State of the Program Part 4: December Recruiting Update

UPDATED: 12/29/11

This is the fourth in a series of posts about the status of the program, a positional look at where the projected 2012 recruiting class is so far. This will be Jon Embree and his staff’s first full cycle group to research in order to pursue the types of student-athletes they want enrolling in Boulder and set the tone for the future.  Many guys are recruiting each other, visiting in pairs, or coming to Boulder to meet up with someone they knew from high school. 

[See also: “State of the Program Part 1: Hawkruiting” (November), “Part 2: 2012 Positional Outlook” and “Part 3: Class by Class” at right in the Archives.]

December 19 marked the beginning of a “dead period” where coaches cannot have any face-to-face contact with recruits until January 3, although they can write or phone.  As of this post the team has 22 verbal commitments for the 2012 class and is ranked as high as 27 nationally.  They are hoping to sign up to 28 total recruits, in addition to a transfer and a “greyshirt” from last year, including some that will come in the spring and count against last year’s class, as well as a few that will be asked to “greyshirt” and delay enrollment until January 2013, counting against the next year’s class.  While it is impossible to project exactly how this group will actually turn out this early, the fact remains that many will need to play immediately.  Having graduated so many seniors, with such a small incoming senior class, numerous true freshmen, although hopefully not fifteen, will have to burn their redshirts and contribute right away. (Bold italicized names are committed recruits, italicized names are possible recruits with interest in CU, and small, regular font are players currently on the roster.)

§  QBs: While he doesn’t officially count toward this class (he was originally in the 2010 class at Texas), Connor Wood (Houston, TX), the transfer who is already on campus, is probably the most significant addition to the team and he is the supposed frontrunner for the job, even ahead of returning Nick Hirschman.  He has the size and all the physical tools scouts and coaches drool over and has impressed everyone who has seen him on the scout team in practice.

§  The Buffs also have Shane Dillon (El Cajon, CA) in the fold, a 3-star (at one point 4-star?) who is “solidly committed”.  He is supposed to enroll for the spring and will compete with Wood, Hirshman and John Schrock for the top spot of the depth chart from the outset.

§  There is also rumor that they are now recruiting another 3-star QB, Steve Donatell (Highlands Ranch) to possibly grayshirt and count towards the 2013 class (although he has been fully offered by Nebraska and Wake Forest).

§  RBs: Davien Payne (Perris, CA) and Terrence Crowder (Galena Park, TX), both 3-stars and physical runners, intending to add some size and power to the Buff rushing corral.  Crowder is recovering from a serious knee injury and might possibly redshirt, but Payne could get in there quickly, especially if he can pass block.  Donta Abron (Upland, CA) is more in the Speedy/Tony Jones mold, another two-star with a lot of upside and is being touted as the possible sleeper of the class.  The Buffs have actually lost two prospects here who de-committed and went somewhere else (Erich Wilson to Washington and Benjamin Catalon to Texas A&M) but I don’t think it will matter that much.  They would like to still get at least one more, and are in the running for a few big names including 4-star Wes Brown (Olney, MD), who is upposedly visiting sometime in January, and 3-star Jeffrey Coprich (Stevenson Ranch, CA).

§  The offense needs a fullback as they currently only have a couple of walk-on converted lineman/TEs able to man the spot (and maybe Cordary Allen?), so Clay Norgard (Mountain Vista-Highlands Ranch, legacy Buff-Dad Erik was DT, was first to commit last summer, DE/LB recruit also) will  play FB and is enrolling early to start learning the position better. Cristian Powell (Upland, CA, teammate of RB Abron and DB Mosley) is one of the higher profile FB prospects and still has CU on his radar.
§  WRs: A high area of need garnered CU 3 early commitments from 3 fast Texas prospects, all of whose speed could allow them to come in and compete right away, both on offense and special teams.  Gerald Thomas (The Colony, also an experienced kick returner) and Jeffrey Thomas (Duncanville, “blown away” by trip to Boulder), no relation, both enjoyed their visits and should compete for playing time in the fall.  Peyton Williams (Southlake) tore his ACL in the state semifinals and will likely redshirt.   I would expect to see at least one more signed here, if not two, especially with Williams’ injury.

§  TEs: Although there are a lot of bodies, there is not a lot of true depth at TE so this is another high need position and at least one or two freshmen TEs will be playing next fall.  Sean Irwin (Cypress, TX) was told he could come and play right away with his blocking ability.  Austin Ray (Columbia, MO) also cited early playing time as a reason for committing to the Buffs. The Buffs are still looking to sign one more ("the right TE" Embree said) and have some big names interested including 4-star Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick (CA) who is visiting in January.
§  O-Line: This is a group that you are always stocking and hoping to redshirt most of the recruits. Jeromy Irwin (Cypress, TX, Sean’s twin), Gerrad Kough (Pomona, CA) was not a highly recruited or rated prospect, but seems to fit the bill of nasty run blocking guard that Embree, EB and Marshall covet.  C Alex Kelley (Vista, CA) signed last year as a 3-star prospect but was injured, decided to greyshirt and will be here in the spring.

§  DBs: This was thought to be one of the highest need areas, especially after this year’s exaggerated problems, and is always going to be a position of need in the Pac-12 as they will face so many prolific pass offenses.  Embree has stated he would like to sign five, but so far they only have two verbals. Safety Ma’ne Manaea (Lakewood, WA) committed in September but is considered “soft” as there are other schools he is still interested in, and now he has been asked to greyshirt and doesn’t seem happy about it.  ATH Marques Mosley (Upland, CA-teammate of RB Abron) is the most recent recruit to have given his commitment to CU and has been anywhere from unrated to 3-stars.  He could end up playing CB, S or WR, but definitely will contribute, maybe immediately, on special teams.

§  3-star CB Ryan Lewis (Redmond, WA) visited the weekend of 12/17; 2/3-star Jonavaughn Williams (San Juan Capistrano, CA) loved his visit to Boulder but will visit Oregon St. and Washington St. in January before making a decision.

§  A few big names (i.e. M. Rios-UCLA) have committed elsewhere and Yuri Wright (4-star from Tony Jones’ high school in NJ) was supposedly bored on his trip to Boulder, but is still in contact with Embree who is continuing to press hard.

§  At least one wide-eyed kid from this group will likely need to be playing on Saturdays right away.

§  D-Line: This is the highest need position, with many seniors having graduated and the switch of Nick Kasa and Stephane Nembot to the offense, there are only 6 scholarship players returning, with two walk-ons.   They are signing a lot of bodies to stock the roster (at least 8 so far-as many as are on the roster currently) and are still after a couple of big names, including 4-star DE Kyle Kelley (Irvine, CA). 

§  They have commitments from four 3-star DEs: John Stuart (teammate of Solis), De’Jon Wilson (DC), Kisima Jagne (Chandler, AZ-recent Pac-12 coup), Samson Kafovalu (Riverside, CA, could also play O-line).  Many of these guys have a shot to play on CU’s thin, inexperienced defensive line (or as “Jack”).

§  Tyler Henington (Mullen, was second to commit, still being pursued by many Pac-12 schools but is “solid”), Justin Solis (Westlake, CA, another early commitment), Josh Topou (Buena Park, CA) and Kory Rasmussen (Honolulu, Hawaii, could play outside as well) are big DTs for the middle.  Topou is one who most likely needs more time to develop (and could also end up on the O-line) and Rasmussen needs to add some weight.

[Some sites had reported that 2-star Zahir Webb (Lakewood, WA-teammate of S Manaea) had an offer contingent on his qualifying but this is unclear.]

§  Kyle Ringo of The (Boulder Daily) Camera has reported that there may be some academic risks on the D-Line list and that is one reason the list is so big.  None of the possible JC prospects looked to be able to qualify either.

§  LBs: Even though they should be in good shape for next season, there is not a lot of long-term depth and Brian Cabral always is looking for a few capable bodies each class. Surprised no one has committed here yet but there will be 1 or 2 come February; one of the DEs could end up at LB as well, which includes the hybrid “Jack” position.  The one name they are targeting is 4-star PA product Deaysean Rippy (yes, a distant cousin of current LB Doug but they are not close).

§  Overall All in all it looks to be a solid class so far, loaded with 3-star athletes, lots of speed and a heavy dose of California (9) and Texas (6) players.  They won out many (and lost a few) battles with their conference brethren for recruits from other Pac-12 states like Arizona and Washington.  Only 2 Colorado players but a lot from across the country, from Hawaii to the East Coast, including a few from non-targeted recruiting areas who showed the first interest in the Buffs.  It would be nice to sprinkle in some 4-5-stars but that may have wait until late in the cycle, or even next year’s class. 

§  So how much will this group impact the Buffalo program?  Hopefully significantly down the road, however, we can predict that at least a few WRs and TEs, and possibly an RB will be touching the ball right away.  A few bodies will definitely need to get into the rotation on the defensive line and at least one DB will get into the mix.  Some freshmen, like this year, may be asked to play just for special teams purposes and one is likely to fill at least one of the return positions. Anything beyond that will be a blessing, or another crazy year.

§  I will update any new, important information within this post and/or in the "Recruiting Rumors" box at right, as well as updating any new recruits as soon as I confirm them in the “2012 Commitments” box.