Discussion: 2018 Recruiting Impressions

[Three and Out]

Originally Posted by GeoCocky66

Upgrade for Jamison, if he fails to qualify this year.

I saw where if either Character or Jamison couldn’t enroll early, then the coaches were done with them. So we can close the book on both.

[NAGamec0ckFan]

Originally Posted by TaySC

Yeah, I just saw where Warren Thompson (4 star WR) is coming in for a visit. Scoop all 3 and it could be the best recruiting day since Clowney committed to us.

https://247sports.com/Player/Warren-Thompson-89545

Appears he was strongly considered to be headed to Oregon last June, but as of December it seems like most predicted them to flip to FSU.

Do we need another WR?

[CoverTwo]

Originally Posted by NAGamec0ckFan

Do we need another WR?

They are preparing to take the best available player they can get with the last spot.

[Kazak]

Taking the best available player we can land with that last spot is the smart move. There is a longstanding NFL philosophy that you don’t draft for need, you take the highest rated player on your board, regardless of position. Few teams stick to it, because need is a powerful motivator, but a few teams adhere to it religiously and that’s how, for example, an already strong offensive line becomes elite.

Now, an NFL team can try to fill deficiencies through free agency, and we don’t have that option, so recruiting for need is a must on the college level...but in a last scholarship scenario, if your options are taking a player to simply add depth in a thin area or taking a potentially elite high 4-Star WR who could conceivably boost that group from strong to spectacular...I think you go with the latter.

[BigRedCock]

Originally Posted by Kazak

Taking the best available player we can land with that last spot is the smart move. There is a longstanding NFL philosophy that you don’t draft for need, you take the highest rated player on your board, regardless of position. Few teams stick to it, because need is a powerful motivator, but a few teams adhere to it religiously and that’s how, for example, an already strong offensive line becomes elite.

Now, an NFL team can try to fill deficiencies through free agency, and we don’t have that option, so recruiting for need is a must on the college level...but in a last scholarship scenario, if your options are taking a player to simply add depth in a thin area or taking a potentially elite high 4-Star WR who could conceivably boost that group from strong to spectacular...I think you go with the latter.

What if that position is a starting kicker, vs added depth at established positions that isn't consistently costing us points, or games?

[gotrice?]

Originally Posted by BigRedCock

What if that position is a starting kicker, vs added depth at established positions that isn't consistently costing us points, or games?

Parker White got better as the season went on, he started 1-7 and finished over 50% which means he did a solid job once he got settled in. Kicker isn't the massive need our fans want to make it out to be.

[gamecockphan]

Originally Posted by gotrice?

Parker White got better as the season went on, he started 1-7 and finished over 50% which means he did a solid job once he got settled in. Kicker isn't the massive need our fans want to make it out to be.

He was good from 40 yds in. I think he only missed 1 kick under 40. the O needs to put him in better positions to succeed.

[CoverTwo]

Parker is only a freshman. He is going to be very, very good.

[GeoCocky66]

Originally Posted by BigRedCock

What if that position is a starting kicker, vs added depth at established positions that isn't consistently costing us points, or games?

There's no proof given recent USC experience that a scholarship kicker (e.g., Nick St. Germain) would be any better than a walk on (e.g., Elliott Fry), and it would lock us into that kicker for 4 years regardless of their performance. Besides that, Parker was money from 40 yards in (which is better than a number of college kickers) and has much better leg strength than probably 90% of college kickers. Improve the snap and hold (also a problem) and let him work on some mechanics and he has the making to be All-SEC.

[gotrice?]

Originally Posted by gamecockphan

He was good from 40 yds in. I think he only missed 1 kick under 40. the O needs to put him in better positions to succeed.

Agreed. Also after he started 1/7 he went 72% for the rest of the season. 72% would be on par with 2 of Elliott Fry's seasons here.

[sharpe0284]

Any information on the DJ Brown kid?

[sc455]

people just remember the first 3 games..ouch..he got better, for sure.

[Three and Out]

Mincey, Brown or W Thompson are the likely remaining choices......DE, DB or WR

[U-S-C till i D-I-E]

Originally Posted by Three and Out

Mincey, Brown or W Thompson are the likely remaining choices......DE, DB or WR

I don't know a whole lot about Mincey or Brown, and wr is probably our deepest position of those three, but Thompson would be a big get. He seems legit.

[GarnetSwarm1990]

Final 247 rankings for the 2018 class are coming out today. Let's see who moves.

[Dpcocks]

Originally Posted by GarnetSwarm1990

Final 247 rankings for the 2018 class are coming out today. Let's see who moves.

We have one player, vann. Bryce didn’t move at all and Belk was moved to 5 star even though he didn’t get an invite to the shrine bowl. It’s a joke, good thing stars don’t matter once players step on campus.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Kazak]

Originally Posted by Dpcocks

We have one player, vann. Bryce didn’t move at all and Belk was moved to 5 star even though he didn’t get an invite to the shrine bowl. It’s a joke, good thing stars don’t matter once players step on campus.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WTF. Bryce Thompson’s rating not budging IS an absolute joke, I agree, unless 247 simply makes it a policy to not move players with uncertain academic status. (Otherwise, it’s just unforgivably lazy scouting on their part.)

Vann actually dropped several spots.

Meanwhile, Clemson had two players rocket up the charts to 5-Star status. I’m sure politics had absolutely nothing to do with that.

Oh well. What the hell ever, 247. We have a strong class, and I have zero doubt that Boom is a far better evaluator than any part-time rating site employee.

[Three and Out]

Originally Posted by GarnetSwarm1990

Final 247 rankings for the 2018 class are coming out today. Let's see who moves.

I don’t they have finished with the ranking changes. Today is likely the first of several.

[Ace Dilcock]

Originally Posted by Kazak

WTF. Bryce Thompson’s rating not budging IS an absolute joke, I agree, unless 247 simply makes it a policy to not move players with uncertain academic status. (Otherwise, it’s just unforgivably lazy scouting on their part.)

Vann actually dropped several spots.

Meanwhile, Clemson had two players rocket up the charts to 5-Star status. I’m sure politics had absolutely nothing to do with that.

Oh well. What the hell ever, 247. We have a strong class, and I have zero doubt that Boom is a far better evaluator than any part-time rating site employee.

Thompson should have moved up based on the playoff and Shrine Bowl results. But he did not get more offers due to academics and there is no buzz to generate subscriptions - if his grades are good, he is coming here. Otherwise, JUCO.

Belk is kinda funny - 247 has him a a 5*, 247 Composite has him as a 4* outside the Top 100, Rivals has him as a 3*.

The last time I saw a disparity like that was Brandon Shell - he was listed as a Top Ten 5*, a Top 100 4*, and a 3*. Based on success in college and the pros, he should have been at least a 4*.

Belk needs to convert some fat to muscle but he has a lot of potential. But this just confirms what a lot of people already knew - the star ratings are political and the players going to the top programs get their stars jacked up. So in a sense, Clemson has caught Alabama in that regard.

[Three and Out]

Originally Posted by Three and Out

I don’t they have finished with the ranking changes. Today is likely the first of several.

Wrong, today is the final day.