(from the guy on gatorcountry's recruiting board, candy - does a great job):
This and That
Thanks for all the activity on the board. This is going to be a good class IMO. Thanks for posting and the heads up.
UAAAG: No commits but a lot of good work done by our guys. Jones will be a leader.
OL Concerns: There legit, but I do feel confident UF will come out ok.
SOW: They had a major De-commitment in CB Kenyatta Watson. A 4 * corner that has had contact with UF. Watson is quoted as wanting to evaluate the academics of the various schools recruiting him. He has visits scheduled to UT and Notre Dame. UF may get in the mix but right now I would guess one of those two will get him. SOW still has a strong DB class.
SOW 2: Poor Willie, part of what made Taggert appealing was the potential staff he would bring. Thus far he seems to be having some trouble in that department.
SOW 3: S&C coach Irele Oderinde will join the SOW staff as expected. If he didn’t join the sow, Cristobol would not have retained him. Oderinde was suspended last year one month without pay after 3 Oregon players were hospitalized. It seems there is a strong difference of opinion on S&C between Cristobol and poor Willie.
LSU: Filled one of 4 slots picking up 4* safety Kelvin Joseph as I predicted last week.
LSU 2: Some crazy stuff started going on between TA&M and the Tigers. The aggies offered LSU DC Dave Aranda. LSU countered with a 10 Million (no it’s not a typo) 4 year deal. I asked my lsu contact how they could justify such a thing. Now we all know that Louisiana the state has budget problems but my guy knows one of the big wigs with the TAF and says that even though they are paying Miles a lot of money and now Canada a lot of parting money they have no money shortage when it comes to LSU athletics. He also told me that he has heard they are prepared to pay big bucks for the next OC.
TA&M: Jimmy lost a 4* linebacker who flipped to the Sooners. DaShaun White will join the Sooners. I guess after watching the Dawgs run all over the Sooner defense he saw playing time galore. Lincoln Riley has done a great job at OU. I was one, who felt Stoops retiring would be more negative but it seems that is not the case.
TA&M 2: The Aggies did hire DC Mike Elko away from ND as I predicted last week. I’m unsure why, if Jimmie had Elko lined up he offered Aranda. Perhaps the two are friends and Jimmie sure knows how to use other schools to get a raise. Regardless it will cost lsu big bucks.
T&M 3: Jimmie is starting to get it that he is not at sow anymore. All the Texas schools, lsu, Oklahoma and to a lesser extent the other sec schools are after the same guys. Now he will do ok, but I don't think Jimmie will have the highly ranked classes like he did at sow.
Jaylen Hall: I only mention him as he was linked with Matt Corral at one point that seems decades ago now. Hall is all but committed to the Ducks. Oregon fans are getting less and less upset that poor Willie spurned them for the sow.
Chauncy Manac: The Gators offered on Dec. 3rd, he committed to Cincinatti on Dec. 5th, De –Committed January 7th. Manac is a big talent but I’ve heard whispers of qualifying issues. Now those could be nothing or legit concerns.
Justin Watkins: pencil him in.
Candys Projected WR class: Jefferson, Grimes, Copeland, Watkins, +1 of several top guys. So you may ask what about Corey Gammage. The honest answer is I don’t know but I place him at 50/50 at best. He did visit Iowa State but the only chatter I’m detecting is from scum.
scUM: After a strong early signing class, it seems as if CMR may take some guys he was not planning on. Nigel Bethel is being slow played. Gammage has been offered but it depends on what others do or don’t. I do believe they get Silvera. Campbell is iffy and Surtain is a loooong shot. Chatman is a question mark on what he will do. In other words, not a lot of certainty in finishing out their class.
Noah Jefferson: He visits the 19th and I expect him to commit after the visit.
Xavier Peters: Visits the same week. I was told it is thought he will qualify or he would not be allowed to visit. If it gets cancelled, then you know where the problem is.
Quay Walker: is scheduled on the 12th. I don’t expect a public commit. I do think when he leaves the staff will know what his intentions are.
CB: Goodrich and Griffin are scheduled the same week. I can tell you lsu feels confident in Goodrich. Regardless, if they both make their visits, UF will IMO sell them on playing together. If only one makes it in, you sell them on being the jewel of an already very good DB class. After watching Trey Dean, I’m not worried about corner this class.
Walk Ons: I know for a fact that at least a few kids have been approached as preferred walk on status. I can’t say more than that right now.
2nd QB: Unless something changes, I do not see a second QB in this class.
Parting thoughts: With an exception or two, everyone left on the board is a high 3 * or better. Lieutenant Dan is going after the top guys and I respect that.
Loosing Hughes: With coaching changes you sometimes lose some good people. The Vols are doing some nice things in Knoxville and Hughes will be an asset for the program. The East is going to be a lot tougher to win going forward. IMO Pruitt has done a very good job in righting the shipwreck up there.
