2022 MAC Recruiting Round-Up (AI Teams)

[Jieret]

As it says on the tin, I decided to take a look at the recruiting classes for the teams of the MAC. In the interests of fairness (and also because there were only 3 user MAC teams and doing only them didn't feel right at the time), I spent a bit of time looking at the AI teams and that's what you get here. You won't get too much detailed analysis - feels kind of useless for AI teams.

 

Couple of notes before we begin:

• The user-controlled teams (Ball State, Bowling Green, Western Michigan) will be in a separate post.

  
  

• Key Recruits are not necessarily the highest-rated, highest potential players but are biased that way.

  
  

• Needs are mostly based on the number and the class (Senior, etc.) of bodies at a position - actual quality was not really considered. If a team had a 1* freshman kicker, for these teams they're set!

  
  

  • This will not be the case for the user team analysis.

    
    

 

Akron Zips: (2 4-star recruits, 6 3-star, 17 2-star)

Key Recruits:

4* OT Rod Balch (B Ovr/C+ Pot)

4* SS Richard Graham (C/C)

3* DT James Heironimus (C/B+)

 

Projected biggest needs next cycle: C, TE, FS, OLB

 

Notes: Center and Tight End are absolute musts next year for the Zips, who only have 2 sophomore TEs as underclassmen across both groups. But they have 3 WR and 3 SS commits, so there’s that.

 

Buffalo Bulls: (1 4-star, 12 3-star, 11 2-star, 1 1-star)

Key Recruits:

4* FS Harry Chivington (B/C)

3* SS Robert Grandy (C/A)

3* OLB Raymond Turner (C/B+)

 

Projected biggest needs next cycle: OG, QB, CB, P

 

Notes: 3 FB and no QB commits? That’s not good, chief. Also a bad sign when you have to emphasize a Punter in a cycle, but that’s what you get when your sole player at the position graduates next year. Chivington and Grandy will be a pretty good backend duo for the Bulls, though.

 

Central Michigan Chippewas: (2 4-star, 11 3-star, 12 2-star)

Key Recruits:

4* OG Jeffrey Satterwhite (C/C)

4* CB Kenneth Close (C/B-)

3* QB Fermin Mendoza (C/C)

 

Projected biggest needs next cycle: ILB, TE, FB, K

 

Notes: Good AI class overall, but I chose Mendoza as a key commit for a reason even though there were higher-rated prospects in the Chips class. Last cycle CMU went with a highly-risky strategy of low-rated, high-ceiling recruits. Fast forward a year and none of them seem to have developed all that well - especially the only sophomore CMU QB, former 1* Carmelo Honeywell. Mendoza will be a starter his junior year unless things change in Mt. Pleasant.

 

 

Eastern Michigan EMUs Eagles: (1 4-star, 8 3-star, 16 2-star)

Key Recruits:

4* OT Stephen Ryder (B/C+)

3* FS Fernando Ramirez (C/A-)

3* TE Raymond Martin (C/B-)

 

Projected biggest needs next cycle: OG, DE, QB, K

 

Notes: Just missing the list of needs, RB. No freshmen and 3 sophomores currently make for a VERY top-heavy group if no running backs come to Ypsilanti next year.

 

Kent State Golden Flashes: (10 3-star, 9 2-star, 6 1-star)

Key Recruits:

3* QB Lorenzo Murk (C/B-)

3* OT Ray Higgins (C/A)

3* DE Michael Mcbroom (C/B-)

 

Projected biggest needs next cycle: C, TE, K, FB

 

Notes: 4 OT commits?

 

 

Miami (OH) Redhawks: (2 4-star, 11 3-star, 7 2-star, 5 1-star)

Key Recruits:

4* WR Jerome Reid (C/C)

4* OT Jeffrey Fair (B/C+)

3* OLB Cory Corona (C/B)

 

Projected biggest needs next cycle: WR, SS, P, OLB

 

Notes: Not only is Reid one of the best Redhawk commits, he’s also one of only two underclassmen in the WR room. Team #2 with only a senior at the Punter position.

 

 

Northern Illinois Huskies: (6 3-star, 12 2-star, 7 1-star)

Key Recruits:

3* WR Victor Jimenez (C/B)

3* OT James Bush (C/B-)

3* OLB Timothy Oreilly (C/A-)

 

Projected biggest needs next cycle: RB, ILB, P, FB

 

Notes: The crooting gods did not smile on the Huskies, just a bad class as a whole. They have three position groups with no freshmen whatsoever; and this is Team #3 with only a senior Punter.

 

 

Ohio Bobcats: (4 4-star, 5 3-star, 9 2-star, 7 1-star)

Key Recruits:

4* QB Andrew Tyler (C/B-)

4* OT Jose Necoechea (C/B-)

4* CB Arthur Embrey (B/C)

 

Projected biggest needs next cycle: ILB, OG, SS, C

 

Notes: While Embrey is the most ready to play, Tyler is a massive pickup for the Bobcats. He’s not likely to play until his 3rd year, but he gives Ohio a tremendous amount of flexibility. If they ever get a coach Tyler will not pigeonhole them into a specific scheme.

 

 

Toledo Rockets: (1 4-star, 10 3-star, 13 2-star, 1 1-star)

Key Recruits:

4* OT Jose Cabellos (B/B)

3* RB Daniel Braddy (C/B)

3* OLB Mark Schoene (C/B-)

 

Projected biggest needs next cycle: TE, WR, P, SS

 

Notes: Cabellos will definitely start next year if not this year. Toledo is good enough at tackle that they don't have to rush him, as good as he is - the Rockets actually are one of the better AI teams in the conference along with Central Michigan (you know, just in case a user is looking for a new home ).

 

 

Best AI Class: Ohio Bobcats

Best AI Recruit: 4* OT Jose Cabellos (B/B)

Worst AI Class: Northern Illinois Huskies

[PoopyRhinoPickle]

Things are looking pretty bleak for most of the league.