The National Signing Day Thread

Egor's Assistant

SAVE CHATTER Lower Expectations.
Lifetime Member
Nov 3, 2017
9,915
33,195
The baby giraffe may grow up. Or not. (Those of you doubting he will may well be right.)
Why the lack of faith? You can't hedge your bets like that. You're supposed to be a Theologian. Take that leap from the lion's head and proclaim your faith in duck-faced, giraffe boy. No straddling the line. Otherwise, how can we crucify you when you're wrong?
 

Theologator

Enchanter
Lifetime Member
Aug 11, 2015
8,248
15,806
I think Jones will be the starter next year. Yeah I'm sure franks and idk who else will be in the competition. But this offense is made for a QB like Emory Jones. We have a very experienced offensive line and plenty of runningbacks. We should be able to lean on our running game. I personally hope Toney gets another look at qb this spring.

I hope Toney gets a shot too. Someone posted some detailed stats that indicated he is a high percentage passer and of course can really move when he runs. I just want that kid on the field.
 

Egor's Assistant

SAVE CHATTER Lower Expectations.
Lifetime Member
Nov 3, 2017
9,915
33,195
Disagree on Brissett. He had a real solid college career and was a good decision maker. He was not prone to sacks or interceptions. He was also a very effective runner despite his size. I used to try to explain back in the day that this kid was an outstanding point guard (!) on a state championship team in high school. He was used to leading, directing and making decisions. Somehow his poise and composure became ridiculed on message boards and became a running joke. He was Muschamp’s worst decision in my opinion. He won the starting job....took the first snap of the first game and then sat nearly every game thereafter until getting a start late in the season against Jax State and playing poorly. He was then written off as a QB much like Cam Newton after a poor O&B performance. I said back then that you could mark my words that Jacoby would have a 15 year NFL career.
Couldn't agree more. Plus, he would of recruited the offensive guys that Muschamp was ignoring in order to stack his defense. Brissett had the love of the players. I think he was a little too much of a showboat for MuscleCramp. But I also think we would have gotten a shot at a Natty that year we went 11-2 and had that incredible defense coached by Dan Quinn.
 

Swamp Donkey

Founding Member
7-14 vs P5 Fire Stricklin First
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
78,161
109,974
Founding Member
Wait, what? How? Explain please.
They tend to give extra stars to players that were targeted by him. Bammer and now Ugly get that treatment now. Ugly never had so many 5 stars in the state before. IMO they are probably not really that much more talented.

He also lobbied them directly. There were some mentions of it back in the day. I forget the story. Creyer desperately wanted to win championships in Feb AND Nov.
 

MJMGator

Founding Member
Slightly amused
Lifetime Member
Jun 10, 2014
20,038
41,113
Founding Member
Funny what 36 TDs in 4 years will get you these days.

He wasnt even the best QB in his. Ask Bortles.

Creyer had so much influence over the services back then.
I think those 36 TDs were his senior year in HS...not a 4 year accumulation.
 

Egor's Assistant

SAVE CHATTER Lower Expectations.
Lifetime Member
Nov 3, 2017
9,915
33,195
They tend to give extra stars to players that were targeted by him. Bammer and now Ugly get that treatment now. Ugly never had so many 5 stars in the state before. IMO they are probably not really that much more talented.

He also lobbied them directly. There were some mentions of it back in the day. I forget the story. Creyer desperately wanted to win championships in Feb AND Nov.
I see. Inflated Star Power leading to bloated rankings, inspired by God.

"God told my you're really a 5* and you should come join our #1 Best Recruiting Class Ever."
 

BMF

Bad Mother....
Lifetime Member
Sep 8, 2014
25,399
59,219
(from the guy on TOS recruiting board - Slevin's favorite poster):

Sorry for the late posting. I’ve been a bit under the weather. (where did that phrase come from?)

Let’s get to it.

Overall Grade: I am an instructor and I give grades based on percentile. UF came in at 13 or so depending on who you go by. That is a B. Let’s be honest, I was disappointed in the finish. That said, when we add in the transfers the improvement of the team as a whole should be significant.

QB: Emory Jones, Could be the starter from day one, we don’t know. On paper this was a very good addition for UF. Grade A

RB: Dameon Pierce, I love his film and he gives UF a different look. Scarlett returns and UF looks deep and talented at RB. Grade A

Athlete: Iverson Clement: very mature, natural leader. Where will he play? RB, WR, could even play some D and could be a ST demon. Every team needs someone like IC. Hearing he may start at WR. Grade A

TE: Kyle Pitts, Dante Lang. Pitts is a potential star at TE and Lang has all the tools. Many feel Lang is or could be a better fit on the other side of the ball. His size and speed make him useful on ST as well.

Grade A+

OL: Chris Bleich, Noah Banks, King Rich and Griffin McDowell. UF stole Bleich from UCLA and Chip Kelly. That is worth a letter grade almost. Banks has great size. King Rich is the highest ranked of the four and McDowell is a good late addition. This could turn out to be a great O-line class however it’s a far cry from what at one time looked to be an outstanding O-line class. Grade C, If we however add in the transfer Delance then this grade becomes a B.

WR: I’m grading this with the transfers of Grimes and Jefferson in addition to Copeland and Watkins. I love this group. In addition Watkins has the ability to move to CB if needed. At least one KR or PR will emerge from this group also. Grade A

DL: Malik Langham, Andrew Chatfield. Langham was a great addition and should be a good fit for TG’s system. The 4* guy has a great frame to be a monster. The question with AC is how will he be used? As I’m not sure where to peg him I put him on DL. Still only signing two for DL when you need at least 3-4 lowers the grade to a C-. If we add in the transfer Dunlap it brings the grade up to a B-.

LB: David Reese, I hope he and the other David Reese get to play together at some point just to hear how Mic will handle it. Reese has good film and could be a very good backer at some point for UF. However only signing one brings this grade down to a C- at best. We should all be glad of the two returning backers from the suspended list.

DB’s: I’m not counting Russell but I hope he stays involved with the team. Jonathan Huggins, Trey Dean, Amari Burney. Huggins is a prototypical safety who has the frame to be a Keanu Neal type guy. Or he could put on 2o #s and move to linebacker. Burney is and has been one of my favorites. Burney is a future star IMO. He also has the ability to play close to the LOS. Dean impressed at the AA game and can play CB or FS. A late defection kept this group from getting an A+. That said I will still give them a B+.

Kicker: McPherson, UF needed a good replacement for the great one. This could save a game or two a year. Grade A

Fsu: the noles finished well but may have 1-2 not qualify. I always said free Willie would do well in recruiting. As much as we wish to see them fail, they will always recruit well. That said, UF improved their situation and the Noles did not IMO.

Vols: Some late defections hurt UT. I do give their staff some credit for saving a potential disaster. Get ready, my wife’s cousin from jail in Murfreesboro Tenn. is already claiming the SEC EAST.

UGA: What can you say? The doggies have it going. It is actually to UF’s benefit if UT, SC, GT, Bama and Auburn do a better job in Georgia. UF just needs to take back the state of Florida.

TA&M: Give Jimmy some credit. He saved a class that looked much depleted after Sumlins firing. The aggies were the highest risers on NSD.

LSU: O my, angst in tigerland. Coach O and his seat is getting hot. (Related story below). Tiger fans were counting on a top 10 finish. That did not happen and the Tiger class is rated below UF.

Candy’s predictions grade:

Boykin: I missed just like everyone else. I think the kid just changed his mind at the last minute. I do not think he was a game player.

Caleb Johnson: I missed on CJ. I believe UF was his 2nd choice and his first choice made a spot for him after a spot came open.

Dorian Gerald: I started feeling a turn for DG when he delayed his announcement. I am still laughing at the Arkansas pick. I had him going to the Aggies after his delayed announcement. On the CB predictions Arky was only at 4%. No one saw this coming. BTW Arkansas had the lowest rated class in the SEC.

Caleb Tannor: I got word late that Tannor was heading to Nebraska. He had been trending UF. As with many of these guys, you never know what happened to do these turn arounds.

Nesta Silvera: I was cautious with this one but on NSD eve, I had been told that NS was going to be a Gator. I took a peek at the internet early morning and saw he stuck with the Canes.

NPF: hardest guy to read. Here is the story. I have a friend who is a big OSU guy. On Monday we talked and he said, that OSU people he talked to expected NPF to stay in Florida. Tuesday afternoon, he texted me and asked what I was hearing. I told him NPF was starting to get some CB’s to the Buckeyes. He texted back and said he was hearing the same thing. One day and you get a complete turnaround.

Hits: Copeland, Watkins, Chatfield, King Rich, McDowell, Langham. Funny I was more confident about some UF missed on than those who signed.

OK, the Tiger story: I posted I was taking the field over lsu for PS2. Last week, my good contact in tigerland alerted me that lsu was worried that PS2 was in doubt. He asked me to check around and we would talk the next day. Our conversation the next day went something like this.

Me: Canes don’t think they get him or Tyson Campbell and they are worried Silvera is going to UF

Him: My contacts say he is staying in Florida, do you think he signs with the Gators.

Me: I’ve heard nothing to make me think that. Clemson thinks they have a shot.

Him: Clemson! Hell no, I know he ain’t going to Clemson.

Me: What about Bama?

Him: Damn it, I hate it but I’m afraid that he is going to GD Saban.

Me: I don’t want him in Florida if he is not a Gator.

30 Minutes or so Later:

Him: Candy, f-ing Surtain is going to Bama. Heard it from a good source.

Me: Sorry man, at least you still get Goodrich.

Him: silence for 3-4 seconds, we ain’t sure about that one either, that GD Ogeron.

Me: let’s talk after signing day.

Our next conversation was entertaining as he said the fans are really upset with O. They also have the highest paid DC in America. Boosters are saying 2019 is a big year for Coach O.

Miami Guy: Canes went from thinking they were getting 4 AH guys to just hanging on to NS. One late rumor that I never bought into was UF was going to get PS2, Chatfield and Silvera in a package deal. I might would have went for it if not for the lsu info.

More stuff next time as I remember more stuff that happened.

Closing Comments: Transition years are tough. Fortunately for UF, FSU, UT, Aggies all had transition classes also. I wait to see how CDM and staff approach recruiting with an entire year to work with. My mantra will be to take back the State and get back some of the 2019 de-commits.
 

Swamp Donkey

Founding Member
7-14 vs P5 Fire Stricklin First
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
78,161
109,974
Founding Member
Just out of curiosity, anyone know who were the 5* QB's in that recruiting cycle?
I dont think there were any but Dipshytskel had all the scouting report problems (unable to read defenses, lack of composure) that we had to live with, so he wasnt considered worthy of a 5 star.

Another funny point, prostyle QBs are worth more in the formulas so we pushed for Driskel tonbe called a prostyle even though he was mostly a runner.


Edit: here is the list. pretty bad class actually. https://n.rivals.com/position_rankings/football/2011/PRO

I remember being so hopeful of that guy til I saw his film. Then so.glad we convinced Brissett to come also.... then Chimp declared he was going to play Dipshyskel regardless.
 
Last edited:

Theologator

Enchanter
Lifetime Member
Aug 11, 2015
8,248
15,806
Why the lack of faith? You can't hedge your bets like that. You're supposed to be a Theologian. Take that leap from the lion's head and proclaim your faith in duck-faced, giraffe boy. No straddling the line. Otherwise, how can we crucify you when you're wrong?

I’m wise enough not to go all-in on a 20-year-old in the middle of a coaching change.

Be honest. Put yourself in his shoes. If she told YOU to make a duck face selfie...
 

Egor's Assistant

SAVE CHATTER Lower Expectations.
Lifetime Member
Nov 3, 2017
9,915
33,195
I dont think their were any but Dipshytskel had all the scouting report problems (unable to read defenses, lack of composure) that we had to live with, so he wasnt considered worthy of a 5 star.

Another funny point, prostyle QBs are worth more in the formulas so we pushed for Driskel tonbe called a prostyle even though he was mostly a runner.


Edit: here is the list. pretty bad class actually. https://n.rivals.com/position_rankings/football/2011/PRO
Thanks Swanky. Weak class for sure. Seems he was the Number one guy on that list and UGA had the number one rated class. Shows once again that ranking aren't everything.
 

Egor's Assistant

SAVE CHATTER Lower Expectations.
Lifetime Member
Nov 3, 2017
9,915
33,195
I’m wise enough not to go all-in on a 20-year-old in the middle of a coaching change.

Be honest. Put yourself in his shoes. If she told YOU to make a duck face selfie...
I would Duck Face for CaseyGator, so yes, I get it. You ain't truly Macho if you can't make fun of yourself and act a fool every now and then. Doesn't change the fact that Franks can't play worth a darn.
 

BMF

Bad Mother....
Lifetime Member
Sep 8, 2014
25,399
59,219
I dont think their were any but Dipshytskel had all the scouting report problems (unable to read defenses, lack of composure) that we had to live with, so he wasnt considered worthy of a 5 star.

Another funny point, prostyle QBs are worth more in the formulas so we pushed for Driskel tonbe called a prostyle even though he was mostly a runner.


Edit: here is the list. pretty bad class actually. https://n.rivals.com/position_rankings/football/2011/PRO

I remember being so hopeful of that guy til I saw his film. Then so.glad we convinced Brissett to come also.... then Chimp declared he was going to play Dipshyskel regardless.

If you look at both the DUAL and PRO, there isn't a single 5-star. That can't be accurate, right? Regardless, thanks for doing the research. The Pro list is weak, but the Dual list had some solid QBs (2 Heisman winners; Mariotta, and Manziel, plus Braxton Miller and Brett Hundley).
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Help Users

You haven't joined any rooms.

    Forum statistics

    Threads
    31,642
    Messages
    1,615,448
    Members
    1,642
    Latest member
    fishermb