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One of the questions that has come up over and over the last couple of years when it comes to UNT is if using a conservative offense makes it tougher to recruit quarterbacks. Systems come and go. These days the spread is all the rage in Texas high school football. Most high school teams chunk it early and often these days. UNT runs a different system entirely, one based largely on a power running game. It really doesn’t matter how a team goes about putting the ball in the end zone as long as it gets there. The topic didn’t come up all that often last season when Derek Thompson threw for 2,896 yards. In a side note, people are misrepresenting Thompson’s completion percentage in conference play last year. It was 61.5 percent, better than Marshall’s Rakeem Cato (59.7 percent), Rice’s Taylor McHargue (50.3) and UTSA’s Eric Soza (61.1), who were widely considered to be the top quarterbacks in the league. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/11/is-it-hard-to-recruit-qbs-for-a-conservative-offense-macs-take.html/

Central ATH Michael Jacquet, Sr. (Indiana, Utah, Houston, North Texas, Texas State, Memphis, New Mexico) *Will make his college commitment on July 21 OL Ken Marks, Sr. (North Texas, SMU, Louisiana-Lafayette) West Brook WR Isaac Aubrey, Sr. (North Texas) Read more: http://blog.beaumontenterprise.com/huddle/2014/06/23/setx-football-recruiting-update-commits-offers/

An Offer is Not an Offer Until the LOI is Signed It’s an instant-information, instant-gratification recruiting world we live in, and nothing has proven to be more ambiguous than the scholarship offer. Prospects get lost in coach-speak and half-hearted overtures, oftentimes confusing interest for a concrete, all-expenses-paid invitation to join the program. In taking steps to avoid misinterpretation, assistant coaches Mark Elder and Darrell Dickey say they try to be as crystal-clear as humanly possible. “We don’t deal in committable vs. non-committable,” Elder says. “We’re not offering someone that (we wouldn’t accept) on the same day. That’s not how we do business.” Dickey, the former head coach at North Texas, says he tried to avoid casting an overly-large net knowing he had only 25 spots to fill. “There’s places out there that have 150 offers out and only so many spots,” Dickey says. “I never felt very comfortable having thousands of offers out there and then all of a sudden you’ve got to tell kids you can’t take them.” There’s an important difference, however, between rescinding an offer and a prospect being misled. Unlike in basketball, where coaches can afford to ride out an elite-level prospect’s recruitment until the end due to smaller numbers on the roster, the task for college football coaches is more complex. Every year, there’s a (usually) set number of holes to fill. If a prospect waits too long and a school takes another player at the same position, it’s not that he was lied to about having an offer — he was simply beaten to the spot. “The offer is good at that moment,” Elder says. “But it may not be good all the way up to Signing Day, because we may offer, for example, a couple of other tight ends. It’s good until we fill up at that position.” - See more at: http://athlonsports.com/college-football/13-things-you-need-know-about-college-football-recruiting#sthash.gU1xjArh.dpuf

UNT is in the midst of its final satellite camp of the summer outside of the annual Friday Night Lights extravaganza in late July. The Mean Green’s in Round Rock today. For the last week, UNT’s coaches have been all over the state selling the tale of the Mean Green and its magical 2013 season. The idea that UNT is a program on the rise is also a prominent part of the pitch. UNT has one commitment thus far from Tyler John Tyler wide receiver Rodney Bendy. There might be at least one more commitment coming UNT’s way by the end of the weekend. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/06/friday-afternoon-notes-satellite-camps-to-wrap-up-unt-hoops-visitors.html/

This is going to be a big weekend in recruiting, for UNT and a whole lot of other schools. UNT’s satellite camps start on Sunday at Apogee Stadium. I have a big package looking some larger issues heading into the key recruiting months of the summer that will run on Sunday. UNT isn’t the only school that will be out this weekend. A host of other schools have camps as well. We will see some movement one way or another, whether it is UNT picking up a few commitments or players UNT is after heading elsewhere. TCU, Rice and Baylor are among the other schools with camps today. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/06/saturday-morning-notes-looking-at-a-big-weekend-in-recruiting.html/

It’s Sunday night. That means it’s time for a few notes. If you followed along on the blog and in the paper on national signing day, you know that UNT is sitting on an open scholarship. UNT is waiting to see if anyone qualifies late or if an interesting transfer prospect pops up. Well, how about this guy? read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/02/sunday-night-notes-ohio-state-transfer-on-the-market.html/

North Texas is still actively recruiting one of the Dallas area’s top defensive tackles who will be choosing his college destination in a matter of days. Cedric Johnson, a three-star prospect from Rowlett, is still in process of sorting through his options as the days dwindle until national signing day. Johnson committed to Tech earlier this week. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/01/unt-chasing-top-dallas-area-defensive-tackle.html/

UNT is down to its last official visit weekend of the recruiting season. We know quite a bit about where the Mean Green stands. With that being said, there are a few key questions to consider heading into signing day. Does Longview Pine Tree QB/ATH Caleb Chumley end up in UNTs class? We reported that Chumley, a big-time prospect, would sign with UNT a couple of days ago. Then we found out we may have jumped the gun. Derrick Hennigan, the interim head coach at Pine Tree, reiterated today that Chumley will sign with UNT, which would be a change in course from what looked like it would happen a few days ago. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/01/twas-the-final-visit-weekend-before-signing-day.html/

My take is - barring some last minute miraculous flip let's hold on to this one spot. Losing out on X means we are a defensive end down. There will be a pool of guys who are highly regarded but didn't have their grades in order who could end up getting it together as well as juco guys who graduate in May. I think having a ship in our back pocket for later down the line may prove to be wise. The other thing is, the guys playing defensive end need to really step it up. With Bellazin and Sarge graduated, we will need some of the younger guys (Roberts, Dilonga, etc) to step up. I would also give strong consideration at moving one of the tight ends or defensive tackles over to that position for depth. I am specifically think of Reinhardt or Moore.

It’s the Sunday afternoon before national signing day and the pieces are starting to fall into place for UNT. Here is where things stand as of now: – As we reported earlier, Elkhart running back Jeffery Wilson committed to UNT following his weekend visit. We will have more on him in tomorrow’s paper. He was one of the more productive small school backs in the state. I have mentioned that he could develop into more of a power back on the college level. I meant that as a comparison to Willy Ivery, who is a smaller, quicker guy in the class. The bottom line is that anyway one slices it, Wilson is a good get. read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/02/sunday-afternoon-recruiting-notes.html/

Caleb is now wearing a Mean Green jersey #1! Twitter address is: https://twitter.com/c_chumley

1). DE - Johnavhon Grahm (6-1, 250) DeSoto, Texas (DeSoto HS) [May 23, 2013] 2). DT - Shaquel Jackson (6-1, 285) DeSoto, Texas (Desoto HS) [May 27, 2013] 3). LB Anthony Wallace (6-0, 235) Dallas, Texas (Oregon/Skyline HS) [May 29, 2013] 4). QB - Connor Means (6-4, 210) Deer Park, Texas (Deer Park HS) [July 24, 2013] 5). WR - Fonzale Davis (5-11, 185) Dallas, Texas (South Oak Cliff HS) [July 25, 2013] 6). K - Trevor Moore (5-11, 175) Edmond, Oklahoma (Edmond North HS) [July 28, 2013] 7). LB - Brandon Garner (5-11, 200) Mansfield, Texas (Timberview HS) [July 31, 2013] 8). DB - Kishawn McClain (5-11, 193) Rosenberg, Texas (Rosenberg Terry HS) [August 1, 2013] 9). LB - Jalen Montgomery (5-11, 220) Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite HS) [August 1, 2013] 10). OL - Christopher Miles (6-4, 291) Flower Mound, Texas (Flower Mound HS) [August 5, 2013] 11). DB - Andrew Jones (6-1, 175) Mesquite, Texas (North Mesquite HS) [september 13, 2013] 12). DB - Garrett Davis (6-1, 175) Red Oak, Texas (Red Oak HS) [November 10, 2013] 13). WR - Jalen Adams (5-10, 161) Moore, Oklahoma (Southmore HS) [November 14, 2013] 14). WR - Terian "Tee" Goree (6-3, 170) Carthage, Texas (Carthage HS) [November 26, 2013] 15). WR - Okeeron Rutherford, (6-5, 185) Carthage, Texas (Carthage HS) [November 26, 2013] 16). RB - Willy Ivery, (5-9, 180) Sulphur Springs, Texas (Sulphur Springs HS) [November 29, 2013] 17). LB - Akii "AJ" Smith, (6-2, 225) Miami, Oklahoma (NE Oklahoma A&M College / Stilwell HS) [signed December 16, 2013] 18). QB - Josh Greer, (6-5, 220) Arlington, Texas (Navarro College / Arlington HS) [Signed December 16, 2013]

It’s 4th down and 13 with just 25 seconds remaining in regulation. Longview High (TX) is poised to pin the Denton Guyer (TX) squad deep in their own end and set up a Longview vs. Cibolo Steele (TX) battle for Texas 5A Division 2 State Championship. A moment of hesitation by the Punter and an oncoming freight train in the form of DT Dan Kottman however, changed everything. Kottman blocked the Punt leading to a recovery by Kamrhan Jones at the Longview 15 yard line. Denton went on to drive for a last second TD and kicked the PAT to secure a 28-27 come from behind victory and a place in the State Championship. Players make plays. Listed at 6’1 255lbs Dan Kottman anchored a stingy run defense for his Denton squad and wrecked havoc on opposing Offensive lines from his Defensive Tackle spot. Although Kottman enjoyed great success playing DT in High School his 4.68 speed will most likely afford him the opportunity to make better use of his pass rush skills and foot speed via a Linebacker role. As a ’12 signee for Coach Rocky Long and the San Diego State Aztecs the comparisons to recent Aztec great Miles Burris are not unexpected. Similar to Burris it appears Kottman has the ability to maintain an eye towards the ball while shedding and/or avoiding would be blockers. There’s an explosiveness to his tackling form and his speed/strength combination could force Coach Long and staff to find early playing time for the Freshman. Most notable from game film is how quick Kottman is off the snap. Larger blockers struggle coping with his quick first step and foot speed, and smaller more agile blockers struggle combating his strength. When asked as to a preferred position within the Aztecs 3-3-5- scheme Kottman replied ” I am not exactly sure as to the position, (but) I will be ready to perform in whatever spot they see fit for me”. Expect that opportunity “to perform” early in the ’12 season. read more: http://socalrecruitspot.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/dan-kottman-tip-of-the-spear/

UNT is getting down to the bitter end when it comes to putting its 2014 recruiting class together. The Mean Green picked up commitments from a pair of junior college players here in the last few days. We told you all about quarterback Josh Greer and linebacker A.J. Smith a couple of days ago on the blog and in the paper. Official confirmation came today, although I was told that Greer can’t sign his national letter of intent until later this month. Well, he can sign it, but I don’t think UNT can turn it in to the NCAA until later. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/12/so-where-does-unt-go-with-its-last-couple-of-scholarships.html/

I posted an article I came across from the Tulsa post game press conference after their loss to UTSA in another thread and it got me thinking. I think all of us who have been following UNT recruiting for some time would acknowledge that programs like Rice, Tulsa, SMU, Houston, Colorado State, Tulane, etc have had our number on recruits for quite some time. Much of this was due to the losing and lack of facilities but conference affiliation also played a large part. I think specifically, the privates have done a good job against us touting the dollar value of their education and the associated private school tuition, small classes and facilities they offer.. Notice that I don't mention TCU or Oklahoma State. Both are in the Big Twelve and frankly will be difficult for us to beat. Not impossible but more on that later. We just need to start winning battles against the Tulsa's, SMU's, Rice's etc and it will be a major step forward for us. This season has seen a huge shift in terms of North Texas shedding many of the obstacles which have been stacked so heavily against us in the past. We're winning and bowl eligible for the first time in close to a decade. Our attendance is showing signs of growth. An example would be we outdrew a Tulsa homecoming game on a Thursday night of Halloween. We beat a good Rice team. Our facilities are at least as good or better than all of the teams mentioned. We have a larger upside for attendance by virtue of our student population which dwarfs most of the schools I mentioned. Mac's staff has proven that they know how to identify good talent and develop it. Look at a James Jones or a Cyril Lemon or a Kenny Buyers or an Antoine Jimmerson. If we can start winning some of the battles against our peers especially here in the state of Texas it will mean we can hit on even more good players. I will promise you that the Tulsa's and Houston's and SMU's of the world will start trying to play the AAC card as a key differentiation in the minds of recruits and their families. Other than this 2013 season where they do have that final auto BCS bid which will most likely go to Louisville (although Houston has a legitimate shot) there aren't huge differences in the AAC and C-USA. We've seen this season that FAU can beat an AAC program (Tulane) despite a coaching mess. Little ole UTSA showed that they could beat a future AAC program Tulsa at home. The AAC will have the same opportunity to gain access to the new playoff system as do we. So what we have here is a tremendous opportunity to change the perception of recruits and their families. It's extremely important that we don't dilly dally around with Mac's contract or get complacent in terms of assistants, facilities and support staff. If we learned anything from the Dickey bowl era it was that you can't just win and expect everything to stay the same. You have to do what it takes to keep your staff in place, and that goes beyond Mac and includes guys like Ryan Walters who I promise you will be courted by some of the top programs this season. And maybe you just can't keep a Ryan Walters but you at least make it more difficult for a bigger program to land him. Keep investing in pipelines like DeSoto as we know that will payoff. Keep working the media, invite them to every broadcast you have; offer them to do their shows from the stadium and on campus. I have never been so excited about the future of this football program. My only hope is that we are able to be PROACTIVE and capitalize on this great season so we can continue to grow. GMG!