2013 Recruiting only thread

You're right; if you fall behind in recruiting (and we have) then you're on a collision course with disaster.  Recruiting is the life blood of major college football, and we're down a few pints.

Here's a stat I just compiled for ya: 90.9% (20 of 22) First Team Iowa Offense/Defense are Rivals 2, 3, or 4-star recruits.

Yes, but I don't see that by simply being labeled as a 2 to 4 star recruit means "success" as far as their rankings. Rivals is a crapshoot, just like all the other recruiting websites. Generally, they are probably more accurate than not, but certainly 90% is not coming close to whatever measures their success. 

20 "starred" recruits win 4 games...guess the stars aren't good for much

In any case, some good news, Anjeus Jones, 6'3" WR from Texas commits, guess he runs a 4.40, big, fast, very nice potential, Texas kids usually know how to play ball too, nice get

picked up Akrum Wadley today as well, 5'10" RB from NJ, he goes 175 lb, but hey wasn't Tippett from NJ?  He worked out I would say.

Wadley rushed for 1,326 yards and 20 touchdowns on 102 carries as a senior. He also caught nine passes for 171 yards and returned 2 punts for TDs.  He switched from Temple to Iowa.  Not ranked (no stars) on scout

Jones switched from Colorado State to Iowa.  2 stars on scout

Iowa in on Jonathan Parker from St Louis who is deciding between Tulsa and Iowa, a CBC kid, which is a catholic all boys school here, kid has to be decently smart though, they get kicked out otherwise.  He is listed as an OLB on Scout though, but he played RB as well.  2 stars

I guess we are still in on Ruben Dunbar as well, we shall see this week.

I am with you all on the stars thing, who cares as long as they can play...but it would be nice to get mentioned with those 5 star guys at least.  Why not throw a scholarship their way just in case?

Something is wrong with the kid if he has chosen to come to Iowa's program.  Especially with all of the quality Texas program...Iowa comes in and gets him.  

Time will tell........ 

Hoops - no offense to you man, but when I read a statement like that, I have to wonder why you are here on the Iowa boards.  That shows no backing of the Iowa program and no "fandom" at all.  We all complain when our team loses, that is what fans do, but to question why a kid that could really help is coming, well that speaks to me that you are not really a supporter of the Iowa program. 

In other recruiting news, Josey Jewell, LB from Decorah commits, not ranked on scout.

Hoops - you need to change your username to "The Wet Blanket" as I believe it's far more appropriate than Hoops.  

We could sign the next coming of Joe Montana and somehow you'd find fault in it.  

There must have been something horribly wrong with Brad Banks also in order for him to leave the state of Florida and come to Iowa....  And Abdul Hodge must have had issues also...

Hoops is delusional...

Having Greg Davis didn't pay off in year one, but having a recruiting tie into that state is going to pull some kids in, on or off of a Texas school radar.

Let's be clear here...

The state's of Florida and Texas (and many other states) are football 'hotbeds' for obvious reasons.  Yes, Iowa has plucked a few quality players from MANY states that have worked out for those players individually, as well as the program.

Clearly, KF is rebuilding the program.  And I truly hope he rights the ship sooner...rather than later.  We all understand the recruting game and know how it is played.  Maybe the players he's bringing in this year will pan out.  

Does a skilled high school player want to go to a down program?  Reasons exist for Texas and Florida talent not staying 'home'.  Of all the Texas college programs, these schools are letting talent get away of this caliber?  Seems odd.  Case in point: Jake Ruddock leaving the state of Florida. Ruddock played in a 'famed' high school program...yet garnered only 3-stars coming out...and no school in the state of Florida wants him/gets him?????  Since Ruddock hasn't cracked the lineup...well...we now understand why he was given 3-stars ---- that was a generous rating.  And it sure looks like Sokol is going to be the starter this fall.  The power schools in major-college football won't look at skill position players unless they run a sub 4.4 40.  This selection process has similar criteria for the other positions being recruited.  

Yes, coaches miss the mark on recruits.  Happens every year.  But we are talking about the following 'classifications' of players that KF is going to sign this year: 3-stars, 2-stars, 1-stars, no-stars, and walk-ons.   That is the state of the KF program!  Again, I certainly hope the ship is righted sooner rather than later!!!

What do I think:

• In many cases, recruits don't understand fully what is happening within a program.  
• In many cases, recruits - flat out - pick the wrong program to be in.
• In the KF program, recruits know that they will have to wait their turn to play.
• KF prefers to take the 'lower-starred' players so that he can develop those players - which has worked for KF!!!
• Recruiting would be better if KF was winning games...the depth would clearly be better...and so would the competition in practice 
• In looking at the commits...not a lot of speed is coming to Kinnick this year.
• Iowa is known more for producing linemen - especially offensive linemen - and TEs
• The skill position players that come to Iowa are 2nd and 3rd tier recruits.  Yes, exceptions to the rule do exist.  But by-and-large, this is what Iowa settles for in the recruiting game.

Hawkeye, is KF going to keep Josey Jewell at LB?  He's 6'2" and 200 pounds...and he runs a 4.7 40!!!  Welcome to the B1G J2.  He'll have fun chasing down faster opponents.  

If these incoming recruits do pan out and produce early and often, I'll be the first to serve up a heaping helping of crow.  In previous posts, I've made that same statement...and chowed down helpings of crow.  I'll stand by my initial post in this thread, and this post.

We've known the KF system for a long time now.  We understand the talent in the program, its strengths, and its weaknesses.  We can project what the results will be for this coming season with a high degree of certainty.

If KF can't bring in, and develop, the recruits that are needed, Iowa won't be winning many games for awhile. 

What, exactly, are you expecting then, Hoops? 4 and 5-star recruits from Texas and Florida to sign with Iowa? They never have, not even when Iowa was winning. I think you need to remind yourself this is Iowa, not the Texas Longhorns or Florida Gators. 

One correction hoops ~ KF doesn't "prefer" lower-stared players; he has no choice but to take them.  KF doesn't reject 4-star, and high 3-star plays; they reject him.

Clemenza and the Rest,

KF is competing for recruits against Colorado St and Temple by 'snatching up' Jones and Wadley.   Those are - respectively - two bad teams in their conferences (Big East and Mountain West).  KF is also recruiting against many other second tier D1 programs as well as against D1AA programs.  

Sure, KF has stolen a quality recruit from a bigger program.  KF has also lost a big recruit to a bigger program.  Happens all the time in this business.

But this recruiting issue clearly defines what type of program Iowa has - and how many wins are realistic - for a coach making almost $4 million per year.  If my memory serves me correctly, the coaches making that type of money all have won outright division and conference championships, BCS bowl games, and a national championship.

KF hasn't won an ourtright B1G championship yet.  The B1G just went to divisional play, so that is a moot point at this stage.  Yes, KF is 1-1 in BCS games.  And as a devout B1G fan...the Orange Bowl isn't the Rose Bowl.  I also understand that the BCS has impacted Iowa's chances at getting into the Rose Bowl...it is what it is...

Winning - conference championships and bowl games - makes recruiting easier.  The better players want to win on both fronts.  KF would get more 4-star recruits...with a small number of 5-star players if he was winning.  

So, what type of football program is expected at the University of Iowa?  

• Going 7-5 and getting a bowl invite?
• Going 8-4 and winning/losing the bowl game?
• Going 9-3 and winning/losing the bowl game?
• Going 10-2 and playing in a January 1st bowl game?
• Going 11-1 and playing in a BCS game?

In my opinion, KF should be going 9-3 every year and playing in a solid bowl game.  Especially now that divisional play is in effect...and Illinois probably gets slid over to our division.  With KF getting second tier D1 talent, KF is positioned to get 6 or 7 wins per year...if he is lucky!!!

One correction hoops ~ KF doesn't "prefer" lower-stared players; he has no choice but to take them.  KF doesn't reject 4-star, and high 3-star plays; they reject him.

Actually this is not true SWI, last year there was a 4 star from Utah I believe who really wanted to come to Iowa and never got a look whatsoever, I believe we wrote about this...and none of us could believe it. 

Honestly I wonder what kind of winning KF wants, he does not seem to want to win 9-12 games a year, just my opinion and fodder for another thread.

In any case, I am not sure where Josey will play, just reporting on the recruiting news.

Guess I missed one, Hawkeye ~ I'm usually 90% correct.  Got anymore names you can think of?

Aaron,

Wasn't Banks a juco signee first?  Again, there are exceptions to the rule in the recruiting game.  Counting juco's...well...there are reasons that players must go the juco route before getting to D1.  That happens all the time.

KF offered Banks...and promptly didn't know what to do with him.  The rest of D1 (at least major teams) in the state of Florida didn't want to wait for Banks to turn out.

So yes, exceptions to the rule do exist.  However, not when it comes to juco players getting signed........please 

gengljer,

How long will it take KF to pull off the recruiting pipeline to Kinnick?  8 years??  4 years??  The players brought in...will it be enough to win how many games exactly??

Iowa is thin at WR and RB.  Not to mention the current insecurities at the QB position.  The defense also has a number of concerns for the coming seasons.

The most concerning aspect of the program rests with the coaching staff.   

All this aside though Hoops, Wed is signing day and despite any issues we have, it's still exciting to see a new crop of kids come in and fire us up for the fall and get ready for Hawkeye football.  I am as down on KF's record as anyone and I am ready to go...

Go Hawkeyes!

speaking of that, Bo Bower will become a walk on preferred for Iowa over a full ride from UNI

6'3" 207 lb LB who runs a 4.5...do not know of the other stuff, but that's not a bad start, kid will be an animal in the mold in a few years I hope

Hawkeye,

I completely agree.  I hope the class coming in are a bunch of diamonds-in-the-rough and all develop into quality people and players.  
Given the look and performance of the last few teams...leaves me very skeptical.  Here's hoping the ship has been righted and its full steam ahead.