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

Operation “Back To Mediocrity” is nearing completion. We may have taken our best shots for a return to the MACC these last two seasons. We aren’t gonna sniff these late season opportunities for quite awhile.

Unless Lou has some sort of mind blowing defensive revelation before next season, 2021 is going to be tough to watch.

(12-16-2020 10:36 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  According to 247 our class ranks 6th.

Behind Toledo, Miami, NIU, CMU and Buffalo. We finished 3rd last season.

4 of the 5 rated higher than WMU signed more players than WMU.
Quantity has always increased rank.

247 is currently giving zero stars to WR from Florida.
That player had eight offers including Navy, USF, Toledo

(12-16-2020 10:54 AM)Bronc33 Wrote:  

(12-16-2020 10:36 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  According to 247 our class ranks 6th.

Behind Toledo, Miami, NIU, CMU and Buffalo. We finished 3rd last season.

#2 in average player ranking which is what is most important. We didn't have room for 25 guys this signing period so that keeps the numbers down. Some great looking players in that class.

We’re 5th in average player ranking on 247. However I think 247 (as has been noted in this thread) is missing some ratings on one of our commits.

There are some nice players in this class, but it does seem a little underwhelming compared to previous classes. It's solid throughout, but I think lacks a couple of top tier guys. Then again, there's still time to grab a couple more. We've already had two players enter the portal, so there will be room for the coaches to go and find some playmakers.

Signees that have me intrigued: QB Hrabowski, LB Vode, WR Mason, DE Walker, OT Muraski. Lots of other good looking players, too.
Malique Dieudonne was a nice late addition.

(12-16-2020 11:09 AM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  There are some nice players in this class, but it does seem a little underwhelming compared to previous classes. It's solid throughout, but I think lacks a couple of top tier guys. Then again, there's still time to grab a couple more. We've already had two players enter the portal, so there will be room for the coaches to go and find some playmakers.

Signees that have me intrigued: QB Hrabowski, LB Vode, WR Mason, DE Walker, OT Muraski. Lots of other good looking players, too.
Malique Dieudonne was a nice late addition.

Hofer will become a stalwart on the o-line. Nothing flashy, but will be a good fit at both guard and tackle positions. Very smart and motivated kid.

We’ve got multiple top tier guys on offense, but we need some on defense (or rather need them to stay healthy).

Judging the rankings, all the MAC haves are pretty close and all the have nots are having trouble.

So did the NCAA expand roster allowances or not? Because with the Covid sitters back, this puts us way above 105 players.

(12-16-2020 12:43 PM)RunningGame Wrote:  So did the NCAA expand roster allowances or not? Because with the Covid sitters back, this puts us way above 105 players.

I heard that they will expand the number of scholarship spots for 2021 , and then again in 2022 with a smaller number, then back to normal in 2023.

I don't know if that's official or not, but it would make sense in allowing for a gradual expansion and contraction of rosters and wouldn't completely screw a whole recruiting class.

Interesting sidebar: None of EMU's 20 recruits are from Michigan.

The recruiting class is right where it needs to be. Only concern I have w/ our place in the rankings is Toledo being a mile ahead of everyone else.

(12-16-2020 01:42 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Interesting sidebar: None of EMU's 20 recruits are from Michigan.

They usually hit the JuCo route pretty hard, but it is surprising to see zero recruits from Michigan. Especially considering MI had a deep class this year. Heck, we only signed 3.

I think part of it is other G5/FCS/out-of-state P5 schools muscling into the state.

Here's a breakdown of Michigan kids by DI school (as of Dec. 16 at 2 pm):

Central Michigan 11
Michigan State 6
Michigan 4
Penn State 4
Buffalo 4
Toledo 4
Northwestern 3
Pitt 3
Western Michigan 3
Miami 2
Ball State 2
Northern Illinois 2
Air Force 2
Harvard 2
Notre Dame 1
Alabama 1
LSU 1
Indiana 1
Iowa State 1
Nebraska 1
Purdue 1
Kentucky 1
BYU 1
Cincinnati 1
Syracuse 1
Vanderbilt 1
Army 1
Ohio 1
Akron 1
Bowling Green 1
Charlotte 1
Tulsa 1
Columbia 1
Yale 1
Illinois State 1
Eastern Illinois 1
Morgan State 1

That's a lot of different schools recruiting Michigan. And there are still a lot of good recruits that are uncommitted.

Central is hitting Michigan hard, but a good 4-5 of those kids were flipped from DII schools and/or didn't have other DI offers, so they're taking a flyer on some guys.

We need to get someone on staff who can recruit Detroit a little better.

(12-16-2020 02:28 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  We need to get someone on staff who can recruit Detroit a little better.

I agree. We only got 2 recruits out of the Metro Detroit this year, which is downright criminal considering the amount of talent over there. We got 3 last year and 0 the year before. We cannot ignore Detroit!!

(12-16-2020 02:35 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  

(12-16-2020 02:28 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  We need to get someone on staff who can recruit Detroit a little better.

I agree. We only got 2 recruits out of the Metro Detroit this year, which is downright criminal considering the amount of talent over there. We got 3 last year and 0 the year before. We cannot ignore Detroit!!

It may not be a factor of ignoring as much as lack of effectiveness. Either way, it needs to get fixed ASAP. Cubit was vilified for ignoring Detroit and pulling in too many "Florida kids".

(12-16-2020 03:05 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  

(12-16-2020 02:35 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  

(12-16-2020 02:28 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  We need to get someone on staff who can recruit Detroit a little better.

I agree. We only got 2 recruits out of the Metro Detroit this year, which is downright criminal considering the amount of talent over there. We got 3 last year and 0 the year before. We cannot ignore Detroit!!

It may not be a factor of ignoring as much as lack of effectiveness. Either way, it needs to get fixed ASAP. Cubit was vilified for ignoring Detroit and pulling in too many "Florida kids".

This staff is still very much committed to the 5-hour radius idea.

(12-16-2020 04:35 PM)RunningGame Wrote:  

(12-16-2020 03:05 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  

(12-16-2020 02:35 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  

(12-16-2020 02:28 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  We need to get someone on staff who can recruit Detroit a little better.

I agree. We only got 2 recruits out of the Metro Detroit this year, which is downright criminal considering the amount of talent over there. We got 3 last year and 0 the year before. We cannot ignore Detroit!!

It may not be a factor of ignoring as much as lack of effectiveness. Either way, it needs to get fixed ASAP. Cubit was vilified for ignoring Detroit and pulling in too many "Florida kids".

This staff is still very much committed to the 5-hour radius idea.

I agree here... I think Lester has some comfort in and around Chicago... We will always take those ATH kids that pop up out of the south... but the idea of building a team around those kind of kids left when Cubit was let go.

The WR group is as good as any from what I've seen of them on tape. And they got guys with athletic frames on the defensive side of the ball that they can shape into D1 football bodies. Lester and crew do a good job of identifying guys early and they did that with most of these. I trust them to find talent. I trust them to even make that talent good enough to be on some All Conference teams.

I just don't trust them coaching them to victory in important games.

It will be interesting to see once they score the unrated guys for each team.

(12-16-2020 06:45 PM)RunningGame Wrote:  It will be interesting to see once they score the unrated guys for each team.

Personally, I usually like playing the stars and ratings game. Those services are pretty good at it. However, this year, none of that matters...most kids weren't even able to be seen enough.

(12-16-2020 06:48 PM)Stampede your face!! Wrote:  

(12-16-2020 06:45 PM)RunningGame Wrote:  It will be interesting to see once they score the unrated guys for each team.

Personally, I usually like playing the stars and ratings game. Those services are pretty good at it. However, this year, none of that matters...most kids weren't even able to be seen enough.

I agree here and I also think that the difference between 6 and 1 in the classes is negligible... every one of these teams is going to have players that never really make it, players that transfer and a few that might grow into a star.

Its what these coaches and staff do WITH these players that determines the success they will have while with their respective teams. This is where Lester gives me very little confidence.

We should have some nice weapons for Eleby going forward... We also have a really nice get with the kid out of River Rouge.... Mareyohn Hrabowski.... I think he might be a surprise down the road.