DRC article on 1st FB committment

OldTimer · October 16, 2006

UNT picks up early football commitment

Abilene Cooper center Insall passes on offer from UTEP to play for Mean Green

11:54 PM CDT on Sunday, October 15, 2006

By Brett Vito/Staff Writer

A summer tour of college football camps convinced Abilene Cooper offensive lineman Taylor Insall that North Texas is where he wants to spend the next four years.

Insall attended UNT’s senior day camp and also played in camps at TCU, Houston, Rice and UTEP.

The Mean Green’s facilities and coaches made a big enough impression on Insall that he passed on a scholarship offer from UTEP and committed to UNT early. Oral commitments are non-binding. The first day recruits can sign a national letter of intent is Feb. 7.

“I felt welcome at North Texas and the coaches made it feel like it was the right place for me to play,” Insall said. “Their new facilities are fantastic.”

Insall arrived a day early for UNT’s summer camp and toured the Mean Green Athletic Center and the campus. He will return to Denton early next year to take his official visit.

Insall, 6-4, 260, also named UNT’s history of success in the Sun Belt Conference as a reason why he committed early. The Mean Green won four straight conference titles before finishing 2-9 last season.

“Every team has a fluke year,” Insall said. “They went to four bowl games the last five years. I want to go to a bowl game and playing for North Texas will give me that chance.”

UNT has shied away from taking early oral commitments in head coach Darrell Dickey’s nine-year tenure, but broke with convention to land a player who has shown the ability to play multiple positions while competing in one of the toughest Class 5A districts in the state.

“The coaches said they were surprised by the way I was playing and I already felt welcome at North Texas, so I decided to commit when they offered me a scholarship,” Insall said. “Denton is close to home. UTEP is quite a ways away.”

Insall played left tackle for Cooper early last season before moving to center after the Cougars’ starting center suffered an injury. He played both center and tackle at summer camps, but has remained at center for Cooper this season.

UNT’s starting center Chad Rose will be a junior when Insall joins the team next season. Kelvin Drake, a freshman who was one of UNT’s top recruits last season, is playing center this year, but can also play guard.

“The coaches told me that I would probably play center, but it’s up to them,” Insall said. “I can play both tackle and guard.”

Insall is the first recruit in UNT’s 2007 class and the first landed by assistant coach Thomas Dunson, a former graduate assistant. Dunson was promoted to tight ends coach after last season and is recruiting West Texas.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

North Texas recruits

The following is a list of players who have orally committed to play for North Texas beginning in the 2007 season. Oral commitments are non-binding. The first day recruits can sign a national letter of intent is Feb. 7.

Player Pos. Ht./Wt. School

Taylor Insall OL 6-4, 260 Abilene Cooper

BleedGreen64 · October 16, 2006

Could this be another undersized center who goes on to great accomplishments al la Brewster?

SilverEagle · October 16, 2006

Could this be another undersized center who goes on to great accomplishments al la Brewster?
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We can always hope......and dream.

Koratch · October 16, 2006

6'4 260 coming out of high school is not small. I would take a 5'10 180 if he were as mean as Brewster.

Green Crazy · October 16, 2006

Yeah, that's not very small especially for a center, I think Mark Stepnoski was 265-270 when he played for the Cowboys.

gangrene · October 16, 2006

Abilene Cooper center Insall passes on offer from UTEP to play for Mean Green.
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See...we CAN compete with other schools for recruits! An early commitment...what a concept.

UNTLifer · October 16, 2006

Insall attended UNT’s senior day camp and also played in camps at TCU, Houston, Rice and UTEP.

This is the most encouraging part to me. I don't know if they offered, but if he attended these camps and comments that NT's facilities are "Fantastic," then I am encouraged.

NT03 · October 16, 2006

I just went on Rivals.com to try to find some info on this kid. Gives a scroll down for all the colleges on the main page. Guess what we arent even on that list. Troy & the MUTs are , but i think that's it far as SBC teams go. This IRKS me!

With scout.com they atleast show some prospects that are considering UNT.

LongJim · October 17, 2006

I just went on Rivals.com to try to find some info on this kid. Gives a scroll down for all the colleges on the main page. Guess what we arent even on that list. Troy & the MUTs are , but i think that's it far as SBC teams go. This IRKS me!
With scout.com they atleast show some prospects that are considering UNT.
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Which list are you looking at? If the network list, then you're right--there are no SBC teams besides MTSU. That's not Rivals fault. Websites at Rivals are Rivals franchisees, I believe.

A lot of SBC teams will not have players listed this early unless they contact Rivals, have a press release, or unless there is a buzz about the player already through other channels/means.

gksmith · October 17, 2006

If he is undersized for a center, we can always move him somewhere else.

UNTflyer · October 17, 2006

“Their new facilities are fantastic.”

Gotta spend money to get the talent! Let's get that new Fouts Field built!

UNTLifer · October 17, 2006

Here's the Committments and Signings page:

rivals.com

BTW, Mr. Insall is not listed in their database.

jimmyjames_99 · October 17, 2006

NT has no commitements listed. Let's consider Insall as our first. Given no recruiting site is perfect, in looking at Rivals.com the following stats have me concerned with our recruiting abilities:

Of the 15 teams ranked below us in D1A

- 7 have at least 2 or more commitments (9 have at least one)

- 3 are SBC teams with only 1 (UL-M) having at least one commitment

Also, SMU already lists 6 commitments. 4 of which are from the DFW area.