Thrilled with the 2016 class.
But, like in life, always looking ahead
A few thoughts on 2017...
- We only have 10 seniors that will be moving on
- Of the 23 juniors listed on the "2016 IU Football Roster Breakdown" I would have to think 2-3 move on after this upcoming season for either the NFL Draft (Cobbs? Redding?) or just to move on and graduate and get on with life (similar to what Heffern did this year).
- With that, I'm going to assume this class is somewhere around 14-16 guys given that and maybe a transfer from a younger guy or two.
So, an idea of what to expect:
- IU cleaned up in the 2016 recruiting class with regards to what the staff brought on the offensive line. However, we will be waving goodbye to some serious, serious key pieces with the graduations of Camiel, Feeney, Bailey and Wes Rogers. DeAndre Herron moves on. So, I would think the staff would want to bring in 2-3 offensive lineman. Tyler Knight out of St. Petersburg, FL is currently committed so I'd expect to see one more and maybe a second guy? A third?
- While losing Ralph Green won't be ideal, it is no secret that the staff NEEDS some serious upgrades along the defensive line. We have a BEVY of unproven commodities on our DL and we really need to bring in a few guys here. I'd think a minimum of two DT's and maybe two more DE's if not a fifth guy...
- We have three Tight End's who are juniors so maybe they'll look to add one in this class so the sting of those 3 graduating in the same year won't hurt as bad?
- With who the staff brought in this year at RB and WR, I don't expect them to bring in more than one at each position with maybe a maximum of three between the two units? Josh Johnson from Arkansas is currently committed at WR. Of the current 19 scholarship players between the two positions (I could be off by one...) only two are seniors.
- Linebacker: Frankly, we need upgrades here. Newton, Simmons, Oliver and Scales are all upperclassmen with Simmons and Newton slated to graduate. The younger guys may indeed turn out well here but we need more. I'd expect around three LB's to be targeted.
- Secondary: IU currently has Avon DB Bryant Fitzgerald committed at safety. I'd think the staff would go for some home runs here and if they land 1-2, so be it.
We have three committed and probably around 11-14 more or so (give or take a body or two).
So our main priority is going to be defense I believe.
A look at some guys I expect IU to target and continue to recruit:
Kurt Rafdal: Current TE for Carmel. Has multiple B1G offers. At 6'7, he is an interesting prospect. Indiana just offered him four days ago.
Britt Beery: Also plays for Carmel. He's a DE with multiple Power 5 offers as well.
RJ Potts: A safety from Fishers with a Notre Dame offer. This is the kind of home run I think the staff can afford to go for knowing they don't need tons of immediate help in the secondary and you have to figure if he is good enough for a Notre Dame offer (along with other P5 offers..) he is good enough for us. Has an IU offer for clarity...
Zenden Dellinger: Current OT from Ft. Wayne who doesn't hold an IU offer but seems like he could be one to monitor. He camped at IU last summer and currently has a B1G offer from Illinois.
LeShaun Minor: A current DT at Ben Davis in Indianapolis. Was offered by #IUFB today and could help fill a serious need. Other offers are from the MAC at current writing.
Pompey Coleman: Also at Ben Davis and is an OT with offers from Illinois, Syracuse and Wake Forest. A guy I would assume Wilson and Frey will monitor, like Dellinger, and if they like could end up offering.
Caleb Jones: A 6'9 OT from Lawrence North. That's a BIG boy. Currently holds an #IUFB offer.
Walter Haire: A well-built LB from Indianapolis and North Central HS he has made multiple visits to IU. Currently has an offer from Cincinnati and Toledo.
Ben Stewart: Currently a safety for state power Cathedral. Long, rangy safety who covers a lot of ground. Very smart and very good instincts. Only a few MAC offers but has made multiple visits to IU. On film, looks very, very impressive...
Pete Werner: A lineback at Cathedral, his offer list is currently at 5 Big Ten schools including Wisconsin. Definitely a guy to track however a lot of "chatter" in Indy is that he is hot for Northwestern or Wisconsin so don't expect IU to have a huge shot here.
Titus McCoy: One of my favorites to watch on film. Absolutely love him. Stud running back for the state's best HS football program, Center Grove. Love his game.
As for some out-of-state types to follow:
Giovannia Moore: From an area in Georgia that it seems IU does well. Offers from Colorado, IU, UNC, NC State and Tennessee. A good-sized LB.
Charleston Rambo: An outrageous offer list already (including IU) but how can we not recruit a guy named Rambo?
Lynn Bowden: I have seen a few articles on him here and there with regards to #IUFB. A 6'0, 185-lb "Athlete" per rivals he projects at a number of places.
Weston Bridges: A RB out of Ohio that has a few P5 offers including IU.
Derrius Mullins: Has an Indiana offer and is from Columbus, OH. Currently doesn't have an Ohio State offer but has some good ones with Boston College, Cincinnati, Kentucky, West Virginia and Wisconsin having offered previously. A 6'4 and 326-lb DT could be great for us...
Thayer Munford: An OT from LaSalle HS outside of Cincinnati. Has a bevy of P5 offers.
Sorry so long. Just excited!!!!
But, like in life, always looking ahead
A few thoughts on 2017...
- We only have 10 seniors that will be moving on
- Of the 23 juniors listed on the "2016 IU Football Roster Breakdown" I would have to think 2-3 move on after this upcoming season for either the NFL Draft (Cobbs? Redding?) or just to move on and graduate and get on with life (similar to what Heffern did this year).
- With that, I'm going to assume this class is somewhere around 14-16 guys given that and maybe a transfer from a younger guy or two.
So, an idea of what to expect:
- IU cleaned up in the 2016 recruiting class with regards to what the staff brought on the offensive line. However, we will be waving goodbye to some serious, serious key pieces with the graduations of Camiel, Feeney, Bailey and Wes Rogers. DeAndre Herron moves on. So, I would think the staff would want to bring in 2-3 offensive lineman. Tyler Knight out of St. Petersburg, FL is currently committed so I'd expect to see one more and maybe a second guy? A third?
- While losing Ralph Green won't be ideal, it is no secret that the staff NEEDS some serious upgrades along the defensive line. We have a BEVY of unproven commodities on our DL and we really need to bring in a few guys here. I'd think a minimum of two DT's and maybe two more DE's if not a fifth guy...
- We have three Tight End's who are juniors so maybe they'll look to add one in this class so the sting of those 3 graduating in the same year won't hurt as bad?
- With who the staff brought in this year at RB and WR, I don't expect them to bring in more than one at each position with maybe a maximum of three between the two units? Josh Johnson from Arkansas is currently committed at WR. Of the current 19 scholarship players between the two positions (I could be off by one...) only two are seniors.
- Linebacker: Frankly, we need upgrades here. Newton, Simmons, Oliver and Scales are all upperclassmen with Simmons and Newton slated to graduate. The younger guys may indeed turn out well here but we need more. I'd expect around three LB's to be targeted.
- Secondary: IU currently has Avon DB Bryant Fitzgerald committed at safety. I'd think the staff would go for some home runs here and if they land 1-2, so be it.
We have three committed and probably around 11-14 more or so (give or take a body or two).
So our main priority is going to be defense I believe.
A look at some guys I expect IU to target and continue to recruit:
Kurt Rafdal: Current TE for Carmel. Has multiple B1G offers. At 6'7, he is an interesting prospect. Indiana just offered him four days ago.
Britt Beery: Also plays for Carmel. He's a DE with multiple Power 5 offers as well.
RJ Potts: A safety from Fishers with a Notre Dame offer. This is the kind of home run I think the staff can afford to go for knowing they don't need tons of immediate help in the secondary and you have to figure if he is good enough for a Notre Dame offer (along with other P5 offers..) he is good enough for us. Has an IU offer for clarity...
Zenden Dellinger: Current OT from Ft. Wayne who doesn't hold an IU offer but seems like he could be one to monitor. He camped at IU last summer and currently has a B1G offer from Illinois.
LeShaun Minor: A current DT at Ben Davis in Indianapolis. Was offered by #IUFB today and could help fill a serious need. Other offers are from the MAC at current writing.
Pompey Coleman: Also at Ben Davis and is an OT with offers from Illinois, Syracuse and Wake Forest. A guy I would assume Wilson and Frey will monitor, like Dellinger, and if they like could end up offering.
Caleb Jones: A 6'9 OT from Lawrence North. That's a BIG boy. Currently holds an #IUFB offer.
Walter Haire: A well-built LB from Indianapolis and North Central HS he has made multiple visits to IU. Currently has an offer from Cincinnati and Toledo.
Ben Stewart: Currently a safety for state power Cathedral. Long, rangy safety who covers a lot of ground. Very smart and very good instincts. Only a few MAC offers but has made multiple visits to IU. On film, looks very, very impressive...
Pete Werner: A lineback at Cathedral, his offer list is currently at 5 Big Ten schools including Wisconsin. Definitely a guy to track however a lot of "chatter" in Indy is that he is hot for Northwestern or Wisconsin so don't expect IU to have a huge shot here.
Titus McCoy: One of my favorites to watch on film. Absolutely love him. Stud running back for the state's best HS football program, Center Grove. Love his game.
As for some out-of-state types to follow:
Giovannia Moore: From an area in Georgia that it seems IU does well. Offers from Colorado, IU, UNC, NC State and Tennessee. A good-sized LB.
Charleston Rambo: An outrageous offer list already (including IU) but how can we not recruit a guy named Rambo?
Lynn Bowden: I have seen a few articles on him here and there with regards to #IUFB. A 6'0, 185-lb "Athlete" per rivals he projects at a number of places.
Weston Bridges: A RB out of Ohio that has a few P5 offers including IU.
Derrius Mullins: Has an Indiana offer and is from Columbus, OH. Currently doesn't have an Ohio State offer but has some good ones with Boston College, Cincinnati, Kentucky, West Virginia and Wisconsin having offered previously. A 6'4 and 326-lb DT could be great for us...
Thayer Munford: An OT from LaSalle HS outside of Cincinnati. Has a bevy of P5 offers.
Sorry so long. Just excited!!!!
