The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Figured early NSD (tomorrow) deserves its own thread.

I think the staff has really picked things up down the final stretch (OK, there's still the later signing day but this is the bigger one) to put together a pretty solid looking class. I'm actually a little surprised as the class was looking pretty mediocre for most of the cycle but it may be that they were holding off to keep spots open for some slipping through the cracks or waiting on certain offers.

As it stands I think this class is in the top tier of the conference although (surprise surprise) Toledo is a cut above as they often are.

(12-19-2023 02:01 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  Figured early NSD (tomorrow) deserves its own thread.

I think the staff has really picked things up down the final stretch (OK, there's still the later signing day but this is the bigger one) to put together a pretty solid looking class. I'm actually a little surprised as the class was looking pretty mediocre for most of the cycle but it may be that they were holding off to keep spots open for some slipping through the cracks or waiting on certain offers.

As it stands I think this class is in the top tier of the conference although (surprise surprise) Toledo is a cut above as they often are.

We are 4th currently in the rankings. (Much better obviously) I am still concerned about the 5 hour radius. We have found some great players from Florida. (Biggers, Delmas, Parker) But I am disappointed in our recruiting in the Midwest.

Signings are rolling in. Check out the instagram section on the Broncos website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1u-uU9clww

2nd ranked class in the MAC and best class since 2016.

Sounds good to me! Let’s go!

We only got 1 top 50 recruit from Michigan. CMU got 7 and Toledo 4. Florida guys look good on paper but I'm not so sure how they'll handle November Maction.

(12-20-2023 04:38 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  We only got 1 top 50 recruit from Michigan. CMU got 7 and Toledo 4. Florida guys look good on paper but I'm not so sure how they'll handle November Maction.

The very last thing I’d worry about with Florida guys is cold weather. These kids are tough as nails! Try playing in full uniform in 90 degree heat with dew points in the high seventies and humidity in the eighty percent range.

(12-20-2023 04:38 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  We only got 1 top 50 recruit from Michigan. CMU got 7 and Toledo 4. Florida guys look good on paper but I'm not so sure how they'll handle November Maction.

Michigan HS football isn’t that deep. Take the best players you can get don’t worry about the address.

(12-20-2023 05:36 PM)Doo Wrote:  

(12-20-2023 04:38 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  We only got 1 top 50 recruit from Michigan. CMU got 7 and Toledo 4. Florida guys look good on paper but I'm not so sure how they'll handle November Maction.

Michigan HS football isn’t that deep. Take the best players you can get don’t worry about the address.

If we want to be successful like the PJ years, we must recruit within the 6 hour radius.

https://wmubroncos.com/news/2023/12/20/f...rhood.aspx

31 players were brought in today as Coach Taylor continues to turn over the roster. In the link is the complete list of newcomers as well as Taylor's comments on each one. Corey Sandolph didn't sign today, I wonder if he will sign in February. We notably did not sign a RB or any big body D-line today. We should probably pick up a nose guard or two at some point.

(12-20-2023 07:09 PM)WMU2013 Wrote:  

(12-20-2023 05:36 PM)Doo Wrote:  

(12-20-2023 04:38 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  We only got 1 top 50 recruit from Michigan. CMU got 7 and Toledo 4. Florida guys look good on paper but I'm not so sure how they'll handle November Maction.

Michigan HS football isn’t that deep. Take the best players you can get don’t worry about the address.

If we want to be successful like the PJ years, we must recruit within the 6 hour radius.

Why?

(12-20-2023 07:33 PM)PezKingGL1 Wrote:  

(12-20-2023 07:09 PM)WMU2013 Wrote:  

(12-20-2023 05:36 PM)Doo Wrote:  

(12-20-2023 04:38 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  We only got 1 top 50 recruit from Michigan. CMU got 7 and Toledo 4. Florida guys look good on paper but I'm not so sure how they'll handle November Maction.

Michigan HS football isn’t that deep. Take the best players you can get don’t worry about the address.

If we want to be successful like the PJ years, we must recruit within the 6 hour radius.

Why?

Pick the best players and don't worry about where they come from. The top 50 Michigan players likely wouldn't crack the top 100 in Florida.

(12-20-2023 07:09 PM)WMU2013 Wrote:  

(12-20-2023 05:36 PM)Doo Wrote:  

(12-20-2023 04:38 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  We only got 1 top 50 recruit from Michigan. CMU got 7 and Toledo 4. Florida guys look good on paper but I'm not so sure how they'll handle November Maction.

Michigan HS football isn’t that deep. Take the best players you can get don’t worry about the address.

If we want to be successful like the PJ years, we must recruit within the 6 hour radius.

We need to recruit where the coaches have ties, where the coaches have a handle on the area talent pool, and where we can have the best success in recruiting. Historically we've had success at both the local/regional talent pool and outside the preverbal 6-hour radius. If we have coaches who can recruit Florida, then let them; if we have coaches who can recruit the midwest, then let them; if we have coaches who can pick out hard to find gems, then let them... etc, etc, etc.

We heard the same complaints during the Cubit years when he pulled from Florida well.

I don't care if they are from the Moon, as long as they buy in and represent us well on and off the field!

Location doesn’t matter. Recruit the best players you can get.

If you can't sustain a program in your natural recruiting area it doesn't speak well of your program or its future.

(12-21-2023 01:15 PM)Liam9903 Wrote:  If you can't sustain a program in your natural recruiting area it doesn't speak well of your program or its future.

I agree, I think that's what did Cubit in back in the day, he was getting skill players fine, but Bill couldn't get big midwestern trench players and it took its toll on his program.

As I said to a Bronco fan way back in the Cubit days, I don't give a rip where we get the guys from if they can play at a high level. The man was horrified at my comment. He should have gone to CMU with that attitude. They always boasted about how many Michigan players they had on their roster. I care about their talent, not their address.

Sure, it is important to work to get the best players we can from our region (and the 6 hour radius), but most important is to get players who will fit our culture, have the right attitude and the work habits to make our program successful. Having some who are flexible ("athletes") also helps and we got a few.

Reading over the bios on these guys, things I like:

- most of our WR prospects have decent size and good speed

- we hauled in some DE recruits with decent size (weight room will help them)

- recruited walk-ons program will hopefully lead to schollys if they are playing and productive

- We got some QBs to replace those that fled

Still a bit concerned about interior DL though.

(12-20-2023 04:38 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  We only got 1 top 50 recruit from Michigan. CMU got 7 and Toledo 4. Florida guys look good on paper but I'm not so sure how they'll handle November Maction.

Every FBS school in the Great Lakes area has Florida/Georgia recruits...

(12-21-2023 09:20 AM)bronco1988 Wrote:  

(12-20-2023 07:33 PM)PezKingGL1 Wrote:  

(12-20-2023 07:09 PM)WMU2013 Wrote:  

(12-20-2023 05:36 PM)Doo Wrote:  

(12-20-2023 04:38 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  We only got 1 top 50 recruit from Michigan. CMU got 7 and Toledo 4. Florida guys look good on paper but I'm not so sure how they'll handle November Maction.

Michigan HS football isn’t that deep. Take the best players you can get don’t worry about the address.

If we want to be successful like the PJ years, we must recruit within the 6 hour radius.

Why?

Pick the best players and don't worry about where they come from. The top 50 Michigan players likely wouldn't crack the top 100 in Florida.

Truth here ^