http://www.vandelaysports.com/football/r...1001060222

I hope at some point there is commentary that explains the ratings.

Here is my analysis of EMU's class based on what I 'know' plus the YouTube of many of them (This is my post from the EMU board):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKtONJ5NTiU

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(A two sentence primer for non-EMU fans: Axon is a 4 star sitout RB from FL, Moffett is a 3 star sitout LB from Chicago, Thomas is a VERY fine safety transfer from Louisville Cardinals team and was coached by English at L'ville. All 3 should be ready to go in September and in the top 10 MAC newcomers for the '10 season).

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I don't feel competent to pass judgement on these kind of tapes (tapes are really difficult to evaluate, esp. for OLs), but a few random thoughts:

I saw some kids from Florida who looked very fast competing against other kids who are very fast. That's a fair comparison (rather then fast vs. slow).

I did see a lot of speed in the WRs, Axon, Lattarious Thomas, etc.

English is going fast, very fast, in the skill positions.

WR from Florida, Scott, looked like a super fast WR. I'd guess he has big time written on him. His tape was very impressive. Who will be the first to ask if there are similarities between Scott and Antonio Brown? :)

Other WRs looked pretty fast as well. I like the WRs. I can see Scott doing returns ala Antonio Brown.

Thomas looks like a very good safety blitzer.

Benz didn't play in a pro style offense in high school. That's interesting to see how he fits. Wonder who is the first to inquire if he reminds English of a certain QB who played at CMU who came from IL and has the same size, same running ability, same...?

One of the DTs really looks like a horse, I think Westerman (sp - not sure if I got the name right). Cutler too.

Parker looked too heavy.

Hansen, and it was hard to see him clearly from the film, but he could be a good one, maybe a very good one.

Hester might be one of the better recruits?

I can see some of the h.s. kids playing in '10, e.g., Scott, Benz, Hansen, Hester, etc. (plus there are others like Moffett, Goodwin and Gambrell (sp) ).

I see a lot of newcomers playing this September in addition to JUCOs and last year's redshirts.

I can see say 5 JUCOs, say 7+ true frosh, the sitouts like Axon, Thomas, Moffett, and Goodwin, and Gambrell and a couple more Jan. '10 early enrollees and the '09 redshirt class.

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We might be ranked 13 but there are some REAL players in the list especially the sitouts who will become all-MAC candidates.

(02-12-2010 04:56 AM)emu79 Wrote:  http://www.vandelaysports.com/football/r...1001060222

I hope at some point there is commentary that explains the ratings.

Let me address Vandelay's lists (from an EMU perspective):

1). Moffett is easily top 20 and maybe top 5 in new recruits. Agree Hester could be top 25.

2). Gambrell is definitely a good sleeper candidate. He does seem to met the definition of a sleeper candidate.

3). Transfers should have Lattarious Thomas and up near the top. English thinks he can play on Sundays too.

It's been plastered all over the Toledo boards that WR Robinson will not be attending Toledo.CMU's Kevin Henry is rated too low IMO.
How is WMU's Chance, a 3 star RB that was rated #23 APB in the pre season rankings by Rivals.com considered to be a sleeper?

IF Erick Howard signed with Akron and makes it academically he could be the #1 MAC recruit.

Wasn't he a very big time recruit in OH?

Was he grades from a scholarship offer from OSU?

(02-12-2010 07:26 AM)emu steve Wrote:  IF Erick Howard signed with Akron and makes it academically he could be the #1 MAC recruit.

Wasn't he a very big time recruit in OH?

Was he grades from a scholarship offer from OSU?

UT impact sleeper, RB/WR/KOR Bernard Reedy.

Curious if EMU QB recruit Benz is a sleeper? He played one season at QB, I believe, (that would make him a sleeper, I guess) but looked a lot like another Qb from IL who matriculated at in a MAC school in mid-Michigan and won the GMAC Bowl game last month. :)

(02-12-2010 07:26 AM)emu steve Wrote:  IF Erick Howard signed with Akron and makes it academically he could be the #1 MAC recruit.

Wasn't he a very big time recruit in OH?

Was he grades from a scholarship offer from OSU?

He's a Parade All American. But his grades ain't so hot.

By all accounts he's not any sort of troublemaker. His family life was tough...he lost his dad in an industrial accident when he was younger, and his mom left him for a period after that.

Guys like this (bad grades, immense athletic talent) rarely pan-out, but I'm glad he's giving UA a shot. Dude can ball. He could be a great story.

Andre Davis is a good pick for the sleeper list for Buffalo. He was injured early on in his senior season, so he only played three and a half games. In those three and a half games, though, he managed to rack up 36 tackles, six sacks, a blocked field goal and a defensive touchdown while lining up as a defensive tackle. I can't imagine what his final year stat line would have looked like if he had been able to play it.

I would add Nate Smith (temple) as a sleeper, brother of LJ Smith... if a sleeper is someone who is not in your top 25 but could end up being a star.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/temple/football/...ge_choices

(02-12-2010 07:11 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  CMU's Kevin Henry is rated too low IMO.

Agreed. Henry might be the best DL coming into the MAC this year and has the size and skills to contribute immediately. He may start as a true freshman at DE and eventually move to DT later in his career.

Dwight Macon will be very good for Toledo. I was disappointed when he decommitted from CMU.

Deryon Chance could be very good as well, although it's interesting that he chose WMU being an APB who is small as it seems that he isn't the prototypical back for the offense that WMU runs.

One true sleeper that wasn't mentioned was Leterrius Walton at CMU. The kid didn't have any offers prior to CMU, but he's 6'6" 285 lbs and he is an all state SS on his baseball team who has batted over .400 all four years he's played baseball. (Yes you read that correctly he is a 6'6" ~ 300lbs SS) He is also a very good basketball player and he only played two years of football in HS. Obviously he's still pretty raw as a football player, but a guy who is that big but still athletic and agile enough to be an all state SS could be a very special football player if he develops.

(02-12-2010 07:11 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  It's been plastered all over the Toledo boards that WR Robinson will not be attending Toledo.CMU's Kevin Henry is rated too low IMO.
How is WMU's Chance, a 3 star RB that was rated #23 APB in the pre season rankings by Rivals.com considered to be a sleeper?

WMU swept up in Palm Beach and Broward w/guys they are not even mentioned. 2 guys had legit Miami offers early but took too long to take them and UM let em go. Its still a wait and see process but you got to like what thery brought in from your neck ofd the woods (12).

(02-12-2010 09:27 AM)eich41 Wrote:  Deryon Chance could be very good as well, although it's interesting that he chose WMU being an APB who is small as it seems that he isn't the prototypical back for the offense that WMU runs.

There 2 backs last year West (all time leading yards in the NCAA) and Winchester are similar in size. Again its all a wait and see.

The link has been updated - All past VanDelay Recruiting reports are located at http://www.vandelaysports.com/football/recruit/

(02-12-2010 11:42 AM)IBleedMACGreen Wrote:  The link has been updated - All past VanDelay Recruiting reports are located at http://www.vandelaysports.com/football/recruit/

I posted this on the EMU board as well without the commentary, insight and analysis the rankings are not very entertaining.

Surprised no QB on the top 25 and only -1- QB on sleeper list.(Wenning Ball St) IMO, the QB Parish from Chicago that WMU signed is very underrated and expect him to be an impact player at WMU.

CMU rated 11th....hmm guess that means only -1- MAC title. They are rarely rated high by anyone.

Miami a bit underrated, Akron & WMU a bit overrated. NIU 8th about right. Believe the MAC had a good year recruiting. I like Temple's class a ton. Their class says we are back. Goldens presser was impressive. They had very few trips in signed 25 out of 36 trips.(Sign of a CLOSER) He defended and attacked his recruiting base, something like 23 of 25 guys within 4 hr drive of Philly. Even their "fill ins" are ATHLETIC. Solid class.

(02-12-2010 01:49 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  Surprised no QB on the top 25 and only -1- QB on sleeper list.(Wenning Ball St) IMO, the QB Parish from Chicago that WMU signed is very underrated and expect him to be an impact player at WMU.

CMU rated 11th....hmm guess that means only -1- MAC title. They are rarely rated high by anyone.

Miami a bit underrated, Akron & WMU a bit overrated. NIU 8th about right. Believe the MAC had a good year recruiting. I like Temple's class a ton. Their class says we are back. Goldens presser was impressive. They had very few trips in signed 25 out of 36 trips.(Sign of a CLOSER) He defended and attacked his recruiting base, something like 23 of 25 guys within 4 hr drive of Philly. Even their "fill ins" are ATHLETIC. Solid class.

Dwight Macon is the #16 player and will be playing QB for the Rockets.

(02-12-2010 07:26 AM)emu steve Wrote:  IF Erick Howard signed with Akron and makes it academically he could be the #1 MAC recruit.

He could be, but he also was not the only four star recruit signed by a MAC school this year, and I believe the others (OL Henderson at Akron and WR James Green at Toledo) don't have academic issues. They may not be the only other four stars. I know at one time one of the Temple commits was a 4 star on Rivals, and later was dropped to a 3 star, just like JUCO DB Taikwon Paige (Toledo) was originally a 4 star and dropped to a 3 star after committing to Toledo.

Since we are discussing 4-star recruits, here is one:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting...I2L_xHPZB4

Scratch the word, "Clemson" and change it to "Eastern Michigan".

Maybe EMU's version of C.J.Spiller. :) Although probably not as fast and more of a between the tackles runner.

I doubt EMU has ever had a 4 star recruit before. Maybe a few 3 star recruits.

I can hardly wait to see him run vs. MAC defenses.

(02-12-2010 02:59 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  

(02-12-2010 07:26 AM)emu steve Wrote:  IF Erick Howard signed with Akron and makes it academically he could be the #1 MAC recruit.

He could be, but he also was not the only four star recruit signed by a MAC school this year, and I believe the others (OL Henderson at Akron and WR James Green at Toledo) don't have academic issues. They may not be the only other four stars. I know at one time one of the Temple commits was a 4 star on Rivals, and later was dropped to a 3 star, just like JUCO DB Taikwon Paige (Toledo) was originally a 4 star and dropped to a 3 star after committing to Toledo.

Don't forget former 4 star WR Cordale Scott has transferred from Illinois to Toledo.