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Recruiting

A Philosophical Question About Recruiting

Our summer hiatus is coming to an end, and with our batteries recharged, look for a lot more TSM content coming your way in the coming weeks.  But first, we're going to ease into everything with a quick poll question.  And it's no small question, considering it questions the entire fabric of your recruiting values.

So...

Poll
Would you, as a fan, rather see a team have its pick of 3 star (or under) players, or take any 4 or 5 star players without control or selection?
3 star (and under), but with complete control
180 votes
4 star (and over), but with no control
83 votes

263 votes | Poll has closed

27 comments |

National Signing Day: The Only Day Of The Year Where An Unhealthy Love For High School Kids Is Acceptable

All we care about until 7 p.m. tonight is who is in and who is out. This post will serve as our update mechanism.  We will hopefully include snarky and inappropriate comments.  After the jump are a list of names we hope will eventually show up.  Above the jump, the future Mountaineers that have already sent in their LOI.

As of this very second WVU has received 19 LOI's.

  • Quantavious Leslie -- The depth we are getting at WR is great if Mullen decides to run a passing offense and our O-Line blocks this year.
  • Avery Williams -- CB/WR -- Gave his verbal to Utah but flipped to WVU.
  • Troy Gloster
  • Trey Johnson -- Lot of expectations on Johnson since he's the only RB in this class.
  • Marquis Wallace
  • Qudral Forte
  • Ivan "Sticks" McCartney -- The signing of Sticks and Chambers solidifies the 4 Amigos from Miramar,  Geno, Bailey, Chambers and McCartney.  I hope they perform as well at WVU as they did at Miramar.  This should really help Geno in his battle for the starting job this fall.
  • Dante Chambers
  • Wes Tonkery
  • Travis Bell -- I knew that high five meant something. With Bell signing with WVU and Millines going to Illinois, Doc did not bring in the guns Marshall thought he would.
  • Doug Rigg
  • Jewone Snow
  • Barry Brunetti
  • Mike Dorsey
  • Jeremy Johnson
  • Quentin Spain
  • Trevor Demko
  • Deon Long (already enrolled)
  • Bruce Irvin

Continue reading this post »

96 comments |

National Signing Day: Who Will Use A Fax Machine For The First And Last Time In Their Life?

At this very moment, high school athletes from across the nation are freaking out.  They have no clue what they will do tomorrow because they have never seen and have no clue how to use a fax machine.

One of two things will happen tomorrow.  Everyone will either freak out because of the players we lose or they will be happy with the class this coaching staff actually signs.  Unless we lose a lot of verbals, I will be extremely happy with this talented class.

We are currently ranked 28 by Rivals and 31 by Scouts, which is not shabby but not what I was expecting. These ratings may vary but the way things stand now WVU is set to sign one of the most talented classes in the schools history. If a couple things fall our way we could easily jump into the top 25.

After the jump, I give you my predictions on the players to watch tomorrow...

Continue reading this post »

9 comments |

2010 Center Prospect David Nyarsuk Commits To Mountaineers

West Virginia looks to have completed it's recruiting class with 2010 prospect David Nyarsuk, a 7'1", 230 lb. defensive-minded center from Mountain State Academy in Beckley.  According to ESPN, he is the 19th ranked center, though lightly offered due to perceived grade trouble. By signing him, however, CBH must be sure that he can successfully qualify and play for the Mountaineers.

More to follow...

[Note: EerSports.com initially broke the story.]

7 comments |

Updating The WVU Football Recruiting Class Of 2010

It's been awhile since TSM has updated the recruiting list for 2010 (found on the left column of the main page), so I thought now was as good a time as any.  Plus, after we lose a game, I invariably find myself looking towards the future, so that's where my attention has gone this time.

A few things:

  • I am converting the star counts from Scout.com to Rivals.com.  Personally, I think Rivals' scouting system is better and therefore, their star counts are more "accurate."
  • YouTube videos are tough to find (partly because the site is blocked at work).  If you do come across a video from one of our committed players, please pass it on to me at charleywest@gmail.com.
  • I can't wait for the Braylon Heard era.

UPDATE: The code in the recruiting section was causing the site to get all drunk and handsy at the company Christmas party.  Or, in other words, it was messed up.  I am working on the problem.

UPDATE #2: FIXED!

Deon Long

Position: WR
Rivals Profile
Scout Profile
ESPN Profile
YouTube: N/A
Ht: 6'1"
Wt: 205 lbs
Forty: 4.5 secs
High School: Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, VA)

 

Continue reading this post »

5 comments |

Adreian Payne Spurns West Virginia, Chooses Michigan State

Recruit_payne_600_medium

[dishearteningly awesome photo via assets.espn.go.com]

Mountaineer fans will not have to grapple with the unusual spelling of Adreian Payne's first name too much since the star 2010 recruit has chosen to play for Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans.

Thought to be leading until this past week, the choice makes quite the dent in a potential Bob Huggins recruiting class that included the likes of Payne (6'10", Dayton, OH), Noah Cottrill, and possibly Tobias Harris (6'8", Brookville, NY).

Harris is the real jewel of this class, but is still considered an even longer shot to land than was Payne.  And, seeing as how Payne has chosen Michigan State, it makes Harris that much more of a priority.  But when things look bleak, always remember that Bob Huggins is "The Man."  Afterall, Tobias Harris' dad said so.

1 comment |

Tevita Finau, In His Own (Facebook) Words

FeeLz gOod tO bE baCk in WV"..Fo GooD diS tiMe..lol..

12 comments |

Recruiting 101: 2010 WR Ivan McCartney

5196359

[photo via media.miamiherald.com]

We're going to be speaking in the hypothetical tense (easier than the third person, ala The Krag) for a moment, so bear with me.

Let's just say you're West Virginia University's football staff, and for right now, you're focusing on recruiting.  Let's also assume, just for argument's sake, that you have your #1 target at wide receiver scheduled for a visit this weekend.  This is a big-time target, ranked #13 in the nation with offers from most of the major schools throughout the country.  In short, a highly-coveted prospect.

Now, let's assume that you also have the chance to bring in another player for a visit, this time an already committed player who verballed to the Mountaineer some months ago.  Who would you bring in?  A punter?  A lineman?  Or the #1 dual-threat QB in the nation per Rivals.com?  Wouldn't the #1 dual-threat QB probably be able to sway the top WR into possibly attending school together?

Yeah, I thought so too.  So that's what's going down this weekend: Ivan McCartney and Barry Brunetti will be attending both Mountaineer Madness and the WVU vs. Marshall game this weekend.  It would be an absolute coup to add McCartney's name to the verballed roster, and having Brunetti on campus should do nothing but help that cause.  I'm starting to think this staff is pretty damn good at this whole recruiting thing.

Before I let you go, one last question: were all the hypothetical questions really necessary?

10 comments |


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