By Gary Estwick

Beacon Journal staff writer


Three weeks after Kent State ended its season with a four-game winning streak and the best defense in the Mid-American Conference, the coaching staff is compiling its preliminary list of oral recruiting commitments for coach Doug Martin.

The geographical territory covers Cleveland to Akron, Youngstown to Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., to Florida.

``We have a lot to show kids,'' Martin said. ``We have a lot going for ourselves.''

Kent State already has collected 10 commitments, including Jameson Konz, a receiver/defensive back at Lake, and quarterback Jon Brown from nearby Westlake in suburban Cleveland.

They will become a part of the Golden Flashes' offensive makeover.

At the top of Martin's priority list is speed, something no different than any Top 25 college football program.

Martin hopes to sign several speedy recruits by considering a receiver who might not be tall enough to garner as many scholarship offers.

The Flashes also must find a new starting quarterback, and on defense, four safeties.

But it all starts at quarterback, where Martin wants a drop-back passer, who is athletic.

Senior Joshua Cribbs ended his career with 27 school records, and also became KSU's all-time leading passer and third-leading rusher. Cribbs also rushed for the highest total ever by a quarterback in the Mid-American Conference, and earned all-conference honors.

In 2004, Cribbs passed for 1,881 career yards and rushed for 893, falling 107 yards short of becoming the first player in Division I-A history to complete three seasons of dual 1,000-yard season totals in both rushing and passing.

Next year, sophomore Antwan Smith will compete with fellow sophomore Olajuwon Cooper and redshirt freshman Tom Sitko (Hoban High), who missed half of the season with a knee injury.

Westlake's Brown will be coming off a senior year in which he passed for 2,696 yards and 27 touchdowns. He had only three interceptions.

Westlake ran a no-huddle, spread offense out of the shotgun formation. Brown, a three-year starter, called his plays.

``He doesn't run the ball much, but he can move his feet in the pocket, and knows how to find throwing lanes,'' Westlake coach Ron Johnson said. Kent State is not permitted to talk about recruits until February on NCAA signing day

At Lake, Konz missed half of his senior season with a knee injury, and finished with 16 catches. Konz had 30 catches for 446 yards and five touchdowns, and on defense, tallied 62 tackles in his junior season.

[quote="FlashFan"]Not the same sport, but we landed that punter from PA. Not that we need a punter...

[quote]Pittsburgh (Pa.) Plum kicker/punter Patrick McAfee, 6-0 and 200 pounds, made his verbal pledge to Kent State. McAfee took his official visit to the MAC school over the weekend (12/3).

“I did the little verbal thingy to Kent,

Wash. Post (my hometown paper) reports that KSU got a verbal from OL Gus Parrish of Potomac, MD. Apparently his brother plays for Kent.

That is all I know other than he is an "all-Met."

I'm glad we landed him. His brother, Justin, is an honorable mention All Amnerican DE for the Flashes.

Augustus Parrish may be the first recruit in recent history to select the Flashes over a offer from Marshall. Maybe Justin just wouldn't let him do it!

From The Insiders

[quote]
Augustus Parrish
“Right now I’ve got offers from Marshall, Kent State, and Akron, and then I have a couple of them that say they are going to offer me,

Add to our list of only team offering, but now other MAC teams are waking up. Greg Keys is a running back from Bellevue in NW Ohio. Here is a link from another chat site. Unfortunately, I am not a premium member to get the whole story.

<a href='http://www.jjhuddle.com/discus/messages/268628/298647.php' target='_blank'>http://www.jjhuddle.com/discus/messages/26...8628/298647.php</a>

Have seen him more in track than on the field. But he is big and fast. Judging by the way McClaude/Beverly were/weren't used during the season, I think they could use some competition.

Only negative to this kid is he might be competitive to a fault. He tossed a silver medal in the garbage at last year's state track meet because he felt he should have won.

Does anyone know about the JUCO recruit James Brown that Martin mentioned in the halftime radio interview? He mentioned his name and that was about it.

NO. I wondered the same thing, especially since Martin seemed excited about him.

I don't know what kind of team we'll have next year, but at least Martin can build some excitement. Starting spring early is pretty cool.

In the article mentioning the QB position there is no mention of the JUCO star they signed?!?

Anyone else get the impression that there is pressure, self or admin, for Martin to right the ship quickly? KSU usually doesn't go the JUCO route.

Quote: Anyone else get the impression that there is pressure, self or admin, for Martin to right the ship quickly? KSU usually doesn't go the JUCO route

Yes. Martin has already stated he "is going to find a way to get this program back to where it was under Don James." I haven't heard a KSU coach set a goal like that in a long time, maybe never. It's probably a combination of self imposed pressure encouraged by L.K. and C.C.

PH- I thought that Machen, the QB, was the JUCO star. The only thing I know about James Brown is that he's the Godfather of Soul. Haven't heard anything about him playing football for Kent State. But Martin seemed excited about him. He and Linder talked about it like it was news. Perhaps its a casualty of winter break and to be announced?

On a related note, did anyone else hear Martin say that Machen was the guy next year? It's the first time I've ever heard a coach call out a new QB from the pack in January. Guess this means Smith goes back to receiver.

The prior article was right before Machen signed. I did not hear the interview as I was at the game, but I am not surprised at all he is saying Machen should be the starter. You do not sign a 23-year old quarterback at the mid-major level to have him sit the bench. He is also supposed to be the type of QB (big, strong, pocket passer) Martin wants.

I do not see any problem with adding a few players from the JUCO route, especially because Machen has three years of eligibility left. This is not a one and done situation. Besides, I am sure Martin knows this past year was a missed opportunity, and he does not want the potential of this defense over the next year or two to go to waste.