Now that their playing careers are completed let's take a look at the 2010 recruiting class, the Kill regime's final group. I am using the same 4 point scale I did last year: 4 = great player, 3 = solid contributor, 2 = minor contributor, 1 = no impact.

My 2009 review is here: http://csnbbs.com/thread-639748.html

Ratings are subjective and I welcome input from others. Example: Is Jas Hopkins a 4 or a 3? I could go either way. Certainly a valuable player.

4- Great Players

Jimmie Ward, S - Enuff said.

Jamaal Bass, LB - Great player who's career was cut short.

DaRon Brown, WR - Put up one of the best receiving seasons in NIU history, his numbers were held down because he had to wait his turn behind some other great receivers and had an inexperienced QB throwing to him this year.

Akeem Daniels, WR/RB - A multi-threat difference maker as we saw down the stretch in conference this year.

Dechane Durante, S - Multiple all-conference nods. Solidified a young secondary this year.

Luke Eakes, TE - Good blocker who could have put up huge offensive numbers in a different system.

Mat Sims, K - Had some trouble at the end of his senior year but helped us win two MAC championships and got us to the Orange Bowl with his huge, clutch kick in overtime against Kent State.

Cameron Stingily, RB - Great at what he did: shorten games and score touchdowns. Finished with 2,095 yards rushing and 23 TDs in two season at running back.

Jas Hopkins, RB - Appeared in 27 games with 14 starts. Had 956 yards rushing and 15 TDs along with 12 catches for 54 yards and a TD as a senior. Spann and Harnish had all the carries his junior year when he had 366 yards rushing and 2 TDs.

Tyler Loos, OL - Multi-year all-conference pick.

3 - Solid Contributors

Joe Windsor, DE - Solid backup as an underclassman and had 8 TFLs, 4.5 sacks and a pick six as a senior starter. Appeared in 52 games with 99 tackles, 22 TFLs and 12 sacks.

Ryan Brown, OL - Three year starter on one of the better O-lines in NIU history. 41 starts overall, started at both tackle positions.

Michael Santacaterina, LB - Overachiever who appeared in 51 games with 28 starts. Had 179 tackles, 3 sacks, 13.5 TFLs, 3 INT's.

Tyler Pitt, OL - Started on this years MAC Championship team. Overall appeared in 56 games with 15 starts.

Brian Mayer, LS - Appeared in 56 games over four years as our long snapper. Did not have any catastrophic bad snaps which is extraordinary.

Demetrius Stone, DB - Appeared in 39 games with 14 starts. Totalled 152 tackles and 3 INT's.

Michael Cklamovski, K - This one will be controversial no doubt since he was 17 for 27 on field goals, although that doesn't look so bad compared to the combined 8 for 16 Wedel and Orne put up this year. The key stat for Cklamovski is his 27 touchbacks which is a big number. By comparison, we had 13 this year.

2 - Minor Contributors

James Spencer, RB - A good player who was stuck behind great players. Appeared in 23 games with 2 starts. Totalled 31 carries for 210 yards and 3 TDs, and 14 catches for 167 yards and 1 TD.

Bobby Winkel, LB - Appeared in 19 games, mostly on special teams, with 8 tackles.

Frank Boenzi, DT - Appeared in 12 games as a redshirt freshman before moving on to a junior college and then Grand Valley State where he started for two years.

Wes Ott, OL - Appeared in 11 games, mostly on special teams.

Ricky Connors, FB - Appeared in 22 games with 1 start, mostly on special teams. Had one catch for 11 yards and a TD.

Marckie Hayes, DB - Was in line to start until concussions ended his career. Appeared in 27 games with 31 tackles.

Mike Gegner, OL - Appeared in 26 games, mostly on special teams.

Courtney Stephen, DB - Appeared in 16 games with 17 tackles and 1 INT.

Greg Barksdale, LB - Appeared in 13 games with 12 tackles. Transferred to Tennessee Tech where he was a two year starter.

Mike Hellams, LB - Appeared in 8 games as a freshman. Left and briefly appeared on the roster at Western Illinois but did not play there.

Matt Battaglia, OL - Appeared in 13 games as a backup and on special teams.

Daniel Green, DL - Appeared in 5 games as a backup.

1 - No Impact

Sam Altman, WR - Left after one season, transferred to Southern University

Devon Bailey, RB - Left after one season, transferred to Concordia Michigan where he played one season.

Mack Tracey, WR - Left due to concussions, became a golfer at North Central.

Jess Streidl, TE - Appeared in one game.

Matt Burnor, TE - Left after one season.

Tyler Anderson, K - Left after one season.

CJ Compher, FB - Injuries ended his career.

Trevor Jacobs, RB - Left after one season, transferred to Monmouth, NJ where he did not accumulate any stats.

Patrick Cox, LB - Left after one season.

Blake Goodell, OL - Left after one season.

Zak Giller, S - Left after two seasons.

Ryan Foley, DL - Left after one season.

Casey Weston, QB - Left after one season, grade problems.

Ryan Fillingim, K - Came from Harper College, here two seasons, appeared in two games.

Missing a big one in there...

Right you are, sorry Tyler!! Fixed.

Turned out to be a pretty good class, but it's really difficult to top the 2009 class.

at least 16 SOLID players - That is a 5 STAR class. You can not expect more from a coach. Won 5 MAC Wests and 3 MACs GREAT CLASS.

Good stuff, nice post.

Great class; fair/accurate analysis. I would use a 5 point scale; 5 great player; 4 major contributor; 3 solid contributor. Not sure all the players listed are truly "Great". Also, Santa, Brown and Windsor I would classify as 4-major contributor.

(12-29-2014 06:02 PM)Djud Wrote:  Great class; fair/accurate analysis. I would use a 5 point scale; 5 great player; 4 major contributor; 3 solid contributor. Not sure all the players listed are truly "Great". Also, Santa, Brown and Windsor I would classify as 4-major contributor.

I was thinking the same thing about the scale, a five pointer would probably be more accurate. I'll try that next year.

(12-29-2014 07:03 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  

(12-29-2014 06:02 PM)Djud Wrote:  Great class; fair/accurate analysis. I would use a 5 point scale; 5 great player; 4 major contributor; 3 solid contributor. Not sure all the players listed are truly "Great". Also, Santa, Brown and Windsor I would classify as 4-major contributor.

I was thinking the same thing about the scale, a five pointer would probably be more accurate. I'll try that next year.

Nice job, 1981.

I'd agree a 5-point scale would be more accurate.

Although it's very subjective, on a 5-point scale, I would rate Ward, D. Brown, Daniels, Durante, Stingily, R. Brown and Loos as Great Players.

I think it's safe to say Jimmy Ward is in a category along with guys like Lynch, Wolfe, Turner, English, ect. Huskie Legends perhaps.

Very cool post....

(12-29-2014 08:03 PM)NIURedBlack Wrote:  I think it's safe to say Jimmy Ward is in a category along with guys like Lynch, Wolfe, Turner, English, ect. Huskie Legends perhaps.

Very cool post....

1st round pick in the NFL....not much to deny there.

I think I'd put Sims as a #3 instead of #4, but that's nitpicking.

Talented class, no doubt. But I'm really surprised by the amount of players that left after just one season. Does this happen to most schools? I counted 9.

(12-30-2014 03:49 PM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  Talented class, no doubt. But I'm really surprised by the amount of players that left after just one season. Does this happen to most schools? I counted 9.

I believe every one of those guys except for Weston was a walkon and there's usually high attrition among walkons. Ryan Brown and Michael Santacaterina were walkons who became starters so if you get a few to stick like that you're doing well.