Early look ahead to UNT 2015 recruiting (offense)

[BillySee58]

Very early, I know, but now that the 2014 signing day is now behind us, 2015 recruiting is here with an upcoming junior day on Saturday. If Chumley, Graham, and Jackson all do go through with the grayshirts and we don't sign anyone late then that will put us at 77 projected scholarship players for next season. With 17 seniors, plus the 8 open scholarship spots, we should be able to sign the class max of 25 players. Not to mention kids inevitably will transfer or quit, although some scholarships may be filled by walkons. Regardless, we should be able to sign 25.

Here's a position-by-position breakdown of how many scholarship seniors we are projected to have and how many scholarship non seniors will be on the roster next year. Then how many we may sign in the 2015 class.

QB - Seniors: 0 - non Seniors: 4

Projected 2015 signees: 1

With 4 non Senior qbs on the roster, we may be able to get away with signing 0. Chumley could be our qb signee since he was told he will get a shot there, although there is a notable chance that he may get moved to tight end or elsewhere at some point. For now I'm counting Chumley as our 2015 qb signee. If I remember correctly, Mac said he doesn't like more than 4 scholly qbs. If one of our guys transfers and qb is not in the cards for Chumley, then we may sign another qb. If not, there's a chance we don't and just stick with Chumley and look towards making qb a priority in 2016.

RB - Seniors: 1 - non Seniors: 5 -

Projected 2015 signees: 1

Another position where we could get away with not signing any. The skill players we signed in the 2014 class will allow us to be very picky with skill players in 2015. I would still be surprised if we didn't sign 1 back. Could just be a "best available player" type recruitment where there is a good back that we'd have a chance at getting, or an "athlete." Telling a kid you're only taking him at running back for the class is a nice sales pitch.

WR - Seniors: 2 - non Seniors: 8

Projected 2015 signees: 2

Once again, we should be able to be very picky with our receiver recruiting in 2015 after taking 4 in 2014, and some pretty good ones at that. Again, maybe a best player available type signing at receiver. Or we could put all our eggs in a few baskets and hope we get those kids, knowing that we'll be okay even if we don't get them.

Tight End - Seniors:1 - non Seniors:4

Projected 2015 signees:1

I think we sign a tight end this class and Caleb Chumley could end up there as well. We will only lose one senior tight end, but he is used more like a fullback in our offense and lines up more in the backfield than on the LOS (Tanner Smith). While we have 4 non senior tight ends, 3 will be juniors next year so bringing in a guy will be important. Then we won't have to replace all 3 at once with new guys. Might see us target a guy like Wylie Reinhardt/Andrew Power, since Mac likes to have those "6th lineman" type tight ends to be a road grader in the run game.

OL - Seniors: 5 - non Seniors: 9

Projected signees: 5

Here's where the focus will likely be on offensive player recruiting. Losing 5 scholarship guys including 3 four-year starters. Here's our best bet at JUCO guys as well. Could be something like 2 JUCO guys and 3 high school guys. Could even be 3 JUCO/3 high school or 2 JUCO/4 high school guys. Getting 1 tackle and 1 interior lineman from a JUCO is very possible. At least to provide depth. These new guys plus our OL coach here who is developing the young guys already on the roster quite well should make the replacement of those o-linemen as smooth as you could ask.

Projected offensive signees: 10

Current 2015 offensive offers to my knowledge:

[MeanGreenTexan]

Very early, I know, but now that the 2014 signing day is now behind us, 2015 recruiting is here with an upcoming junior day on Saturday. If Chumley, Graham, and Jackson all do go through with the grayshirts and we don't sign anyone late then that will put us at 77 projected scholarship players for next season. With 17 seniors, plus the 8 open scholarship spots, we should be able to sign the class max of 25 players. Not to mention kids inevitably will transfer or quit, although some scholarships may be filled by walkons. Regardless, we should be able to sign 25.

Here's a position-by-position breakdown of how many scholarship seniors we are projected to have and how many scholarship non seniors will be on the roster next year. Then how many we may sign in the 2015 class.

...

RB - Seniors: 1 - non Seniors: 5 -

Projected 2015 signees: 1

Another position where we could get away with not signing any. The skill players we signed in the 2014 class will allow us to be very picky with skill players in 2015. I would still be surprised if we didn't sign 1 back. Could just be a "best available player" type recruitment where there is a good back that we'd have a chance at getting, or an "athlete." Telling a kid you're only taking him at running back for the class is a nice sales pitch.

...

Also, Coach Mac said in the presser yesterday that he will always have at least 1 RB per class, citing what happened this year with Pegram going down, then asking Rollins to step up only to see him go down and having to ask Mark Lewis to step up.

[BillySee58]

Also, Coach Mac said in the presser yesterday that he will always have at least 1 RB per class, citing what happened this year with Pegram going down, then asking Rollins to step up only to see him go down and having to ask Mark Lewis to step up.

Thanks. Good to know. Yeah, it's definitely a nice position to have solid depth at. I think the days of seeing Jamario Thomas, Lance Dunbar, and Patrick Cobbs numbers are behind us. We're going to see a steady rotation and hurt you with different backs, and different styles of backs, coming in fresh.

[UNT90]

Good work, young Billy. You remind me of a football version of a young Tasty (before he became The Man and got all grumpypants) or NT03,

And that is high praise.

[BillySee58]

Good work, young Billy. You remind me of a football version of a young Tasty (before he became The Man and got all grumpypants) or NT03,

And that is high praise.

Thank you very much, 90 and everyone else. Glad you guys appreciate this kind of stuff. I don't have what the intellect that those guys do, but glad I can contribute to the board when I can.

[forevereagle]

Thank you very much, 90 and everyone else. Glad you guys appreciate this kind of stuff. I don't have what the intellect that those guys do, but glad I can contribute to the board when I can.

You hold your own just fine.

And you are never allowed to stop posting. Great info.

[Green92]

I very much enjoy reading your posts and hearing your thoughts, Billy. You've been a great addition to the board. For someone who is really watching the program from a distance, your insight and research makes me feel like I'm in the mix again. Thanks!!

[H-towngreen]

I'd even go as far as a young Harry. Back in the day(early 2000's) Harry would have regular write ups like this, daily spring practice updates. Keep up the good work BIlly!!

[Mean Green 93-98]

I'd even go as far as a young Harry. Back in the day(early 2000's) Harry would have regular write ups like this, daily spring practice updates. Keep up the good work BIlly!!

Yeah . . . for various reasons I won't bring up here, Tasty might not be the best comparison.

[Cerebus]

Dick jokes? I am sure Billy knows a few.

I don't think any of the admins hate Billy and wish he would spontaneously burst into flames. There were... some... admins that felt that way about tasty.

Then he stared so long at the admin abyss it stared right back at him.

[Ben Gooding]

Theoretically it would play out like this, but in recruiting grab your needs then grab the best available players you can get your hands on.

[BillySee58]

I just received my first D1 offer from University of North Texas. Can't thank everyone enough for their support.

— Evan Curl (@texascurl)

February 9, 2014

Offensive lineman, played with Chris miles.

[BillySee58]

Sorry, one offer I forgot to list was Coppell tight end Connor Williams. Also holds an offer from TCU. Fits that mold of a traditional run-blocking tight end that Mac loves to have.