The Southern California Recruiting Wars
by Paragon SC on Aug 27, 2011 1:00 PM PDT
in Recruiting
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PrintIt is nice to see Bruce Feldman back.
He has a great read on the recruiting battles in Southern California...($)
Southern California always has been an inviting target for college football recruiters, but it might never have been as tempting as it is right now. The talent base is rich and deeper than it has been in a decade, especially with linemen, according to college coaches.
But that's not the only reason that recruiters are so fired up this year. The USC Trojans, the local heavyweight, are still coping with NCAA sanctions, which will limit the number of prospects they can sign in February. On top of that, the UCLA Bruins are in the delicate spot of having their coach, Rick Neuheisel, on the hot seat, after Neuheisel went 4-8 in 2010 in his third year with the Bruins.
USC does have its work cut out for them.
Other teams in the Pac-12 will try to pick our guys off know that we can only take so many recruits.
This essentially gives opposing staffs free reign in SoCal.
But it is early yet.
We don't know what may happen to Oregon. The Willie Lyles situation could turn into a major deal...that is far from over. If the Ducks get nailed for Lyles they could lose schollies as well diminishing the players they can poach from our backyard. Don't be surprised to hear about the negative recruiting that will go on against Oregon. The same negative recruiting that Chip Kelly used against USC...that also led to Kelly and Staff being asked to leave a certain USC commits home after a very short time because of their negative recruiting.
Nueheisel is on the hotseat...we know he can recruit, though this past recruiting class wasn't as good as others. If Neuheisel exits at the end of the season the new UCLA staff will be behind more established programs. Yes, UCLA will still get some players but thy won't bring in the haul that Neuheisel has in the past. It will take the new staff some time to build relationships.
The jury is out on Stanford. I will wait to see how they do this season with a new staff in place. Shaw isn't Harbaugh and Luck is leaving after this season so they have some rebuilding to do.
Cal has been successful with Tosh Lupoi but like UCLA it isn't the recruits. it's what you do with them on the field. Tedford ain't all that...
Washington is the team that concerns me the most. Sarkisian can recruit! He is charismatic, he is from L.A., he knows the landscape and he has some strong relationships. If Sarkisian can have a better year this year without Jake Locker then look out. That will be the true test. I don't see Sarkisian leaving anytime soon.
Utah is the unknown. They now will have access to our backyard and we have seen what Whittingham can do.
Other teams in the conference will get some players, but they are not as much of a concern as the teams I mentioned above.
USC will be under the gun.
Conference expansion, a new TV deal and the sanctions against USC are the perfect storm going against us.
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I don't agree
USC will get it’s kids just like aways, then everyone else will pick from the rest. Yes USC will lose out on a few, but that happens every year even at the best of times. The fact everyone else will get a few more doesn’t put USC under the gun. After all, what can they do about it?
That's right!
Coach Kiffin, if anything: CAN OUTRECRUIT anyone in the Pac 12, easy. He’ll get who he wants, wherever he wants in California. Whether it’s tied to him directly, or any on his staff- the man just goes balls-out to get whomever he wants or needs.
If I was to have worries about his recruiting efforts, it would be tied to staff-turnover. We’ve got a retarded awesome staff of assistant coaches- they put in the grunt work, and LaneFuckingKiffin closes.
I’m excited about this season. I can’t wait to see these coaches and players show the fuck up and light the Pac 12 on fire.
by BixBeiderbecke on Aug 27, 2011 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions
it's the intermediate view I'm interested in
When the scholarship reductions have really reduced depth and results aren’t great because of depth / injury issues, I wonder if we will still see recruits lining up to get playing time and maybe an earlier position as a starter just because it’s SC? I know we got decent players even in down cycles before, but there’s a difference between taking a chance on playing for Paul Hackett and volunteering to have every game be a dog fight.
I think Paragon’s right about Whittingham, BTW – if he can get a few decent guys out of CA, he could make some of his new conference colleagues pretty nervous. I know it’s not always a good idea to reason by analogy, but if you look at what Boise State has been able to do by scouting guys who maybe weren’t on Pac 10 team radar but had something to offer, surely Utah can get a some decent players and improve their overall skill levels.
"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"
The old line still works
it’s the grind, can by do it in a 9 game grind. Utah is going to do well because they have a good coach, but can they do so within the Pac12. Playing well against one or two members in a single season is all well and good but doesn’t really prove anything. You only have to look at ASU for a good example.
by ev on Aug 28, 2011 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions
It's overblown
PC rarely took more than 20 kids. The expansion just means more competition for and dilution of talent. USC is not going into a down cycle either. We played with fewer than 75 last season w/out sanctions. In the 05 championship year, we only had 75, excluding walk-on scholies, IIRC.
AGree with Ev. USC is USC. Oregon has now become a major competitor in recruiTing, but that’s all about Nike and has nothing to do with sanctions.
A Quick Note for the Quitters
No comment from this thread will be deleted. You will have to own them when we get it turned around and beat Southern Cal. You will never ride the bandwagon when we come back. Not on BN. GO BRUINS.
by Nestor on Sep 4, 2010 9:24 PM CDT
Agree!
It’s important to remember that USC meets students’ full demonstrated need, plus they offer every variety of academic scholarships.
There are a lot of smart local kids that have the football chops without the multiple stars. Some of these guys would kill for an opportunity to play Trojan football. Why pack-up and move to some backwater? Opportunity is knocking and more Trojan legends will be born!
Who will win the inaugural Clay Matthews Award?
"The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." - Joseph Stalin
U feeling Loco?
USC recruting numbers -- 2005-2009
From 2005-2009, these are the numbers of USC
2005: 17 players sent in NOI’s (Walker Ashley failed to qualify)
2006: 24 players sent in NOI’s (Kenny Ashley failed to qualify, Alfred Rowe failed to qualify)
2007: 18 players sent in NOI’s (Trey Henderson switched to track.)
2008: 19 players sent in NOI’s (Daniel Campbell never qualifed, Maurice Simmons went to jail)
2009: 18 players sent in NOI’s (Frankie Telfort not medically cleared to play.)
The thing is 15 scholies for three years is doable. In 5 years Carroll never signed more than 19 except for 2006. And Carroll loved those OOS Ka-booms!
In 2009 Carroll signed only 11 kids from Cali. In 2008, 15; in 2007, 12; in 2006, 16; in 2005, 13. And I am including all of California. Limit it to SoCal only and, for example, in 2007 Carroll signed only 9 kids from Southern California.
From 2005 to 2009, Carroll left a lot of Southern California kids open to other schools. So this isn’t anything new.
My guess, the staff will focus almost exclusively from Southern California during the sacntions regime, and only go out of area for the sure-thing skill position studs. We will not see many, if any, OOS Ka-booms! for a long while.
by Zoulou on Aug 27, 2011 9:35 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
+1 Excellent!
A Quick Note for the Quitters
No comment from this thread will be deleted. You will have to own them when we get it turned around and beat Southern Cal. You will never ride the bandwagon when we come back. Not on BN. GO BRUINS.
by Nestor on Sep 4, 2010 9:24 PM CDT
Yessssssssss!
Look closely at GPA’s, SAT’s, essays and character references from TEACHERS not just coaches. Need based aid will rule the day. Project Stanfurd reaches down to football recruiting. Win!
"The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." - Joseph Stalin
U feeling Loco?
Yes we already have 10 recruits committed and with only 5 left
We have the cream and the others will fight for the left overs, if you notice USC has pick 99% southern Cal players we only get 5 more and maybe some rich or smart walk ons. It is just like losing that dumb-shit from Crenshaw, hell why was USC going after a kid with handed down grades and a questionable Sat. That was the problem with the last 2 PC years to many stupid ones with lots of stars, only so many can start and who wants the criminals anyway.
Who--What--Slim Shady----the ncaa is after all the BS they are lying out----and just remember they will rewrite history every seven years after the fact. Tennesse will get off with nothing on the violations, but that really doesn't matter they suck anyway.
by so.cal.native1952 on Aug 28, 2011 4:20 PM PDT reply actions
Well so.cal., as always you're the one with the balls to say what has to be said!
"The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." - Joseph Stalin
U feeling Loco?
I am glad that USC is going after kids that will go to class and the library, instead of going out looking for trouble.
Hopefully what happen to Marc Tyler (suspension) will wake up the kids and incoming players will understand it is Football and Books at USC. If they want to steal Backpacks and Laptops they can go to Oregon and Ucla.
Who--What--Slim Shady----the ncaa is after all the BS they are lying out----and just remember they will rewrite history every seven years after the fact. Tennesse will get off with nothing on the violations, but that really doesn't matter they suck anyway.
by so.cal.native1952 on Aug 30, 2011 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Cal has been successful with Tosh Lupoi but like UCLA it isn’t the recruits. it’s what you do with them on the field. Tedford ain’t all that…
The number of kids Cal has been sending to the NFL in recent years would seem to contradict this rather abrupt and dismissive conclusion.
But I get where you’re coming from. Cal has been a huge disappointment on the field for the last three seasons. Of course, it’s no coincidence that happens to correllate perfectly with Tedford having actively and intentionally removing himself from the player development side of coaching to become more the “CEO.”
So, if anything, the evidence seems to indicate that Tedford is actually a pretty good coach to develop players, as when he is directly involved Cal did pretty well (see 2003 – 2007).
And now, back to your regularly scheduled comments
"Thanks. Go Bears!" - Ernest Owusu: the next great Cal DE
You guys have one of toughest "away" schedules in the Pac 12 this year!
On paper, you guys are fucked this year. But, for some reason, I feel this is Tedford’s year. It’s just a hunch, and I am 100% in agreement with you over Tedford and his ability to coach players. It’s his team again this year. Because you’re right- Tedford delegated too much these past 2 years- he’s given assistants too much say-so. I hear this year, he’ll be making the play calls again (+1), he’s got a great new QB in Zach AND- he has great trust in his players- a quality in a coach that is hard to come by.
I have you guys winning more of your away games than most people think you will. I have you guys owning Stanford, your seniors won’t stand for losing this year. That’s the difference, I feel.
With new former assistants coming back and insane potential for offensive firepower, I’d feel rather upbeat if I were a die-hard Bear fan. I’m a fan of Cal, moreso than any other Pac12 team that isn’t USC.
Good luck and here’s hoping Zach in the new coming of Nate, er. . . .Aaron. (super bowl MVP, yo!)
by BixBeiderbecke on Aug 29, 2011 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions
I Like Tedford ( he went to my High school and JC), but he is an ex-QB and seems to have a hard time getting over that hump.
But I feel some day he will rise above and take care of that, hopefully this year. I rather see Cal win the pac-12 this year than anyone else.
Who--What--Slim Shady----the ncaa is after all the BS they are lying out----and just remember they will rewrite history every seven years after the fact. Tennesse will get off with nothing on the violations, but that really doesn't matter they suck anyway.
by so.cal.native1952 on Aug 29, 2011 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I can’t disagree with anything any of you guys said. I certainly didn’t mean to make it sound like Tedford is some sort of super coach, with the power of Don Shula, Tom Landry, Vince Lombardi, Bear Bryant, Andy Smith, and John McKay.
We Cal fans (at least sensible ones) blame the poor results of the last three years on the failings of the coaches. Our OL and QB coaches were sub-par, and it showed in how those units performen. The OL in particular was bad, resulting in the entire offense sputtering.
Of course, now that Tedford once again has his guys, there are no excuses. And while most Cal fans (at least sensible ones) don’t expect 10 wins and a BCS game this year, we know that it is time to shit or get off the pot. We hope to see some consistency and solid play this year, and do expect to do very well next year.
Anyway, I didn’t mean to hijack this thread at all. As far as how the sanctions will affect you guys, I expect it will be noticed, but not to the level of crippling your results. Ultimately, this will be a real test of your coaches to not only be able to properly evaluate recruits, but to develop them properly. And kids will still likely have USC at the top of their lists, so the ones you really want will probably sign. It’s just that now you won’t be able to get as many of them as you did. As far as who will now be able to poach them, I don’t think there is a simple answer. Assuming that the guys across town will is silly. They may have gained a little leverage, but there’s been little to suggest that they will have more pull than someone like Oregon, ND, or Michigan. And, with both Utah and Colorado now in the division, their competition has only become more tight. I’d bet Utah is the team that ends up the best out of this: they’re trendy, they’re good, they’re clean, and they seem like a school with some buzz.
"Thanks. Go Bears!" - Ernest Owusu: the next great Cal DE
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