The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

To those of you who follow recruiting closely, please provide your honest opinion of the 2014 class.

I like this class a lot. We addressed our immediate needs very well...........can't have too many big OL-men. I would not have minded another DL or 2, but I love some of the skilled players we signed.

Please none of the "can't evaluate until 3 years from now" or "wait to see who gets on campus." Those are a given. I also asked for a good, objective measurement of this class earlier, and that's all I really got.

(02-05-2014 10:08 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  Please none of the "can't evaluate until 3 years from now" or "wait to see who gets on campus." Those are a given. I also asked for a good, objective measurement of this class earlier, and that's all I really got.

It won't take very long to see who can and can't contribute. I wonder if JUCO's can redshirt?.......I don't know how that works. Hopefully, few of them will need to anyway.

(02-05-2014 10:12 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(02-05-2014 10:08 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  Please none of the "can't evaluate until 3 years from now" or "wait to see who gets on campus." Those are a given. I also asked for a good, objective measurement of this class earlier, and that's all I really got.

It won't take very long to see who can and can't contribute. I wonder if JUCO's can redshirt?.......I don't know how that works. Hopefully, few of them will need to anyway.

Yes JUCO's can redshirt. You just don't see it often. A kid can even redshirt at the Junior college. But if they only spend two years at a JUCO, they will have three years to play out two seasons.

(02-05-2014 10:53 PM)jstud63 Wrote:  

(02-05-2014 10:12 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(02-05-2014 10:08 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  Please none of the "can't evaluate until 3 years from now" or "wait to see who gets on campus." Those are a given. I also asked for a good, objective measurement of this class earlier, and that's all I really got.

It won't take very long to see who can and can't contribute. I wonder if JUCO's can redshirt?.......I don't know how that works. Hopefully, few of them will need to anyway.

Yes JUCO's can redshirt. You just don't see it often. A kid can even redshirt at the Junior college. But if they only spend two years at a JUCO, they will have three years to play out two seasons.

OK, thanks!

All I can judge from is the physicality of the players and they do seem to excel in size per weight. How FAST can they move and how quickly can they move? Fast, quick feet help more than fast hands in tackling and blocking.

The potential, based on the physical numbers, is looking very promising for 2014 since about 1/2 are coming in as experienced juniors. We may be able to hit the ground running this year and next. 2016 will be determined by the recruiting in 2015 and 2016. We can only wait that out.

It is extremely difficult to give an objective opinion on jucos because we just don't follow jucos, especially jucos from California. However, you have to think that Clark & staff have some something in these players that make them believe that they can help immediately.

For the high school players coming in like Lisa & Wilson, I believe that they can make a contribution although the QB position has several people battling for playing time.

If you had to grade it, you would say it would get an Incomplete. Not enough information there.

I think this is the best class UAB and Bill Clark could put together in the two weeks he had.

I would've liked more LBs, but the DB, OL, and QB positions were addressed very well.

Miles McKee was a JUCO we signed last year that red shirted.

(02-06-2014 12:12 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Miles McKee was a JUCO we signed last year that red shirted.

And a prime example of why you shouldn't redshirt JUCO's.

If the guy isn't ready to come in and contribute, he probably isn't going to be worth much in the future.

(02-06-2014 09:00 AM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(02-06-2014 12:12 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Miles McKee was a JUCO we signed last year that red shirted.

And a prime example of why you shouldn't redshirt JUCO's.

If the guy isn't ready to come in and contribute, he probably isn't going to be worth much in the future.

He got injured. He probably could have contributed without the injury. In preseason practice I though he was the most athletic of all our QB's.

(02-06-2014 09:00 AM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(02-06-2014 12:12 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Miles McKee was a JUCO we signed last year that red shirted.

And a prime example of why you shouldn't redshirt JUCO's.

If the guy isn't ready to come in and contribute, he probably isn't going to be worth much in the future.

+1 cough, cough, Riddeau, cough...

I can't say I'm ecstatic about this class, but I think that it addresses areas of need. Given that the coaches had so little time to work with, I'm satisfied.

As ever, you really can't tell what you have till they get out on the field.

For 2 weeks turn around its really as well as I thought we could do.

Yep. And next fall, we all need to remember this. We are going to have a new starting QB and RB this season, along with a completely unproven defense. I am really just looking for signs of life in the fall, and way fewer mental/coaching mistakes. I think we're in good hands now, I just don't think we should expect much next season.

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs.

(02-06-2014 02:02 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  Yep. And next fall, we all need to remember this. We are going to have a new starting QB and RB this season, along with a completely unproven defense. I am really just looking for signs of life in the fall, and way fewer mental/coaching mistakes. I think we're in good hands now, I just don't think we should expect much next season.

It ain't like Jordan Howard is a babe in the woods. Nor is Coles, for that matter.

(02-06-2014 06:26 PM)Smaug Wrote:  

(02-06-2014 02:02 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  Yep. And next fall, we all need to remember this. We are going to have a new starting QB and RB this season, along with a completely unproven defense. I am really just looking for signs of life in the fall, and way fewer mental/coaching mistakes. I think we're in good hands now, I just don't think we should expect much next season.

It ain't like Jordan Howard is a babe in the woods. Nor is Coles, for that matter.

Isn't that the truth!......Howard had A LOT of playing time this past season. Coles had a very YPC, before he was injured.