UNT recruiting target series — Clayton Woods

Harry · April 18, 2014

Highland Park center Clayton Woods, left, is from a football family that includes (from left), his father and Scotts assistant coach Don Woods, brother and former Oklahoma lineman Austin Woods and mother Liz Woods. UNT is recruiting Clayton Woods as a center.

See more at: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/04/unt-recruiting-target-series-clayton-woods.html/#sthash.2LnEvkVB.dpuf

BillySee58 · April 18, 2014

Another kid who Coach KP is working and leaving an impression on.

Also, we keep hearing that these kids want to let the recruiting process play out before they make any decisions. I understand that, but it's not stopping other teams in our conference from getting commits, and good ones at that.

La Tech already has 9 commits including 4 three-stars, UTSA has 5 commits and 4 three-stars, FAU has 4 commits including a four-star and a three-star, Marshall has 4 commits with 3 three-stars, ODU has 3 commits with 1 three-star, Rice has 3 commits with 2 three-stars, UAB has 2 commits with 1 three-star, MUTS has 1 commit, FIU has 1 commit, and Charlotte has 1 commit.

10 of the 14 teams in the conference (including Charlotte, set to join in 2015) already have a commit for 2015. UAB has as many 2015 commits as they had victories last year. La Tech was 4-8, but they have 9 commits and some pretty good ones.

Whether these schools hold on to all these commits until signing day is besides the fact. The point is, these coaches are selling these recruits on their program. It's also much easier to sign kids with bigger offers if they were already committed to you before those schools came in.

Early commitments can be a great thing with players being able to help recruit on twitter and in camps over the summer. As long you aren't taking marginal players. It's a step up in our recruiting that I hope we take sooner rather than later.

UNT90 · April 18, 2014

And I read "let the recruiting orocess play out" as "I'm waiting for an offer from a P5."

BillySee58 · April 18, 2014

And I read "let the recruiting orocess play out" as "I'm waiting for an offer from a P5."

Of course. Did my post make you think I read it differently?

My point was that other coaches in our conference coming off worse seasons and with less to pitch than us are convincing kids that they don't need to wait and that their school is the right one for them. They're making the kids think that they don't need to hold out for X P5 offer, because their school is a destination, not a backup plan. No reason we can't do the same.

Harry · April 18, 2014

Of course if Texas comes calling he's going to listen. The encouraging thing about this to me is that our coaches are actively engaged with some good prospects. This kid is a good football player and I like that we are building a relationship with him early on.

I loved coach Nelson's abilities as a coach, as we witnessed last season he knew the game and got outstanding production from the players we had. Patrick is a different animal - he is a great coach (as evidenced by his NFL players) but he is also a very excellent recruiter. I believe he is going to be very good on the recruiting trail for us.

UNT90 · April 18, 2014

Of course. Did my post make you think I read it differently?
My point was that other coaches in our conference coming off worse seasons and with less to pitch than us are convincing kids that they don't need to wait and that their school is the right one for them. They're making the kids think that they don't need to hold out for X P5 offer, because their school is a destination, not a backup plan. No reason we can't do the same.

I agree with you. I was just posting what he really meant by his comment.

Ben Gooding · April 18, 2014

I don't mind not having any commits yet, as long as relationships are being built with higher tiered recruits and needs are being taken care of. I would love to see the staff expand more. I know they are or were going after a CB in Carolina and a player in GA, but there are hidden gems out there, just have to invest the time and resources into it.

We also cannot let a conference foe take a recruit out of Denton county. That simply can't happen.

Green Crazy · April 18, 2014

And I read "let the recruiting orocess play out" as "I'm waiting for an offer from a P5."

Obvious man?

GMG24 · April 20, 2014

Billy,

I was talking with Hebron O-Line coach about UNT and recruiting. This past year they came through and wanted to talk to Jamal Adams. Now, while I appreciate their effort but the dude already had every offer known to man. The HC tried to point them to another stud OL and RB the OL is now at Purdue and RB Utep kind of made me mad that they wouldn't even look. They've got to pick and choose those battles IMO. Your thoughts?

BillySee58 · April 20, 2014

Billy,
I was talking with Hebron O-Line coach about UNT and recruiting. This past year they came through and wanted to talk to Jamal Adams. Now, while I appreciate their effort but the dude already had every offer known to man. The HC tried to point them to another stud OL and RB the OL is now at Purdue and RB Utep kind of made me mad that they wouldn't even look. They've got to pick and choose those battles IMO. Your thoughts?

Of course. We've landed some awesome walkons, but we've definitely let others through the cracks and not recruited guys we could've landed who would've helped us more than some of our signees. As 97and03 said, it'll be big to see how a team with primarily Mac players and starters play.

I'm not sure though. Was your question in response to my thinking that we need to start locking up more and earlier commits?

Harry · April 20, 2014

I'm not Billy but I know North Texas Coaches have struggled in the past with high school coaches who slot their best players with "big" schools. We should be given a shot to sell our message to all players and not just who the high school coach thinks are a good fit.

Ben Gooding · April 20, 2014

I've been saying for quite awhile that this year will be the measuring stick of McCarney. Larry Coker won a national championship with players that weren't his in his first year at Miami. Then, tethered off until his firing. If McCarney can just have a winning season, 7-6, I will know that we are in the right direction. I will be disappointed in 7-6 and 7-6 should not happen, but we will be at least be moving forward.

emmitt01 · April 21, 2014

I'll be happy when we're no longer happy just to say "well, it's encouraging that we're asking out the pretty girls". Sorry folks, "I'm not sure what I'm doing Friday night...let me get back to you" is still "no".

GMG24 · April 21, 2014

Billy and Harry,

I guess it wasn't much of a question just topic of discussion. The Hebron OL coach said when UNT wanted to talk to Jamal he was down to BAMA and 2 others. But really wanted UNT to look at the other two kids, and they didn't even sniff. I've heard it said in coaching circles that teams with good walk on programs typically means they miss on recruits and have to get them to walk on. While I know some of ours are transfers, Mr. Kirby shouldn't have had to walkon kid should have been scholly players that signed. Not real sure where I am going here. Also, I think HS coaches have a pretty good gauge especially at 4 and 5a levels on talent. I bet Jamal got pulled out of class so much the kid had to show up on Saturdays because he missed so much class.

Harry · April 21, 2014

Billy and Harry,
I guess it wasn't much of a question just topic of discussion. The Hebron OL coach said when UNT wanted to talk to Jamal he was down to BAMA and 2 others. But really wanted UNT to look at the other two kids, and they didn't even sniff. I've heard it said in coaching circles that teams with good walk on programs typically means they miss on recruits and have to get them to walk on. While I know some of ours are transfers, Mr. Kirby shouldn't have had to walkon kid should have been scholly players that signed. Not real sure where I am going here. Also, I think HS coaches have a pretty good gauge especially at 4 and 5a levels on talent. I bet Jamal got pulled out of class so much the kid had to show up on Saturdays because he missed so much class.

No I really appreciate the info and had heard similar things in the past (not as much lately)... I'm not naive -- I understand that the high school coaches will lean towards wanting to send their star players to certain schools as they have developed a mindset based over time. What I am saying is that I want out coaching staff to start challenging this mindset. If a high school coach refuses to give us access to their best talent then I suggest both sides move on -- I think a coach that does that is doing a HUGE disservice to their player and frankly, with social media as it is etc it would be much harder for them to do that.

In your specific case, it may be something as simple as we were full at that position at the time this transpired.