(02-22-2021 01:50 PM)emu steve Wrote:  My issue: We have zero size at WR. No 6' 3" 200 lbs. WRs.

I understand that concern and it used to irk me too, but when you think about the WRs we've used previously under Creighton none have really been "big bodies." Usually speedsters with good hands.

And then when you look at our TE personnel, they seem like they can fill that roll. Cannon has great hands and can run those routes. Gunnar Oakes is still just a junior. Odukoya is back and he proved himself to be useful in the red zone last year (2 TDs against Kent).

(02-22-2021 02:04 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  

(02-22-2021 01:50 PM)emu steve Wrote:  My issue: We have zero size at WR. No 6' 3" 200 lbs. WRs.

I understand that concern and it used to irk me too, but when you think about the WRs we've used previously under Creighton none have really been "big bodies." Usually speedsters with good hands.

And then when you look at our TE personnel, they seem like they can fill that roll. Cannon has great hands and can run those routes. Gunnar Oakes is still just a junior. Odukoya is back and he proved himself to be useful in the red zone last year (2 TDs against Kent).

I hear you. What I'm getting at is the WR who can deliver a block 10 yards downfield to help the runner get another 10 or 20 yards.

Of course, not from behind as one fmr. WR so infamously did a few years ago.

(02-22-2021 02:21 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-22-2021 02:04 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  

(02-22-2021 01:50 PM)emu steve Wrote:  My issue: We have zero size at WR. No 6' 3" 200 lbs. WRs.

I understand that concern and it used to irk me too, but when you think about the WRs we've used previously under Creighton none have really been "big bodies." Usually speedsters with good hands.

And then when you look at our TE personnel, they seem like they can fill that roll. Cannon has great hands and can run those routes. Gunnar Oakes is still just a junior. Odukoya is back and he proved himself to be useful in the red zone last year (2 TDs against Kent).

I hear you. What I'm getting at is the WR who can deliver a block 10 yards downfield to help the runner get another 10 or 20 yards.

Of course, not from behind as one fmr. WR so infamously did a few years ago.

Steve I still wonder about that one. It was a clear touchdown for Sexton and yet Arilstide clipped the guy away from the play. He also was pretty animated and happy on the sidelines thereafter. I was not surprised he was gone from the program the next season.

(02-22-2021 12:17 PM)steve4840 Wrote:  

(02-13-2021 09:23 AM)Sellers dweller Wrote:  

(02-13-2021 07:22 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(02-12-2021 08:12 PM)Sellers dweller Wrote:  We've picked up Ishawn Steward, a WR transfer from Oregon State.

https://twitter.com/ishawn_stewart/statu...4660143104

A fairly big recruit in 2018, he was a three start on both rivals and 247. On the 247 composite he was the #94 athlete in the country and #30 player in the state of Illinois. We offered him coming out of high school along with Oregon State, Illinois, Iowa, Miami-Ohio, Nevada, New Mexico, NIU, Syracuse, Toledo, and WMU....pretty impressive offer sheet.

At Oregon State, after redshirting his freshmen year, he played in two games as a RS freshmen and did not play this past fall (not sure if that was a COVID related or not)

So I assume he'd be immediately eligible and have at least two (probably three) years left?

Should help the blow of losing Q and whatever the deal with CJ Parks was.

There's not a lot of experienced depth returning at WR. Definitely a position of need. The competition a receiver should be fierce as there's PT available for those that put the work in and perform.

Yeah, after our top three (who are really good) a lot of unknown. Even with Stewart, while highly recruited, didn't play much at Oregon State. He'll join a lot of talented true and RS freshmen and as you say hopefully the competition brings out the best in two or three of them.

Between those guys, having all our TEs back, and what looks like a nice stable of young backs, whoever plays QB should have a lot of weapons.

Agreed, Beydoun, Drummond and Tanner are really good. Exciting to see 2 more WR's step up and fill in. Keep an eye out for Rico Small and Zavier Smith. T.E.'s will be really good led by Cannon. RB's with Boone and Evans should be stacked. AND the most important piece is that I think ALL of the O-Line is back and we are REALLY good here. Offensively, (at least on paper) this is the best offense I've seen at EMU.

I agree with all of that, but add in Trey Bess. Boone seems to be that all-around stud, and Evans that between the tackles power guy, but Bess seems to be that change of pace speedster who if he gets the corner can take it to the house.

(02-22-2021 01:50 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-22-2021 12:17 PM)steve4840 Wrote:  

(02-13-2021 09:23 AM)Sellers dweller Wrote:  

(02-13-2021 07:22 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(02-12-2021 08:12 PM)Sellers dweller Wrote:  We've picked up Ishawn Steward, a WR transfer from Oregon State.

https://twitter.com/ishawn_stewart/statu...4660143104

A fairly big recruit in 2018, he was a three start on both rivals and 247. On the 247 composite he was the #94 athlete in the country and #30 player in the state of Illinois. We offered him coming out of high school along with Oregon State, Illinois, Iowa, Miami-Ohio, Nevada, New Mexico, NIU, Syracuse, Toledo, and WMU....pretty impressive offer sheet.

At Oregon State, after redshirting his freshmen year, he played in two games as a RS freshmen and did not play this past fall (not sure if that was a COVID related or not)

So I assume he'd be immediately eligible and have at least two (probably three) years left?

Should help the blow of losing Q and whatever the deal with CJ Parks was.

There's not a lot of experienced depth returning at WR. Definitely a position of need. The competition a receiver should be fierce as there's PT available for those that put the work in and perform.

Yeah, after our top three (who are really good) a lot of unknown. Even with Stewart, while highly recruited, didn't play much at Oregon State. He'll join a lot of talented true and RS freshmen and as you say hopefully the competition brings out the best in two or three of them.

Between those guys, having all our TEs back, and what looks like a nice stable of young backs, whoever plays QB should have a lot of weapons.

Agreed, Beydoun, Drummond and Tanner are really good. Exciting to see 2 more WR's step up and fill in. Keep an eye out for Rico Small and Zavier Smith. T.E.'s will be really good led by Cannon. RB's with Boone and Evans should be stacked. AND the most important piece is that I think ALL of the O-Line is back and we are REALLY good here. Offensively, (at least on paper) this is the best offense I've seen at EMU.

My issue: We have zero size at WR. No 6' 3" 200 lbs. WRs.

I think some of the young guys should help with that issue:

Kaiden Keefe: 6'2" 167 lbs. (needs to bulk up)
Zach Westmoreland: 6'2" 200 lbs.
JB Mitchell: while "only" 6'1" (247 actually listed him at 6'2") he is already listed at 195 lbs. as a true freshmen.

(02-22-2021 08:18 PM)Sellers dweller Wrote:  

(02-22-2021 01:50 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-22-2021 12:17 PM)steve4840 Wrote:  

(02-13-2021 09:23 AM)Sellers dweller Wrote:  

(02-13-2021 07:22 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  There's not a lot of experienced depth returning at WR. Definitely a position of need. The competition a receiver should be fierce as there's PT available for those that put the work in and perform.

Yeah, after our top three (who are really good) a lot of unknown. Even with Stewart, while highly recruited, didn't play much at Oregon State. He'll join a lot of talented true and RS freshmen and as you say hopefully the competition brings out the best in two or three of them.

Between those guys, having all our TEs back, and what looks like a nice stable of young backs, whoever plays QB should have a lot of weapons.

Agreed, Beydoun, Drummond and Tanner are really good. Exciting to see 2 more WR's step up and fill in. Keep an eye out for Rico Small and Zavier Smith. T.E.'s will be really good led by Cannon. RB's with Boone and Evans should be stacked. AND the most important piece is that I think ALL of the O-Line is back and we are REALLY good here. Offensively, (at least on paper) this is the best offense I've seen at EMU.

My issue: We have zero size at WR. No 6' 3" 200 lbs. WRs.

I think some of the young guys should help with that issue:

Kaiden Keefe: 6'2" 167 lbs. (needs to bulk up)
Zach Westmoreland: 6'2" 200 lbs.
JB Mitchell: while "only" 6'1" (247 actually listed him at 6'2") he is already listed at 195 lbs. as a true freshmen.

The offense will be fine. The Oregon St. transfer will help complete a group of 4 (Tanner, Beydoun and Dylan). I'm still thinking that with all the experience returning on the O-line, we may be more run happy than I anticipated. I anticipate big things for Evans, Boone and co.

Again....call me bitter.....but if you're an offensive player, why on Earth would you want to leave with everything coming back? If you can't get up for the competition and think that taking an easier route out to get more P.T. somewhere else is the answer, than wow....

Need to figure this out. We are completing our 2021 recruiting class. This verbal, Lattrell Fordham, is a 2020 high school grad.

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7621006/5d8...0e7022402e

I'll see if he was 'somewhere' in 2020.

Did he do a post graduate year in CT?

https://www.hudl.com/profile/7621006/Latrell-Fordham

EDIT: Originally to BSU as a 2020 recruit. Then did a post graduate year.

https://247sports.com/college/ball-state...l/Commits/

Results
Pos
Ht / Wt
Rating
Team

Latrell Fordham
Davison
(Davison, Michigan)
WR
6-4 / 180
0.8244
Natl: 1904
Pos: 2
St: 2

https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2...state.html

https://www.thestarpress.com/story/sport...980216001/

Nice get. He had offers from Indiana and Cinci. 3 star.

Welcome!

(02-25-2021 08:03 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  Nice get. He had offers from Indiana and Cinci. 3 star.

Welcome!

Yeah a very nice late add indeed! Coming out of high school he was a three star on 247, #23 player in Michigan and the #56 athlete in the country, had offers from Ball State, CMU, and Morgan State but did a prep school year. This year 247 has him as the #4 prep school player in the country and #2 WR. Had offers from EMU, Akron, Indiana, and Cincinnati.

Big time size too, 6'4" 180 lbs.

Making those newly available scholies count.

Dear Friends,
I hope he attends Eastern, and becomes a star player on the football field. However, after reading the articles on him, I'm afraid he may bolt to a larger program, if they come calling.

What happens to someone like Willie Parker that decided to opt out last year? Did he burn his chance to come back this year?

Not suggesting we need him, just curious?

(02-26-2021 09:09 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
I hope he attends Eastern, and becomes a star player on the football field. However, after reading the articles on him, I'm afraid he may bolt to a larger program, if they come calling.

Yes, I read those articles... I think athletes should talk less.

That said, I see that most are now doing 'boiler plate' (or pro forma) Tweets to announce their commitment to a school or decision to transfer. And thanking everyone.

That's good. The less said off the cuff the better.

https://www.mlive.com/sports/2021/02/for...higan.html

(02-27-2021 04:06 AM)emu steve Wrote:  https://www.mlive.com/sports/2021/02/for...higan.html

Nice to get a little publicity from a local source. EMU needs more Michigan kids like Fordham.

Competition at WR should be fierce with only 3 experienced players and a bunch of contenders for PT. Losing Q was not good but there's optimism with all of these younger dudes.

Speaking of Q, anyone heard where he might be headed?

I don't think this was mentioned, but with Fordham committing we moved up to the #6 class in the MAC on 247. Also, the #96 class in the whole country (I don't believe we've ever finished in the top 100).

(02-26-2021 09:09 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
I hope he attends Eastern, and becomes a star player on the football field. However, after reading the articles on him, I'm afraid he may bolt to a larger program, if they come calling.

This post from Ken did age well. The recruit did as he all but promised to do.

https://www.thestarpress.com/story/sport...980216001/