Bennubird
Senior
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2011
- Messages
- 4,029
I thought seeing as the Signing Thread is 37+ pages deep that I would post my reaction in a new thread. Feel free to post your overall impressions here now that the class is mostly, if not fully, complete.
My initial reaction was pretty much what everyone else's was which was disappointment about who we did not sign; more on that in a moment. After thinking about the overall situation, I'm very pleased with the core group of players that we got in this class. This is not a huge class, but we got several real difference makers.
On defense we arguably signed the best LB class in the country. Quarterman, Pinckney, and McCloud are scary good. I believe Shaq will be a future 1st or 2nd round pick (not saying that because of UKnowwhat) just look at his film. At Safety Finley is the real deal; more so than I think many on here realize. I think he'll have an opportunity to really shine in our new defense. I have not looked at Wright's videos, but DMoney's comments about him suggest he too is a versatile playmaker on defense. James had a remarkable senior year and clearly comes from great bloodlines. We signed an All-American CB in Young, and we should all be grateful to that young man because without him we would be in an even worse situation at that position. Obviously, we need more help at CB. Maybe we'll go JUCO to fill our obvious need at that position. At DE we brought in two guys Bethel and Jackson that are really going to help us in the future, which isn't to say that they are going to redshirt, it's just that I actually think we have good talent on the roster at DE. We got a single DT this cycle, but, like many of you, I was left wondering whether we will be able to convince elite DTs to come to UM. Fortunately, we have good talent at DT now that will play in an aggressive scheme that will help us going forward with recruiting that position. Having Coach Kool will make a tremendous difference in how we look as a defense, and I think that's a good thing for recruiting.
On offense we got Jack Allison at QB. Jack is a south Florida kid with a big chip on his shoulder. He is a bit raw to me, but Coach Richt will refine his talent and help him get the most out of his ability. I love Jack's attitude as much as anything about him. He is a real gamer. When his time comes he will be throwing to one of the best receiver classes in the country with Bruce and Richards both of whom could play anywhere in the country. Bruce doesn't have blinding top end speed, but he is plenty fast enough and he has elite elusiveness. For that reason he is a threat to score from anywhere just like Richards, who might be one of the most complete receivers in this class. Dionte Mullins is south Florida all day every day in the best possible ways on a football field. He has been with us the whole way and never wavered. Travis Homer deserves more love than he gets in my humble opinion. He can score from anywhere on the field. His highlights show him scoring with speed, with quickness, with power, and in the passing game. His football IQ like his athleticism appears likewise to be really high. It will not surprise me at all if he returns kicks for us next year and gets into the rotation in the backfield before the season is over. Haskins is a man child, like Joseph Jackson on defense. He is versatile to the point that he looks like he'll be comfortable split wide off the ball. His film shows him catching the ball in traffic with ease, and he has a huge frame with room to add good muscle/weight. Irvin II is one of my favorite recruits in this class. He was born a Cane and its reflected in his attitude and play. "We Monsters...man" is arguably the quote of this recruiting season. Indeed there are monsters in this class. We signed one OL in Tre Johnson. He looks fit coming in, which is very much welcomed.
Again, not a huge class, but it is loaded with difference makers. As another poster mentioned, what is critical is their development going forward AND how they are utilized. For the first time in a decade we have reason to believe that they will be developed correctly AND put into a system that gives them a chance to make the most of their athleticism.
Finally, I'm disappointed we did not get Williams. He has elite speed and plays without fear. His highlights show that. But to me he was a kid that jumped on board after the wheels came off for him at South Florida. He didn't really know who we are and it was evident in his initial tweet about "The U" where he showed an empty stadium. So, yes I'm disappointed about him going to the Vols. But what Byrd did rubs the old school Cane in me ENTIRELY the wrong way. He basically played us because he could have announced his intentions days, if not, weeks ago. Instead, he choose to give fuel to those who wish to cast aspersions on us on a national stage. I hope the scheduling Gods find a way to put Tennessee on our schedule. Enough of the negative though. Let's focus on our guys.
Welcome to the U!
My initial reaction was pretty much what everyone else's was which was disappointment about who we did not sign; more on that in a moment. After thinking about the overall situation, I'm very pleased with the core group of players that we got in this class. This is not a huge class, but we got several real difference makers.
On defense we arguably signed the best LB class in the country. Quarterman, Pinckney, and McCloud are scary good. I believe Shaq will be a future 1st or 2nd round pick (not saying that because of UKnowwhat) just look at his film. At Safety Finley is the real deal; more so than I think many on here realize. I think he'll have an opportunity to really shine in our new defense. I have not looked at Wright's videos, but DMoney's comments about him suggest he too is a versatile playmaker on defense. James had a remarkable senior year and clearly comes from great bloodlines. We signed an All-American CB in Young, and we should all be grateful to that young man because without him we would be in an even worse situation at that position. Obviously, we need more help at CB. Maybe we'll go JUCO to fill our obvious need at that position. At DE we brought in two guys Bethel and Jackson that are really going to help us in the future, which isn't to say that they are going to redshirt, it's just that I actually think we have good talent on the roster at DE. We got a single DT this cycle, but, like many of you, I was left wondering whether we will be able to convince elite DTs to come to UM. Fortunately, we have good talent at DT now that will play in an aggressive scheme that will help us going forward with recruiting that position. Having Coach Kool will make a tremendous difference in how we look as a defense, and I think that's a good thing for recruiting.
On offense we got Jack Allison at QB. Jack is a south Florida kid with a big chip on his shoulder. He is a bit raw to me, but Coach Richt will refine his talent and help him get the most out of his ability. I love Jack's attitude as much as anything about him. He is a real gamer. When his time comes he will be throwing to one of the best receiver classes in the country with Bruce and Richards both of whom could play anywhere in the country. Bruce doesn't have blinding top end speed, but he is plenty fast enough and he has elite elusiveness. For that reason he is a threat to score from anywhere just like Richards, who might be one of the most complete receivers in this class. Dionte Mullins is south Florida all day every day in the best possible ways on a football field. He has been with us the whole way and never wavered. Travis Homer deserves more love than he gets in my humble opinion. He can score from anywhere on the field. His highlights show him scoring with speed, with quickness, with power, and in the passing game. His football IQ like his athleticism appears likewise to be really high. It will not surprise me at all if he returns kicks for us next year and gets into the rotation in the backfield before the season is over. Haskins is a man child, like Joseph Jackson on defense. He is versatile to the point that he looks like he'll be comfortable split wide off the ball. His film shows him catching the ball in traffic with ease, and he has a huge frame with room to add good muscle/weight. Irvin II is one of my favorite recruits in this class. He was born a Cane and its reflected in his attitude and play. "We Monsters...man" is arguably the quote of this recruiting season. Indeed there are monsters in this class. We signed one OL in Tre Johnson. He looks fit coming in, which is very much welcomed.
Again, not a huge class, but it is loaded with difference makers. As another poster mentioned, what is critical is their development going forward AND how they are utilized. For the first time in a decade we have reason to believe that they will be developed correctly AND put into a system that gives them a chance to make the most of their athleticism.
Finally, I'm disappointed we did not get Williams. He has elite speed and plays without fear. His highlights show that. But to me he was a kid that jumped on board after the wheels came off for him at South Florida. He didn't really know who we are and it was evident in his initial tweet about "The U" where he showed an empty stadium. So, yes I'm disappointed about him going to the Vols. But what Byrd did rubs the old school Cane in me ENTIRELY the wrong way. He basically played us because he could have announced his intentions days, if not, weeks ago. Instead, he choose to give fuel to those who wish to cast aspersions on us on a national stage. I hope the scheduling Gods find a way to put Tennessee on our schedule. Enough of the negative though. Let's focus on our guys.
Welcome to the U!
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