Just keep in mind when you say the coaches

[jjpfootball]

This is a break down of the 2002 4 and 5 star player that went to Div 1A schools. This makes them RS Jr or Sr this year. Using Rivals.com for ratings.

running backs 98 4 or 5 star listed currently 24 playing

quarterbacks 26 4 or 5 star listed currently 6 playing

wide receivers 96 4 or 5 star listed currently 26 playing

this is about 25.5% of the 4 or 5 star players that made it.

Dallas area top 100 looks to have 12 player currently playing or 12%

Yes most of these players went to BCS teams but it does show that Rivals.com and the big boys make mistakes.

Have fun

Edited November 8, 2005 by jjpfootball

[Harry]

Nice post.

[risinggreen]

I agree completely. There are obviously many factors that go into the player selection process. History tells the story that the big "Blue Chips" don't always turn out to be all that blue. I guess a recruiters instincts play a big part in being successful at that game. I mean we are usually dealing with 17/18 year old kids who have not yet really developed into grown men. A lot of changes can occur between 17-23.

[class84]

So many of them are overhyped and think they are ready to play anywhere. They go to the BCS schools and get buried at the bottom of the depth chart and lose development time waiting for a chance to play.

Who knows what many of them could have done by playing 4 full years at the mid-major level.

[jjpfootball]

Who knows what many of them could have done by playing 4 full years at the mid-major level.

←

I agree but then they would not have been 4 or 5 star

[NT80]

Recruiting is sure not an exact science and I'd rather see classes judged by the end result of their college career rather than by their high school achievements. In just the transition to college life many players don't click academically or athletically until their junior or senior seasons.

[OldTimer]

Keep in mind that sometimes the * rating by Rivals depends upon which school the prospective player signs with.

We were on to a JC QB last year and rivals had him listed as a 3 star on our web site. He signed with Nebraska and rivals listed him as a 4 star on their web site. Boths boards at the same time.

[VideoEagle]

Keep in mind that sometimes the * rating by Rivals depends upon which school the prospective player signs with.

We were on to a JC QB last year and rivals had him listed as a 3 star on our web site.    He signed with Nebraska and rivals listed him as a 4 star on their web site.    Boths boards at the same time.

←

(Tongue planted in cheek) I guess Rivals thought he would be a better player at Nebraska!

[C&S]

Being a recruit is a nightmare. Unless you have lived through it and been a part of it, you can't even imagine the mind games adult coaches play with 17/18 year old boys.

Having said that, for all of you who have said UNT has not recruited well, look at the bios of the current UNT team. The majority of these players were the best of the best in their districts. Some were from 5A, some were 2A but the point is they were the BEST in their high schools and their districts. Many of them not only hold school records but hold district and state records.

So, now I have to ask, are they not good enough because they didn't earn 4 or 5 stars from Rivals.com? Do any of you know how Rivals.com rates players? If you do, please let the rest of us in on the big secret. Having asked several people at Rivals.com how they rate recruits, none of them could actually tell me what the process was or how they picked who was 4 stars or who was 2 stars. I have my suspensions.

I actually know someone who was a 5 star Rivals.com recruit at a Big 12 school. That lasted 6 months. He is now playing at a D1-AA school. A Rivals.com 4 or 5 star rating does not make anyone a BSC football player.

[C&S]

What I forgot to saying about recruiting! The best recruiting experience we had was with UNT. The coaches were honest and upfront the ENTIRE time. To this day, they have kept their word about everything they said to us during the recruiting process.

[H-towngreen]

I believe that NT does an excellent job in recruiting the past few years. I also expect it to get better with the new facilities built. There is no reason why this years class should not be the best class ever inked here at NT.

[untcampbell]

Still, I wonder what it says about the school we attended that NONE of the area top 100 (for many years) will include us on their "considering" list.

Now that the ULL's, etc of the world are beating us, we have to ask what it says and what do we want to do about it, to not even be considered by any of the Top Area 100 (30 miles away from most kids).

The latest list included the following schools being "considered:"

Tulsa (6)

LaTech (2)

ULL

NMSU (3)

ArkSt (2)

Texas State

SFA

SMU (11)

What?

[H-towngreen]

JJPfootball posted that we have had 5 in the past few years. Off the top of my head you have Meager, Mahan, Covington, and Thomas. It is bad that we can not get more out of the DFW area. Especially when you consider the other schools who are getting these kids.

[H-towngreen]

With players committing earlier and earlier, how much does that affect NT since NT does not do early commits. If you look at the DMN area 100 about half have already committed. By the time that NT does start giving out ships how many of these players will be committed already?

[MeanMag]

With players committing earlier and earlier, how much does that affect NT since NT does not do early commits. If you look at the DMN area 100 about half have already committed. By the time that NT does start giving out ships how many of these players will be committed already?

←

We have offered scholarships to kids already. Many of them put it on a back burner hoping to get offers from bcs schools, is my guess. I appreciate the way Dickey and the rest of the coaching staff don't feed these kids and parents piles of crap that they can't deliver on.

As our facilities come up to par from being in D1-AA and getting us level and rolling with the rest, I firmly beleive it will get better. It is one down year, I don't think our system is broke, and I guarantee you Andrew Smith wasn't a bad recruit. There is no telling what this year would have brought if he was still in the mix. My guess is we would have some mad options and play actions. And most of all he would be here to guide the younger players (who are playing right now).

We all need to remember, The coaching staff didn't plan on starting a freshmen qb when they recruited 3 - 4 years ago. I really cant stress enough what a big loss we are still going through at NT with that tragedy.

In an ideal situation, they would bring them up systematically and guide them. You want to have your best players on the field and hopefully most of the players on the field would be jr and seniors.

[UNTLifer]

Rating recruits before they play one down of D1 ball is ridiculous. Regarding NT's recruiting, I think our talent level has improved every year although I wish we would have brought in some more size along the lines. The coaching of this talent is my concern.

[H-towngreen]

NT does make a showing in the state top 100.

Jamarcus Skillern ATH

It shows that UTEP is in the lead, other schools in the running A&M and Iowa ST. Maybe we can pull another Gilmore.

[SilverEagle]

It is one down year, I don't think our system is broke, and I guarantee you Andrew Smith wasn't a bad recruit.  There is no telling what this year would have brought if he was still in the mix.  My guess is we would have some mad options and play actions.  And most of all he would be here to guide the younger players (who are playing right now).

We all need to remember, The coaching staff didn't plan on starting a freshmen qb when they recruited 3 - 4 years ago.  I really cant stress enough what a big loss we are still going through at NT with that tragedy.

In an ideal situation, they would bring them up systematically and guide them.  You want to have your best players on the field and hopefully most of the players on the field would be jr and seniors.

←

In an "ideal" situation we would have signed more than one "viable" QB in the same year that we brought in Andrew Smith.

In the 2002 press guide, the following QB's were listed.

Scott Hall, Jr.

Andrew Smith, So.

Cullen Mills, Fr.

Russell McQuiston, walk-on

Hiram Gonzales, So.

When I watched all of them play (except Mills who was not on campus yet) in the spring of 02, I listed them this way.

1. Scott Hall

2. Russell McQuiston

3. Andrew Smith

4. Hiram Gonzales

Hall and Gonzales have graduated, McQuiston (who I thought showed a lot of promise) left before that spring practice was over.

Since 2002 we've had at least two "noticable" QB's come on campus. One was a former OU back-up and the other (Culpepper) was a local kid who transferred from W. Virginia. Unless I'm wrong, neither of those two are still on campus.

I'm not sure why the QB's that were mentioned never stayed. I'm also not sure why MORE QB prospects haven't shown up since 02 to try and win a spot on the team.

So, from my point of view, our QB situation has been much more than Andrew Smith being lost to a tragic accident.

Where has our "Ballard" been all this time?

[buff64]

The former OU QB you mentioned is now playing at WTAMU, which at 10-1 is the number 1 rated team in the Southwest, he is paying as a backup TE and WR. By the way he is 6'4" and 240 lbs.

In an "ideal" situation we would have signed more than one "viable" QB in the same year that we brought in Andrew Smith.

In the 2002 press guide, the following QB's were listed.

Scott Hall, Jr.

Andrew Smith, So.

Cullen Mills, Fr.

Russell McQuiston, walk-on

Hiram Gonzales, So.

When I watched all of them play (except Mills who was not on campus yet) in the spring of 02, I listed them this way.

1. Scott Hall

2. Russell McQuiston

3. Andrew Smith

4. Hiram Gonzales

Hall and Gonzales have graduated, McQuiston (who I thought showed a lot of promise) left before that spring practice was over.

Since 2002 we've had at least two "noticable" QB's come on campus. One was a former OU back-up and the other (Culpepper) was a local kid who transferred from W. Virginia. Unless I'm wrong, neither of those two are still on campus.

I'm not sure why the QB's that were mentioned never stayed. I'm also not sure why MORE QB prospects haven't shown up since 02 to try and win a spot on the team.

So, from my point of view, our QB situation has been much more than Andrew Smith being lost to a tragic accident.

Where has our "Ballard" been all this time?

←

[SilverEagle]

The former OU QB you mentioned is now playing at WTAMU, which at 10-1 is the number 1 rated team in the Southwest, he is paying as a backup TE and WR. By the way he is 6'4" and 240 lbs.

←

Well, in light of how fond DD is of signing TE's (or having TE's on the team), one has to REALLY wonder why this guy moved on.

Also, if this guy is athletic enough to play TE or WR, then that would indicate that he's pretty mobile. As I recall, during the brief time he was here, some people were salivating over his arm (both in strength and accuracy).

The starting QB for WTAMU must be one hell of an athlete.

[OldTimer]

NT does make a showing in the state top 100.

Jamarcus Skillern  ATH

It shows that UTEP is in the lead, other schools in the running A&M and Iowa ST. Maybe we can pull another Gilmore.

←

Skillern is listed as an athlete...has played TE and is now the qB for Nacogdoches..He attended several QB camps last summer. If we go after a HS qB I would hope we are actively recruiting him.

[H-towngreen]

If we are going after him I wonder what postion we are wanting him to play. Most kids once they play QB want to stay as a QB. IF other schools are wanting him to come in and play TE that would give us a leg up in the race for him. All that said I like the kid from Missouri. Who know if we'll get him though.

[buff64]

Dalton Bell, a junior, is the WT QB, he is leading the nation in passing. The backup is Keith Null from Lampasas who was in the same class as Stickler UNT receiver. Null actully started one game and passed for close to 400 yds. WT will play the winner of the Pittsburg STate- Nebraska Kearney game in the 2nd round of the DII playoffs. Might also mention that Chad Webster ,a former UNT LB,gets a lot of playing time and actually lead the team in tackles one game.

Well, in light of how fond DD is of signing TE's (or having TE's on the team), one has to REALLY wonder why this guy moved on.

Also, if this guy is athletic enough to play TE or WR, then that would indicate that he's pretty mobile. As I recall, during the brief time he was here, some people were salivating over his arm (both in strength and accuracy).

The starting QB for WTAMU must be one hell of an athlete.

←

[FirefightnRick]

In an "ideal" situation we would have signed more than one "viable" QB in the same year that we brought in Andrew Smith.

In the 2002 press guide, the following QB's were listed.

Scott Hall, Jr.

Andrew Smith, So.

Cullen Mills, Fr.

Russell McQuiston, walk-on

Hiram Gonzales, So.

When I watched all of them play (except Mills who was not on campus yet) in the spring of 02, I listed them this way.

1. Scott Hall

2. Russell McQuiston

3. Andrew Smith

4. Hiram Gonzales

Hall and Gonzales have graduated, McQuiston (who I thought showed a lot of promise) left before that spring practice was over.

Since 2002 we've had at least two "noticable" QB's come on campus. One was a former OU back-up and the other (Culpepper) was a local kid who transferred from W. Virginia. Unless I'm wrong, neither of those two are still on campus.

I'm not sure why the QB's that were mentioned never stayed. I'm also not sure why MORE QB prospects haven't shown up since 02 to try and win a spot on the team.

So, from my point of view, our QB situation has been much more than Andrew Smith being lost to a tragic accident.

Where has our "Ballard" been all this time?

←

And can you gues who was the coach in charge of mentoring and developing our QB's back in '02?

Rick

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

---It is really nice to have good QB's, WR's, and RB's but if the line can't punch holes in the defense or give the QB time to throw, you have no chance of success.

--- I also really respect and agree with the comments that Parcell made in his Cowboy show last week. He likes smart players with a history of good character.... [ people who can learn and will be available, and doesn't disrupt a team or you have to take time to apologize for] He doesn't want people who make bad decisions... on or off of the field. I would think this is especially true at the QB position. Bob Knight has said the same thing. His kids stay out of trouble and graduate even if he personally has a history of a bad temper.... many of those times he has been "baited" ( at press conferences) by people who know how to push his buttons.....He has behaved himself at Tech where there is less press and no-one on his back all the time as was happening at Indiana... The one incident reported was largely due to the other person's insistance to discuss an issue in public (restaurant) when he wanted to discuss it behind closed doors.... which it should have been done.

Edited November 9, 2005 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66