2017 Recruiting Class Thread

[VaNtyLion]

I don't believe we even need to be down to 85 until the fall (or when the rest of the non-early enrollee 2017 class enrolls), so I believe we can take a few more - we're at 85 now, if my math works - and it'll figure itself out over spring ball and the summer.

Can't rule out a realistic possibility that there will be some players that have had trouble cracking the lineup that wish to transfer. Pure speculation but looking at guys like Beh (who seemed to be in doghouse all year) given what has evolved with the OL depth and a guy like Johnathan Thomas who was a great RB prospect coming out of high school and we shuffled over to LB to help out with depth there.

I think the noise with some unexpected visitors like the TE from Indiana and now the athlete from Youngstown give some indication that the staff feels they're going to have space to take a few more than we may have forecasted a month ago.

 

[Judge Smails]

 

[hereforthebeer]

84 not counting any walk-ons. I agree with others that there will be 2-3 departures, yet to come. There is no way there is no space at all if they are scheduling this many visits. Also, makes you wonder if all these guys are higher on their board than Proctor?

I second your interpretation of the tea leaves. Clearly they're planning carefully for more departures. It also seems pretty clear that Conliffe and TCF are numbers one and two on their board. Proctor comes next and the kid from Indiana is a late flip target they're just keeping in play. I bet we take two more.

I also believe that Conliffe has been near the top of their list since the beginning. Not the top guy (which I think was Wade), but pretty close.

 

[LionJim]

I know this has been asked and answered but with the two extra slots now open how many more scholarships does CJF have to give?

 

[cjrugger]

I know this has been asked and answered but with the two extra slots now open how many more scholarships does CJF have to give?

Unless someone on staff is going to post the real answer here, nobody knows. Any number you see is a guess

 

[bmw199]

I know this has been asked and answered but with the two extra slots now open how many more scholarships does CJF have to give?

Only counting players who were recruited to be full scholarship players (no walk ons), we were 1 over with Wade, now with Godwin and Sickels leaving we have one spot. Whether that goes to a walk on renewal or a new 2017 recruit we don't know.

Unless someone on staff is going to post the real answer here, nobody knows. Any number you see is a guess

Not really.

 

[VaNtyLion]

I know this has been asked and answered but with the two extra slots now open how many more scholarships does CJF have to give?

Every program has a fluid situation until the draft declarations are out and
players (particularly those that have not played much and may have their degrees) consider their future.

I heard last night that, accounting for current verbals and whole roster with eligibility left we're actually at 86 scholies right now..... but reading some tea leaves in terms of bringing in more '17 visitors for visits, I think behind the scenes they are expecting some attrition in those numbers be that through transfers etc.

 

[Judge Smails]

No inside info, but with his strict radio silence and the amount of time that has passed, my guess is Marcus Allen declares for the NFL.

Since you don't have to get to 85 until the late summer, I think it is reasonable to go +3 as of signing day with natural turnover that seems to occur. Who thought we would lose Reeder to Delaware? We have two to three upperclass OL who have been bypassed by "yutes" and are realistically never going to see the field, etc. Franklin values the family vibe in the locker room to go the "processing" route, but it's a lot of work to go through to never see the field. Some of these kids who will get their degree may want to go someone else and play their final year of eligibility.

 

[Agoodnap]

I know this has been asked and answered but with the two extra slots now open how many more scholarships does CJF have to give?

None. We still need one more to leave in order to bring in the eighteen commits we have on board now. You don't build a "team/family" atmosphere by stripping scholarships from walk-ons that have earned a scholarship. Franklin couldn't do that and continue to talk about family.

 

[LaJolla Lion]

No inside info, but with his strict radio silence and the amount of time that has passed, my guess is Marcus Allen declares for the NFL.

Since you don't have to get to 85 until the late summer, I think it is reasonable to go +3 as of signing day with natural turnover that seems to occur. Who thought we would lose Reeder to Delaware? We have two to three upperclass OL who have been bypassed by "yutes" and are realistically never going to see the field, etc. Franklin values the family vibe in the locker room to go the "processing" route, but it's a lot of work to go through to never see the field. Some of these kids who will get their degree may want to go someone else and play their final year of eligibility.

Seems reasonable. I was thinking a few may transfer to get PT at 1aa or another school as well. You just never know.

 

[Judge Smails]

 

[TheGLOV]

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Do tell?

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

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Whoa! Clicked the Kevin_Noon link thinking *he* was the SEC commit....

 

[Judge Smails]

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Whoa! Clicked the Kevin_Noon link thinking *he* was the SEC commit....

That DE has offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Notre Dame, OSU, PSU, Tennessee, USC, etc. BIG TIME.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

That DE has offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Notre Dame, OSU, PSU, Tennessee, USC, etc. BIG TIME.

Who is it?

 

[bmw199]

That DE has offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Notre Dame, OSU, PSU, Tennessee, USC, etc. BIG TIME.

Total guess: Paschal? He fits that bill. UK commit from Maryland. Offers from everywhere

EDIT: It is him. His visit date has been added to his public rivals page as 1/13/2017. Not premium anymore. https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2848

 

[bdgan]

Only counting players who were recruited to be full scholarship players (no walk ons), we were 1 over with Wade, now with Godwin and Sickels leaving we have one spot. Whether that goes to a walk on renewal or a new 2017 recruit we don't know.

I agree with your number but I can't imagine Franklin pulling scholarships away from Smith or Davis. So in my mind we're still one over.

There's a good chance that at least 2 more will leave so I agree that we'll have at least 1 more spot available. 21 Guns prediction that 3 will transfer seems extreme to me. I'm surprised with his prediction that J. Thomas is one of those. We don't have enough LBs but of course we have no idea about how Thomas has adjusted to the position.

Some have posted that we'll go with 88 and hope things work out by fall. I'd be surprised if that was true. Maybe 86.

 

[bmw199]

@Judge Smails and @Midnighter

It's going to be a fun month!

 

[Judge Smails]

@Judge Smails and @Midnighter

It's going to be a fun month!

Playing with house money.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

@Judge Smails and @Midnighter

It's going to be a fun month!

Playing with house money.

 

[Judge Smails]

 

[bmw199]

Pitt:

 

[papa_ed]

There are so many variables to consider with who is going to see the field come September. I expect coming into the season there will be anywhere from 4 to 6 true freshmen that will hit the ground with red shirt but will be on yellow light status, and up to 3 players with a green light. So IMO there can be possible 9 players next year that could be on the field by mid season, either on special teams or on the 3 deep somewhere. This is just an uneducated high end guess because of the talent level of the kids that maintained their RS status this year. Who knows for sure until we reach a time when the situation of the depth chart is established due to injuries or other factors. Just my opinion but I think due to the secondary situation, Wade will be a definite green light from the get go after watching how he has competed against very good competition since first seeing him on film his HS freshman year and after competing in spring practice. Definitely there is a need for depth from the '17 class on the roster at LB and the secondary. Anyway, I'm excited to see how it all plays out, and I have faith in this staff to make the right decisions for the benefit of the team and the individual players. When was the last time we've had such advantageous options?

 

[LaJolla Lion]

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Someone elsewhere pointed his out..100 volunteers.

 

[senatedon]

Someone elsewhere pointed his out..100 volunteers.

Let's get the Lion Ambassadors to volunteer an S Zone style commitment.

 

[LaJolla Lion]

Let's get the Lion Ambassadors to volunteer an S Zone style commitment.

I think the "VOLUNTEERS" may be in Orange?

 

[Judge Smails]

 

[royboy]

Yikes, KJ Hamler looks young and not very big; he's gotta have some serious quicks?

 

[psrurock]

This kid appears on film to be quicker than Barkley with change of direction. He has the ability to make a lot of people miss.

 

[21Guns]

I believe you can have 88, as long as you get down to 85 by a certain time.

 

[Judge Smails]

Paris Ford talking up Miami, looks like he is going to visit the Canes. Said "Miami has a real strong shot."

Poor Pitt.

 

[lionlurker]

All time epic mass suicide coming up.

 

[mcruny42]

Ford going elsewhere (even if not PSU) has to help with Raines next year. A lot of the WPIAL kids are close from camps, etc. and the community likes them to stay close. The more top end kids that leave home, the better the chances of getting the next one to look past Oakland.

 

[Alphabets]

Until they are signed on the dotted line, i don't trust any of these kids. Because, they're kids.

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

Yikes, KJ Hamler looks young and not very big; he's gotta have some serious quicks?

Lights out quick..... along with Wade ...

 

[Judge Smails]

Paris Ford talking up Pitt, looks like he is going to visit the Canes. Said "Miami has a real strong shot."

Poor Pitt.

I'm sure the Pitt twitter army is weighing in.

 

[lionlurker]

Too many Pitt fakes and phonies? Hard to believe.

 

[Lion8286]

 

[ChiTownLion]

Wow. If Paris Ford leaves Pitt at the altar, I would ALMOST feel bad for their handful of fans.

 

[pkg5002]

All time epic mass suicide coming up.

Hey, now.. don't build up false hope! Lol