Xavier Washington gets full offer from Northwestern

[cdizzle86]

I have a weird feeling he will commit to Cougar High

[MeanGreenZen]

Let's be honest, if X was the second coming of Jadeveon Clowney he wouldn't be choosing between Northwestern, UNT and UH. Best case scenario X is Aaron Bellazin, a pretty dang good college football player. Everyone here just knows who X is because he played on TV and won a state title. If X wants to come here: fantastic. I would love to cheer for him. If not, I hope he has a great experience somewhere else. But it won't be the end of the world for UNT. I trust Mac to develop whoever takes our last scholarship.

[pastorgrant]

Let's be honest, if X was the second coming of Jadeveon Clowney he wouldn't be choosing between Northwestern, UNT and UH. Best case scenario X is Aaron Bellazin, a pretty dang good college football player. Everyone here just knows who X is because he played on TV and won a state title. If X wants to come here: fantastic. I would love to cheer for him. If not, I hope he has a great experience somewhere else. But it won't be the end of the world for UNT. I trust Mac to develop whoever takes our last scholarship.

The guy is DC 1st team all state and had 25 sacks this year.

The best case scenario is he will have a Booger-like career, which would be a monster win for us.

I think if he does come here it will be because the coaches and players seriously love each other here and he wants to be a part of that. It won't be primarily because he has a chance to play right away. I hope that's what he chooses but I wish him well whatever he does choose.

[Cooley]

Let's be honest, if X was the second coming of Jadeveon Clowney he wouldn't be choosing between Northwestern, UNT and UH. Best case scenario X is Aaron Bellazin, a pretty dang good college football player. Everyone here just knows who X is because he played on TV and won a state title. If X wants to come here: fantastic. I would love to cheer for him. If not, I hope he has a great experience somewhere else. But it won't be the end of the world for UNT. I trust Mac to develop whoever takes our last scholarship.

Bellazin is the best comparison. We need to rebuild the line and he is/was the best prospect to help do that. He grew on me throughout the season (not just the playoffs) We really can't afford to lose to SMU at home next year and he could help on the line right away. Not the end of the world but losing to the Ponies in Denton would kill what little momentum we gained this year. The line, I think, is a weakness at this point.

[Ben Gooding]

Well, its simple at this point. If he wants to be a standout playmaker then he will come to North Texas. If he wants to pound his chest and commit to NU then commit to NU, but if he commits to NU he will not play until his junior year. If he comes to North Texas he has a legitimate shot at getting significant playing time as a true freshman. It's his decision to make, not any of ours. Hopefully he's wearing green next year. GMG

[PlummMeanGreen]

Well, like John Wayne used to say: "A man's gotta' do what a man's gotta do" and Xavier will be doing just that with his decision.

Not sure we should be predicting "what happens if" but I know that is being done out of passion for our school and how we feel Xavier would fit into the picture here but......it still takes 2 to tango so X would obviously have to feel the same way about all this as we do.

GMG!

[bleedgreen4ever]

I don't think the only reason why he should come to UNT over Northwestern is that he'll play earlier and the great family environment. And playing earlier may not even be true--he may very well play early at NU. But those are still good reasons, however let's not ever (especially nowadays) downplay UNT's strong academics. We don't know what he'll end up studying, and there are plenty of programs where UNT ranks higher than Northwestern. Both are good academically and he may be interested in a field we have more recognition in or vice-versa. Then there is the fact that his family would be closer to him if he chooses UNT. So, it's really hard to tell what is most important to him but we'll find out soon. We'll still be more than fine without him but he can definitely help make this recruiting class even more interesting. Excited about our future!

Edited February 3, 2014 by bleedgreen4ever

[MeanGreenTexan]

Well, its simple at this point. If he wants to be a standout playmaker then he will come to North Texas. If he wants to pound his chest and commit to NU then commit to NU, but if he commits to NU he will not play until his junior year. If he comes to North Texas he has a legitimate shot at getting significant playing time as a true freshman. It's his decision to make, not any of ours. Hopefully he's wearing green next year. GMG

Not true at all.

X is a baller. He'll play anywhere... very soon.

Why do you think NU made room for a full-ride scholly when they were originally offering a grayshirt?

[UNT90]

Not true at all.

X is a baller. He'll play anywhere... very soon.

Why do you think NU made room for a full-ride scholly when they were originally offering a grayshirt?

So this is why he was northwestern's back up plan? Because they anticipate him playing as a freshman? The reason they initially only offered a gray shirt?

Lots of higher rated recruits that he will have to beat out for playing time. Higher rated recruits = political pressures on coaches to play. How much will that figure into the coaching staff's decision? Don't know, don't know the staff, but it absolutely WILL play some part.

UNT is his best option if he wants to play right away. It all comes down to what is important to Xavier, which none of us have any info about.

Edited February 3, 2014 by UNT90

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

I guess Coach Fitz is telling everyone that they are the replacement for Noah Westerfield:

http://www.laketheposts.com/2014/01/17/james-prather-replaces-noah-westerfield-in-2014-class/

[Harry]

https://twitter.com/MarcoFutureKing/status/430318647371104256

[MeanGreenTexan]

So this is why he was northwestern's ack up plan? Because they anticipate him playing as a freshman? The reason they initially only offered a gray shirt?

Lots of higher rated recruits that he will have to beat out for playing time. Higher rated recruits = political pressures on coaches to play. How much will that figure into the coaching staff's decision? Don't know, don't know the staff, but it absolutely WILL play some part.

UNT is his best option if he wants to play right away. It all comes down to what is important to Xaivier, which none of us have any info about.

Do we really know if he was their "backup plan"? Did someone flip on them recently and leave them scrambling? Do we know how long he's been in contact with their coaching staff?

Did the higher-rated 2011 safety recruit, Swarn, have any effect on coach Mac's decision to start Lairamie Lee? Heck No. Ballers ball.

I don't know UH's or NU's depth chart situations, but I agree that Xavier's safest bet to crack a 2-deep as a true freshman may be at UNT. Not because of other recruits or perceived better conference affiliation, rather, because of our attrition. If UH or NU lost critical seniors from their d-line after this season like we did, then he'll be in the same boat at their schools.

[wardly]

We lose recruits to schools such as SM,TCU, and in this case perhaps Northwestern because their degree is thought to be more valuable .If Xavier's goal is to play as soon as possible, then either UNT or UH would work.If its' about education, hard to turn down Northwestern.

[Rudy]

My mom works with a neighbor who is a Northwestern grad. My mom helped her friend start her audiologist office and has been with her from the beginning. That audiologist is a complete diva bitch. I hope X doesn't go there.

As to was he their backup plan, yeah, I think that is pretty obvious he is.

[Green Mean]

He should do what he wants to and what his heart is telling him to do. If he chooses NU then I certainly cannot and won't fault him or any recruit for that matter for choosing a great school such as Northwestern in a Big 10 conference. Yes it would be great if we got him but you win some you lose some.

[bleedgreen4ever]

We lose recruits to schools such as SM,TCU, and in this case perhaps Northwestern because their degree is thought to be more valuable .If Xavier's goal is to play as soon as possible, then either UNT or UH would work.If its' about education, hard to turn down Northwestern.

That's errounous percetion, though, that the "general" public makes. None of those schools are better academically nor more valuable. Not saying UNT is definitely better either. But we do have programs that are better and ranked higher and have to acknowledge that when comparing our institution to other more "well-known" institutions. So it all depends what he wants to study if his choice will be more driven by academics.

Edited February 3, 2014 by bleedgreen4ever

[Harry]

Looks like Northwestern flipped a UTSA safety commit Jared McGee with a greyshirt:

http://northwestern.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1605110

[DeepGreen]

Hmmmmm. Wonder which games his parents plan to attend? Flights should be cheap; not too far a drive, is it?

8/30 Sat vs. California

9/6 Sat vs. Northern Illinois

9/20 Sat vs. Western Illinois

9/27 Sat @ *Penn State

10/4 Sat vs. *Wisconsin

10/11 Sat @ *Minnesota

10/18 Sat vs. *Nebraska

11/1 Sat @ *Iowa

11/8 Sat vs. *Michigan

11/15 Sat @ Notre Dame

11/22 Sat @ *Purdue

11/29 Sat vs. *Illinois

Edited February 3, 2014 by DeepGreen

[bleedgreen4ever]

We definitely need a better entrance but much of that is driven by the crowd...and currently we have a long ways to go to get to that level at the start of our games. Most of our games with good attendance still had a poor showing at the start of the games with many showing up later.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

The kid from Memphis who committed to Northwestern two weeks ago, James Prather, was the back-up plan. So, Fitz is still selling it.

Also, adding the flip of a UTSA commit...is it concerning to Northwestern football fans that their Big Ten program is wrestling with North Texas, Houston, and UTSA for recruits just a few days before signing day?

[PlummMeanGreen]

We lose recruits to schools such as SM,TCU, and in this case perhaps Northwestern because their degree is thought to be more valuable .If Xavier's goal is to play as soon as possible, then either UNT or UH would work.If its' about education, hard to turn down Northwestern.

So true, but with one Big 10 championship in the last umpteen years for the Wildcats it seems Northwestern U loses a bunch of recruits to Michigan, Iowa, Notre Dame and many others, too. Seems to be the way of the NCAA.

Maybe Coach McCarney has started changing the culture of recruiting at North Texas as to create a future much like former conference mate Boise State has had the last 15 years; you know, like when they've been Top 25 during most all of that time as well? TCU was an SWC doormat for the last quarter century in the SWC and North Texas even beat them as a 1-AA football program so maybe we should all learn these 3 words...........Never Say Never?

GMG!

[wardly]

I am sure things have changed since I retired from the business community 10 years ago,but at that time degrees from Texas,Texas A&M,SMU, and TCU opened the most doors in DFW. I can't speak to non-business majors.

[Harry]

Xavier has updated his HUDL videos to say Northwestern University:

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/1443616/highlights/127429394

http://northwestern.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=57&tid=197918022&mid=197918022&sid=901&style=2

[MeanGreenTexan]

That's errounous percetion, though, that the "general" public makes. None of those schools are better academically nor more valuable. Not saying UNT is definitely better either. But we do have programs that are better and ranked higher and have to acknowledge that when comparing our institution to other more "well-known" institutions. So it all depends what he wants to study if his choice will be more driven by academics.

This is true as well. If he happens to want to be a musician, teacher, or accountant, UNT is going to be pretty tough to beat. Who knows what he wants to do?

[MeanGreenTexan]

Xavier has updated his HUDL videos to say Northwestern University:

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/1443616/highlights/127429394

http://northwestern.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=57&tid=197918022&mid=197918022&sid=901&style=2

Well, crap!