CSNbbs

Is it just me or does it seem like the football team is going heavy on JUCO players this year?

It may be needed to make a quick fix at certain positions. We can't afford to keep putting freshmen in to do a junior or seniors job.

Yes. Much needed IMHO.

(12-17-2013 06:42 AM)bladhmadh Wrote: [ -> ]Is it just me or does it seem like the football team is going heavy on JUCO players this year?

I wouldn't call it heavy on JUCO's. We have 17 commitments, and only 4 are JUCO's (I think). It just seems JUCO heavy because the last 3-4 commitments have been JUCO's. We need the immediate help though.......wouldn't mind a few more.

I say sign all the JUCO guys we can at this point. It was obvious this past year that we didn't have depth, and if nothing else, most JUCO guys should be able to provide that.

I haven't run the exact numbers, but the staff may be doing a bit of class balancing. McGee has redshirted a whole lot of guys the past 2 years. Maybe they need some upperclasmen to keep from having 45 Seniors in 3 years.

Most will be juniors & sophomores next year.

I suspect we need a good number of freshmen along with jucos mainly on the defensive side.

(12-17-2013 06:42 AM)bladhmadh Wrote: [ -> ]Is it just me or does it seem like the football team is going heavy on JUCO players this year?

As we should

And they need to be strong, big and mean Defensive linemen.

After Calloways recruiting classes we probably need 30 Jucos

Jamie Bender, TJ Ballou, Pat Shed, Nick Adams, & Darrion Smith were all jucos that Callaway brought in that made an impact. I believe McGee moved away from that trend but has found out our program needs more juncos than most to be competitive. Maybe not as many as Callaway had but more than the last two classes.

We definitely need to sign JUCOs this year. But it is really sad that a 3rd year head coach needs to bring in a ton of JUCO guys. That is what should be done year 1, not year 3. To me this means he has either recruited poorly or hasn't been able to develop the current players.

(12-17-2013 10:51 AM)stc Wrote: [ -> ]Jamie Bender, TJ Ballou, Pat Shed, Nick Adams, & Darrion Smith were all juncos that Callaway brought in that made an impact. I believe McGee moved away from that trend but has found out our program needs more juncos than most to be competitive. Maybe not as many as Callaway had but more than the last two classes.

+1

I could see us signing up to eight JuCo guys. Difference will be in some showing up in the spring (potential starters) and some not showing up at all things XCNC didn't have with most of his JuCo's. Oh yeah and some signed from depth like OL Seahorn from the 08 class and a couple more.

(12-17-2013 11:18 AM)Dracarys Wrote: [ -> ]We definitely need to sign JUCOs this year. But it is really sad that a 3rd year head coach needs to bring in a ton of JUCO guys. That is what should be done year 1, not year 3. To me this means he has either recruited poorly or hasn't been able to develop the current players.

+1. This is something that a young head coach may have just had to have learned on the fly though. In basketball, if you can get 1 star, and 6-8 role players, you can be successful. In football, it isn't nearly as clear cut. The style of offense and defense you play will require certain players. I have not given up on McGee yet, and I really hope he shows improvement this year. He at least appears to be addressing some short comings so far this offseason.

(12-17-2013 06:42 AM)bladhmadh Wrote: [ -> ]Is it just me or does it seem like the football team is going heavy on JUCO players this year?

Desperate times call for desperate measures! I'm perfectly alright with it, look at what it's done for our basketball team? If it can produce more favorable results on the football field, ESPECIALLY ON DEFENSE, I say go for it, because it's hard as hell to sell UAB Football to high school recruits for the obvious reasons. Welcome all JUCO's!!! #GetTheJobDone!

(12-17-2013 11:18 AM)Dracarys Wrote: [ -> ]We definitely need to sign JUCOs this year. But it is really sad that a 3rd year head coach needs to bring in a ton of JUCO guys. That is what should be done year 1, not year 3. To me this means he has either recruited poorly or hasn't been able to develop the current players.

Auburn has 5 juco commits and they are playing for mnc.

The recruiting landscape changes year to year and for all we know, FBHC McGee might have tried to sign more JUCOs all along but just didn't land them. Maybe with a couple of years in the UAB job, his credibility is greater among more (and perhaps, BETTER) JUCO players than he was after in 2012. Unless one of us is a confidant of the coaches, we are all just along for the ride through the various steps between now and the 2014 season opener.

(12-17-2013 03:21 PM)UAB?IAB Wrote: [ -> ]

(12-17-2013 11:18 AM)Dracarys Wrote: [ -> ]We definitely need to sign JUCOs this year. But it is really sad that a 3rd year head coach needs to bring in a ton of JUCO guys. That is what should be done year 1, not year 3. To me this means he has either recruited poorly or hasn't been able to develop the current players.

Auburn has 5 juco commits and they are playing for mnc.

And they have a first year coach.

Blakeney made a living off those jucos year in year out. As others said we do need an influx of older players to offset so much youth maybe they'll pan out maybe not. we can only hope so

(12-17-2013 03:21 PM)UAB?IAB Wrote: [ -> ]

(12-17-2013 11:18 AM)Dracarys Wrote: [ -> ]We definitely need to sign JUCOs this year. But it is really sad that a 3rd year head coach needs to bring in a ton of JUCO guys. That is what should be done year 1, not year 3. To me this means he has either recruited poorly or hasn't been able to develop the current players.

Auburn has 5 juco commits and they are playing for mnc.

True. Some of Jackie Sherrill's best M. State teams had a lot of JUCO's, as well as some of the better Boise teams. It can work out well, for sure.