§ [Updated 2/19/12]
Well, the 2012 recruiting class is signed and we are looking forward to spring practice only a few weeks away. However, it is a year-round business and coaches are not idle as they have already begun to recruit the next class, having extended at least 30 offers to current high school juniors for the 2013 class (and they are even looking at some sophomores for 2014). Some of the most highly rated prospects have already committed to some of the big name programs like USC, Florida, LSU, Texas, Alabama (has 7 already!).
Well, the 2012 recruiting class is signed and we are looking forward to spring practice only a few weeks away. However, it is a year-round business and coaches are not idle as they have already begun to recruit the next class, having extended at least 30 offers to current high school juniors for the 2013 class (and they are even looking at some sophomores for 2014). Some of the most highly rated prospects have already committed to some of the big name programs like USC, Florida, LSU, Texas, Alabama (has 7 already!).
§ There are four homegrown Colorado juniors that CU started recruiting much in the same way that Coach Mac recruited Embree and other Colorado standouts in his first full year: “Come here together and make CU great again-you can be the foundation.” This group is led by Ponderosa offensive lineman Chris Fox, ranked as one of ESPN’s hot 100 for 2013, being recruited by everybody in the country, was considered the “must get” of this class for Embree, but actually committed to Michigan early. The other three who become the focus of CU recruiting are: Dan Skipper, a monstrous offensive lineman from Ralston Valley, Chaparral tight end Mitchell Parsons and Denver South RB Philip Lindsay.
§ Embree has a philosophy of identifying his top prospects and keying on them, going after them hard. This last cycle, the Buffs had only 53 main names on their board and they focused on those, recruiting them strongly, and getting 20 (including their top 4 cornerbacks), backing off some and only losing out on some of the biggest names. [Not sure who the 8 that signed who weren’t originally targeted?] Coaches are assigned 3 different regions to focus on, with many overlaps; then 3 coaches are also assigned to each prospect to “effectively recruit them”.
§ Embree has a philosophy of identifying his top prospects and keying on them, going after them hard. This last cycle, the Buffs had only 53 main names on their board and they focused on those, recruiting them strongly, and getting 20 (including their top 4 cornerbacks), backing off some and only losing out on some of the biggest names. [Not sure who the 8 that signed who weren’t originally targeted?] Coaches are assigned 3 different regions to focus on, with many overlaps; then 3 coaches are also assigned to each prospect to “effectively recruit them”.
§ Embree (from 2012 Signing Day): "We're able to get a head start now, so I've evaluated some 2013's in-state and in some other areas, and a couple of 2014's. I feel like we're kind of catching up. I think as we continue to move forward and everyone gets in their areas, we can start getting ahead. Not only is recruiting year-round, but identifying people early is key, especially for us when you're talking about the number of kids you get from out-of-state because we have to get the 'Colorado' brand out in front of them so they have an idea of what we're about and start following us. I feel good about what we've done and how we've gone about doing it."
§ The Buffs will have much fewer scholarships to offer next year, with a very small senior class, probably 15-18, depending on attrition, so they will be very little margin for error with their priority targets. Embree explains: “If you don’t want the kid to come, don’t offer. Don’t extend an offer, and then he calls the next day [to commit] and you have buyer’s remorse. That’ll be the first criteria. We, our position coaches, better be sure. If you only get one [player at a position], you better be sure that’s the kid you want with that one. That will be how we go along building it.”
§ I think the staff would like to continue to increase team speed and special teams depth, and with their “standing” nationally increased, and the roster with so much more depth, they can go after those specific players they really like. They will need to go heavy on OL (4-5) and LB (2-3), as those areas were somewhat neglected this year, due to needs elsewhere (D-Line, DBs, TEs). In the Pac-12 they will need to get a few good D-linemen and DBs in every cycle. Next year, the offensive skill positions will not need to take as many slots: they will almost always take a QB; they got 3 RBs this year but will also always take at least one, although FB should be fine for at least one cycle; WR could use a little more depth so we should see 2-3; if this year’s TEs work out they won’t need more than one. Lastly, it is doubtful they will need to worry about a kicker/punter until 2014, but they are always looking at how others, especially DBs, RBs and WRs can add speed and contribute on the coverage and return units.
§ CU has already offered a few scholarships to some highly rated recruits out of state as well, including a bunch from ESPN’s 2013 150: Concord, CA’s 5* LB Mitchell Hutchings, 4* CA safeties Su’a Cravens and Max Redfield, 4* Don Bosco/NJ DE Alquadin Muhammad, 4* Texas RBs Adam Taylor and Dontre Wilson, QB Jarret Solomon (Las Vegas), WR Ra’Shaad Samples (Dallas), OT Patrick Kugler (Wexford, PA), DEs Kylie Fitts (Redlands, CA) and Marcus Farria (Peoria, AZ), OT John Lopez (Orange, CA).
§ There are numerous other members of ESPN’s 150 who list Colorado as a school they are “considering”: QB Zack Greenlee (Stockton, CA), RB Terrell Newby II (West Hills, CA), WR Drew Wolitarsky (Canyon Country, CA), TE Marcus Baugh (Riverside, CA).
§ They are also recruiting others from schools that are becoming part of the Buff “pipeline”: Muhammad/Don Bosco (above), 4* DE Joe Mathis/Upland, CA (2012 recruits Powell, Moseley, Abron), TE Standish Dobard (name of the class so far) & CB Lowell Ellis/Edna Carter, New Orleans (Keenan Canty).
§ Luke Del Rio, son of new Bronco defensive coordinator Jack del Rio, will be a senior quarterback and has decided to attend Valor Christian, a powerhouse private school stocked with pro’s sons (the McCaffery boys, Brian Dawkins Jr.) over Dave Logan and Cherry Creek. He will be highly sought after college recruit and I wonder if Embree has already made contact, especially since he probably knows del Rio from his NFL time.
§ Other prospects that CU has offered or is recruiting: WR Eldridge Massington (West Mesquite, Texas), WR Darrell Daniels (Freedom, CA), OL Dane Crane (Santa Margartia, CA, but former neighbor of 2012 WR signee Peyton Williams) and possibly 2 teammates, QB Ellis Jefferson (Denton, TX), LB Isaac Savaiinea (Honolulu), Olney, Maryland’s LB Reggie McGee and ATH Marcel Ngachie, ATH Kyle Queiro, Oradell (Bergen) NJ, QB Richard Lagow, (Plano, TX).
§ Other highly rated players from the state of Colorado: QB Ryan Novak, Heritage; DL Stanley Gilbert and Carlos Aviles, Valor Christian; DE Austin Berk, Grand Junction; OL Jake Bennett; Lakewood (Bear Creek HS), ATHs Tanner Gentry, Grandview & Dyan Nelson, Lakewood; DBs Chase Thurgood, Fort Collins & Christopher Alban, Falcon; RB Shahid Hoover, Denver East;K Daniel Carlson (Colorado Springs) is a 6’5” athlete who is refining his kicking skills but could be #1 kicker come Signing Day.
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