Recruiting

[Gaddabout]

OK, this would be good to be true. Someone is telling Haller that Priest Willis will not be signing with UCLA and has been in touch w/ ASU today.
https://twitter.com/DougHaller

More here;

http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/r...ruits-willis-brown-wont-be-signing-wednesday/

That's just not going to happen, and I can't really explain why. From what I know, ASU's just shut down the whole thing.

 

[overseascardfan]

Well signing day is complete and ASU while Todd Graham didn't land some of the high profile recruits that had ASU among their final choices, ASU still ends up with a nice recruiting class highlighted by some big WR's and really added some pieces to the defense.

The whole Priest Willis deal the last couple of days presented a circus that really didn't end up in ASU's favor. Only Willis and ASU know if the kid was actually wavering on his commitment to UCLA but Willis shut down the rumors last night saying his mom was out of town so that is why he wasn't signing a LOI today. Also, ASU lost their QB recruit to TEN and according to rumors almost flipped Brophy QB Tyler Bruggman from WSU but he honored his commitment as well.

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

That's just not going to happen, and I can't really explain why. From what I know, ASU's just shut down the whole thing.

So are the reports of ASU getting back in touch with him false?

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

Well signing day is complete and ASU while Todd Graham didn't land some of the high profile recruits that had ASU among their final choices, ASU still ends up with a nice recruiting class highlighted by some big WR's and really added some pieces to the defense.

The whole Priest Willis deal the last couple of days presented a circus that really didn't end up in ASU's favor. Only Willis and ASU know if the kid was actually wavering on his commitment to UCLA but Willis shut down the rumors last night saying his mom was out of town so that is why he wasn't signing a LOI today. Also, ASU lost their QB recruit to TEN and according to rumors almost flipped Brophy QB Tyler Bruggman from WSU but he honored his commitment as well.

Ah! That explains the Willis thing. Rumors are crazy.

I don't blame Dobbs for switching given how stacked ASU is at QB.

Haller has a good run down, including his "top 5" and the stuff on our Dline:

MY TOP FIVE
1. Jaelan Strong, receiver.
True receivers accounted for just 44 percent of ASU’s receptions last season. At 6-4, 205 pounds, Strong, a junior-college transfer, has the size and skill to give the Sun Devils’ a threat at the position. Graham said he’s the most dynamic receiver he’s seen on film in a long time.
2. Marcus Hardison, defensive tackle.
ASU needed size up front and Hardison (6-5, 290) provides it. ESPN lists him as the nation’s No. 5 junior-college recruit. Often, you never know what you’re going to get with junior-college players (example: Mike Pennel), but if Hardison is as disruptive as advertised, ASU’s defensive front might be the best in the Pac-12.
3. Marcus Ball, safety.
Ball was the surprise of Signing Day, keeping his intentions quiet until late Wednesday, flipping from Wisconsin to ASU. He played both quarterback and safety in high school, but will start out on defense in college. He has great size (6-3, 205) and athletic ability. Just this week he scored a school-record 43 points for his high school basketball team in Ohio. This was a good get for ASU, especially considering Ball’s older brother, Ray, is an offensive lineman at Wisconsin.
4. Chans Cox, Devilbacker.
Cox is this year’s D.J. Foster, the highly ranked player who decided to stay in state and play for the Sun Devils. All you need to know about his ability is ASU is starting him off at the Devil position, which requires someone with play-making skills. Perhaps the best thing about Cox: He enrolled early, so he’ll be on the field for spring practice.
5. Ronald Lewis, WR.
Lewis is electric and he can do a little of everything. Last year at West Jefferson High in Harvey, La., he had 32 catches for 504 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for 428 yards (8.6 yards per carry) and was a dangerous kick-off returner. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Lewis even played quarterback out of the Wildcat formation. At ASU, he’ll be used all over the field, in the backfield as well as at receiver.




SIZE UP FRONT
Graham said ASU always will try to over-sign on the defensive line. He wants to be four deep at each of the Sun Devils’ three defensive line spots, as well as at Devilbacker, which would give them 15-16 defensive linemen.
ASU added four pure defensive linemen Wednesday. Check out their sizes:
*Demetrius Cherry, 6-6, 275.
*Marcus Hardison, 6-5, 290.
*Kisimia Jagne, 6-5, 265.
*Corey Smith, 6-7, 260.
“One of the things we wanted to do defensively is get longer. We wanted to get taller,” Graham said. “Why is that, Coach? Well, you can bat balls down and when you bat balls down you get more interceptions.”

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu...ecruiting-class-breakdown.html?nclick_check=1

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

If you add in the coup d'tat that was Westerman, I think this is a pretty solid recruiting year.

Hopefully next year we can start to build with more high school players and less JUCO ones. That will take another winning season among other thingss.

 

[Gaddabout]

I don't blame Dobbs for switching given how stacked ASU is at QB.

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ASU isn't going to make it to the fall with 3 QBs. They probably aren't going to make it to next spring with 2 unless they bring in someone else before the end of summer semester.

 

[Gaddabout]

So are the reports of ASU getting back in touch with him false?

It was the other way around, actually.

 

[AsUdUdE]

It was the other way around, actually.

I am not sure I follow.. Are you hinting it was Willis who was prusing ASU at the last second?

 

[Gaddabout]

I am not sure I follow.. Are you hinting it was Willis who was prusing ASU at the last second?

Not hinting. Saying. No idea what happened there beyond that.

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

Well looks like ASU picked up a kicker, Gonzales, from a high school in Texas where he didn't miss a field goal last year.

And the hiring of Sherman Morris as Recruiting Coordinator seems like a great move. He did the same thing at LSU with good results. ASU will be a tougher gig, but you gotta love this guy's attitude.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu...tor-sherman-morris-important-for-program.html

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

Nice 4 Star Running Back Pick Up for ASU
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu...siana-running-back-commits-to-sun-devils.html, Darrel Williams from Louisiana (La).

Interesting snapshot, U of A gets 2 recruits from LA, ASU gets 2 recruits from La.

 

[Gaddabout]

Nice 4 Star Running Back Pick Up for ASU
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu...siana-running-back-commits-to-sun-devils.html, Darrel Williams from Louisiana (La).

Interesting snapshot, U of A gets 2 recruits from LA, ASU gets 2 recruits from La.

Watched a lot of different Williams highlights. He looks like Mario Bates. Big, fluid, great vision, initiates contact at the second level. Runs tall like Bates, too, but he had good footwork.

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

Watched a lot of different Williams highlights. He looks like Mario Bates. Big, fluid, great vision, initiates contact at the second level. Runs tall like Bates, too, but he had good footwork.

Very tough rugged runner. Hopefully, he will be even tougher when he hits the weight room at ASU.

 

[HooverDam]

ASU isn't going to make it to the fall with 3 QBs. .

Falls here, so are all 3 guys.

Not that your prediction was bad, I wouldve agreed at the time. Im shocked to see them all sticking around.

Todd Graham is clearly some kind of Svengali wizard.

 

[Mainstreet]

I get the feeling that Bercovici will be used as the backup QB and Eubank as a situational QB if Kelly should be out for any significant period of time.

 

[Gaddabout]

Falls here, so are all 3 guys.

Not that your prediction was bad, I wouldve agreed at the time. Im shocked to see them all sticking around.

Todd Graham is clearly some kind of Svengali wizard.

Yep. I'm stunned. I also know it wasn't without some emotional challenges.

ASU will probably try to sign two QBs this period because there's still a chance they won't have all three returning for next year.

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

Nice pickup by ASU, OT Sam Jones choses ASU over Oregon
http://arizonastate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1565310

In choosing ASU, the 6-foot-5, 285 pound Jones rejected offers from Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and a host of others.

"The coaches are the main reason," Jones said. "I am going to love playing for (offensive line) coach (Chris) Thomsen and coach (Todd) Graham. They are just great guys. What you see is what you get it with them. They weren't putting up any smoke and mirrors to get me there and that's something I appreciated from the beginning.

"As soon as I got off the phone with coach Graham (Tuesday night) I felt like it was a huge weight off my shoulders. The main reason I felt that way is because I knew that was where I needed to be. It's just the greatest feeling in the world."

ASU was leading for Jones and aggressively pursuing him dating to early this year after he visited the school for its Junior Day. At the time it was thought a decision may happen quickly, perhaps even before the summer. Ultimately, Jones wanted to continue to develop his relationships with the coaches, especially Thomsen.

"I love coach Thomsen," Jones said. "I liked a lot of these line coaches and obviously that's who I'm going to be spending the most time with. I wanted to make sure it was a good person I would be spending time with and coach Thomsen is one of the best men I've met."

Jones has followed ASU closely and seen its offense put up 50 or more points in four games this season, including an in person viewing of its throttling of Washington Saturday.

"Arizona State is headed in a great direction," Jones said. "They are definitely building something special and I'm honored to be a part of it. Obviously Oregon, they have a lot of success, but when it comes down to it it's where you want to be in the next 4-5 years."

Jones could play either right or left tackle for the Sun Devils, a position of need for the program in recruiting.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

Very excited, two new four star recruits. Receiver Jalen Harvey from the Bay Area and Sam Jones top OT from Colorado. Still lots of other top-notch recruits visiting over the next few weeks.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/school/_/id/9/class/2014

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

Very excited, two new four star recruits. Receiver Jalen Harvey from the Bay Area and Sam Jones top OT from Colorado. Still lots of other top-notch recruits visiting over the next few weeks.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/school/_/id/9/class/2014

The Washington game seemed to help a lot. I noticed several top in State players still have ASU on their list.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

The Washington game seemed to help a lot. I noticed several top in State players still have ASU on their list.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-3300

Um...only 4 of the top 20 remain uncommitted. ASU has one commitment from that list. At minimum 4 of the top 5 are heading elsewhere for school. Neither school should be crowing about anything recruiting related right now is the reality.

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-3300

Um...only 4 of the top 20 remain uncommitted. ASU has one commitment from that list. At minimum 4 of the top 5 are heading elsewhere for school. Neither school should be crowing about anything recruiting related right now is the reality.

No one is crowing, I just like the guys we are picking up. Add Westerman (I may have the name wrong), the OL transfer from Auburn that we picked up, and I like the way things are shaping up.

And there was an article/slide show deal on Azcentral this morning that went through a 20+ top Az prospects. There was at least a handful of them the uncommitted ones that were still considering ASU.

 

[Gaddabout]

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-3300

Um...only 4 of the top 20 remain uncommitted. ASU has one commitment from that list. At minimum 4 of the top 5 are heading elsewhere for school. Neither school should be crowing about anything recruiting related right now is the reality.

With Qualen Cunningham going to A&M, pretty much all the top talent left the state. It's a dismal time indeed.

OTOH, I think ASU has done an exceptional job finding regional guys who fit well and will be productive. I think UA has bigger issues because they committed to numbers before September, and I don't think a lot of those guys are who you will have wanted at signing day.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

We still have a shot at star in-state tackle Casey Tucker. But Stanford really wants him and California loves to steal our lineman...

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/163514/casey-tucker

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

OTOH, I think ASU has done an exceptional job finding regional guys who fit well and will be productive. I think UA has bigger issues because they committed to numbers before September, and I don't think a lot of those guys are who you will have wanted at signing day.

That's glass half full spin and has been said ad nauseam on hundreds of message boards by dozens of other programs who have struggled to bring in top classes. We won't really know until these guys line up but as of now both state schools are in the 'treading water' recruiting category. That's not good considering both staffs have more to sell now than they probably ever will. And if USC does well in their coaching search...

And Arizona has committed to numbers but we both know that if someone better comes along in January they'll simply withdraw an offer. It sucks and pisses of HS coaches but it's a part of the process.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

Boom! Another big commit for ASU 4-star OLB DJ Calhoun, also from the Bay Area. This is shaping up to be the best recruiting class for ASU in years.

https://twitter.com/dj_calhoun