Recruiting Opinion

[McPeachy]

Just curious how everyone here feels about recruiting, when signing day is so far out...

Does it matter that UW & Staff are talking to, or have contacted, Billy Bob Whomever from Whereverville to you? My opinion is "hey that's great, let's see what things look like in February, and again the following fall" and I don't waste a lot of time and thought on it. You all?

I guess the exception would be the local kid here and there, and maybe some of the kids in Colorado with Wyoming ties, but that is about it. Thoughts?

 

[TSpoke]

I don't really follow it too closely. If I see someone commit I will take a look at them. Every once in a while I will pay attention. Basketball I follow a bit more closely cuz there are fewer recruits and it is easier to project to this level from highlights in my opinion.

 

[Asmodeanreborn]

I take all the news with a grain of salt since how the team performs this fall is likely to affect whether a few of the "commits" sign on the dotted line or not.

It's still nice to hear that we're at least in the minds of quite a few talented kids out there.

 

[JimmyDimes]

I don't follow too closely. But, it seems like we have more recruits committed and are on more kids at this point than in the past.

 

[LawPoke]

I watch it some and talk with friends that know about recruits passingly to get a flavor for how the new staff is playing on the recruiting front - but don't get too excited until I see (1) if the kid actually commits; (2) if the kid stays immediately after recruiting; and (3) if the kid can play football/basketball.

Our track record with high "star" recruits is not great - and it is a somewhat rigged process anyway to get those stars...so I go back to 1-3 above...even with a highly ranked player.

 

[mwc fan]

I follow it, but I don't get overly excited knowing that whoever commits can back out any time they want. Face it, there might be kids that genuinely commit only to get that bigger, better offer. Until they sign it's only speculation. Now with the NCAA requiring a 2.3 core gpa there will be more non qualifying athletes. Wonder how big of a role that will play in the future?

 

[J-Rod]

I pay attention to all of it...football games are won in February. I know star ratings don't mean anything on the surface, but they are a great indicator of a teams talent level. Some of the best MW teams (TCU, Utah, Boise, BYU) recruited great players that were highly regarded by other schools. It is no coincidence that the few 4-Star QBs who have played for non-P5 programs (Kellen Moore, Derek Carr, Colt Brennan for example) all turned out to be superstars.

I don't care where they come from, but in order to build true depth at every position for a non-P5 program, you need to consistently land nothing but 3-Star prospects at the minimum, and history says if you want to be GREAT at the non-P5 level...there needs to be some 4-Star prospects mixed in there as well.

Which is why so many are keeping tabs on Tevis Bartlett. 3-Stars, #66 overall at his position...that's a top prospect. He would be the highest-rated recruit Wyoming has landed since some kid named Brett Smith.

 

[Larawie]

All I know is that 18-year-old kids are fickle-not just premier athletes-ALL 18-year-olds. What they say today means nothin' tomorrow. Even signin' on the dotted line in February means little anymore. Still, the coaches have jobs to get as many top-flight recruits as possible. When or if they sign, or even if they make an impact on the program, is a c**p shoot.

 

[JimmyDimes]

I pay attention to all of it...football games are won in February. I know star ratings don't mean anything on the surface, but they are a great indicator of a teams talent level. Some of the best MW teams (TCU, Utah, Boise, BYU) recruited great players that were highly regarded by other schools. It is no coincidence that the few 4-Star QBs who have played for non-P5 programs (Kellen Moore, Derek Carr, Colt Brennan for example) all turned out to be superstars.

I don't care where they come from, but in order to build true depth at every position for a non-P5 program, you need to consistently land nothing but 3-Star prospects at the minimum, and history says if you want to be GREAT at the non-P5 level...there needs to be some 4-Star prospects mixed in there as well.

Which is why so many are keeping tabs on Tevis Bartlett. 3-Stars, #66 overall at his position...that's a top prospect. He would be the highest-rated recruit Wyoming has landed since some kid named Brett Smith.

There was a kid, Adam Pittser, who was ranked as a better QB prospect than Brett. Both signed the same year and Pittser ended up transferring. He was ranked as the 25th best QB in the nation in 2011.

 

[J-Rod]

There was a kid, can't remember the name off the top of my head....who was ranked as a better QB prospect than Brett. Both signed the same year and the other guy transferred. He was ranked in the 20's I think.

You're right....forgot about Adam Pittser. Just checked....Brett was ranked #89 overall, Adam was #25 overall. ACS was #37, pretty good himself. DC knew how to recruit QBs. #89 might not seem very high for Brett, but most Wyo commits aren't ranked at all...if there is a number ranking next to their name, that's progress from past recruiting.

I know a few of the recruiting services really like current commit C.J. Johnson. He's a Top 75 WR to some.