College Football National Signing Day - 02/04

[Daryl]

It's Christmas in February for all of us college football recruiting geeks. Let's hear how your school did and what player(s) you are most excited about.

[Timber]

Very exciting day for me. I'm going to be on Seminoles.com all day.

[Josh H]

I don't follow recruiting too much, but WVU has commitments from 3 great receivers, 2 for La. and 1 from WV.

[Tommy_Harn]

Is the 6 o'clock SportsCenter going to show live press conferences for some of the big names like they did last year?

[Daryl]

Originally posted by Tommy_Harn
Is the 6 o'clock SportsCenter going to show live press conferences for some of the big names like they did last year?

Yes, Tom Lemming will be on at 6 with some recruits and their decisions

[YellowLedbetter]

Tennessee looks like it is going for another top ten class... (does us a lot of good in the Peach bowl every year).

Recruits so far:

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/gv_recruiting/article/0,1406,KNS_299_2628655,00.html

[wildcatlh]

Tom Lemming's Top 25 as of this morning:

1. USC
2. LSU
3. Michigan
4. Ohio State
5. Miami (FL)
6. Oklahoma
7. Florida State
8. Texas A&M
9. Texas
10. Tennessee
11. Alabama
12. Georgia
13. Florida
14. Washington
15. Michigan State
16. Penn State
17. Wisconsin
18. Maryland
19. California
20. Missouri
21. Kansas State
22. Oregon
23. Virginia Tech
24. Purdue
25. Texas Tech

[Red Dog]

Maryland #18 - not bad. Only 2 spots behind Penn State and ahead of everyone else in the region. I've heard great things about Jordan Steffy - the QB that they have been leading the race for.

[Red Dog]

And, best of all, no Notre Dame on that list. :thumbsup:

[Daryl]

Michigan got 22 recruits. Waiting on Cameron Colvin (Lemming's #4 WR) to decide between Michigan and USC on ESPN at 6:15.

[MrX]

Originally posted by Red Dog
And, best of all, no Notre Dame on that list. :thumbsup: -rolleyes-

;)

[Red Dog]

Originally posted by MrX
-rolleyes-

;)


No Georgia Tech either. ;)

Well Michigan is there. 1 out of a million ain't bad. ;)

[twikoff]

Originally posted by Red Dog
And, best of all, no Notre Dame on that list. :thumbsup:

has ND even released an official signing list yet?

the early numbers are normally skewed by teams that get their signings earlier in the day.. or by all the teams that dont release their lists as quickly.. etc...

[Red Dog]

Last week, the Sports Guy introduced me to the 4-part recruiting saga of Miami high schooler Willie Williams, who today committed to Miami. Pretty funny stuff.

Part I, FSU: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/high_school/7696869.htm
Part II, Auburn: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/high_school/7757573.htm
Part III, Miami: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/high_school/7804726.htm
Part IV, Florida: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/high_school/7857927.htm

[Pharoh]

Overall pretty happy with another top 5 class for the Bucks. It could have been better though, as they lost out on a couple of top flight players at the last minute, including Dwayne Jarret to USC. Forgot to mention the loss of in state kid Fred Davis to the Trojans as well. That one really hurts, and I don't understand how it happened.

If, and it is a elephant sized if, Clarett comes back, OSU will have had a spectacular year. Either way I am content. Now I just can't wait until Fall.

[Red Dog]

Originally posted by Pharoh

If, and it is a elephant sized if, Clarett comes back, OSU will have had a spectacular year. Either way I am content. Now I just can't wait until Fall.


I'm thinking blue-whale sized after this report today:

Scrutiny Grows over Clarett Benefactor

By Tom Farrey
ESPN.com

When Maurice Clarett was suspended last September for accepting thousands of dollars in extra benefits from a caterer from near his hometown and then attempting to conceal those gifts from NCAA investigators, Robert Dellimuti was portrayed by associates and even Ohio State coach Jim Tressel as a well-meaning guy trying to help an underprivileged kid. The tailback talked daily with his benefactor during the 2002 national championship season, sometimes on a cell phone paid for by Dellimuti.


But Dellimuti was more than a fan of Maurice Clarett that year. He was a gambler.


Cell phone records acquired by ESPN.com show that Dellimuti made 27 calls during the Buckeyes' title season to a prominent sportsbook in Costa Rica, SBG Global. Ten of those calls were made in the three weeks leading up to the Fiesta Bowl victory against Miami. The records do not show what type of gambling activity took place, including whether Dellimuti was betting on Ohio State games.


The disclosure of the sportsbook calls is the latest twist in a saga that began last April, when Clarett called campus police to report that a loaner car he was using had been broken into. The police report led to questions about the car, which brought the NCAA to Columbus. That in turn prompted Dellimuti to supply his phone records to Ohio State. Clarett was suspended indefinitely from the team, which caused him to sue the NFL over its early-draft rules. A decision on that lawsuit is expected in the coming weeks.


Asked early last week about the calls to SBG Global, Dellimuti first pleaded ignorance. "What's that?" he said. Pressed further in the brief interview, he confirmed that the phone number with the SBG calls was his, and said he had gambled on "football" but that he did not bet on Ohio State games. He insisted he did nothing wrong.


"Everyone gambles," Dellimuti said. "Everyone plays football."


The NCAA, however, becomes concerned when athletes associate with any gambler, no matter the league or sport they wager on. Beset by point-shaving scandals on college teams in recent years, and alarmed by studies showing that nearly half of all male athletes have wagered on sports, the NCAA identifies gambling as a threat to the integrity of its games.


William Saum, NCAA director of Agent, Gambling and Amateurism Activities, declined comment on the pattern of sportsbook calls by Dellimuti and his connection to Clarett, citing the organization's policy of not discussing ongoing investigations.


In general terms, he said, "We've spent a lot of time with all of our athletes, coaches and administrators encouraging them to know whom they associate with. If we prove or someone proves that an athlete or coach is associating with a known gambler, we and the institution will sit down with that individual and explain what we have and figure out a plan of action."


At a minimum, the athlete would be asked to disassociate himself from the gambler, Saum said. For Clarett, the consequences grow in severity if Dellimuti is found to have profited from the relationship. An NCAA bylaw prohibits athletes from providing team information to gamblers, who in turn can use it to make sharper bets.


"It's not acceptable if the person's gambling only on the pros," Saum said. "We would suggest to the student-athlete that it's just a matter of time before the gambler takes advantage of him and gambles on his games. And who's to say that gambler is not already gambling on his games? Most gamblers I know don't just bet on one level -- it's football, both college and professional."


When asked, Dellimuti, 38, declined to provide ESPN.com with betting records. A representative at SBG Global, citing client confidentiality, declined to discuss any gambling activity by Dellimuti.


SBG Global is considered by industry observers to be one of the larger sportsbooks in the world, and one that markets to a college football audience. SBG Global, which takes both phone and Internet bets, was the sportsbook that former Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson allegedly used to place bets on pro and college games. He pleaded no-contest in July to a misdemeanor gambling charge.


Clarett declined to be interviewed by ESPN for this story. A statement released through his attorney Alan C. Milstein read: "Maurice certaintly did not know of any gambling activity by anyone, including Mr. Dellimuti, that he was in contact with. In addition, Maurice had no reason to believe that any statements that he was giving to anyone were used one way or another for gambling purposes. And he considers any inference to the contrary to be an attack on his integrity and reputation."


ESPN.com's investigation came across no evidence to suggest that Clarett gambled, shaved points or tried to compromise the result of Ohio State games. In fact, he earned a reputation during the 14-0 national championship season for his competitiveness and his willingness to play with shoulder and knee injuries.


But by taking money and gifts from someone now identified as an admitted gambler, Clarett risks further NCAA scrutiny if he attempts to continue his college career. He is suing the NFL to gain access to its April draft and strike down the league's policy of making players wait until three years after high school. But in a statement in January Clarett expressed interest as well in playing again for the Buckeyes.


Ohio State, which suspended Clarett indefinitely in September, must petition the NCAA for his reinstatement, a move school officials have said they will consider in March. Clarett led the Buckeyes in rushing as a freshman with 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns, including the winning score in the 31-24 overtime victory at the Fiesta Bowl.


ESPN.com employed a public records request to acquire the phone records from Ohio State. Dellimuti supplied the university his phone records last summer when Ohio State and NCAA officials investigated his gifts to Clarett, which Dellimuti figured were proper because he had known Clarett since he was in the ninth grade. Instead, the NCAA determined that Dellimuti met Clarett, a local star since middle school, after he became a prospective college athlete. Investigators found that Dellimuti supplied Clarett with $3,800 in extra benefits: $500 in cash, the rest was in payments for the cell phone Dellimuti provided Clarett.


Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger declined to comment on whether Ohio State is concerned about Clarett's relationship with a gambler, or whether the situation would affect the university's impending decision to ask the NCAA to reinstate Clarett. "It would be totally inappropriate to comment," he said. "It's an on-going case and we have consistently not talked about (Clarett)." When asked if Ohio State should have known about Dellimuti's phone calls to SBG Global, Geiger said, "What makes you think we didn't?" He declined to elaborate.


When asked about Ohio State's level of knowledge about the SBG Global calls, the NCAA's Saum said "I really can't respond to that other than to say it's an on-going case and in due time the institution and association will review all matters related to the issue."


Dellimuti said he regards himself a father figure to Clarett, who grew up in Youngstown but after a stellar freshman season transferred to Warren G. Harding High School, a football powerhouse a half hour drive to the north. Dellimuti was a co-chairman of the high school booster club, when Clarett's mother Michelle, a deputy clerk at the Youngstown Municipal Court, was also an officer. Dellimutti was often at practice and gave Clarett odd jobs at his banquet hall, where the kitchen now is decorated with a "Free Maurice" T-shirt and a poster of Tressel holding up the national championship trophy. Dellimuti said he first started paying for Clarett's cell phone back when the star football player was a high school sophomore. On occasion, Clarett would sleep at his house.


"Knowing Bobby's heart, he was trying to do something good for somebody," said Paul Trina, Warren's athletic director. "I really don't think he believed he was breaking any rules that would jeopardize Maurice's career at Ohio State."


In December, Tressel told ESPN.com that he feels bad for Dellimuti, "because from what I gather from the coaches at Warren, he's been a guy who's helped players whether they were stars or not, and wasn't interested in anything down the road from (an agent) representation standpoint."


In an Oct. 5, 2002 story in the Columbus Dispatch, before the NCAA violations came to light, Dellimuti was identified as one of Clarett's few confidants, a group that included his mother, high school coach Thom McDaniels and former youth coach Mike Butch. In the article, Dellimuti said of Clarett, "He's very quiet, only lets a few people into his life. He won't open up, and it took me a while to crack into him. But now we talk three or four times a day."


Dellimuti's records show two calls that season to Ohio State defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio. Dantonio said that both of the calls -- to his office phone on Dec. 15 and to his cell phone three days after the Fiesta Bowl -- were related strictly to the Buckeyes' recruitment of Prescott Burgess, a Warren prospect who ended up signing with Michigan. Dantonio is now the head coach at the University of Cincinnati.


Dellimuti has attempted to prevent ESPN.com from reporting on the contents of his phone records, which he maintains are private. His attorney, James E. Sanders, sent a letter, dated Jan. 27, to ESPN insisting that the records should not have been released by Ohio State, and requesting their return. (ESPN obtained the records from OSU in connection with an open-records request.)


"Mr. Dellimuti turned those records over believing they would be held in confidence, and they weren't," Sanders said.


Dellimuti's phone records released to ESPN extend back to April 2001 and are billed to his catering business, DiLucia's Banquet. The records for some months are missing, but those that were turned over to the school show a total of 67 calls from Dellimuti's cell phone to SBG between October 2001 and April 2003. The first of the calls occurred during Clarett's senior season at Harding when he was named the USA Today Offensive Player of the Year.


In addition to the regular calls to SBG Global, Dellimuti's cell phone records show that calls were made on the morning of games to ATS Consultants, a fee-based tout service that provides sports gamblers with "invaluable inside information that is not available to the general public." It is unclear whether those calls were made to receive or provide information.


Among running backs in college football that year, Clarett had the greatest impact on establishing the line for a game, said Kenny White, oddsmaker at Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which helps many sportsbooks set their opening lines. Alone, Clarett's presence was worth up to two points, White said. Others in the business say Clarett was even more of a difference-maker for the Buckeyes, and gamblers.


"Anytime you have information on a key player like Clarett, that's very valuable," said Mike Foreman, manager of MVPsportsbook.com, an online sportsbook. "If we learn that Clarett is not going to play, our line could move six points. So if you (as a bettor) can get in before we find that information, you would have a huge advantage."


But with Clarett, who sat out three games that season, knowing whether and how much he might play was often a matter of guesswork to the public. College football teams are not required to release injury information in the days leading up to a game -- unlike NFL teams, which use categories such as "probable" or "questionable" to describe a player's availability.


Like many coaches, Tressel uses that data vacuum to keep opposing coaches off balance in their game preparations. For instance, before the Nov. 2, 2002 game against No. 23 Minnesota, Tressel told the media that he expected Clarett to play despite a banged-up shoulder. The Saturday morning newspapers reflected that sentiment -- yet Clarett, in uniform on the sideline, never got on the field.


A week later, the Dispatch published an article lauding the Buckeyes for their skill at being vague about player injuries. The newspaper quoted linebacker Cie Grant, who said, "I think for the most part we've done a great job as far as our team disguising things. There's been times where Maurice Clarett and myself knew that we weren't going to play, but we were still in pregame and made them guess until the game actually starts."


Phone records show that SBG Global received calls made from Dellimuti's cell phone in the week before eight Ohio State games, including three on the morning of games. It is not known whether these calls related to Ohio State games or not.


"Generally speaking, we tell our young people and administrators 'Just don't associate with gamblers,'" Saum said. "Why? Because whether that call is made after practice or on the morning of the game, all it does is beg that many more questions. It puts the game and the athlete at risk. If a person (associated with the athlete) is gambling, they don't have the athlete's best interest in mind."


A 1999 University of Michigan survey of NCAA athletes found that more than 4 percent of males provided inside information to someone so they could have an advantage when placing a bet. Nearly half -- 45 percent -- of male athletes had wagered on some form of sports themselves since entering college.


Dellimuti bristled when asked if he ever used information gleaned from Clarett to bet on Ohio State games. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life," he said.


But if Clarett tries to return to play college football, he can expect his interactions with Dellimuti to be scrutinized. If made aware of an athlete's relationship with a gambler, Saum said, the NCAA would "spend a lot of time with that athlete to question every conversation, every move. We would look at phone records and analyze the relationship as closely as we could. In my business, we just don't take people at their word. There's too much at risk."


The NCAA also would have access to any of Clarett's cell phone bills that may have been turned over by Dellimuti to the university. Citing student privacy law that applies to the public but not the NCAA, an Ohio State spokeswoman declined to release to ESPN.com any documents that mention Clarett, who has continued to take classes at OSU.


Dellimuti is unlikely to face criminal charges for any gambling activity. Although using U.S. phone lines for betting with a foreign sportsbook is illegal, individuals are rarely prosecuted.


Dellimuti, though, can expect an ultimatum from the athletic director at the high school that brought him and Clarett together: Stop gambling or quit coming around the program.


"If it's true that he is gambling on football, I would definitely talk to him and say, 'Listen, I've never heard you discussing that around the kids but you need to know that's something we don't want,' " Trina said. "It's not something we want them to be involved with, to be encouraged about, to be excited about, or to eventually want to do."


Clarett's attorney insists that his client was unaware of Dellimuti's sports wagering. But Dellimuti's affinity for Las Vegas, at least, was apparent.


According to Dellimuti, he and Clarett flew there the day after the Fiesta Bowl for a 12-hour stopover before returning to Ohio. Together in that city of casinos, they walked the marble hallways, the benefactor showing the teenage star of the newly crowned national champions another side of life.


Clarett did not, Dellimuti said, noting, "He's underage."

[Daryl]

Originally posted by Red Dog
Last week, the Sports Guy introduced me to the 4-part recruiting saga of Miami high schooler Willie Williams, who today committed to Miami. Pretty funny stuff.


Here's a eye-witness description of Willie's decision:


“I feel great about today,” he said.

Then he shook his head and was silent. Everyone waited.

“I’d like to ask everybody to give me five more minutes just to think about it if that isn’t asking too much,” he said.

The crowd groaned.

“Coach, can I have five minutes?” Williams called to Frazier, who was now standing off to the side.

Frazier came to the podium and said some words but nobody was listening.

All eyes were focused on Willie.

“Why do you always have to be a character?” his mother said to him as he approached her seat.

Williams began whispering with his stepfather and others. His stepfather and mother had shown up at the media center wearing Miami hats. Was that a sign?

The crowd waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Williams spoke briefly with teammates. Then he sat at a table with his family. Camera crews were gathered around the table where Williams was huddling with family members, recording every micron of detail for future generations to see.

Finally Williams, with some urging from his family, got back up and headed to the podium.

“That wasn’t quite five minutes, it kind of took a little longer -- seven minutes,” Williams said. “I talked to some of the players, my family, I already had discussed it with my family…”

He paused and took a deep breath.

“Basically…”

He paused again.

Another deep breath.

He asked a family member for the Deion Sanders jersey.

“Let’s see how it looks,” Williams said, his voice barely above a whisper.

He put on the jersey and FSU hat.

“I feel like I’m a throwback player,” Williams said as he put on the outfit.

Then he took it off and asked for the Miami jersey as classmates applauded.

He put on the Jerome Brown jersey.

“Go ahead and say it,” one of Williams’ family members urged

The crowd roared once he had the Miami uniform and hat on.

“Jerome Brown would be proud,” one classmate yelled from the back of the room.

But then Williams began taking the jersey off. His classmates grumbled.

That’s when Williams made his big announcement.

“I’m gonna go to UM,” Williams said.

The room exploded.

Williams headed back to sit down at a nearby table to sign his UM papers. Camera crews and reporters followed him the whole way.

As he signed he spoke about the decision.

“The reason I made this decision, this actually came down to a signing day decision for me,” Williams said. “I had a lot of pressure on me, it was a big thinking process. Both of them had great academics, a lot of stuff to offer. But this came down to this right here, I feel I can go (to Miami) and be an impact player, wear No. 17. I don’t want to follow in D.J. Williams’ footsteps. I want to make my own. I feel like this is my home, I might as well stay here and just represent at UM.”

After signing he said, “This was a hard decision. It’s 10:25 (in the morning) and I just got committed. It was a long process, a lot of pressure. I felt I could just come (to Miami) and make an impact. I feel at home here.”

Media members gathered around him after he was done signing.

Williams was asked when he made the decision for sure.

“Actually when I stepped up to the podium,” Williams said. “You know, I just wanted to see what my heart felt when I put on both jerseys and hats. When I put on the UM jersey I got this feeling, a feeling I can’t explain. And I was like `This is where I’ve got to be. This is where my heart’s at. I have to go out there and play with UM, try to win national championships.’ That’s how I feel.”

Williams insists he wasn’t just being dramatic with the way he announced his decision.

“Last night I was going to go to the beach to relax, I had my phone off – I got like 42 messages on my phone right now,” Williams said. “It came down to the end, this was a signing day decision. It wasn’t premeditated. It was a decision I had to make for me and I feel this is the best place for me.”

That could be in part because Miami only has four returning linebackers.

“I feel I can go and excel past whoever’s there and actually compete for a starting spot,” Williams said. “I can actually say now -- we’ve got Florida State on Monday night this upcoming season. So I’m going to just go out there and show them what I’ve got.”

Williams says he heard every day from friends how he should either go to Miami or FSU.

“It was time for my head to stop bobbling, it was time to go ahead and set my mind to UM,” Williams said.

Of being a Cane, Williams added, “I can call UM my family, coach (Larry) Coker, when I’m there he’s going to be like my family. I’m kind of glad it’s over, a lot of pressure off me. I feel like I’ve been through a massage therapy course. I feel relaxed.”

Williams saved the best for last.

After answering several media questions Williams was asked if he’d informed Coker of his decision.

“As a matter of fact, let’s give him a call right now,” Williams said, adding to the shock of many,

He wasn’t joking.

Williams pulled out his cell phone and turned it on. He called and spoke to coach Vernon Hargreaves first.

He put the phone on speaker so the reporters gathered around could hear.

“What’s going on?” Hargreaves said.

“Coach Hargreaves, I’m there, I’m there,” Williams said. “I just signed.”

Hargreaves began laughing.

“Come on, man, for real?” Hargreaves said.

“Yeah,” Williams said.

“Oh, man!” Hargreaves yelled.

“Hey, where’s coach Coker at?” Williams asked.

“Hold on,” Hargraves said. “We’re going to go find the boss.”

“Okay, we’re on live,” Williams responded.

A few seconds later Coker was on speaker phone with Williams.

“Willie Williams?” Coker said when he got on the phone.

“How you doing coach?” Williams said.

“You know what, everyone’s going crazy down here, man,” Coker said. “I’m doing great and let me tell you something, you’re going to do great too. You’re committed to us, we’re committed to you to. Let’s do a couple of things – let’s win some championships and let’s get your degree. You’ve got that three-year plan. Let’s get it done.”

Williams later said the three-year plan he previously discussed with Coker is just what it sounds like – he plans to play three years in college and then move onto the NFL.

Williams resumed his conversation with Coker.

“Yeah coach, I’m there, I’m there,” Williams said, then joking, “As a matter of fact, I might come through today, I might want to tackle you or something, do a couple of one-on-ones.”

Coker then informed Williams he’s not allowed to come to Miami before Friday because of NCAA regulations.

“Okay, I’ll give you a call later coach,” Williams said.

[wildcatlh]

The kid's a showman. He'll fit right in with Miami. :)

Miami's having a good day. Got Williams, got RB Andrew Johnson to decommit from Pitt (and committ to Miami), and they got highly-regarded DL Ryhan Anderson

[Josh H]

Edit: Signees now listed.


WVU signees

NAME POS HT WT HOMETOWN/SCHOOL STATE
Brandon Barrett WR 6'1 180 Martinsburg (Senior) W.Va.
Tyler Benoit RB 6'1 195 Lafayette (Comeaux) La.
John Bradshaw OL 6'5 295 Fredericksburg (Stafford) Va.
Louis Davis TE 6'7 260 Compton (Dominguez/Cerritos CC, Cal) Calif.
Mike Dent DL 6'4 255 Jeannette Pa.
Johnny Dingle DL 6'4 230 Miami (Washington) Fla.
Tito Gonzalez WR 6'1 190 Tampa (Blake) Fla.
Ben Iannacchione OL 6'4 285 Pittsburgh (Baldwin) Pa.
Chad Mayse LB 6'3 225 Mentor Ohio
Alton McCann DB 6'0 205 Jones County CC, Miss Miss.
Terry Mitchell QB 6'3 190 Virginia Beach (Landstown) Va.
Marcus Platt RB 6'0 185 Venice Fla.
Darius Reynaud WR 5'10 185 Boutte (Hahnville) La.
Mathew Sinclair LB 6'4 210 Crowley La.
Doug Slavonic DL 6'6 235 Pittsburgh (Mt. Lebanon) Pa.
Ryan Stanchek OL 6'4 260 Cincinnati (LaSalle) Ohio
Tyree Suber DL 6'2 295 Concordville (Glen Mills) Pa.
Brandon Tate WR 6'4 210 Macon (Noxubee County) Miss.
Patrick White QB 6'1 180 Daphne Ala.
Pernell Williams RB 5'10 195 Dayton (Jefferson) Ohio


Looks like all their oral commitments signed. Barrett is a good pick up. He's a great WR, and he's good friends with his high school's Junior QB that some have projected being as high as a top 10 east coast QB prospect next year.

[wildcatlh]

Brian Toal is headed to Boston College...

[BigDave]

Originally posted by WildcatLH
1. USC 12-1
2. LSU 13-1
3. Michigan 10-3
4. Ohio State 11-2
5. Miami (FL) 11-2
6. Oklahoma 12-2
7. Florida State 10-3
8. Texas A&M 4-8 :D :D :D
9. Texas 10-3
10. Tennessee 10-3


Not too bad for a team that sucked ass last year.

I am very happy with A&M's class even without getting Adrian Peterson. Today has been a very busy day, but I'm glad that it's finally over. You can only take so much recruiting drama.

[RoyalTea]

Originally posted by WildcatLH
The kid's a showman. He'll fit right in with Miami. you have no idea.

during his official visit at UF, he hit a female coed at the student union, beat up another guy at a Gainesville nightclub and illegally discharged three fire extinguishers at his hotel (which is a felony).

[brizz]

Pretty impressive for John L. Smith to get MSU back into the top 20 after one year out of the top 50. They may sneak up even higher, as i think there's one guy (don't recall who) still on the fence that's an all-American....

[Daryl]

Originally posted by brizz
Pretty impressive for John L. Smith to get MSU back into the top 20 after one year out of the top 50. They may sneak up even higher, as i think there's one guy (don't recall who) still on the fence that's an all-American....

John L had an awesome final day today and even more impressively did an outstanding job recruiting nationally, not just in the Midwest

[brizz]

OL Roland Martin from Chicago was the guy i was thinking of...he's a beast, and chose MSU over TN, OK, and NC State. They also had a WR (Carl Grimes) from Detroit renege on FSU and head to East Lansing, and snagged top 10 Safety Sir Darean Adams from FL as well.


Roland Martin
OL - 6-5 - 326
Chicago, Ill./Harper HS
Consensus prep All-American . . . ranked among the nation's top 30 prospects by Rivals.com (No. 29) . . . listed among the country's top offensive linemen by PrepStar (No. 4) and SuperPrep (No. 10) . . . listed among the nation's top offensive tackles by Rivals.com (No. 2) and ESPN.com's Tom Lemming (No. 3) . . . considered among the Midwest's top 20 seniors by SuperPrep (No. 9) and Detroit Free Press (No. 16) . . . tabbed the No. 2 prospect in Illinois by the Prep Football Report . . . participated in 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl played on Jan. 3 in San Antonio, Texas . . . first-team all-state selection helped Harper High School in Chicago post an 11-2 record in 2003 . . . also saw action on defense in 2003 and produced 53 tackles as a senior, including eight sacks . . . did not allow a sack each of the last two seasons . . . Harper head coach Terry Lewis says Martin "is the most dominating offensive lineman I've seen in 30 years of coaching" . . . also participates in track and field . . . son of Sharon Wardell . . . born Feb. 5, 1986.

Carl Grimes
WR - 5-9 - 185
Detroit, Mich./St. Martin De Porres HS
SuperPrep and PrepStar All-American . . . ranked among the nation's top skill athletes by SuperPrep (No. 5) . . . named to SuperPrep's and Prep Football Report's All-Midwest Teams . . . listed among the Midwest's top prospects by SuperPrep (No. 20) and Prep Football Report (No. 29) . . . rated among the state's top 10 seniors by the Lansing State Journal (No. 5), The Detroit News (No. 6) and Detroit Free Press (No. 9) . . . three-year starter for Coach Greg Carter at St. Martin De Porres High School in Detroit . . . all-state selection in 2003 . . . selected for The Detroit News All-Detroit and All-Metro Teams . . . accounted for nearly 1,200 all-purpose yards in 2003 despite missing five games with a bruised foot . . . saw action at wide receiver, running back and defensive back as a senior plus returned kicks . . . caught 28 passes for 514 yards (18.4 avg.) and five touchdowns in 2003 while helping the Eagles to a 12-2 record and the Division 8 state championship . . . rushed for 614 yards on 69 carries (8.9 avg.) as a senior . . . produced 1,760 all-purpose yards and 15 TDs in 2002 . . . gained 921 yards and scored nine rushing TDs as a junior . . . had 839 receiving yards and six TD catches in 2002 . . . all-state sprinter won the 2003 Division 4 100-meter title . . . runs 4.4 in the 40.

Sir Darean Adams
WR/DB - 6-0 - 209
Bradenton, Fla./Bayshore HS
Prep Football Report All-American as selected by Tom Lemming . . . rated among the nation's top 10 safeties by Lemming (No. 8) . . . ranked among the nation's top athletes by Rivals.com (No. 11) . . . listed among the Southeast's top 50 prospects by Lemming (No. 40) . . . played quarterback, tailback, linebacker and defensive back for Coach Raymond Woodie at Bayshore High School in Bradenton, Fla. . . . completed 40-of-65 passes (.615) for 703 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior while leading the Bruins to their first-ever district championship and an 11-2 record . . . rushed for 975 yards and 15 TDs in 2003 . . . threw for 1,400 yards and 15 TDs as a junior . . . gained 500 yards and scored eight rushing TDs in 2002 . . . averaged 19.3 points and 14.1 rebounds as a shooting guard in 2002-03 . . . qualified for the 2003 state track meet in the 100 meters (10.5 personal best) . . . runs 4.42 in the 40 . . .

rest are here if anyone cares: http://msuspartans.ocsn.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020404aab.html

[Jeremy517]

Originally posted by Daryl
Waiting on Cameron Colvin (Lemming's #4 WR) to decide between Michigan and USC on ESPN at 6:15.

Or Oregon ;)

[Dr_Evil]

Terrible day for Pitt. There two big recruits, QB Anthony Morelli and RB Andrew Johnson signed with Penn State and Miami respectively. The whole Morelli situation has been ridiculous, with him turning his back on Pitt because they weren't upset enough that he got snubbed for the US Army all american bowl. Morelli claims that he chose Penn State because of academics. -rolleyes- Yeah right. Here's an article:

Morelli chooses PSU; Johnson to Miami

By Kevin Gorman
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, February 4, 2004

What will go down as one of the most unpredictable recruiting soap operas Pittsburgh has seen ended today with Pitt losing a pair of prized recruits.
North Hills tailback Andrew Johnson and Penn Hills quarterback Anthony Morelli reneged on their verbal commitments and signed with rival schools this morning, the start of the national letter of intent signing period.

Johnson ended the suspense by signing with Miami (Fla.) and Morelli with Penn State. Both players were hailed as hometown heroes after making verbal commitments to Pitt this past summer but encountered heavy criticism after they decided to reopen the recruiting process.

"There were a lot of things Penn State had to offer as far as academics," said Morelli who plans to major in kinesiology. "It was about more than football. It opened my eyes. I thought that this was the place I needed to be."

National recruiting analysts ranked both players among the nation's top 100 preseason prospects. Morelli is considered a top five quarterback and Johnson a top 10 running back.

Pitt also lost Dade City (Fla.) receiver Johnny Peyton to South Florida and Reading All-American linebacker James Bryant to Miami today.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Johnson rushed for 1,276 yards and 21 touchdowns on 220 carries this past season, and finished with 3,670 career rushing yards.

Johnson committed to Pitt in July but announced in December that he wanted to take other visits. He chose the Hurricanes after visiting Miami and Florida last weekend. He was not available for comment this morning but was seen wearing a Miami Hurricanes jersey and baseball cap.

The 6-4, 210-pound Morelli was invited to the EA Sports Elite 11 Quarterback Camp last summer, where his peers voted him as the passer with the strongest arm.

He chose the Panthers in August, then completed 96 of 184 attempts for 1,649 yards and 15 touchdowns with four interceptions. For his career, Morelli was 268 of 590 for 5,244 yards and 56 touchdowns.

But Morelli wasn't selected to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. His father voiced his displeasure with Pitt coaches for not telling the Morellis that West Allegheny's Bob Palko -- father of Pitt sophomore quarterback Tyler Palko -- was the coach of the East All-Stars. -rolleyes-

Penn State moved swiftly in its courtship of Morelli, with Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno leading the way. Morelli visited State College in late January and waited until today to inform the schools of his choice.

"I liked Pitt alot," Morelli said. "I like coach Harris. He's a great coach and I believe he can get me to the NFL. But you can't base your decision on a coach."

[TruGator]

Willie Williams facing charges in Gainesville, including one felony...

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040204/NEWS/40204017

[Daryl]

Originally posted by juiio
Or Oregon ;)

I refused to believe the rumors, but they turned out to be accurate. Word is he was a Wolverine as late as mid last week, but Oregon came on strong:

3 of his teammates heading there
immediate playing time (both USC and UM loaded at WR)
close to home (northern Cali)

would have been great to have him, but can't let the loss rain on my parade!!!

[nickdawgy]

That Williams guy is a clown.

[Quake1028]

All of Hurricane Nation, myself included, are smiling :).

[MrX]

Originally posted by Red Dog
And, best of all, no Notre Dame on that list. :thumbsup: It gets worse for them. One of their top commits, Ryan Baker, didn't sign with them and is considering backing out and going to Purdue. That has Lemming's fingerprints all over it:lol:

[wildcatlh]

FWIW, here's Lemming's final Top 25:

1. USC
2. LSU
3. Miami (FL)
4. Michigan
5. Florida State
6. Ohio State
7. Oklahoma
8. Florida
9. Tennessee
10. Texas A&M
11. Texas
12. Georgia
13. Michigan State
14. Penn State
15. Alabama
16. Washington
17. California
18. Wisconsin
19. Oregon
20. Maryland
21. Missouri
22. Purdue
23. Nebraska
24. Notre Dame
25. South Carolina

---------------------

CNNSI/TheInsider.com Top 25

1. USC
2. LSU
3. Miami
4. Florida State
5. Michigan
6. Georgia
7. Oklahoma
8. Florida
9. Tennessee
10. Texas
11. Ohio State
12. Penn State
13. Michigan State
14. Texas A&M
15. Oregon
16. Maryland
17. Texas Tech
18. North Carolina
19. Alabama
20. NC State
21. Washington State
22. Washington
23. Arizona State
24. UCLA
25. Virginia

--------------

Rivals.com Top 25

1. USC
2. LSU
3. Florida State
4. Miami
5. Michigan
6. Georgia
7. Florida
8. Oklahoma
9. Ohio State
10. Texas
11. Tennessee
12. Oregon
13. Texas A&M
14. Penn State
15. Alabama
16. Michigan State
17. Maryland
18. Kansas State
19. Washington
20. Purdue
21. Auburn
22. Arkansas
23. California
24. Boston College
25. Washington State

[RoyalTea]

Originally posted by MrX
It gets worse for them. One of their top commits, Ryan Baker, didn't sign with them and is considering backing out and going to Purdue. That has Lemming's fingerprints all over it:lol: you think that Lemming talked somebody out of going to Notre Dame?!?

[twikoff]

SCREW BAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Red Dog]

Looks like the consensus is that Maryland had a strong recruiting class. Thank goodness the Fridge got no NFL offers. Hopefully Jordan Steffy is the real deal. He sounds like a real 2-way threat that could fit into Fridge's system very well. With McBrien graduating, he could possibly be a freshman starter at QB.

[MrX]

Originally posted by RoyalTea
you think that Lemming talked somebody out of going to Notre Dame?!?
He hasn't been president of the Notre Dame fan club since Davie was fired. He took a shot at them yesterday on ESPN saying this class was the worst class they've had in 30 years. He never would have said that if Davie was the coach.

Bill Callahan and him are real tight so look for him to really start pushing Nebraska now.

[Terrell]

you think that Lemming talked somebody out of going to Notre Dame?!?

Well, Lemming couldn't find his butthole with a funnel, so I doubt he talked someone out of going to Notre Dame.

Rivals and The Insiders have the best recruiting networks and I think do the best job. Lemming can't work alone and cover the entire U.S. and expect to do a good job.

[Quake1028]

Wow, top 3 rated class across the board. I can live with that :D.

[YellowLedbetter]

9, 9, and 11th class. Not bad. Filled some holes, but am still waiting to see how our quarterback situation will work out.

[bill_n_opus]

There's been a bunch of discussion over at the wearesc.com board about Colvin's decision to Oregon ... something about a "Godfather" or other ... in any case this year has been a DLS pipeline to Oregon (De La Salle HS) so the fellow teammate thing is a given. Uncle Phil is another.

Plus, the whole Xbox in the locker room sure draws the recruits. As long as they suffer through another mediocre season the Xbox is fine with me. :D

[Daryl]

Originally posted by bill_n_opus
There's been a bunch of discussion over at the wearesc.com board about Colvin's decision to Oregon ... something about a "Godfather" or other ... in any case this year has been a DLS pipeline to Oregon (De La Salle HS) so the fellow teammate thing is a given. Uncle Phil is another.

Plus, the whole Xbox in the locker room sure draws the recruits. As long as they suffer through another mediocre season the Xbox is fine with me. :D

Yeah, Colvin's parents died when he was young, so he has this Godfather who has raised him and he is really close to his friends as sort of a surrogate family. So it was a key factor that so many of his good friends were going to Oregon. DLS has been good to Michigan in the past (Amani Toomer, Matt Guttierrez) and we came darn close to getting CC. Apparently he committed last week to Michigan but then changed his mind over the weekend. It happens. I wish him well, and we'll see him and the Ducks in the Big House in 2007.

[Supr_65]

I'll take the #2 ranking (even though the writers still have penis envy of the national championship). We'll see who has the most contributers over the next few years!


GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!!