More Recruiting . . .

[Cane from the Bend]

Lane has to be careful of Bridges becoming Infernos . . . these Pipelines are too important to lose:

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Redlands (Calif.) East Valley High School and USC coach Lane Kiffin are at odds thanks to a deferred scholarship.

Defensive end Kylie Fitts, a four-star recruit Rivals ranked seventh nationally at his position, was committed to USC and took extra high school classes so he could graduate early and enroll at the university in January.

Fitts talked to a couple USC coaches at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 5 and they said they were ready to have him on campus. But the following Monday, he received a call saying his scholarship was no longer available for the spring semester.

Fitts was supposed to be on campus on Jan. 10.

The Trojans didn't pull his scholarship entirely, but deferred him to the fall. However, since Fitts had already graduated high school, he had nowhere to go and didn't want to wait.

Redlands East Valley coach Kurt Bruich told the Riverside Press-Enterprise: “Recruiting man, it’s crazy. He’s wanted to go to USC for as long as he can remember and now he feels betrayed. He did everything he was supposed to do from his end and he was a loyal kid. I think they thought because of that loyalty he’d still want to go there. He said to me ‘What am I supposed to do for the next five months?’ It seems shady. I think it seems shady to everyone.”

Consequently, Fitts, who was recruited and offered by several major programs around the country, has decommitted from the Trojans and opened up his recruiting.

Bruich told the Riverside Press-Enterprise: "Notre Dame, Washington and UCLA are all back in the mix."

The whole scenario has caused some consternation between Bruich, who runs one of the better programs in the state, and USC. Bruich even took to Twitter on Friday to express his feelings about USC and specifically coach Lane Kiffin.


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[Cane from the Bend]

Tigers Take Another Hit:

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ESPN 150 defensive tackle Dee Liner (Muscle Shoals, Ala./Muscle Shoals) told ESPN's Recruiting Nation that he decommitted from Auburn on Monday.

Liner, ranked No. 26 overall nationally and the No. 4 defensive tackle, gave a verbal pledge to the Tigers back in June 2011, but after a down year and a coaching change at Auburn, he now plans to open up his recruitment just three weeks before signing day.

During the fall, Liner visited Tuscaloosa, Ala., multiple times to watch Alabama play, and the Crimson Tide are the likely frontrunner to land his signature. He is also scheduled to take an official visit to Miami this weekend.

Last month, Liner told ESPN that he would make his final decision on signing day.

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[Eric]

Lane Kiffin: Destroying USC, one recruit at a time

[Spence]

If their ever was an example of a guy in over his head it is Lane Kiffin. He has never had the résumé to be hired into the jobs he has held.

[Eric]

On the one hand, I'm not complaining (I never liked USC's programs during the Pete Carroll era). But on the other, it makes me upset that there's no karma in this world. This guy has been the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Volunteers, and USC Trojans. It makes me upset that somebody could take these jobs, of which there are only so many in the sports world, and be completely undeserving. And it's also obnoxious that the management of each of these teams thought it was a good idea to hire him when it is painstakingly obvious that he's not that good of a head coach and a lying, cheating, self-aggrandizing person to boot.

[Swamp Daddy]

UL has 13 football recruits visiting this weekend perhaps including USC commit Jason Hatcher. I am sure all will be taken to the UL basketball game vs. #6 Syracuse on Saturday as part of this visit. I can't find a list yet of who is coming.

Swamp Daddy

[Cane from the Bend]

Yesterday [Tuesday], `Canes hit BIG for 2014 . . .

Miami landed a huge commitment on Tuesday, landing 5-star offensive tackle prospect Kc McDermott.
Chad Simmons of Fox Sports first reported that the Florida high school product made his decision.

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McDermott will be a quality signing for Al Golden and his 2014 recruiting class. The junior from Palm Beach Central High School in West Palm Beach, Fla., is current rated as the 23rd overall prospect in his class, being one of the most sought-after offensive lineman in the country, currently the No. 3 OT in the 2014 class, per 247Sports' rankings.

Standing at 6'6" and weighing in at 290 pounds, McDermott has the potential to be an impact freshman along the offensive line at Miami. He might have to play the guard position as a freshman, but there's little doubt he projects as a prototypical left tackle at both the college and NFL level.

His highlight film shows us exceptional strength and size for a high school athlete, and he easily handles defensive ends and linebackers in the running game on tape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUx_5zCB ... _embedded#!

McDermott will play in the 2014 Under Armour High School All-America game (per The Palm Beach Post), and he'll have plenty of time to refine his game in the meantime while Miami checks in on him from time to time during his senior season.

Despite just being in high school, McDermott is already gaining major notoriety.

Former NFL All-Pro lineman LeCharles Bentley raved about the youngster during a 2012 Nike Football Training Camp (via ESPN), and others have made the obvious connection to his brother Shane—currently an offensive lineman at the University of Miami—as a tool that will help him grow faster in college.

McDermott also had offers from Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida and Ohio State.

But he lands with the Hurricanes on Tuesday and will help get Al Golden's 2014 recruiting class off on the right foot in the process. McDermott is one of the top prospects in the country, and he's a major coup for Miami as some of the 2014 recruits start to make a decision.

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What is not said in the above article:

McDermott originally committed to notre dame; but decommitted from the Dome, saying, Miami is a better fit for him.

Maybe it has to due with nd signing four other highly touted offensive linemen.
Or, it could be a pattern starting.

He Committed to Miami after a visit to the school, and talking with our new OC (the second recruit to do so).

Whatever the reason; this is a good get.

He's already Golden's second 5-star for 2014, mind you, with running back Joseph Yearby the other.

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Also noted about McDermott:

He has great height for a left tackle, and at his size he should be able to compete with most defensive ends in the ACC. There's always the potential for him putting on more mass during his senior year or heading into his freshman year in college.

For as tall as he is, McDermott plays with good leverage. Basically what that means is that he can shoot out of his stance, remain low with his knees bent, explode into the chest plate of the defender and drive him back by churning his feet.

In football, we often talk about the "low man" winning at the line of scrimmage. It's basic physics—even a smaller player can drive back a much larger player if he utilizes good leverage. When you're lower, you establish a stronger base and can extend and explode out with much more force, often times putting the defender on his heels.
Once he's on his heels, he loses all power and you then control where he will go.
For as big as McDermott is, he plays with great fundamentals. If a smaller player can succeed because of leverage, imagine what he'll be able to do.

He also displays good quickness and speed, so he should be able to get to the second level against linebackers or even pull to lead a run play to the edges.

Overall, McDermott has the skill set to be a featured lineman for Miami, and he'll be a major part of the Hurricanes' future.

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With that growing Monster in Tallahassee; the ACC maybe a Florida dominated conference in the near future.

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[billybud]

Auburn again making news.....

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... k/2051041/

[Cane from the Bend]

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When Boston College convened their first scrimmage over the weekend, multiple recruits attracted to the effort new head coach Steve Addazio has put out there on the recruiting trail came to view the new squad and new verbal commitments were expected to come soon. The first to cross the boards onto the Eagles’ ship is Delaware dual threat QB Darius Wade, given a three star rating by both Rivals and 247.

Coach Addazio has been talking about implementing the Tim Tebow type dual threat offenses he ran at Florida and the coach has finally got his man. Wade in his Junior season at Middletown High School passed for 2275 yards with 27 touchdowns, combined with 546 rushing, scrambling into the endzone seven times.

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And the interesting part of this story is that in addition to obvious effort that Addazio & Co. put into recruiting Wade, they got a bit of an assist according to 247′s twitter feed. In fact, Boston College’s first 2014 recruit, RB Marcus Outlow helped persuade Wade to commit to the Heights. And if you wouldn’t believe it the snowball effect(literally the only important term I have learned in Research Methods) might just continue.

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If this is true, the Eagles will have gotten off to a good recruiting start that was unseen under previous coach Frank Spaziani. Darius Wade is BC’s fourth verbal commit, joining 247 three stars Harold Landry, Marcus Outlow, and Isaac Yiadom.

Darius Wade also holds offers from Bucknell, Clemson, NC State, UMass, Nebraska, Delaware, Syracuse and Temple according to Rivals. Yes, we beat two ACC schools and Nebraska for a quality recruit. If you’re a true Boston College Eagle fan, you’ve got to be impressed with this torrid start to the recruiting season.

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This is Darius Wade’s recruiting video(link from BCI):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orhjgsjl ... r_embedded

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This has to be a breath of fresh air for Boston College . . .
They've been so lackluster since O'Brien left.

This QB grab may actually start them in the right direction.

And it is a needed boost for the ACC @ large. Having the conference come down to the same two or three teams each season, is going to hold the conference down . . . unless the overall perception of the ACC improves.

Hopefully, this will start a trend.

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[Cane from the Bend]

More good news for the U . . .

4-star offensive tackle, Reilly Gibbons, has reportedly committed to Miami.

For Al Golden and the Hurricanes, Gibbons' commitment is another big-time recruiting win. Miami has been on fire in regards to the recruiting trail as of late, and Gibbons is the latest proverbial domino to fall in its favor.

Momentum and hype are everything in recruiting, and Miami is riding a strong wave of both.

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ESPN.com's, Corey Dowlar, reports on Gibons' commitment: "First it was Kc McDermott (Wellington, Fla./Palm Beach Central) picking the Hurricanes over Notre Dame last Tuesday. And Reilly Gibbons (St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Petersburg Catholic), also an ESPN Watch List offensive tackle, doubled the Hurricanes' tally on Monday afternoon, his father confirmed. "

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Gibbons said Miami considers him to be a left tackle prospect.

Why is it important to note that Gibbons is being recruited as a left tackle by Miami . . ?

He's ranked as the No. 28 offensive tackle in the 2014 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, but he's also listed as being able to play tight end according to 247Sports.

@ 6'6'', 278 pounds, he would be a huge tight end. But he definitely moves like a player that could be an effective tight end in college.

As a left tackle, this is going to give him a big advantage.

When you watch Gibbons' highlights, it's pretty easy to see that he has great agility, footwork and quickness for a tackle.

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Reilly Gibbons 2014 #75 Junior Highlights Left Offensive Tackle Part 1 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... aA6s0aTzoc

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He'll be able to get moving and be a lead blocker on pull-plays.

His quickness will help him hook defensive ends on outside runs to his side. And he'll also be able to block down with much more efficiency than a bigger, slower offensive tackle.

But it's his agility as a pass blocker that may help him (and the `Canes) the most.

Most offensive lineman struggle with quicker defensive lineman; they have to counter that speed by either improving their technique, or imposing their strength.

The problem is, there are plenty of counters a defensive lineman can use to combat strength.

Footwork is definitely key, especially for a left tackle. The quicker your footwork is as a tackle, the better you'll be at kicking back, shuffling with the pass rusher and staying between him and your quarterback.

Having a left tackle with great footwork and quickness is a luxury; that's exactly what Miami will be getting in Gibbons. He has experience running routes and playing in open space, and doing that at a high level takes incredible precision and quickness in regards to footwork.

Miami is getting a player that can move like a tight end, but he also has the strength of a pure offensive tackle.

So the Hurricanes are really getting the best of both worlds.

He'll be a lead blocker because of his quickness and strength, but his agility and footwork will help him stay in front of quicker defensive ends in pass rushing situations at the college level.

Gibbons is Miami's sixth commitment for 2014; he's also the Hurricanes fourth offensive lineman recruit.

We always say, that football is won in the trenches; so then Golden and his staff have to be feeling great about the 2014 class so far.

Gibbons projects to be a big part of this class, and he could end up being one of the stars of the group when all is said and done.

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Love us or hate us (or in this board's case, Billybud us) . . . we're moving toward something special.

The only question left, should these recruits stick with their commitments to Miami, is; will the coaching staff be able to develop these players to become the potential elite group they bring with them?

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[Swamp Daddy]

Louisville coach Charlie Strong has his third commitment for the class of 2014 from Jeff Williams, a 3-star linebacker from Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, FL.

Swamp Daddy (any news better than no news in the long drought until fall camp - )

[Swamp Daddy]

Two additional Florida recruits to UL yesterday:

Jacksonville, Florida offensive lineman Kavaris Harkless,3-star, signed with UL
Lake Worth, Florida safety Marques Gayot announced for UL; but, he is, "keeping his options open" meaning if Florida, FS or Miami came he might change his mind. LOL. Gayot, a thee-star recruit according to Rivals, is a 6'1, 190-pound athlete who runs a 4.6 forty.

Coach Stong's Florida connections still forming a pipeline to UL.

We might have the best team in UL history; but, with the worst schedule probably in the country. My, my.

24/7 sports now rates the 2014 class as14th:
http://247sports.com/Season/2014-Footba ... amRankings

Recruit class rankings are to be taken with a tablespoon of salt. A larger class at some school with lower ranked recruits will show higher than a small incoming class of higher quality. I guess I'm saying all this is in flux. A better ranking is exiting classes.

Swamp Daddy

[donovan]

Swamp Daddy, you are right. My limited experience leads me to believe that High School rankings are just a fig newton of someone's imagination. Not hardly worth paying attention. Schools, I believe, want kids that are fast, strong, big and have a reasonable attitude. The latter becoming more and more important. (Frankly, if you draft kids with good core values of right and wrong, most of this NCAA infraction stuff goes away...not all...but a lot.)

[Spence]

Swamp Daddy, you are right. My limited experience leads me to believe that High School rankings are just a fig newton of someone's imagination. Not hardly worth paying attention. Schools, I believe, want kids that are fast, strong, big and have a reasonable attitude. The latter becoming more and more important. (Frankly, if you draft kids with good core values of right and wrong, most of this NCAA infraction stuff goes away...not all...but a lot.)

That is exactly right. Sometimes coaches sell values for athletic ability. It almost always blows up in their face.

[Swamp Daddy]

The class of 2014 (always subject to major changes) for Coach Charlie Strong got it's 11th commitment with an Ohio lineman. They are recruiting heavily in Ohio last couple of years as one assistant has strong (pun intended) connections there. I really can't keep up with recruiting but news appears on local boards I am on from time to time.

Nothing more fluid than decisions by high school juniors (soon to be changeable seniors); but, still it's something to while away the time until fall camp and the season starts.

Swamp Daddy