The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(11-20-2023 09:42 AM)CoachPMac Wrote:  

(11-19-2023 07:23 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  Beat out Akron and a bunch of Ivy League schools and FCS programs for Cade Wolford (ATH).

https://247sports.com/Recruitment/cade-w...Interests/

Wolford had an earlier offer from Akron, but the Zips filled their HS RB slot with Sean Patrick. Still a nice pickup.

OK, well then we're back to getting kids that took their only FBS offer. Obviously he's a smart kid with the schools on his list.

Every time I see us add an ATH I always wonder if we'll think about using him at QB. Paul Haynes realized way too late into his tenure that traditional pocket passers struggle here. It took having all his QBs hurt before he realized the best option for running his offense was a WR/RB. Under Lewis we've always seen true RPO QBs running the show with the exception of when Kargman was forced into action last year and that didn't go well. Never really got to see what his offense would look like with a Cribbs/Edelman/Holley type athlete that can throw running it. For next year our best bet is probably to try to find an RPO QB or two, and develop Ulatowski and maybe Deshields. But giving athletes a shot might be interesting too. With the QB position beat up and one game left, it'd be interesting to see us give the reigns to someone else like when Holley was thrown in against Akron and it unexpectedly worked. Always thought it sucked that we spent his first 2.75 years watching poor QB play not realizing what he could do. Floriea is the guy that intrigues me. He threw the only TD pass in the spring game if memory serves.

DB coming in from Monmouth (FCS). Was a depth player for a below average FCS program, he only played 4 games for them this season, 11 last season and 6 the year before, so I’m sure Kenni sees something in him.

Picked up a commitment from Clinton Robinson, who previously committed to Syracuse. Had a number of other solid offers to choose from.

https://247sports.com/Recruitment/clinto...Interests/

Another "Athlete". Positionless basketball works. No one ever thought to try it with football!!

(12-19-2023 09:59 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  Another "Athlete". Positionless basketball works. No one ever thought to try it with football!!

Does that now make 14 WR/Safetys being signed?

(12-16-2023 06:18 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  DB coming in from Monmouth (FCS). Was a depth player for a below average FCS program, he only played 4 games for them this season, 11 last season and 6 the year before, so I’m sure Kenni sees something in him.

The play in 4 games, decide to not play anymore, redshirt, and transfer is becoming a trend in college football. For an example close to home, Akron had a kid do it last year and then transfer to Rutgers. This year Zips had 3 do it, including a team captain.

(12-20-2023 06:00 AM)CoachPMac Wrote:  

(12-16-2023 06:18 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  DB coming in from Monmouth (FCS). Was a depth player for a below average FCS program, he only played 4 games for them this season, 11 last season and 6 the year before, so I’m sure Kenni sees something in him.

The play in 4 games, decide to not play anymore, redshirt, and transfer is becoming a trend in college football. For an example close to home, Akron had a kid do it last year and then transfer to Rutgers. This year Zips had 3 do it, including a team captain.

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in 1960s college football anymore.

(12-19-2023 10:07 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(12-19-2023 09:59 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  Another "Athlete". Positionless basketball works. No one ever thought to try it with football!!

Does that now make 14 WR/Safetys being signed?

WRs can become RBs or CBs ... Safetys can become CBs or LBs

(12-20-2023 02:37 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(12-19-2023 10:07 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(12-19-2023 09:59 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  Another "Athlete". Positionless basketball works. No one ever thought to try it with football!!

Does that now make 14 WR/Safetys being signed?

WRs can become RBs or CBs ... Safetys can become CBs or LBs

Maybe, but this isn’t basketball where you can throw 5 guards out there and wing it, we need guys in the trenches to blow open the holes and protect the QB as well as stuff it on the other side. We didn’t have it last year and it seems he didn’t target much of it in this class, there’s no excuse this time.

According to the Kent website 27 signed with 6 wrs and 6 safeties.

Qbs - 0
Rb - 2
Wr - 6
Te - 2
Ol - 2
Dl - 3
Lb - 2
Cb - 3
Safety - 6
Kicker - 1

(12-20-2023 04:28 PM)ilovegymnast Wrote:  According to the Kent website 27 signed with 6 wrs and 6 safeties.

Qbs - 0
Rb - 2
Wr - 6
Te - 2
Ol - 2
Dl - 3
Lb - 2
Cb - 3
Safety - 6
Kicker - 1

Good to see we went heavy on WRs. But after losing our O-line in the portal last year I’m shocked that wasn’t a bigger emphasis. And I’m a believer you have to have at least one QB in every class so you can develop them and teach them the system. This year’s class has some positives but a couple of big holes as well. Maybe we’ll add more guys via the portal.

So is someone who pays more attention to this than me able to summarize the signing day surprises?

It does feel like we need more O line help, but maybe it's not as bleak as it seems. If I'm not mistaken, Golden is the only one that will be out of eligibility, at least of guys that played a lot. Rumler was also listed as a Sr but I don't remember seeing him out there. Wasn't there an injury or something that kept him out all year? I believe we had a lot of freshman and sophomores playing a lot last year and no one has transferred. 9 listed as Fr or So on the roster last year and at least a few of those names I know played a lot. While I'd feel better if we added an experienced O lineman to the mix through the he portal, if our coaches and strength and conditioning staff are good there is at least reason to believe what we have could come back better.

As for all the ATH and WRs maybe it's a sign that Burns actually does want to play the more up tempo style so he's just trying to load up on weapons to run in and out. Looking through the class I honestly feel like it seems to be slightly better than I was expecting. 247 still has us at #5 in the MAC on both standard recruits and transfers.

A couple things I find interesting. No QB yet. Maybe they think between Ulatowski, Kargman, Deshields, and Lewis they have a pretty solid group? Also looks like they're calling the WR from Butchel a TE now. I'm intrigued by the idea of playing a guy with a WR background at TE. Maybe expand the position a bit?

This guy seems like a decent get from the portal. Decent numbers last year and seems like he's got some special teams ability. A punt return TD last year and 2 blocked kicks each of the last two years. May not be an all-mac caliber player but feels like a pretty good bet that'll be a name we hear a lot.

https://gocrimson.com/sports/football/ro...oody/26555

Just added a QB in the portal coming from Troy, another “pro-style” QB.

https://247sports.com/player/jd-sherrod-46116788/
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/jd...88?view=pv

(01-05-2024 06:46 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  Just added a QB in the portal coming from Troy, another “pro-style” QB.

https://247sports.com/player/jd-sherrod-46116788/
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/jd...88?view=pv

He is not that good. Went to the same school my kids are at until he got kicked out of school his senior year. Honestly was suprised Troy honored his commitment, so I wonder if that is why he is leaving after his freshman season.

Added an LB from Towson.

(01-05-2024 09:03 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  Added an LB from Towson.

Seems like a nice pickup. Two years left. As a freshman in 2022 he led Towson in tackles and was a finalist for the award for best FCS freshman. Looks like his tackle numbers were down a bit last year and he doesn't seem like someone who makes many game changing plays. Only 9 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 int, 2 FF over 2 years. But hey, every good defense needs a guy that just gets a lot of tackles. On paper this seems like a transfer who spends a lot of time on the field.