17 Comments

  1. JObhr

    I like the Shepard comparison for Reagor except Reagor has more top end speed. Reagor. The Sooners missing on him and Duverny in consecutive classes stings.

  2. Cameron

    Quazzel White is one of the few recruits I feel knowledgeable to speak on because he’s from my hometown and I made an effort to watch film of FBS prospects from there each year.

    White could end up at tackle, but I don’t think it will happen anytime soon. He appeared to be so physically dominant in most of his high school career that he has never really developed good footwork and punch in pass protection. He’s got the athleticism to do so of course, but its going to take a couple years. Overall, I really like the guy, but he’s got balance issues when moving backwards that caused me to unconsciously clench my fist when watching the tape. So for now, I’d say he’s a guard. But give him some time under Jarrett Anderson, and I’m optimistic he can play tackle in his junior and senior years.

  3. Philly Frog

    Frogs have their fingers (legs? toes? webs?) crossed on getting a certain OT transfer after this semester ends.

    By the way, noice work, Ian.

      • ianaboyd

        After searching the web for clues I’m going to guess that it’ll be someone who increases the number of California kids joining the program in 2017.

  4. Davey O'Brien

    Ian,

    Always enjoyed your writings back in the day of BC and The Recruitocosm. Best of luck with your ventures.

    Always felt recruiting classes should be graded on three criteria: fit, addressing needs, and upside. People laughed about Max Emfinger’s list, but one thing Max was right about (which is most likely the only thing Max was right about) is that some recruits will do better in one system versus another.

    Patterson’s strength has always been finding kids that fit his and the part that really gets overlooked in this class is the pedigree of success spread across this class, the manner in which they were coached in high school, and toughness.

    Think you might be off a bit on some of the grades.

    Agree on Robinson, the fact he got downgraded might be the biggest joke in recruiting rankings since the above mentioned Max Emfinger substantiated his expertise by claiming to be a scout for the Dallas Cowboys. I defy anyone to watch the laser Robinson threw for a touchdown at the end of the first half in the state title game and truly believe he is a three star athlete. Talked to coaches from two teams that faced him in the play-offs and the guy’s leadership is off the charts. He is Donovan McNabb 2.0.

    RB is an INC as Snell is a slot all the way which makes that group an A.

    OL is a B or higher for upside. If McMillon really is 270 on tape as lean as he looks and he can gain weight kid has a huge upside. Cameron bite your lipe about o-line developing under Anderson, White has big upside as family is from Seattle and played at a very big program up there. There facilities and resources are crap compared to average Texas program which means White has yet to be part of a real S& C program.

    Don’t sleep on the many places Cumbie will use Williams. He is a Dan Sharp clone.

    D-line is a B- at least because the three d-tackles fill a need and Ellis reminds me of a young, raw d-tackle from Oklahoma named Davion. He isn’t Ed Oliver, but he doesn’t have to be for Gary. Just needs to hold two blockers and all three can do that.

    I am a bit concerned about LB though Meeking landing there is of interest.

    Secondary was a big home run with Daniels and Mike O as CB prospect. Again, Cal programs don’t have near the emphasis as Texas high schools so again the upside is huge on Mike.

    Seen Johnson for several years and if you play defense at Westfield you bring the damn wood.

    Stack this class on 2016, develop it, and it could be very interesting in a couple of years.

    • ianaboyd

      “Always felt recruiting classes should be graded on three criteria: fit, addressing needs, and upside.”

      That’s a good way to do it. I should probably weigh those more carefully when I make my grades. That’s basically what I’m doing just not very systematically.

      “I defy anyone to watch the laser Robinson threw for a touchdown at the end of the first half in the state title game and truly believe he is a three star athlete.”

      Indeed.

      • Conine

        Interesting. Given how imbued Cumbie is with the air raid philosophy, I wonder if he’ll be able to make that sort of transition. I always felt that TCU’s run concepts were pretty simplistic. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it seemed like TCU was using air raid 1.0 or 1.5 while other big 12 teams were using air raid 3.0.

        • ianaboyd

          Huh, what makes you say that? Seems like Air Raid 1.5 was pretty devastating, at least when Boykin ran it.

          • Conine

            It was good, and I acknowledge that this is being somewhat picky, but according to S&P+ in 2015, TCU was 13th. Which is good of course, but other air raids were better: TTU (1), OU (7), Cal (10). And I’ll admit, last time I looked, before the S&P ratings were re-worked, TCU was ranked a little lower, outside of the top 20.

            And schematically speaking, it just looks simpler. They don’t seem to have incorporated as many RPO’s or two back sets and the run plays seem to be pretty straightforward zone plays. They didn’t seem to be as creative with using Boykin in the run game as other teams with dual threat qb’s either. I could be wrong about all of that, these are just casual observations.

          • ianaboyd

            Some of that may be explainable by observing who was quarterbacking those various teams.

            For instance, they brought Boykin along slowly and much of what the Air Raid did for him was simplify things enough that his superior athleticism (and arm strength) was able to come to the forefront.

            The offenses you mentioned that are ranked higher include two NFL draft picks (Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff) while OU’s QB Baker Mayfield has always thrived at executing read-heavy option attacks. Go read my new writeup on the two main styles of spread-option ball and consider where Boykin fits in that paradigm and where a guy like Mayfield fits.

          • Conine

            And of course, without Boykin and Doctson, TCU fell off the map all the way to 45th in S&P. Seems they didn’t really have much to fall back on in terms of innovative play calling to help mask some of Hill’s deficiencies.

  5. […] The secondary is perhaps the lifeblood of the TCU program. The safeties get moved around by Patterson to try and find the perfect balance of “bend don’t break” with swarming an opponent’s tendencies. His ability to churn out tendency-jumping guys that can execute flexible gameplans is perhaps without peer at the college level. If I could have Gary Patterson or Nick Saban to design a gameplan for my defense to win a championship it’d be Gare, no contest. They always need fresh meat to factor in at safety, much of which ends up getting converted into spread-busting linebackers. I try to anticipate that when I can and had Garrett Wallow pegged there two years back. […]

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