These prospects are ones that I was personally high on this past recruiting period, but they will not be headed to Vanderbilt. I'll break them down by conference and share a couple of thoughts as to why I liked their abilities so much.
ACC
DB. Jim Noel- Boston College
VU was pretty interested in Noel, but didn't really need a safety/linebacker prospect in 2009. Versatile and quick, I think he'll be solid in BC's defense.
WR. Bryce McNeal- Clemson
4-star prospect, so he's probably a "no doubter" but still, I love his size and speed combination. I think even as a 4-star, he was somewhat underrated on a national sense.
TE/DE. Dan Hicks- Florida State
This guy has tremendous upside in my opinion and I think only an injury stopped him from really taking off. He was headed to Arkansas State but FSU came in at the last minute and I think FSU made a solid choice here. I liked him for a while when he was getting no activity..then suddenly he's going to one of the most popular football programs in the nation. Go figure.
WR. Rodney Smith- Florida State
Another guy who was a four-star, but I still felt he was a little underrated in a national sense. Versatile, and pretty deceptive with the football. He could be the next super receiver at FSU.
DB. Carl Miles- Georgia Tech
VU was in on this guy towards the end but were not going to offer unless Trey Wilson fell through. Either way, Miles is going to be a good playmaking DB for GT.
Ath. Jemea Thomas- Georgia Tech
A player that VU really wanted and that I really liked. Pure athlete, I think he could play as many as four positions for GT. He's going to be a real good one in the ACC. His athleticism is comparable to those who played at Miami during their glory days.
Ath. Dexter McDougle- Maryland
Vanderbilt tried to get in on this kid but just as they did, he was committing to Maryland. Awesome athlete, another one of those guys where you just put him on the field and he'll make plays. In my opinion, his versatility makes him one of Maryland's top 3 signees from their class. I'd put him over some four-stars that they signed.
Ath. A.J. Highsmith- Miami
Talented Texan that was destined to follow his dad's footsteps. Sometimes people say the son or brother of a great player can't live up to expectations, but I think this son will. Good talent, versatile and I think he'll prove to be an offensive weapon for Miami.
RB. Mike James- Miami
Probably one of the most electrifying running backs in the entire class, yet he committed in the summer of 2008 and just really didn't get as much press as his abilities would often deserve. We're talking a back that could be the next Clinton Portis for Miami.
OL. Johnnie Farms- North Carolina
A four-star prospect who I still think was under appreciated. Got to see him two years ago when VU was recruiting Casey Hayward and I was sold on the guys abilities. Athletic, strong, a possible 3-year starter at UNC.
Ath. Mywan Jackson- North Carolina
When Justin Cabbagestalk visited Vanderbilt last June, and then made his commitment, his teammate Mywan Jackson was one of those who visited with him. Needless to say, if his grades were a little better, Vanderbilt would've been on Mywan like white on rice. We're talking a DJ Moore type athlete here. Butch Davis will have so much talent available in 2009.
QB. Bryn Renner- North Carolina
Athletic, strong armed and smart, honestly, I wish Vanderbilt would've offered Renner early in the process and see what happened. In my mind [and several other Tar Heel followers], he's going to emerge as a starter in about a year and a half and have a stellar career at UNC. He could become the schools best passer in..well forever really. I'd be shocked if he's not a national name in a few years and a talked about NFL prospect.
LB. Hans Rice- N.C. State
Obviously, we were high on Rice when he looked destined for Vanderbilt (had actually committed to the Commodores at one point, but that's another story), and we remain high on him as a football player. Could become a great player for NCSU, just hope that his heart is really in on being there.
RB. David Wilson- Virginia Tech
Maybe it's just like Mike James and Miami...maybe it's the common name, but for whatever reason, you'd think that Wilson would've gotten more press for as solid a prospect he is. A very legit four-star, possibly close to a five-star. Quick, fast, all of it. Should be a star at VT.
QB. Brendan Cross- Wake Forest
Vanderbilt was very close to offering Cross after his camp showing, but they decided to offer Charlie Goro instead. I think both VU and WF ended up with solid QB's for the future. Cross was very accurate at VU's camp, making all the throws and showing a solid, strong arm. I think only his height hurt him from being a higher regarded recruit. Either way, he should transition right into Riley Skinner's successor in 2010 and VU fans will know all about Brendan.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
How does the Ashley signing effect the 2010 class?
Within moments of learning that Flower Mound, Texas WR/athlete Collin Ashley has signed with Vanderbilt, I started to think about how this might effect the 2010 recruiting class.
And after some quick research, it'll probably have little effect on the class. Vanderbilt will still have 18 players that will be either 4th or 5th year seniors and will have as many as 13 fourth year juniors. So out of 31 players, we still expect anywhere from 22-24 to move on after the 2009 period.
And receiver appears to still be a premium need as not only will two players graduate after the 2009 season but two more could forgo their final years of eligibility. If that's the case, VU will have only 6 scholarship WR's heading into 2010, so the Commodore staff would likely still want to fill those spots up to 9 or 10 by the time 2010 roles around.
So while Ashley may take a spot from the 2010 class, overall, he shouldn't effect the class that much as VU has likely lost an upperclassman for this coming season anyway and WR depth will still be a focus in 2010 recruiting, regardless.
And after some quick research, it'll probably have little effect on the class. Vanderbilt will still have 18 players that will be either 4th or 5th year seniors and will have as many as 13 fourth year juniors. So out of 31 players, we still expect anywhere from 22-24 to move on after the 2009 period.
And receiver appears to still be a premium need as not only will two players graduate after the 2009 season but two more could forgo their final years of eligibility. If that's the case, VU will have only 6 scholarship WR's heading into 2010, so the Commodore staff would likely still want to fill those spots up to 9 or 10 by the time 2010 roles around.
So while Ashley may take a spot from the 2010 class, overall, he shouldn't effect the class that much as VU has likely lost an upperclassman for this coming season anyway and WR depth will still be a focus in 2010 recruiting, regardless.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Sleeper QB prospect in Maryland
Though the Commodores have shown no official interest in Jerry Lovelocke, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound prospect out of Baltimore, Maryland, should be a player to watch this spring and summer.
The Edmondson-Westside High talent runs a 4.6 in the forty and appears to have a very live arm. Just one look at him on his highlight film, and you see the strength and touch on deep balls, as well as some zip on medium range passes. As a junior, Lovelocke passed for 2,496 yards and 25 touchdowns while completing 113-of-183 throws. He surrendered only 10 picks.
The Red Storm talent may have a slow throwing motion [sort of the style that Commodore QB Larry Smith had when coming out of Prattville], but the ball gets to his receivers in a hurry. He has great pocket presence, good speed and an accurate arm.
So far, schools like Boston College, Georgia, Maryland, Pittsburgh and Syracuse have shown interest and he plans to go on a one-day camp tour in the summer. He also attended the Baltimore NIKE Combine late last month, and was said to have done a standout job there.
Lovelocke may not be firmly on the Commodore radar right now, but regardless, he'll be a name to watch in recruiting circles for the months to come.
Lovelocke's profile
The Edmondson-Westside High talent runs a 4.6 in the forty and appears to have a very live arm. Just one look at him on his highlight film, and you see the strength and touch on deep balls, as well as some zip on medium range passes. As a junior, Lovelocke passed for 2,496 yards and 25 touchdowns while completing 113-of-183 throws. He surrendered only 10 picks.
The Red Storm talent may have a slow throwing motion [sort of the style that Commodore QB Larry Smith had when coming out of Prattville], but the ball gets to his receivers in a hurry. He has great pocket presence, good speed and an accurate arm.
So far, schools like Boston College, Georgia, Maryland, Pittsburgh and Syracuse have shown interest and he plans to go on a one-day camp tour in the summer. He also attended the Baltimore NIKE Combine late last month, and was said to have done a standout job there.
Lovelocke may not be firmly on the Commodore radar right now, but regardless, he'll be a name to watch in recruiting circles for the months to come.
Lovelocke's profile
Thursday, April 9, 2009
There's more to Sam Gibson than just football
Probably the most rewarding job about covering recruits is when you get to know a little bit about these young men. Every year, a couple of prospects will impress me more as human beings than just prospects. Case in point with guys like Zac Stacy or Chris Marve from previous classes.
Already this year, a few prospects like Brandon Brown of Hillwood, Orleans Opoku-Darkwa of Ensworth and Prattville (Ala.)'s Sam Gibson, have impressed me with the way they carry themselves.
Gibson, in particular, impresses me considering his background and story.
Originally born in Los Angeles, Gibson is actually named after his father, Sam Gibson, Jr. However, the younger Sam was never able to meet his father, as his dad was gunned down by for being a Crip before Sam was born. His mother, also a gang member at that time, was able to pull herself and her future son, out of that scene after the death of Gibson, Jr. and a few years later, they moved to Indiana.
Gibson has lived in a couple of places over his life including Florida [where he was once a teammate of Vanderbilt 2009 signee Justin Cabbagestalk], but now has plenty of opportunities opening up for him as a member of the Prattville program.
You can tell the young man is thankful for everything that's happening for him at this moment. He's a solid student and may soon grab other SEC offers in addition to his offer from Vanderbilt [which really impressed him and has him seriously thinking about the Nashville program]. But no matter where he ends up going, he's got a fan in me, because knowing what he's gone through and seeing where he is now, that's a true winner in my book.
Already this year, a few prospects like Brandon Brown of Hillwood, Orleans Opoku-Darkwa of Ensworth and Prattville (Ala.)'s Sam Gibson, have impressed me with the way they carry themselves.
Gibson, in particular, impresses me considering his background and story.
Originally born in Los Angeles, Gibson is actually named after his father, Sam Gibson, Jr. However, the younger Sam was never able to meet his father, as his dad was gunned down by for being a Crip before Sam was born. His mother, also a gang member at that time, was able to pull herself and her future son, out of that scene after the death of Gibson, Jr. and a few years later, they moved to Indiana.
Gibson has lived in a couple of places over his life including Florida [where he was once a teammate of Vanderbilt 2009 signee Justin Cabbagestalk], but now has plenty of opportunities opening up for him as a member of the Prattville program.
You can tell the young man is thankful for everything that's happening for him at this moment. He's a solid student and may soon grab other SEC offers in addition to his offer from Vanderbilt [which really impressed him and has him seriously thinking about the Nashville program]. But no matter where he ends up going, he's got a fan in me, because knowing what he's gone through and seeing where he is now, that's a true winner in my book.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
SEC commitment update
Though the Commodores currently have just one official commitment for the 2010 class, a lot of action is happening around the league.
Earlier today, Alabama received it's seventh commitment when Macon (Ga.) receiver Ronald Carswell committed to the Tide. He joins QB/Ath Blake Sims, offensive lineman Chad Lindsey and safety Nick Perry as recent Alabama commitments.
Also today, Florida received their nineth official commitment when Coconut (Fla.) linebacker Gideon Ajagbe pulled the trigger.
Overall, the conference now has 36 overall commitments. Some schools like Georgia and apparently Ole Miss and South Carolina will have smaller classes this fall.
Earlier today, Alabama received it's seventh commitment when Macon (Ga.) receiver Ronald Carswell committed to the Tide. He joins QB/Ath Blake Sims, offensive lineman Chad Lindsey and safety Nick Perry as recent Alabama commitments.
Also today, Florida received their nineth official commitment when Coconut (Fla.) linebacker Gideon Ajagbe pulled the trigger.
Overall, the conference now has 36 overall commitments. Some schools like Georgia and apparently Ole Miss and South Carolina will have smaller classes this fall.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
New WR's pop onto the radar
A few new wide receivers have emerged on the radar, including one that VandySports.com was able to see last fall.
Jay Herndon, the younger brother of Commodore sophomore receiver Tray Herndon, is now receiving attention from Vanderbilt and other schools. The 6-foot, 170-pound standout had a brilliant game in the Class 2A state championship for the Bolles School last fall, a game in which I was able to see. He possesses solid speed and athleticism and could prove to be just as a high-level prospect as Tray once was. Tray, who should play a key role in the receiving corps at Vanderbilt this fall after transferring from Minnesota, was a sought after receiver when he was in high school and was actually headed to the Miami Hurricanes but did not commit in time. The younger Herndon definitely looks like a BCS level player to us, so he'll be someone to watch in the future.
Another receiver that has emerged on the radar is North Carolina native Jabri Ridenhour. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound prospect from Western Guilford High in Greensboro, had a standout showing at a recent camp in North Carolina, and had a solid senior year, catching 64 passes for 1,021 yards and seven TDs. At the camp, he showed good speed, solid quickness and above all, solid hands.
All Commodore fans should watch receiving prospects this year as the Dores could wind up signing anywhere from three to four WR prospects next February.
Jay Herndon, the younger brother of Commodore sophomore receiver Tray Herndon, is now receiving attention from Vanderbilt and other schools. The 6-foot, 170-pound standout had a brilliant game in the Class 2A state championship for the Bolles School last fall, a game in which I was able to see. He possesses solid speed and athleticism and could prove to be just as a high-level prospect as Tray once was. Tray, who should play a key role in the receiving corps at Vanderbilt this fall after transferring from Minnesota, was a sought after receiver when he was in high school and was actually headed to the Miami Hurricanes but did not commit in time. The younger Herndon definitely looks like a BCS level player to us, so he'll be someone to watch in the future.
Another receiver that has emerged on the radar is North Carolina native Jabri Ridenhour. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound prospect from Western Guilford High in Greensboro, had a standout showing at a recent camp in North Carolina, and had a solid senior year, catching 64 passes for 1,021 yards and seven TDs. At the camp, he showed good speed, solid quickness and above all, solid hands.
All Commodore fans should watch receiving prospects this year as the Dores could wind up signing anywhere from three to four WR prospects next February.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Our odds on the first Vandy Ten
With the release of the Vandy Ten, I thought I'd share what could be the odds on Vanderbilt securing commitments from the prospects on the first list.
Note that last year, only one player, Wesley Johnson, that was on the first Vandy Ten, eventually signed with the Commodores. Johnson was our No.1 ranked prospect in that first edition, FWIW. On the second edition, Blake Southerland appeared, so at least two prospects from the first two editions of the V10, ended up at VU. Not great results, but not terribly bad either.
Here's our thoughts and odds on the first 10 guys to make the list:
Barry Bostic
Georgia Tech is believed to hold a slight lead but he apparently had a very good visit to VU during the junior day. He was decked out in Vanderbilt gear and apparently made a good impression on the people he met, including other prospects. Who knows if he can leave Georgia, since UGA will likely be interested soon and there's increased pressure for Georgia kids to go to Tech now that Paul Johnson's there, but don't ever count out the Commodore staff for Georgia kids. They've shown that they can land some solid talent from the state.
Our odds on a VU commit: Slightly above average at this time.
Max Garcia
That Alabama offer makes you wonder about Garcia, but he seems pretty interested in Vanderbilt and apparently he really likes Robbie Caldwell. We're hoping to talk to him soon to get a better gauge on his overall interest, but even people in Georgia say that he's really interested in Vanderbilt.
Our odds on a VU commit: Slightly above average at this time.
Jay Hughes
Superb athlete, a guy that VU really hopes to get on campus and impress. However, the fact that his father is at Mississippi State, just seems like he's probably going to end up sticking with family because family almost always wins out with small town kids.
Our odds on a VU commit: Average right now.
Travis Jackson
We had a good conversation with Jackson recently and feel that he really liked Coach Caldwell, the city of Nashville and certainly the school. He also liked the SEC aspect of playing at VU. We think the main challengers will end up being Northwestern and Stanford. Northwestern was the first to offer and his teammate Davon Custis signed there in February. And he's going to really value Stanford's academic profile. Maybe if a Michigan or Ohio State steps in, things could change, but it just seems like he'll ultimately pick between VU, Northwestern and Stanford. We think the odds are good.
Our odds on a VU commit: Slightly above average at this time.
Matt James
James recently stated that VU was among the top schools he was looking at, and he visited Nashville recently. VU has had many ties to St.Xavier in the past, so we think the possibility is definitely there. However, there's some pretty solid programs that VU's going up against and with our experience in this, those programs haven't even started to put on their full court press yet. So VU has a better shot than some, but it still might be less than some of those schools like Ohio State, Florida, FSU and Notre Dame.
Our odds on a VU commit: Average to slightly below at this time.
Rashad Knight
Knight seems pretty interested in VU and we know that there's a buzz down in Florida about Knight and VU. However, Florida State could mess this all up if they offer and of course, Illinois does have a connection with him as one of their assistant coaches, coached his dad in high school down in Florida. Still, we firmly believe VU's odds are above average.
Our odds on a VU commit: Above average to high above average at this time.
Shakim Phillips
Phillips would be a crown jewel to the VU staff since they want more WR's in this recruiting class and he could be quite the weapon in VU's system. That's something he's really looking for, to be used immediately. He has also said that he really likes the SEC and is listening to everyone in the conference. Problem is, from our point of view, ever since receiving his offer, he has barely said anything about VU..even though they are a SEC school and do offer that immediate PT. We know that he's still in contact with the school, so that's why he made the V10. However, his lack of discussing VU lately is not a positive to us.
Our odds on a VU commit: Slightly below average.
Nolen Smith
Smith has high interest in VU and being the first to offer really helps as well. We've been unable to talk to him about his visit to VU recently but we he heard it was a real good experience for him. Still, with Alabama and Auburn apparently very interested, we won't be surprised if they pop up with offers and make things hard on VU.
Our odds on a VU commit: Above average at this time.
James Stone
Stone's been to VU about four times that we know of and everytime, the kid is smiling, listening and seems at home on campus. We've seen other local prospects be this way, like Wesley Johnson, Wesley Tate and Thad McHaney, but at the same time, we did also see Zach Rogers, Golden Tate, Dont'a Hightower and Todd Campbell look pretty comfortable too in the past. So we can't just go on how he seems when we are able to see him around the staff and players at VU. Make no mistake about it, VU's going to try their hardest to get Stone in the program, but so will teams like Alabama, UTK, Notre Dame and even LSU. So we'll see how this works out. We do think VU's in the "good boat" right now.
Our odds on a VU commit: Above average at this time.
Kyle Woestmann
Woestmann has been to VU a couple of times and seems like he's already a part of the program. He loves the school, loves the idea of playing DLine, has friends on campus that don't even play football, it really seems like he's going to be in the Black and Gold. The only question we have is why isn't he already committed? With Georgia offering his teammate Brandon Burrows recently, it wouldn't be surprising if Woestmann lands an offer. Especially considering that he kind of reminds us of a David Pollack [though his game seems destined to play on the inside of the line]. However, we think if any of these 10 are going to commit to VU anytime soon, it would be Woestmann.
our odds on a VU commit: High above average at this time.
Note that last year, only one player, Wesley Johnson, that was on the first Vandy Ten, eventually signed with the Commodores. Johnson was our No.1 ranked prospect in that first edition, FWIW. On the second edition, Blake Southerland appeared, so at least two prospects from the first two editions of the V10, ended up at VU. Not great results, but not terribly bad either.
Here's our thoughts and odds on the first 10 guys to make the list:
Barry Bostic
Georgia Tech is believed to hold a slight lead but he apparently had a very good visit to VU during the junior day. He was decked out in Vanderbilt gear and apparently made a good impression on the people he met, including other prospects. Who knows if he can leave Georgia, since UGA will likely be interested soon and there's increased pressure for Georgia kids to go to Tech now that Paul Johnson's there, but don't ever count out the Commodore staff for Georgia kids. They've shown that they can land some solid talent from the state.
Our odds on a VU commit: Slightly above average at this time.
Max Garcia
That Alabama offer makes you wonder about Garcia, but he seems pretty interested in Vanderbilt and apparently he really likes Robbie Caldwell. We're hoping to talk to him soon to get a better gauge on his overall interest, but even people in Georgia say that he's really interested in Vanderbilt.
Our odds on a VU commit: Slightly above average at this time.
Jay Hughes
Superb athlete, a guy that VU really hopes to get on campus and impress. However, the fact that his father is at Mississippi State, just seems like he's probably going to end up sticking with family because family almost always wins out with small town kids.
Our odds on a VU commit: Average right now.
Travis Jackson
We had a good conversation with Jackson recently and feel that he really liked Coach Caldwell, the city of Nashville and certainly the school. He also liked the SEC aspect of playing at VU. We think the main challengers will end up being Northwestern and Stanford. Northwestern was the first to offer and his teammate Davon Custis signed there in February. And he's going to really value Stanford's academic profile. Maybe if a Michigan or Ohio State steps in, things could change, but it just seems like he'll ultimately pick between VU, Northwestern and Stanford. We think the odds are good.
Our odds on a VU commit: Slightly above average at this time.
Matt James
James recently stated that VU was among the top schools he was looking at, and he visited Nashville recently. VU has had many ties to St.Xavier in the past, so we think the possibility is definitely there. However, there's some pretty solid programs that VU's going up against and with our experience in this, those programs haven't even started to put on their full court press yet. So VU has a better shot than some, but it still might be less than some of those schools like Ohio State, Florida, FSU and Notre Dame.
Our odds on a VU commit: Average to slightly below at this time.
Rashad Knight
Knight seems pretty interested in VU and we know that there's a buzz down in Florida about Knight and VU. However, Florida State could mess this all up if they offer and of course, Illinois does have a connection with him as one of their assistant coaches, coached his dad in high school down in Florida. Still, we firmly believe VU's odds are above average.
Our odds on a VU commit: Above average to high above average at this time.
Shakim Phillips
Phillips would be a crown jewel to the VU staff since they want more WR's in this recruiting class and he could be quite the weapon in VU's system. That's something he's really looking for, to be used immediately. He has also said that he really likes the SEC and is listening to everyone in the conference. Problem is, from our point of view, ever since receiving his offer, he has barely said anything about VU..even though they are a SEC school and do offer that immediate PT. We know that he's still in contact with the school, so that's why he made the V10. However, his lack of discussing VU lately is not a positive to us.
Our odds on a VU commit: Slightly below average.
Nolen Smith
Smith has high interest in VU and being the first to offer really helps as well. We've been unable to talk to him about his visit to VU recently but we he heard it was a real good experience for him. Still, with Alabama and Auburn apparently very interested, we won't be surprised if they pop up with offers and make things hard on VU.
Our odds on a VU commit: Above average at this time.
James Stone
Stone's been to VU about four times that we know of and everytime, the kid is smiling, listening and seems at home on campus. We've seen other local prospects be this way, like Wesley Johnson, Wesley Tate and Thad McHaney, but at the same time, we did also see Zach Rogers, Golden Tate, Dont'a Hightower and Todd Campbell look pretty comfortable too in the past. So we can't just go on how he seems when we are able to see him around the staff and players at VU. Make no mistake about it, VU's going to try their hardest to get Stone in the program, but so will teams like Alabama, UTK, Notre Dame and even LSU. So we'll see how this works out. We do think VU's in the "good boat" right now.
Our odds on a VU commit: Above average at this time.
Kyle Woestmann
Woestmann has been to VU a couple of times and seems like he's already a part of the program. He loves the school, loves the idea of playing DLine, has friends on campus that don't even play football, it really seems like he's going to be in the Black and Gold. The only question we have is why isn't he already committed? With Georgia offering his teammate Brandon Burrows recently, it wouldn't be surprising if Woestmann lands an offer. Especially considering that he kind of reminds us of a David Pollack [though his game seems destined to play on the inside of the line]. However, we think if any of these 10 are going to commit to VU anytime soon, it would be Woestmann.
our odds on a VU commit: High above average at this time.
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