tOfficial 2008 Football Recruiting Thread

Heaph · 01-15-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartan80

Silly statement. It's the 18 yr old kid making the choice, not the coach. You can make every logical argument in the world to a 18 yr. old but that doesn't mean they make a good choice. If Hill and Fitzgerald both go to um to fight it out with the other 4 LB recruits instead of coming to MSU and starting, that's their choice, there's no button the coached can push to make the kid commit to MSU.

Dantonio and the staff will get it done. If it isn't with the 4 star kids in this class, they'll do it with a darkhorse or the kids already in the pipeline. Look at it this way, MSU may already have recruited next years Greg Jones.

spartan80,
Thank you for an articulate, well thought and rational post. I know guys are freaking out here but I am looking forward to watching out team. This last year was alot of fun to watch (frustrating at times but fun nonetheless).

MichState04 · 01-15-2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartan80

A) MSU's class will be close to Minnesota's once 25 slots are filled. The difference now is MSU has 17 commits.

B) Were you around for probation in the late 70's? It was somewhat a drag beating um in AA 24 -15 and NOT going to the Rose Bowl. Zook will get caught, sooner or later.

The A part shoots your theory right out of the water...a 1-11 team should not be recruiting anywhere near a 7-6 team.

burnsmi4 · 01-15-2008, 02:37 PM

A little something from Scout.com full article link at the bottom

Quote:

OPINION: U-M, MSU Battle As Signing Day Nears

By Mike Fowler
Managing Editor
Posted Jan 15, 2008

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio and his staff are working day and night to restore the pride and the winning tradition to East Lansing, but yesterday's events show the Green-and-White are going to have to work even harder to win some of these critical battles.

EAST LANSING - Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio and his staff are working day and night to restore the pride and the winning tradition to East Lansing, but yesterday's events show the Green-and-White are going to have to work even harder to win some of these critical battles.
With the new coaching staff at Michigan yet to have called some key verbal commitments, Michigan State appears to have been working behind the scenes to get some neglected players to visit, notably linebacker J.B. Fitzgerald, defensive end Marcus Witherspoon and offensive lineman Rocko Khoury (--ed. note: family members of some of these players have told GSN that they have not talked to Rodriguez and are not sure where they stand, so they are "keeping their options open.").

However, yesterday following his official visit to East Lansing, linebacker Taylor Hill traveled to Ann Arbor unofficially and committed to Michigan.

The move was stunning on first glance and appeared to be a setback to MSU's efforts, but not so much when one realizes that Hill had committed to Rich Rodriguez when he was at West virginia, so getting an offer to UM and him reuniting with Rodriguez in Ann Arbor makes sense.

Sources have told GSN that U-M probably wouldn't have made a move on Hill if not for the visits taken by Witherspoon and Fitzgerald to other schools.

Scout.com: OPINION: U-M, MSU Battle As Signing Day Nears

Plate of Shrimp · 01-15-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichState04

The A part shoots your theory right out of the water...a 1-11 team should not be recruiting anywhere near a 7-6 team.

Who in their class besides Gray excites you? Is it the Jucos?

Old Hort · 01-15-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

Honestly, I think he's giving MSU one last shot tonight. Iowa and Alabama are both tempting mistresses at this point for one reason or another. He's been very deliberate and level-headed --

needs to do his best to close here. Can't let a 4* legacy recruit slip through the cracks IMHO.

I must say I am getting a little sick of this "Dantonio needs to learn how to close" and "why don't we have the same recruiting success that Illinois and Minnesota" have? crap. First of all, what exactly do you think this staff needs to do to bring in Ingram? He has been on campus for many games, he has seen practices, he is coming to a BBall game, and he has been here for an official. Do you really think that the staff is telling these guys that we don't need them here?

I will tell you what I think this staff does: I think they tell the truth and are looking for some guys who have more than just ability, they are looking for guys who have ability, grades and the mentality to be successful.

Let us wait to see how many of Illinois and Minnesota's guys qualify before we judge classes.

Now, for all you who think Dantonio needs to "learn to close", please, let all of us know exactly how a good college recruiter closes.

spartan80 · 01-15-2008, 02:46 PM

Later in the article Fowler mentions Cedric Everson ditching MSU on signing day last year, then asks questions like 'which players will end up where', and who "will never make an impact'. It would be nice if Fowler connected the dots and mentioned that Everson didn't last a year at Iowa, instead of making it appear to be a significant loss for MSU.

Sort of another pointless article, newsflash MSU has to compete with um for the best recruits and it's an uphill battle.

spartan80 · 01-15-2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichState04

The A part shoots your theory right out of the water...a 1-11 team should not be recruiting anywhere near a 7-6 team.

Just the opposite. The 7 - 6 team is recruiting exactly the way a 7 - 6 team would be expected to recruit, or a little better. It's the 1 - 11 team that's throwing the curve out of alignment. Where did Minnesota finish in the RPI, and where does their class rank, and how do you explain the huge discrepancy? Keep in mind, Minnesota plays in the Humpty Dumpty Dome, and doesn't even have their own stadium, except on paper.

Dantonio is going to do it the right way, and it will probably take a little longer, but it will be solid when it's done.

TruSpartan24 · 01-15-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

Honestly, I think he's giving MSU one last shot tonight. Iowa and Alabama are both tempting mistresses at this point for one reason or another. He's been very deliberate and level-headed --

needs to do his best to close here. Can't let a 4* legacy recruit slip through the cracks IMHO.

It looks like it is up to Enos to close the deal tonight then....because from what I hear Coach D is on the recruiting trail and won't be back on campus until this weekend...hopefully Enos can pull it off...

Scully60 · 01-15-2008, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Hort

Now, for all you who think Dantonio needs to "learn to close", please, let all of us know exactly how a good college recruiter closes.

They close like any good salesman closes, they sell themselves. This coaching staff is selling this coaching staff. A kid has to say "I want to play for him." Spurrier did it at South Carolina, Zook did it at Illinois, and Minnesota's coach (whatever his name is), is doing it at Minnesota. It great to recruit good kids, but why bring a kid on campus if you know he's not a good kid? If he's not a good kid, why didn't we know this earlier?

msusnee · 01-15-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TruSpartan24

It looks like it is up to Enos to close the deal tonight then....because from what I hear Coach D is on the recruiting trail and won't be back on campus until this weekend...hopefully Enos can pull it off...

Is this normal? It seems to me that at this stage of the game Dantonio should be there. Perry and Ingram are the two biggest recruits still on the board, shouldn't

be there?

SpartanGA · 01-15-2008, 03:07 PM

is out doing in homes with other key recruits....he has spent a lot of time with Ingram and Perry. I hope he is visiting Lucas and Smith.

TruSpartan24 · 01-15-2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msusnee

Is this normal? It seems to me that at this stage of the game Dantonio should be there. Perry and Ingram are the two biggest recruits still on the board, shouldn't

be there?

I definitely agree...but does the coaching staff actually go to the games with the recuits? In previous games, has Coach D been there, or do they go with current players?

AASpartan · 01-15-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithsonga

is out doing in homes with other key recruits....he has spent a lot of time with Ingram and Perry. I hope he is visiting Lucas and Smith.

He was out on the west coast visiting Stevens and a couple other players. I know that much.

SpartanGA · 01-15-2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AASpartan

He was out on the west coast visiting Stevens and a couple other players. I know that much.

really...good for him to not give up.

I just wonder who else is in the running in these final days that we have no idea. No sense speculating. He did a great job closing out last years class, lets watch this year.

DantonIzzo · 01-15-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Hort

I must say I am getting a little sick of this "Dantonio needs to learn how to close"

I couldn't agree more -- I'm just saying that tonight's our last "visit" time with Ingram and Perry. Signing day is about three weeks from now, so it's now or never.

Sonny SixKill · 01-15-2008, 03:38 PM

The final Rivals top 100 list is out.

OSU has 3 Five stars
Saban as 2 Five stars
Nick Perry is still a 4 star at #56

Rivals.com Prospect Rankings

calispartan · 01-15-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonny SixKill

The final Rivals top 100 list is out.

OSU has 3 Five stars
Saban as 2 Five stars
Nick Perry is still a 4 star at #56

Rivals.com Prospect Rankings

Perry dropped 25 spots in about a month with nothing going on???

JBSpartan4life · 01-15-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

I couldn't agree more -- I'm just saying that tonight's our last "visit" time with Ingram and Perry.

no its not dantonio will have an in-home with ingram a little later on this week and I'm sure he'll meet with perry again as well.

TeamCaptainJohn · 01-15-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calispartan

Perry dropped 25 spots in about a month with nothing going on???

he listed MSU as a top 3

DantonIzzo · 01-15-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBSpartan4life

no its not dantonio will have an in-home with ingram a little later on this week and I'm sure he'll meet with perry again as well.

But it's the last on-campus visit, correct?

JBSpartan4life · 01-15-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

But it's the last on-campus visit, correct?

possibly who knows.

Gods03 · 01-15-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

But it's the last on-campus visit, correct?

I would think so. In the latest rivals update, Ingram commented on his in-home with the Iowa coaches today, stated nothing too remarkable about the visit, and he stated that he was going to the MSU game tonight, and that he really wanted to talk to the coaches to get his final in-home visit scheduled with

.

Desert Green · 01-15-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

I couldn't agree more -- I'm just saying that tonight's our last "visit" time with Ingram and Perry. Signing day is about three weeks from now, so it's now or never.

The bball team playing a good game would be a great close...hopefully they pulled their heads out from the iowa debacle...I really believe atmosphere is a big factor in recruiting.

SpartanGA · 01-15-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gods03

I would think so. In the latest rivals update, Ingram commented on his in-home with the Iowa coaches today, stated nothing too remarkable about the visit, and he stated that he was going to the MSU game tonight, and that he really wanted to talk to the coaches to get his final in-home visit scheduled with

.

This has a good ring to it....come to the bball game and a final

in home...his final campus visit and in home visit...nail it down!

staterules · 01-15-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

But it's the last on-campus visit, correct?

Ingram and Perry can visit MSU anytime they want unofficially -- which is what they are doing tonight. If MSU has another game between now and singing day that fits in their schedules they can visit again.

Coach D is positioning himself to be the last HC to have an in home with Ingram either late this week or early next week. MSU is using tonight's campus visit to quell the afterglow of Ingram's visit to Bama last weekend -- thus sandwiching all the other coach's visits around MSU visits. . . smart planning on Coach D's part.