How many more TE's and OL do we take?

[BryceC]

I'm just curious, with Lichtenburg and Boffelli already in the fold, along with apparently that Howard guy with an offer, and Wenrick, how many more TE's and O-Linemen do you think we'll take? It seems like we have quite a stable already on campus but definitely depth and competition are great. I just don't know how many guys a team should have in the pipe.

 

[wheels686]

I assume we will take the Juco All American James Carpenter, I read somewhere about him to where he would committ to us after his visit. As some may recall he signed with us before knowing he wouldnt make it academically but we wanted him still and that was a way for us to stay in front. Now Oklahoma, Ole miss and earlier florida and tennessee have been after him. We have been his favorite for a long time but not sure if we still are. He would be a great addition

 

[bmuff]

I personally would like to see them take both Wenrick and Howard. IMO Boffeli will be moved to the OL before his RS year is over. By next year, they'll already be heavy on upperclassmen TEs with Catlett being a SR and Franklin a JR.

But, I have a feeling that they'll take whichever of Howard or Wenrick that commits first. As for OL, I think that the spots are slim now. Tuftee will be a part of this class along with Lichtenburg and (probably) Boffeli. I think that they hold a spot for the JUCO Carpenter if he's interested. That would be 3 HS and 1 JC. I could see them going after one more HS player (probably a true Center?) assuming that this class is normal size. Basically, I think that the OL recruiting now comes down to finding one more HS kid and trying to get Carpenter to visit and commit.

 

[CYVADER]

I don't think you can get to many lineman.

 

[Nedrick]

Just my 2¢, but I think TE's can transition to a number of positions (if they don't stick). There's always O. tackle, but could go DE as well. With the weight programs today, it's not a stretch to add 50 lbs. to these high school TE's and put them on either side of the line...

 

[zdorr40]

IMO, we need a few more D-Linemen. Seems like the only linemen we've been getting are OL. Maybe one or two will switch to DL.

 

[ajk4st8]

We NEED defensive front 7 badly.

 

[BryceC]

I definitely won't argue with you there. Need the bodies on the D-Line and LB's.

 

[Aclone]

It seems like we have quite a stable already on campus but definitely depth and competition are great. I just don't know how many guys a team should have in the pipe.

"Quite a stable already"? With the same players covering two positions Tight end as well as fullback/hback), we have Collin Franklin, Derrick Catlett and maybe Kurt Hammerschmidt--if he doesn't play elsewhere. I'd say that tight end is a position of significant need. I hope we sign two or three--and I haven't yet seen a single player that I think will eventually be a star at the position, including last signing class.

As far as signing "tight ends", just remember how easily theu convert to other positions. For example, one guy on the list I find an intriguing athlete that no one is talking about is Walter Hardin. Even if he doesn't possess the receiving skills, that kind of size and athleticism easily translates elsewhere. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up signing four or five guys listed as "tight ends". I also remember the position coach talking about how what they are looking for is guys 6-5 or 6-6 who can really run.

I assume we will take the Juco All American James Carpenter, I read somewhere about him to where he would committ to us after his visit.

I'd love to get Carpenter. As far as the rest of the OL, Coach made a big point last February about how athleticism on the OL has to be improved. Lichtenberg and (perhaps) Boffelli help, but they (and their predecessors the last two years) are just a start. I'd say that we sign three, maybe four offensive linemen--at least a juco left tackle, a prep center and a guard...along with Lichtenberg.

We NEED defensive front 7 badly.

I can't quite agree, I think that there is plenty of talent there, we just haven't seen them play yet. Well, linebacker needs depth (and a future), and defensive end graduates a lot of guys, but aside from immediately needing strongside ends and young weakside ends, I can't say "badly".

I know that a lot of people are pleased with Boffelli's commitment, but remember, he may end up playing baseball. Quite frankly, with the lack of depth at the position, I'd happily take Wenrick, Tracy Moore and Howard--and a player or two we haven't seen yet.

 

[cyismydog]

I think we take Darion Howard, and not Wenrick.

 

[CYVADER]

I think we take Darion Howard, and not Wenrick.

i thought wenrick was ours to lose, he was quoted on scout saying that he was 99% sure he would commit to us: Scout.com: Wenrick Very Happy With Visit To Iowa State

i agree with aclone. we need big guys like this with a motor. also, what's up with mansfield? is he ever gonna get pt, or will he just kinda be a scout team guy?

 

[wheels686]

I hope we take both

 

[bmuff]

We NEED defensive front 7 badly.

I don't know about "badly". They did a good job on the interior DL last year with Laing and Ruemplehamer, not to mention that Haughton could play there and McDonough could move inside pretty easily. I thought that they did a decent job recruiting LB last year too with Ferguson and Hamlin. What was really missing was DE, with only Maggitt and maybe McDonough.

For this class, I think that they go a little heavier on DE...maybe two HS kids and a JUCO. With the rotation needed, you can never ignore DT/NG, so maybe 1-2 of those guys. And then one player for each of the LB positions. Bell should step right in for Bibbs there, so there's no need to go JUCO.

 

[Wesley]

Colorado Buffs signed up 10 last year in their recruiting class. Never can have enough linemen on offense. You can alsways move them over to defense.

 

[BryceC]

I can't quite agree, I think that there is plenty of talent there, we just haven't seen them play yet.

I understand what you are saying, but if we had "plenty" of talent, I imagine we WOULD have seen them play by now. The D-Line wasn't terrible last year but it wasn't great by any means.

We have recruited a lot of guys to play the OL in the last two and current classes - D-line is still pretty much an enigma after Taylor and we really haven't heard a whole lot about them.

I don't know about "badly". They did a good job on the interior DL last year with Laing and Ruemplehamer, not to mention that Haughton could play there and McDonough could move inside pretty easily.

Correct me if I'm wrong but Laing didn't make it and neither McDonough or Haughton were recruited to play interior D-Line.

 

[Aclone]

I understand what you are saying, but if we had "plenty" of talent, I imagine we WOULD have seen them play by now. The D-Line wasn't terrible last year but it wasn't great by any means.

Well, except for the fact that Jerrod Black was redshirting, Michael Tate was adapting to DI and Austin Alburtis was still recuperating from injury, I'd say we have heard from them. Bailey Johnson played a good deal last year, and Nate Frere started several games as a true frosh--remember, he's only a junior.

Correct me if I'm wrong but Laing didn't make it and neither McDonough or Haughton were recruited to play interior D-Line.

Umm...I'm pretty sure that all we know is that Laing wasn't enrolled in summer school, because Canadian high schools run later into the summer.

And McDonough might have been recruited to play strongside end, but if he's up to 275 just over the summer (and it's good weight), it seems like he might well be on the way to being a tackle to me. He certainly wouldn't be playing end if he put on another twenty as he redshirts.

By the way--is Jake any relation to Seamus?

 

[Aclone]

Colorado Buffs signed up 10 last year in their recruiting class. Never can have enough linemen on offense. You can alsways move them over to defense.

Rarely do offensive linemen move to defense--it's usually the other way around.

 

[CyValley]

Colorado Buffs signed up 10 last year in their recruiting class. Never can have enough linemen on offense. You can alsways move them over to defense.

I've always thought it's the opposite, that big kids need superior quickness and that special muscle twitch to make it on the interior D-Line. If a kid is recruited as an O-Lineman -- given the premium on finding big kids with D-Line capabilities -- he's not likely to make it on the D-Line if he fails as an O-Lineman. That is, he would have been recruited as a D-Lineman initially.

From D-Line to O-Line, Brandon Johnson is an illustration, is the most likely route, not vice versa. But, maybe I've got it wrong.

 

[2020cy]

Jake not related to Seamus.

 

[lamp3d]

Boffeli is playing DE for Valley this year also. Their first game of the season he played more snaps on the defensive side of the ball. Maybe they like him for that position?