(02-19-2022 08:53 AM)HUSKIEFOOTBALLFAN Wrote:  New long snapper from the transfer portal

Mike Florentine

https://www.inforum.com/sports/bison-med...fer-portal

Says he played in all 15 NDSU games as a true freshman this past season.

(02-19-2022 10:05 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(02-19-2022 08:53 AM)HUSKIEFOOTBALLFAN Wrote:  New long snapper from the transfer portal

Mike Florentine

https://www.inforum.com/sports/bison-med...fer-portal

Says he played in all 15 NDSU games as a true freshman this past season.

Coming from an elite FCS program

(02-19-2022 10:59 AM)BDB5yp Wrote:  

(02-19-2022 10:05 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(02-19-2022 08:53 AM)HUSKIEFOOTBALLFAN Wrote:  New long snapper from the transfer portal

Mike Florentine

https://www.inforum.com/sports/bison-med...fer-portal

Says he played in all 15 NDSU games as a true freshman this past season.

Coming from an elite FCS program

Real nice pick up. Longsnappers are super important and this kid seems to have some nice skill

(02-19-2022 05:13 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(02-19-2022 10:59 AM)BDB5yp Wrote:  

(02-19-2022 10:05 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(02-19-2022 08:53 AM)HUSKIEFOOTBALLFAN Wrote:  New long snapper from the transfer portal

Mike Florentine

https://www.inforum.com/sports/bison-med...fer-portal

Says he played in all 15 NDSU games as a true freshman this past season.

Coming from an elite FCS program

Real nice pick up. Longsnappers are super important and this kid seems to have some nice skill

Yep, agree- great pick up. Welcome aboard!

Is Hammock’s reputation as a great RB coach along with NIU’s commitment to the run hurting NIUs ability to recruit the WR position? They’ve put out 34 WR offers over 20,21,22 and have come away with 5 commits who’s only FBS offer was NIU.

(02-21-2022 03:21 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Is Hammock’s reputation as a great RB coach along with NIU’s commitment to the run hurting NIUs ability to recruit the WR position? They’ve put out 34 WR offers over 20,21,22 and have come away with 5 commits who’s only FBS offer was NIU.

That’s always possible, but a receiver that has done their research will see that the Wide Receivers get plenty of targets at NIU. Even in a run heavy offense. Wide Receiver might be the second hardest position to recruit for a mid major school. The best receivers will go to the where they are I’ll get the best exposure. I think Richie going to the NFL will change peoples perception as well as Trayvon Rudolph in a couple years.

(02-21-2022 03:39 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 03:21 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Is Hammock’s reputation as a great RB coach along with NIU’s commitment to the run hurting NIUs ability to recruit the WR position? They’ve put out 34 WR offers over 20,21,22 and have come away with 5 commits who’s only FBS offer was NIU.

That’s always possible, but a receiver that has done their research will see that the Wide Receivers get plenty of targets at NIU. Even in a run heavy offense. Wide Receiver might be the second hardest position to recruit for a mid major school. The best receivers will go to the where they are I’ll get the best exposure. I think Richie going to the NFL will change peoples perception as well as Trayvon Rudolph in a couple years.

This may be splitting hairs, but they’ve seemed to have more success at recruiting wr talent from the “athlete” position. Rudolph and Urwiler(he seems to be next to get a shot) we’re both recruited as athletes. This years class has Athlete Trey Porter as the highest rated, only multi offer player at wr or athlete. It may mean nothing but maybe they’re telling them they will play all over the field and run the ball as well as receive it. Maybe that’s more appealing to a recruit? Idk. You might be able to say the same at QB. 4 years of recruiting has yielded 1 Ethan Hampton. We’ve been living on transfers. Do HS QBs see this a run first offense? Maybe the portal has changed how coaches recruit?

(02-22-2022 12:24 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 03:39 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 03:21 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Is Hammock’s reputation as a great RB coach along with NIU’s commitment to the run hurting NIUs ability to recruit the WR position? They’ve put out 34 WR offers over 20,21,22 and have come away with 5 commits who’s only FBS offer was NIU.

That’s always possible, but a receiver that has done their research will see that the Wide Receivers get plenty of targets at NIU. Even in a run heavy offense. Wide Receiver might be the second hardest position to recruit for a mid major school. The best receivers will go to the where they are I’ll get the best exposure. I think Richie going to the NFL will change peoples perception as well as Trayvon Rudolph in a couple years.

This may be splitting hairs, but they’ve seemed to have more success at recruiting wr talent from the “athlete” position. Rudolph and Urwiler(he seems to be next to get a shot) we’re both recruited as athletes. This years class has Athlete Trey Porter as the highest rated, only multi offer player at wr or athlete. It may mean nothing but maybe they’re telling them they will play all over the field and run the ball as well as receive it. Maybe that’s more appealing to a recruit? Idk. You might be able to say the same at QB. 4 years of recruiting has yielded 1 Ethan Hampton. We’ve been living on transfers. Do HS QBs see this a run first offense? Maybe the portal has changed how coaches recruit?

Dustin Fletcher is still here right?

(02-22-2022 01:40 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  Dustin Fletcher is still here right?

He is. He’s # 2 on the depth chart for Victor E.

(02-22-2022 01:47 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(02-22-2022 01:40 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  Dustin Fletcher is still here right?

He is. He’s # 2 on the depth chart for Victor E.

I wish Dustin Fletcher could run and catch. He has the frame of a solid wide receiver.

(02-22-2022 12:24 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 03:39 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 03:21 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Is Hammock’s reputation as a great RB coach along with NIU’s commitment to the run hurting NIUs ability to recruit the WR position? They’ve put out 34 WR offers over 20,21,22 and have come away with 5 commits who’s only FBS offer was NIU.

That’s always possible, but a receiver that has done their research will see that the Wide Receivers get plenty of targets at NIU. Even in a run heavy offense. Wide Receiver might be the second hardest position to recruit for a mid major school. The best receivers will go to the where they are I’ll get the best exposure. I think Richie going to the NFL will change peoples perception as well as Trayvon Rudolph in a couple years.

This may be splitting hairs, but they’ve seemed to have more success at recruiting wr talent from the “athlete” position. Rudolph and Urwiler(he seems to be next to get a shot) we’re both recruited as athletes. This years class has Athlete Trey Porter as the highest rated, only multi offer player at wr or athlete. It may mean nothing but maybe they’re telling them they will play all over the field and run the ball as well as receive it. Maybe that’s more appealing to a recruit? Idk. You might be able to say the same at QB. 4 years of recruiting has yielded 1 Ethan Hampton. We’ve been living on transfers. Do HS QBs see this a run first offense? Maybe the portal has changed how coaches recruit?

Not sure where the 5 WR # is coming from??? Between those 3 classes there are 13 WR's. Not to mention the 2 transfers. Rudolph is a star. Thorton was on NFL team's radar prior to the run of injuries the last 2 years. If Toure, McCray, Travis, and Dozier don't have major breakthrough's this year then we might just find out how much talent really is in those 3 classes. IMO Johnson and Armstrong are absolutely legit, and Rutkiewicz/Urwiler/Pardridge all have the makings of very good route running slots that will torch safeties and linebackers when coverages inevitably roll to Rudolph.

Bottom line I think there is a lot more talent in that room right now than we really realize. Between a new staff and system that built from the O-line and running game out, a new QB, and the need to control the clock to protect the defense, we didn't see them air things out at a high rate very often. Besides, HS WR's that have size, strength, speed, route running abilities, and hands are locks to go P5 b/c that is in very short supply these days. G5 guys, if you are lucky, have 2 or 3 of those skills at high levels, so there is a lot of development time needed there most of the time.

I didn't want to have one massively long post so I split this off, but in terms of this coming season, I really think this offense is going to be completely unstoppable. Offensive line has 4 of 5 coming back and all #2's as well. Another year in the system for Lombardi and Joiner. Rudolph, Tucker, and a healthy Thorton would be the best 3 WR group since the '16 group of Golladay, Blake, and Turner. Then the RB room is absolutely STACKED with a healthy Waylee, what is likely to be a flat out monster in Brown, Blakemore, and can't even put in to words how excited I am for Credle. If they use him as a pass catcher out of the backfield, with all the other weapons that defenses will have to focus on, he should consistently have 1 on 1s w/ LBs that he will TORCH!

(02-24-2022 01:38 PM)TXHuskieJA26 Wrote:  

(02-22-2022 12:24 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 03:39 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 03:21 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Is Hammock’s reputation as a great RB coach along with NIU’s commitment to the run hurting NIUs ability to recruit the WR position? They’ve put out 34 WR offers over 20,21,22 and have come away with 5 commits who’s only FBS offer was NIU.

That’s always possible, but a receiver that has done their research will see that the Wide Receivers get plenty of targets at NIU. Even in a run heavy offense. Wide Receiver might be the second hardest position to recruit for a mid major school. The best receivers will go to the where they are I’ll get the best exposure. I think Richie going to the NFL will change peoples perception as well as Trayvon Rudolph in a couple years.

This may be splitting hairs, but they’ve seemed to have more success at recruiting wr talent from the “athlete” position. Rudolph and Urwiler(he seems to be next to get a shot) we’re both recruited as athletes. This years class has Athlete Trey Porter as the highest rated, only multi offer player at wr or athlete. It may mean nothing but maybe they’re telling them they will play all over the field and run the ball as well as receive it. Maybe that’s more appealing to a recruit? Idk. You might be able to say the same at QB. 4 years of recruiting has yielded 1 Ethan Hampton. We’ve been living on transfers. Do HS QBs see this a run first offense? Maybe the portal has changed how coaches recruit?

Not sure where the 5 WR # is coming from??? Between those 3 classes there are 13 WR's. Not to mention the 2 transfers. Rudolph is a star. Thorton was on NFL team's radar prior to the run of injuries the last 2 years. If Toure, McCray, Travis, and Dozier don't have major breakthrough's this year then we might just find out how much talent really is in those 3 classes. IMO Johnson and Armstrong are absolutely legit, and Rutkiewicz/Urwiler/Pardridge all have the makings of very good route running slots that will torch safeties and linebackers when coverages inevitably roll to Rudolph.

Bottom line I think there is a lot more talent in that room right now than we really realize. Between a new staff and system that built from the O-line and running game out, a new QB, and the need to control the clock to protect the defense, we didn't see them air things out at a high rate very often. Besides, HS WR's that have size, strength, speed, route running abilities, and hands are locks to go P5 b/c that is in very short supply these days. G5 guys, if you are lucky, have 2 or 3 of those skills at high levels, so there is a lot of development time needed there most of the time.

I’m focusing on actual recruits. Not the walk ones and last minute signings. It’s not that walk-ons Or guys with only 1 offer can’t succeed. But you’d like to have the recruiting prowess to get some sought after kids. Even “walk-on” Rudolph, who wasn’t recruited at WR, had multiple Mac schools offer him and he was a solid 3 star recruit. We know Hammock has juice to recruit RBs. That’s how we got Brown and Ducker. I’m questioning his ability to get solid 3 star wr kids BECAUSE of his system. We mostly have billy doziers, Jeremiah Howard, mason pierre, isiah Bragg, etc. I don’t believe anyone of the wrs from those last 3 classes have any other offers than NIUs. And he lost out on 3 this year to other Mac schools. You can say he is getting the guys he wants, but it’s not true. He offered the higher kids he lost out on first.

Richie and Tucker were Carey recruits. Hammock crushed it with Rudolph. But what else?

New walk-on commit from DeKalb HS.

Article about his commitment in the Daily Chronicle.

https://www.shawlocal.com/daily-chronicl...ts-to-niu/

(02-24-2022 06:51 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(02-24-2022 01:38 PM)TXHuskieJA26 Wrote:  

(02-22-2022 12:24 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 03:39 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 03:21 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Is Hammock’s reputation as a great RB coach along with NIU’s commitment to the run hurting NIUs ability to recruit the WR position? They’ve put out 34 WR offers over 20,21,22 and have come away with 5 commits who’s only FBS offer was NIU.

That’s always possible, but a receiver that has done their research will see that the Wide Receivers get plenty of targets at NIU. Even in a run heavy offense. Wide Receiver might be the second hardest position to recruit for a mid major school. The best receivers will go to the where they are I’ll get the best exposure. I think Richie going to the NFL will change peoples perception as well as Trayvon Rudolph in a couple years.

This may be splitting hairs, but they’ve seemed to have more success at recruiting wr talent from the “athlete” position. Rudolph and Urwiler(he seems to be next to get a shot) we’re both recruited as athletes. This years class has Athlete Trey Porter as the highest rated, only multi offer player at wr or athlete. It may mean nothing but maybe they’re telling them they will play all over the field and run the ball as well as receive it. Maybe that’s more appealing to a recruit? Idk. You might be able to say the same at QB. 4 years of recruiting has yielded 1 Ethan Hampton. We’ve been living on transfers. Do HS QBs see this a run first offense? Maybe the portal has changed how coaches recruit?

Not sure where the 5 WR # is coming from??? Between those 3 classes there are 13 WR's. Not to mention the 2 transfers. Rudolph is a star. Thorton was on NFL team's radar prior to the run of injuries the last 2 years. If Toure, McCray, Travis, and Dozier don't have major breakthrough's this year then we might just find out how much talent really is in those 3 classes. IMO Johnson and Armstrong are absolutely legit, and Rutkiewicz/Urwiler/Pardridge all have the makings of very good route running slots that will torch safeties and linebackers when coverages inevitably roll to Rudolph.

Bottom line I think there is a lot more talent in that room right now than we really realize. Between a new staff and system that built from the O-line and running game out, a new QB, and the need to control the clock to protect the defense, we didn't see them air things out at a high rate very often. Besides, HS WR's that have size, strength, speed, route running abilities, and hands are locks to go P5 b/c that is in very short supply these days. G5 guys, if you are lucky, have 2 or 3 of those skills at high levels, so there is a lot of development time needed there most of the time.

I’m focusing on actual recruits. Not the walk ones and last minute signings. It’s not that walk-ons Or guys with only 1 offer can’t succeed. But you’d like to have the recruiting prowess to get some sought after kids. Even “walk-on” Rudolph, who wasn’t recruited at WR, had multiple Mac schools offer him and he was a solid 3 star recruit. We know Hammock has juice to recruit RBs. That’s how we got Brown and Ducker. I’m questioning his ability to get solid 3 star wr kids BECAUSE of his system. We mostly have billy doziers, Jeremiah Howard, mason pierre, isiah Bragg, etc. I don’t believe anyone of the wrs from those last 3 classes have any other offers than NIUs. And he lost out on 3 this year to other Mac schools. You can say he is getting the guys he wants, but it’s not true. He offered the higher kids he lost out on first.

Richie and Tucker were Carey recruits. Hammock crushed it with Rudolph. But what else?

You still recruit walk ons...It might be a very hard sale for Hammock when he had Childers at QB (he couldn't throw.) Bowers was never healthy. And Rocky...well Rocky found a groove, but the passing game has never really taken off here.

You know Hammock wants to pass, he recruits a QB in just about every class. He wants talent out there, we just haven't found a passer. It's hard to say who is or who isn't "legit." We don't need 100 scholarship WRs on this type of team. You just don't.

You can do it like Hammock has with a few scholarship guys and then walk ons who were passed over. You just don't need 3 5 Star WRs out there when we pass like we do. It's just facts.

In my opinion, Hammock is the first coach at NIU in a long time I can say is correctly using his resources to work for his benefit. That is to say, he isn't wasting scholarships on nonsense he doesn't need.

No surprise NIU runs like it does, is able to recruit serious talents in the backfield, and serious size on the Oline. It's just smart football and coaching. This isn't NCAA 08 and hammock isn't recruiting 5 stars at every spot to come to Cupcake U in Dynasty Mode.

(02-25-2022 07:56 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(02-24-2022 06:51 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(02-24-2022 01:38 PM)TXHuskieJA26 Wrote:  

(02-22-2022 12:24 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 03:39 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:  That’s always possible, but a receiver that has done their research will see that the Wide Receivers get plenty of targets at NIU. Even in a run heavy offense. Wide Receiver might be the second hardest position to recruit for a mid major school. The best receivers will go to the where they are I’ll get the best exposure. I think Richie going to the NFL will change peoples perception as well as Trayvon Rudolph in a couple years.

This may be splitting hairs, but they’ve seemed to have more success at recruiting wr talent from the “athlete” position. Rudolph and Urwiler(he seems to be next to get a shot) we’re both recruited as athletes. This years class has Athlete Trey Porter as the highest rated, only multi offer player at wr or athlete. It may mean nothing but maybe they’re telling them they will play all over the field and run the ball as well as receive it. Maybe that’s more appealing to a recruit? Idk. You might be able to say the same at QB. 4 years of recruiting has yielded 1 Ethan Hampton. We’ve been living on transfers. Do HS QBs see this a run first offense? Maybe the portal has changed how coaches recruit?

Not sure where the 5 WR # is coming from??? Between those 3 classes there are 13 WR's. Not to mention the 2 transfers. Rudolph is a star. Thorton was on NFL team's radar prior to the run of injuries the last 2 years. If Toure, McCray, Travis, and Dozier don't have major breakthrough's this year then we might just find out how much talent really is in those 3 classes. IMO Johnson and Armstrong are absolutely legit, and Rutkiewicz/Urwiler/Pardridge all have the makings of very good route running slots that will torch safeties and linebackers when coverages inevitably roll to Rudolph.

Bottom line I think there is a lot more talent in that room right now than we really realize. Between a new staff and system that built from the O-line and running game out, a new QB, and the need to control the clock to protect the defense, we didn't see them air things out at a high rate very often. Besides, HS WR's that have size, strength, speed, route running abilities, and hands are locks to go P5 b/c that is in very short supply these days. G5 guys, if you are lucky, have 2 or 3 of those skills at high levels, so there is a lot of development time needed there most of the time.

I’m focusing on actual recruits. Not the walk ones and last minute signings. It’s not that walk-ons Or guys with only 1 offer can’t succeed. But you’d like to have the recruiting prowess to get some sought after kids. Even “walk-on” Rudolph, who wasn’t recruited at WR, had multiple Mac schools offer him and he was a solid 3 star recruit. We know Hammock has juice to recruit RBs. That’s how we got Brown and Ducker. I’m questioning his ability to get solid 3 star wr kids BECAUSE of his system. We mostly have billy doziers, Jeremiah Howard, mason pierre, isiah Bragg, etc. I don’t believe anyone of the wrs from those last 3 classes have any other offers than NIUs. And he lost out on 3 this year to other Mac schools. You can say he is getting the guys he wants, but it’s not true. He offered the higher kids he lost out on first.

Richie and Tucker were Carey recruits. Hammock crushed it with Rudolph. But what else?

You still recruit walk ons...It might be a very hard sale for Hammock when he had Childers at QB (he couldn't throw.) Bowers was never healthy. And Rocky...well Rocky found a groove, but the passing game has never really taken off here.

You know Hammock wants to pass, he recruits a QB in just about every class. He wants talent out there, we just haven't found a passer. It's hard to say who is or who isn't "legit." We don't need 100 scholarship WRs on this type of team. You just don't.

You can do it like Hammock has with a few scholarship guys and then walk ons who were passed over. You just don't need 3 5 Star WRs out there when we pass like we do. It's just facts.

In my opinion, Hammock is the first coach at NIU in a long time I can say is correctly using his resources to work for his benefit. That is to say, he isn't wasting scholarships on nonsense he doesn't need.

No surprise NIU runs like it does, is able to recruit serious talents in the backfield, and serious size on the Oline. It's just smart football and coaching. This isn't NCAA 08 and hammock isn't recruiting 5 stars at every spot to come to Cupcake U in Dynasty Mode.

I’m definitely not criticizing Hammock. Love the guy. I’m just posing the question that his RB heavy reputation might be negatively impacting the passing/receiving side of top talent recruitment.

But the transfer portal might alleviate some of that. Rocky is a prime example. Lombardi would probably never have chosen NIU as a HS recruit. He had too many suitors. But he fit in perfectly as a transfer who was slightly tarnished. Thornton had an offer from Purdue out of HS so he would be another guy hard to get into DeKalb for 4 years. But as a grad transfer who maybe wants to start and win for 1 final season so he’s a perfect fit.

Onetime 2021 commit Luke Eckardt, who decommitted to Arizona, has hit the portal after one season in Tucson. Someone to keep an eye on.

https://twitter.com/eckardtluke

https://247sports.com/player/luke-eckardt-46100381/

(02-25-2022 11:55 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Onetime 2021 commit Luke Eckardt, who decommitted to Arizona, has hit the portal after one season in Tucson. Someone to keep an eye on.

https://twitter.com/eckardtluke

https://247sports.com/player/luke-eckardt-46100381/

Odd time to hit the portal….Only gave it one year. He’ll have to earn an offer from Hammock.

(02-26-2022 12:08 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(02-25-2022 11:55 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Onetime 2021 commit Luke Eckardt, who decommitted to Arizona, has hit the portal after one season in Tucson. Someone to keep an eye on.

https://twitter.com/eckardtluke

https://247sports.com/player/luke-eckardt-46100381/

Odd time to hit the portal….Only gave it one year. He’ll have to earn an offer from Hammock.

yep. Any kid who de-commits is going to have to work really hard to convince the coach he spurned before that he really wants to play for him. If I were that coach, I wouldn't say no- never. But I would tell the kid -- tell me why? And why should I believe you? And if I am interested, i.e., if he convinces me he just made a mistake and he recognizes it and wants to play here, I may still tell him he can walk on and we will see from there.

Offer to WR Dalevon Campbell, in the portal from Illinois. Looks like he only played one year of high school football, but is 6-4 and was a high school track all-American.

https://twitter.com/dalecamp18

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/owbhl7tt8myt0...fA4ia?dl=0

https://fightingillini.com/sports/footba...bell/12157

https://247sports.com/college/illinois/A...176715035/