http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php Forums to talk about High School Football and High School Basketball, College Football and College Basketball, Highlight Videos, and Recruiting en Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:11:00 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=34 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:30:44 GMT Welcome to the third edition of Accessing the Vault. As I said last week, most college coaches are on vacation right now, so there's not a whole lot going on. The big events coming up in the future are camps like Georgia's Dawg Night (7/16), Florida's Friday Night Lights camp (7/23), Florida State's Camp (7/21-7/24), and South Carolina's Showcase Camp (7/24). Many of the top 2011, and 2012 prospects will be at a number of these camps. For this week's edition, we will take a look at a number of high caliber prospects for the 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 class that you might not know about.

- In breaking down film this past week, a 2012 RB from Stratford HS in Goose Creek, SC caught my eye. Devin Washington is a bigger back and shared carries in the backfield last season. He had a couple of 100+ yard games and should be one of the top in-state RB's for 2012.

- Another RB to keep an eye on is 2013 prospect TJ Logan from Northern Guilford HS in Greensboro, NC. Logan came in last year during several blowouts and made quite an impression. I'm told he did well on JV last season, and the times that I saw him on Varsity, he made several runs that a freshman normally doesn't make.

- 2011 CB Darryl Jackson (West Rowan HS, Mt. Ulla, NC) is still looking for his first offer. Last season, Jackson started for North Rowan and transferred to West Rowan after the season. Being at West Rowan should help Jackson as they gear up for another state title run. Jackson will also be moving up a couple classifications to 3A football. He isn't the only Jackson to watch out for at West Rowan as his brother Desmond (2013 Prospect) starred on JV for North Rowan last year.

- North Rowan (Spencer, NC) has a D-1 caliber prospect in DL Javon Hargrave. Hargrave had a monster year last season and earned all-conference honors. He's 6-2, 260 and was also player of the year as a sophomore. Hargrave is a standout basketball player as well.

- The 2011 QB class in the Carolinas this year is just insane. One QB that is under the radar is North Raleigh Christian's (Raleigh, NC) Garrett Long. Long is 6-5, 200 pounds and runs a 4.7 40 time. Long has camped at Wake Forest, NC State, Duke, ECU, and Elon. ECU has shown a lot of interest, and Long loved Wake and Duke's camp.

- Speaking of ECU, they grabbed a pair of commitments recently. Big OL Stewart Hinson (Piedmont HS/Monroe, NC) and a prospect I am very high on, DL Terrell Stanley (South Brunswick HS/Southport, NC). Stanley chose ECU over offers from NC State, Arkansas, and Duke.

- It's a little early for 2014 recruits, but don't be suprised if you hear about QB Keller Chryst in a few years. Chryst is set to attend Weddington HS in Matthews, NC next year.

- Just down the road the defending state champion Butler HS Bulldogs have some young talent as well. 2013 WR Uriah LeMay already has a few D-1 offers, as does 2013 QB Riley Ferguson. Coach Newsome is very high on Ferguson and he should be a national recruit. Another 2013 recruit to keep an eye on is Peter Kalumbayi. Kalumbayi played out on the defensive line last season but he is athletic enough to play LB at 6-2, 220.

- Many across the nation already know about 2011 LB Norkeithus Otis (Ashbrook HS/Gastonia, NC). What many do not know is that Norkeithus has a brother named Nortavius that is a 2012 prospect. Nortavius plays safety for Ashbrook and I'm told that Maryland absolutely loves him as a prospect.

- Myrtle Beach (SC) is another school that year in and year out puts out a ton of talent. While they have some 2012 prospects that showed out on Varsity last season like WR Jaquan Wilson, and DL Trey Vivian, they have two other prospects in that class that made some plays in limited action. LB Kerry Chestnut and DE/LB Tyler Knox are those two prospects and made an impression on many schools this spring like NC State. ]]> athletevault http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=34 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=33 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:15:22 GMT Welcome to this week's edition of Accessing the Vault. It's definitely a slow time of the year with camps wrapping up and most college staffs going on vacation. Here are a few updates:

- Recently 2011 DB Pat Martin (J.L. Mann HS/Greenville, SC) visited Tennessee and named the Vols his leader. It's going to be tough to beat Tennessee as Martin loves their scheme and felt like the coaches were honest with him. He also feels like he can help turn Tennessee around. As far as distance goes, it's not that far from Greenville and Martin's mom really liked Coach Dooley.

- We hinted last week that 2012 DE Gimel President (Wando HS/Mt. Pleasant, SC) was going to get an offer from Maryland following attending their camp, and sure enough they came through with an offer. Obviously Maryland is high on President, but we're hearing that the feeling is mutual.

- Crest HS in Shelby, NC should be a very popular stop next spring for college recruiters. In fact, Florida stopped by this past spring and offered 2012 DB/RB Rhaheim Ledbetter. Ledbetter is the cousin of Brandon Spikes, and has been a starter since his freshman year. Known as a head hunter, last year when I stopped by the school I was told that during his freshman year Ledbetter broke four helmets of opposing players. He was also All-Region as a freshman. Last season he picked up where he left off, and he has some help with 2012 DL Jonathan Bullard, 2012 OL Dylan Hopper, and 2013 DE Dane Rogers...all should be D-1 recruits.

- Speaking of 2013 prospects, LB Ben Boulware from TL Hanna HS in Anderson, SC is one of the better 2013 prospects that AthleteVault has seen this year.

- Person HS in Roxboro, NC will be another popular stop next spring. 2011 OL Tre Richardson, 2012 OL Casey Lawson, and 2013 WR/DB Joseph Downey recently visited South Carolina and they had a great visit touring the campus. They return back the 21st of July to work out for the coaches.

- Woodruff HS (SC) has a big time 2012 DL/OL in Javarius Leaman and already has offers from Clemson, and South Carolina. He's also receiving serious interest from Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. Woodruff also has a 2011 WR/DB that is receiving interest from Colorado, and Cincinnati named BJ Johnson. Johnson has an offer from Western Carolina already.

- 2011 RB Shon Carson (Lake City HS/Lake City, SC) is one of the top prospects in the state of South Carolina. It's been quiet for Carson this summer because he has spent a lot of time playing baseball. All we can tell you is that we're hearing that Auburn and South Carolina are continuing to recruit him hard.

- 2012 DL Martin Aiken (Bamberg-Ehrhardt HS/Bamberg, SC) has attended a number of camps this summer like Clemson, and Georgia Tech. Aiken is going to try and attend camps at Florida and Florida State in late July.

- 2011 DE Dontez Tyler (Hertford County HS/Ahoskie, NC) holds offers from Virginia, ECU, Arkansas, and Maryland. He's already camped at ECU, and NC State this summer but plans on visiting Virginia Tech in the near future. Virginia Tech is recruiting Tyler at TE and wants to see him workout at TE before offering.

- The nation's consensus #1 recruit for 2011 is DE Jadeveon Clowney (South Pointe HS/Rock Hill, SC). Clowney recently visited Alabama and I was told that he really enjoyed his visit. In my personal opinion, South Carolina is still going to be tough to beat but Alabama will be there until the end. They really pushed their 3-4 defense and how they can get Clowney ready for the NFL. Alabama envisions him not only being a DE but spending time standing up as Clowney did some of that this year, especially early in the Rock Hill game.

- Dr. Phillips HS (Orlando, FL) prospects 2011 LB/DB LaQuentin Smith and 2011 DB Roderick Ryles plan on visiting Arkansas for their prospect camp on July 17th. The Razorbacks I'm told have a great shot at Ryles and will try to make a solid impression on Smith as well. From what I'm hearing, Smith really likes USF but USF is also recruiting DB/LB Corian Hamilton from Olympia HS (Orlando, FL). Many feel that Hamilton and Smith are very similar so it will be interesting to see what happens if one commits to USF before the other. South Carolina is also after both recruits so that's another possible destination.

- 2012 appears to be a strong class in NC for OL. Everyone knows about OL DJ Humphries from Mallard Creek HS (Charlotte, NC) but Western Guilford (Greensboro, NC) has a D-1 caliber OL in Brock Stadnik. Brock also has a twin brother named Clayton that's an impressive prospect as well. Appalachian State visited the school in the spring, and Brock recently visited Wake Forest this summer. Those two schools among many others are showing interest in the 2012 prospect. ]]> athletevault http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=33 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=32 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:10:39 GMT Welcome to a new feature of AthleteVault.com. Here you will find new updates on a number of prospects from across the nation. 6/24: - 2012 DE... Welcome to a new feature of AthleteVault.com. Here you will find new updates on a number of prospects from across the nation.

6/24:

- 2012 DE Gimel President (Wando HS/Mt. Pleasant, SC) looks to be one of the top prospects in the state for 2012. After a strong performance at UNC's camp recently, he picked up a verbal offer. He's supposed to attend Maryland's camp today and should pick up a verbal offer from the Terps. Maryland is very high on the 2012 DE

- President isn't the only 2012 prospect at Wando. Wando also has a 2012 OL Tyler Stasky that is 6-7, 250 pounds. He has a lot of upside and should be another D-1 caliber prospect at Wando.

- I'm hearing that South Lake HS (Groveland FL) 2011 prospects CB Nick Waisome and LB/DB Jordan Montgomery will announce their college decisions in August. Montgomery recently had a strong performance at Florida's camp and the Gators haven't offered but they are giving him a strong look at Safety. 2011 DE Lawrence Campbell and CB Von Cousins might be on the verge of their first D-1 offers as Troy is very high on both prospects.

- James Island HS (Charleston, SC) prospects WR/DB Bo Patterson, OL/DL/TE CJ Bray, and OL Jairon Harrison recently attended ECU, Duke, and NC State's camp. Patterson ran a 4.53 at Duke and was possibly the top overal prospect at ECU's camp. He received a ton of reps and made the most of them. Duke is very high on Harrison and is set to review the transcripts when they get back from vacation. I wouldn't be surprised to see Duke come through with an offer assuming that the grades check out. CJ Bray already has an Arkansas offer and they offered as a DE. TE might actually be his best position. He's looked good catching the ball at a number of these camps and at 6-8, he's quite the target.

- Person HS (Roxboro, NC) is home to a number of quality prospects. OL Tre Richardson is committed to ECU but after a strong performance at UNC's camp, he picked up a UNC offer. His team mate and fellow OL in 2012 Casey Lawson already has a UNC verbal offer. They also have quite possibly the top 2013 prospect in NC in WR/DB Joseph Downey. Lower division programs need to take a look at their 2011 LB's Tyler O'Hara and Lance Hamlett.

- Speaking of 2013 prospects, Berea HS (Greenville, SC) has a good one. CB Frank Skinner not only started on the Varsity Football team but he also was a key contributer on the Varsity Basketball team. At 5-10, 170 pounds, Skinner is coming off an impressive freshman season on the gridiron.

- ECU recently offered 2012 DE Keilin Rayner (North Brunswick HS/Leland, NC). Rayner is very athletic and 6-4, 215 pounds. He's set to have a big junior season and will likely receive many more offers.

- 2011 CB Calvin Caldwell (JL Mann/Greenville, SC) recently had a strong camp performance at Duke. While Duke has yet to offer, Wofford and Furman are likely to offer very soon.

- 2012 WR/RB Jody Fuller (Sun Valley HS/Monroe, NC) recently turned some heads at Florida's camp. The Gators are very high on Fuller, and have told him that they plan on heavily recruiting him this fall. Prior to attending Florida's camp, Fuller attended one day's at Clemson, and Georgia. Clemson came through with an offer and left a strong impression on Fuller and his family. ]]> athletevault http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=32 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=31 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:03:10 GMT I am excited to announce the launch of our new and improved AthleteVault.com website. Check out this blog often, as it will be a regular feature on... I am excited to announce the launch of our new and improved AthleteVault.com website. Check out this blog often, as it will be a regular feature on the site with tidbits, video, updates, and more! ]]> athletevault http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=31 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=30 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 06:59:56 GMT How have the last three games gone for the Huskers? This has been as bad a stretch as the Huskers could have dreamed of at this time in the... How have the last three games gone for the Huskers?

This has been as bad a stretch as the Huskers could have dreamed of at this time in the season. First, we were demolished by KU at home to kick off conference play. Then, we went to Boulder and were beat by a bottom tier Colorado team. After that, we hosted Baylor and lost after a phantom traveling call at the end of the game. This has been absolutely horrible for Nebraska. We came into conference play with only two losses and quality wins against Oregon, Rutgers, and Arizona State. Now, we are 0-3 in the Big XII and represent the only team to have not won a conference game yet. We are simply in a bad place both numbers wise and emotionally.



What has been the problem?

Two problems have plagued the Huskers. Though we were leading the league in scoring defense, we have been troubled with perimeter defense. WKU, KU, and Baylor took advantage of this with the three ball. This has severely hurt the Huskers. Second, the offense has been far too streaky. In some games, it appears as if we are clicking while the offense is absolutely stagnant in others. If (Sr C #21) Aleks Maric and (Jr G #11) Ade Dagunduro are not making shots, the offense simply stalls. Typically, this resulted in passing the ball around the perimeter with the end result being either a bad shot or a turnover for the Huskers.



What is ahead?

Well, the road does not get any easier for the Big Red. On Saturday, the Huskers are traveling to my home, Lawrence, to play the Jayhawks once again. In my mind, KU is the top team in the land, boasting the most depth and talent of anyone in the country. They will kill you with spurts and making you run. Nebraska, obviously, comes limping in to this game. Honestly, there is little reason to believe the Huskers will do much in Lawrence. Judging from this team and Coach Sadler, the team will play hard but will be severely overmatched. Unfortunately, this will be another loss for the struggling Huskers. There simply may not be enough talent to consistently compete in the Big XII.



Who needs to step up?

Without a doubt, (Jr G #11) Ade Dagunduro needs to step up. He went 0-6 against KU and has not done much else since. He was averaging over 12 points a game and over 50% from the field prior to conference play. He is one of our few players who can consistently get to the rim and create his own shot. He needs to get it going if the Huskers have any postseason hopes.



What are we hoping for at this point?

Right now, the Huskers are just hoping to keep plugging to get a win. It seems like a long time ago that the Huskers beat Oregon in Omaha. Now, they are hoping for any NIT birth where it looked like they were a bubble team a few weeks ago according to the likes of Jay Bilas. It certainly has been a disappointing two weeks.



Could anything help the Huskers now?

This is an interesting idea. Nebraska is currently redshirting four players due to the odd class sizes we have experienced in recent years. Sadler is trying to build a program that is good in the long term. Doc has said that two of our best shooters are redshirting: Brandon Richardson a guard from LA and Toney McCray who is a 6’6” wingman that has great athleticism. Also, juco transfer Alex Chapman and freshman forward Alonzo Edwards are redshirting. Frankly, Chapman will be the first to go if we overrecruit once again this year.



Any other tidbits?

On a positive football note, blue chip LB Will Compton has re-committed to the Huskers. This four-star and top 250 athlete was considering Missouri and Illinois among others. However, he has decided to stick with the Huskers. He said that one good year as a freshman at Missouri does not compare with the great years Nebraska will have in 2-3 years. ]]> ryanb81 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=30 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=29 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:08:08 GMT Below is an excerpt from an interview in CHSF with Bobby Grier that speaks volumes about a largely overlooked player: CHSF.com - “Who is the... Below is an excerpt from an interview in CHSF with Bobby Grier that speaks volumes about a largely overlooked player:

CHSF.com - “Who is the toughest defensive back you have faced this year?”

B.G - “I don’t know his name. But he plays for Independence, and his jersey number is #30 ([]Ranzell Watkins) He is definitely a good football player.”


CHSF.com - “You never know. If all goes well, you and #30 could meet again this year?”

B.G - “This is true ]]> http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=29 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=28 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:43:42 GMT 2008 Michigan Football coaching staff:

Rich Rodriguez: Head Coach

Offense:
Calvin Magee: ***ociate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/TE's
Rod Smith: Quarterbacks
Tony Dews: Wide Receivers
Fred Jackson: Running Backs
Greg Frey: Offensive Line
Alex Herron: Offensive Graduate ***istant
Eric Smith: Offensive Quality Control

Defense:
Scott Shafer: Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
Tony Gibson: Secondary
Jay Hopson: Linebackers
Bruce Tall: Defensive Line
Jahmile Addae: Defensive Graduate ***istant

Special Teams:
Tony Dews: Punt and Kick off return
Greg Frey: Field Goal and Extra point
Tony Gibson: Punt Block/Return and Kick off coverage

Recruiting:
Chris Singletary: Recruiting Coordinator
Mike Parrish: Recruiting/Operations ***istant
Mary P***ink: Administrative ***istant to the Head Coach for Recruiting

Strength and Conditioning:
Mike Barwis: Director of Strength and Conditioning
Chris Allen: Director of Skill Development
Parker Whiteman: ***istant Strength Coach
Kentaro Tamura: ***istant Strength Coach
Dennis Murray: Graduate ***istant
Jesse Miller: Graduate ***istants

Administrative and Support Staff:
Bob Bland: ***istant Equipment Manager
Rick Brandt: ***istant Equipment Manager
Phil Bromley: Video Coordinator
Scott Draper: ***istant Athletic Director
Jon Falk: Equipment Manager
Phil Johnson: Football Athletic Trainer
Brad Labadie: Director of Football Operations
Larry Martin: Director of Football Facilities
Jennifer Maszatics: Executive ***istant to the Head Coach
Lenny Navitskis: Football Athletic Trainer
Katie Reeves: ***istant Coaches Secretary/Graphic Designer
Dusty Rutledge: External Relations/Administrative ***istant
Paul Schmidt: ***istant Athletic Director for Athletic Medicine
Kevin Undeen: Video ***istant
Kelly Vaughn: Program ***istant ]]> erocwolverine http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=28 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=27 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:36:38 GMT The Last Three Husker Games: Sat, Dec 22 North Carolina Central - Devaney Center 7 p.m. 71 - 28 (W) Sat, Dec 29 Alcorn State -... The Last Three Husker Games:

Sat, Dec 22 North Carolina Central - Devaney Center 7 p.m. 71 - 28 (W)

Sat, Dec 29 Alcorn State - Devaney Center 7 p.m. 77 - 53 (W)

Fri, Jan 04 Maryland-Eastern Shore - Devaney Center 7 p.m. 86 - 50 (W)


The last three games have just been demolition acts. Frankly, they don’t warrant much writing simply because they have been ugly blowouts against substandard teams. However, we should take some note that the Huskers allowed no more than 53 points in these while only allowing NCC 8 points in the first half. The Huskers have also increased their scoring average. Overall, the Huskers have had the chance to mesh even more and continue the momentum attained from the big upset win at Oregon. Now, it is time to enter the conference schedule.

Who’s Next?
Sat, Jan 12 Kansas * - Devaney Center 8 p.m. ESPN

Why will Nebraska win?
Fortunately for Nebraska, the Huskers come in on a roll boasting only 2 losses on the year. Both of these can be considered quality losses @WKU and @Creighton. With this in mind, the Huskers have confidence entering into a titanic clash. Adding to this, the Huskers have exceeded expectations thus far this year boasting eight newcomers, which KU will have a limited scouting report on. As well, the temperament of the coach and the team benefits the Huskers. This is an extremely tough minded group that pressures on defense and is as blue collar as they come. HC Doc Sadler seems to have a knack for game planning and preparing his team for bigger games. Meanwhile, KU has historically had a knack for overlooking “easy” games like thy may consider Nebraska especially with their undefeated record. The Bob has historically held some magic for the Huskers as well. If the fans can fill it up, it can be a tough environment to play in. Without question, this is not the same team KU played last year, and it should be a more formidable challenge for the folks from Larryville.

Why will Nebraska lose?
KU will come into the Devaney Saturday night as a Top 3 team boasting an undefeated record. They are chalked full of McDonald’s All Americans and were preseason picks to win the Big XII and possibly the National Championship. (Soph G 4) Sherron Collins has returned from a knee injury and is a spark plug for this team. Also, the Jayhawks have been playing lights out of late. They can run as well as anyone and can slow the game down if need be. Coming into Lincoln, the Jayhawks have not lost since 2004, and Bill Self seems to be working extra hard to prevent let down games given the issues KU has had with this in the past. It should be noted as well that this is a very experienced group. Nebraska has no counter point in this experience or talent gap. Plus, the Jayhawks destroyed the Huskers last year on ESPN in Lincoln – this game was not even competitive. Overall, it is the Jayhawks’ game to lose – they have the talent, experience, and coaching to win.

What will happen?
This is a game that should be decided fairly early on. Nebraska must come out with p***ion, enthusiasm, and a blue collar mentality. This will keep the fans and the players in the game. It’s not necessary for us to come out on a 9-0 run like against Oregon. However, it is crucial to be within 4 over half way through the first half. To do this, the Huskers will need to continue their trend of tough defense and quality possessions. (Soph G 5) Jay-R Strowbridge seems to be the more solid choice at PG and has played well recently. The Jayhawks feed off a turnover followed by a run and then a TO by the other team. This must be avoided by the Huskers at all costs. It is apparent that KU should win this game, but I have seen crazier things happen. Sure, the stars must align a little bit for the Huskers – KU must be off, the Huskers must play smart, and the Huskers must make their shots. If these three keys occur, the Huskers may make it interesting. However, I think the smart money says that KU will be too much. They have ridiculous depth and athleticism. As well, they have played extremely well as of late, and their pesky guards will probably trouble the Huskers. Still, this game is worth checking in on throughout Saturday night, as this game has the makings of an entertaining one if Sadler’s crew is ready to go.

What are the next two games after KU?

Tue, Jan 15 Colorado * - at Boulder, Colo. 8 p.m. FSN Midwest/ESPN FullCourt
Sat, Jan 19 Baylor * - Devaney Center 5 p.m. ESPN PLUS

Colorado – Unless something catastrophic happens against KU, the Huskers are by far the better team. (Sr C 21) Aleks Maric should simply dominate inside against an undermanned Buffalo squad. I think the Huskers will use this as a rebound game against a rival. Expect a Husker win unless this team is more mentally fragile than I think. If this is a loss, it will severely hurt the Huskers’ post season chances.

Baylor – This should be an entertaining game. Baylor is certainly improved and can score well. It should be Nebraska’s defense against Baylor’s offense. I give the edge to Nebraska especially given that the game is in Lincoln. However, this is surely not an easy game. ]]> ryanb81 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=27 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=26 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 07:04:24 GMT http://gobluemichiganwolverine.blogspot.com/ by: Erik Werling Well several Michigan commits along with several recruits played in two separate... http://gobluemichiganwolverine.blogspot.com/
by: Erik Werling

Well several Michigan commits along with several recruits played in two separate All-American football games on Saturday. Here is a brief highlights of what we saw today.

Here are the breakdowns from All-Star games. Too bad ESPNU Under-Armour All-Star people did not split up playing time. Embarr***ment.

Nick Perry: Limited playing time, still showed quickness and athletic ability. Had a really nice hit on Williams for West Team.

Brandon Smith: R-Rod first Michigan commit. Played solid game. Showed aggressive nature and good instincts. Played hard on special teams. Very strong positional play, made plays in space, and took nice angles, one prevented a touchdown. Covered well from his safety position. really like this kid. Nice to see the kid in a Michigan hat.

Sam McGuffie: Quick and explosive. Read blocks well and made super cut. Took a hit and made catch in heavy traffic. Does need to improve his p*** protection and run with bit more discipline. But no denying the raw talent is there.

Boo Boo Cissoko: Quick explosive athlete with an aggressive style of play. Excellent hips and recovery speed, and does he hit. Still raw fundamentally and definitely needs some coaching. His backpedal in particular needs some work. And tall receivers do present him some problems at this time. But all his flaws and correctable, and even his height disadvantage can be minimized with proper technique, positioning, and different rules. In this game corners were not allowed to bump or reroute WR's. A huge disadvantage for CB like Boo Boo who relies on his physical play and strength to negate his height disadvantage.

Pryor: Is a pure athlete, definitely raw, and needs some work. As for QB read I am convinced it was not read, but predetermined running. No doubting his athletic ability. He right now is an athlete playing QB. Needs some work, experience, and polish. He is especially raw in p***ing game where he locked onto one receiver. With all that, his potential is scary. Guys with type of size, speed, and overall athletic ability is hard to find.

Dann O'Neill: Played RT and played it well. Of all Michigan's commit he was most impressive today. Great size, wingspan, and athletic ability. Moved his feet well, turned his hips, and really got off the ball. Team was constantly running behind him. Adjusted nicely to DE trying to use quickness to cross his face, literally drove DE into the ground. Does need at least one full year of S&C and some additional weight. But has the frame to carry easily that weight.

C. Wilson: Had limited time at OLber, but still exhibited enthusiasm, hustle, and played hard. Showed some quickness and athletic ability. Filled, but was a bit late and not nearly aggressive enough. Also gave up outside leverage. Also when seeing his game this year really thought he would be a better offensive player than defense.

Brandon Moore: Played limited time at TE. Definitely exhibited speed and quickness. Needs to get bigger and stronger.

Thanks,
Erik

http://gobluemichiganwolverine.blogspot.com/ ]]> erocwolverine http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=26 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=25 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:48:27 GMT Only a few weeks ago, Bo Pelini was hired as the new head coach for the University of Nebraska. With this hire, it was expected that we would see a... Only a few weeks ago, Bo Pelini was hired as the new head coach for the University of Nebraska. With this hire, it was expected that we would see a return to roots, a return to the Nebraska family. The previous regime, headed by Bill Callahan, was clearly devoid of red blooded Huskers. Even beyond this, former players were not allowed on the sideline for games, pictures of award winners were taken down, and a major disconnect occurred between alumni and the program. The familial aspect that made Nebraska special for so many years was lost. Keeping all of this in mind, the Huskers reached out to 2003 DC Bo Pelini to bring back the Husker family and tradition. In doing so, he has assembled a staff that almost mirrors that of the 2003 Huskers coached by Frank Solich. This, couple with a few new faces and two holdovers, make us wonder if we have used our flux capacitor to head by to 2003 and forgot the Callahan Conundrum.


Head Coach – Bo Pelini – Former Husker, Sooner, and Bayou Bengal DC – His LSU defenses have been Top 3 for the past three years in Baton Rouge. This is his first head coaching job. He says that he wants Nebraska to be a family again, restore a walk-on program, play with intensity, and continue to be a special place. As far as coaching, he wants enthusiastic teachers to fill his staff. He will continue to call the plays for the defense.

Offensive Coordinator – Shawn Watson – Watson is a Callahan holdover who served as the OC this year but did not call plays. He was the OC under Gary Barnett in Colorado and won multiple Big XII North titles. He will incorporate a West Coast style offense that will feature a greater emphasis on power running and incorporate some spread elements. It has been rumored that the Huskers will transition to a spread over time. Watson’s players absolutely love him, and he helped Osborne recruit prior to Pelini’s hire.

O-Line Coach/Associate Head Coach – Barney Cotton – This is the second back to the future hire – Cotton was the OC in 2003 under Frank Solich. He also played at Nebraska. After 2003, he coached at ISU until Gene Chizek was hired. He has been named Associate HC, most likely to aid Pelini in the administrative work that Pelini is unfamiliar with as a new HC. He will preach a hard nosed, power O-Line style.

WR Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/Assistant HC – Ted Gilmore – This is the final Callahan holdover. He retains all his former roles and is now an Assistant HC. Honestly, it is unclear what this entails. However, Gilmore is a popular players’ coach and is known as a good recruiter. He turned down the Raiders’ WR Coach job last summer.

TE Coach – Ron Brown – Another blast from the past. Brown was the WR coach under Osborne and Solich for 17 years. He has been out of coaching for four years and was the head of the Nebraska FCA. He is a solid coach and genuine man but can be controversial and get caught up in religious rhetoric.

RB Coach – TBA -- HC Pelini says this is a coach whose team is in a January bowl game. The announcement will come after the game. The first name out there is Tim Beck, KU’s WR coach, who went to the same HS as Pelini. The other two are Larry Porter, LSU’s RB Coach, and Stan Drayton, Florida’s RB Coach. Obviously, both of the last two would be big gets for the Huskers.

Defensive Coordinator – Carl Pelini – The younger brother of Bo was a D-Line coach at Ohio most recently. He was a GA for the Huskers in 2003. The older Pelini will be calling the plays, so Carl will be only the quasi DC. Still, if he has some of Bo’s skills, this should be a good fit. His Ohio recruiting connections should be good as well.

LB Coach – Mike Ekeler – This is one of the two large unknowns in the coaching staff. He was a GA at LSU for Pelini. This is his first full time assistant job. He played ball at KSU but is from Blair, NE. So, he is a returning son that is reported to be a “rising star” by Pelini. He is also reported to be a fiery teacher and have great recruiting potential.

Def. Line Coach – John Papuchis -- John is the second former LSU GA. Little is known about Papuchis. My guess is that the Pelinis will have a strong role in the improvement of the D-Line. Still, he is young and will bring some fresh blood to the family.

Secondary Coach – Marvin Sanders – Sanders returns to Nebraska after being the secondary coach in 2003 and coaching here previously. He also played for the Huskers. Sanders was most recently the DC at UNC under John Bunting. He is yet another players’ coach who is loved by nearly all. ]]> ryanb81 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=25 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=24 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:35:05 GMT Michigan Coach Rich Rodriguez is a fiery passionate coach with an aggressive attack philosophy. He demands hard work from his teams in the season and... Michigan Coach Rich Rodriguez is a fiery passionate coach with an aggressive attack philosophy. He demands hard work from his teams in the season and in the off season. He is almost a fanatic about strength and conditioning. This will be major improvement.

He also emphasis speed in his recruiting and Offense. This is Coach R-Rod's thing. He is an offensive minded coach. A former QB and offensive coordinator with programs that include Tulane and Clemson. His teams emphasis the spread and are in the shotgun much of the time.

What separates Coach R-Rod's version is that he prefers a strong running game out of the spread. His offense at West Virginia has ranked in top ten rushing offenses in the country. One of his strengths are his ability to tweak or adapt the spread to match his personnel.

The spread he ran while at Tulsa with Shaun King was different from what he with personnel at West Virginia. His major accomplishment is he is widely considered the inventor of the spread option offense. What this version does are force defenses to not only defend entire field, but also defend all the skilled players and this really can stress a defense.

Defense Again, Coach R-Rod's is an aggressive attack philosophy and carries through to his defenses. At West Virginia they use 3-3 stack. But IMO that has more to do with defending all the spread offenses West Virginia sees in the Big East. We will have a better idea where he wants to take Michigan once a DC is hired.

Special Teams Coach R-Rod's emphasis on recruiting speed shows up on teams special teams play. He puts special emphasis on this area of the game. Field position is big part of his offense game plan. Short fields are huge help for spread offense. And Coach RRod's really coaches to this philosophy.

We will have more in depth of R-Rod's schemes later on.

Also please look at:
http://gobluemichiganwolverine.blogspot.com/

Thanks,
Erik Werling ]]> erocwolverine http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=24 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=23 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 03:41:44 GMT Yes, the rumors of Nebrasketball’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. We may have been down and out since the 1990’s, but we are starting to make... Yes, the rumors of Nebrasketball’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. We may have been down and out since the 1990’s, but we are starting to make a return to recognition. In only his second year, HC Doc Sadler has already notched wins against Creighton, Texas Tech, Arizona State, and Rutgers among others. He has improved talent and instilled a hard nosed, blue collar mentality to the Devaney Center. Saturday, Sadler and the Huskers added #16 Oregon to its list of upsets.

In an 88-79 OT win, the Huskers beat an experienced and talented Duck squad. In fact, the Huskers rarely trailed in the game and started with a 9-0 run. In my game preview, I stated three keys to the game: defense, the play of (Jr G #11) Ade Dagunduro, and ball control. Without a doubt, all of these areas were met. The Huskers forced 18 turnovers and only committed 7. This +11 ratio was huge. (Soph G #5) Jay-R Strowbridge came off the bench to play the point – he committed 0 turnovers in 27 minutes of play. (Jr G #11) Ade Dagunduro played huge. He limited Bryce Taylor and Malik Hairston to a manageable level though Hairston was second for the Ducks in scoring. Dagunduro may have fouled out but not before notching 15 points and 7 rebounds. Of course, (Sr C #21) Aleks Maric led with 23 points, and (Soph F #44) Ryan Anderson chipped in 21 with some hot shooting. The performance was simply solid.

Despite flurries and snow accumulation, this “neutral site” game at the Qwest Center Omaha drew approximately 13,000 Husker fans. The crowd was rocking, and the court was stormed. This huge win could bolster a potential bubble watch for the Huskers if they take cared of business in conference. This is amazing given the fact that the Huskers boast 8 new players and only one senior. Watching this team, I have become even more impressed as of late. It may sound odd, but the basketball team has taken on the old persona of our football squad. They play tough, hard nosed, and very blue collar. They act much like the old Husker football teams that would knock you in the mouth and keep on pushing. Certainly, this represents the state and the coach well. Though the talent is not quite there yet, I see exciting things to come for the Huskers. I’m not ready to predict conference championships or big wins against the likes of KU and Texas, but look out for some tough play and a few more upsets. Simply, this is a team all of us in Nebraska can support and be proud of. They lay it out there every game and every play. So, look out Jayhawks because we may have some more tricks up our sleeves on January 12 at the Devaney Center. ]]> ryanb81 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=23 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=22 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:19:02 GMT How have the last three games gone? WKU - 62 - 69 (L) OT – The Huskers played extremely tough defense in this first true road game. However, WKU... How have the last three games gone?

WKU - 62 - 69 (L) OT – The Huskers played extremely tough defense in this first true road game. However, WKU just had too much on this night. It should be remembered that WKU is a tournament team. This was a good growth game for conference play.

Rutgets - 63 - 51 (W) – This was the 2nd best win of the year thus far. Only the ASU game was bigger. The Huskers defense was again stifling, and key players like (Soph F #44) Ryan Anderson and (Jr G #11) Ade Dagunduro hit big shots to seal the win. Frankly, the Scarlet Knights could not hit the broad side of a barn late in this game.

Savannah State - 82 - 37 (W) – I’ve seen many high school teams better than this squad. The bench was cleared, and even walk-ons approached double figures. It was a feel good game before the showdown in Omaha against Oregon on Saturday.



What do you see for the big Oregon game?

Nebraska will play Oregon this Saturday at 1 pm at the Qwest Center in Omaha. This is a “neutral site” game that is at the end of its rotation – we played in Portland last year. This is the second game at the Qwest for the Huskers this year, as they lost to Creighton there 74-62.

For this game, there are a few keys. First, the Huskers must continue their tough defensive trend. Particularly, perimeter defense will be key against a Duck team who will sink you with three pointers.

Second, (Jr G #11) Ade Dagunduro must continue to step up – he will have to be a force offensively and defensively. He will likely be matched up against Malik Hairston or Bryce Taylor, two of Oregon’s top scorers.

Finally, the Huskers must control the ball. Oregon will look to force turnovers and pop shots on us. The guards and team must prevent this and stay under 12 turnovers. The Huskers need a big crowd in the large Omaha arena. So far, around 13,000 tickets have been sold.



What games are coming up after the Ducks? What’s going to happen?

Dec. 22 North Carolina Central 7 p.m. – This should be an easy win back at the Devaney Center. It will be a nice cool down game after Oregon and before the Holiday Break.

Dec. 29 Alcorn State 7 p.m. – Another coast win. Should be a lot of walk-on players in the game.

Jan. 4 Maryland-Eastern Shore 7 p.m. This is the last tune-up before conference play. Doc should have his rotation and specialists pretty well set. So, we should see the lineups we will see most of the rest of the year.



Has the offense improved?

At times, it has. However, there is still a ways to go. We need another outside shooter to be very effective, and it appears that our two best options are redshirting. In my mind, the key is the point guard. (Soph G #5) Jay-R Strowbridge and (Fr G #24) Cookie Miller need to be aggressive and look for shots as well as passes. We need more drive and dish situations to be effective in the upcoming games.



Any recruiting news?

7’0 Center Chris Niemann appears as if he will not be eligible next year. Two of his teammates were declared ineligible this year because players on their club team accepted benefits. So, it looks as if the Huskers will need to find another big man. ]]> ryanb81 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=22 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=21 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:40:37 GMT Homecoming at Nebraska is surely a special time for all Huskers much like it is a all universities. This week of activities kicks off on Sunday with... Homecoming at Nebraska is surely a special time for all Huskers much like it is a all universities. This week of activities kicks off on Sunday with an all campus carnival/block party where students can come receive free food and ride carnival rides. The week continues on Monday with the Stroll Off and Dance Competition. This may be one of the most popular events for Homecoming. Greek Houses are put in triads or quads for the week, and they compete as a group to earn Homecoming points. At this event, triads perform skits and dances to this year’s theme: “Big Red Studios – A Tribute to Johnny Carson.” In addition, multicultural fraternities and sororities compete in a stepping competition. This event certainly draws a large crowd and signals the true beginning of homecoming week. Next, the campus blood drive is held in the middle of the week. This also earns points and draws huge numbers of students to help with the shortage throughout the country. As the week progresses, quads continue to work on their lawn displays dedicated to the theme. In addition, a homecoming parade is held by other student groups. Of course, all of these events culminate in the homecoming game where the King and Queen are crowned at halftime. Also, this year, the 1997 undefeated National Championship team will be reuniting. This represents our last undefeated season, and it will surely be an emotional event given our recent struggles. While many of these things occur at other campuses, Nebraska puts its own spin on homecoming, and this is just a glimpse at a few of the many events held during this special week for the Husker Nation. ]]> ryanb81 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=21 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=20 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:39:12 GMT The Blackshirts are one of the most well known defensive units in college football. Everyone at Nebraska knows how to throw the bones, but few... The Blackshirts are one of the most well known defensive units in college football. Everyone at Nebraska knows how to throw the bones, but few actually know the history of this proud Husker tradition. This Blackshirt tradition denotes the 1st string defense, who all wear black jerseys for practice. This began in 1964 when Head Coach Bob Devaney wanted to distinguish his defensive units. Even after this began though, it took a few years to truly entrench this accidental tradition in Husker lore. Many credit defensive line coach George Kelly for exulting the greatness of the Blackshirts against the red clad offense. In 1969, the term Blackshirts finally made the team’s media guide. During Charlie McBride’s tenure as defensive coordinator, the Blackshirts earned national acclaim when they ranked in the Top 10 in all major defensive categories four different times. This vaunted defense helped the Huskers win three national titles in the 1990s. Today, Blackshirts are award the week of the first game in a ceremony that highlights the proud tradition and history of the honor. Many say that this is one of the most intimidating goals at the University of Nebraska. Hopefully, our current and future defenses can continue this proud tradition for years to come. ]]> ryanb81 http://www.athletevault.com/forums/blog.php?b=20