MAC Crooting Thoughts, Week 12

[Jieret]

Previous entries:

• Week 6
• Week 8
• Week 10

New commits for Weeks 11 & 12 are bolded.

Akron Zips (AI)

Class Stats:
Ranking: 94 (+34)
Signees: 11

Scores:
Composite: 1.09
ESPN: 883    Rivals: 11.2    247: 185.46

Current Class:
#188 4* FS Christopher Moore [Ball Hawk] Albuquerque, NM (C OVR/B- POT)
4* OT Rafael Garza [Pass Blocking] Bradenton, FL (C/B-)
4* ILB Elton Williams [Coverage] Lima, OH (C/B-)
4* K Edgar Culbertson [Balanced] Cuyahoga Falls, OH (C/C+)
3* TE Chun Chen [Receiving] Guthrie, OK (C/B-)
3* TE Glenn Johnson [Vertical Threat] Carthage, TX (C/B+)
3* OG Miguel Bello [Pass Blocking] Pleasant Grove, UT (C/C+)
3* QB Gregory Kaufhold [Field General] Bushnell, FL (C/C-)
3* C Miguel Lina [Balanced] Severn, MD (C/B)
3* OLB Nicholas Fitzgerald [Pass Rush] Rockwall, TX (C/B)
3* CB Jeremy Flores [Zone Coverage] Atherton, CA (C/B-)

The Zips start us off with a bang - Akron is our biggest climber, moving up 34 spots to reach double-digit rankings!  And boy, were these some important recruits.  Miguel Lina and Nicholas Fitzgerald will enter the two-deeps at center and outside linebacker right away, and Flores has an outside shot at entering the CB rotation as the dimeback.  Kaufhold should sit for a couple of years behind Quandre Quintanilla.

Looking ahead: In the spirit of competition, Akron looks to bring in the class’s second QB.  Ryan Gates from Bremen(IN) strongly favors the Zips, and things look good for him to join Akron.

 

Ball State Cardinals ( @npklemm)

Class Stats:
Ranking: 56 (+31)
Signees: 13

Scores:
Composite: 1.34
ESPN: 1074    Rivals: 12.4    247: 229.48

Current Class:
#254 4* FS Donald Horst [Zone Coverage] Liberty, MO (C/A-)
#268 4* ILB Michael Albanese [Field General] Melville, NY (C/C+)
4* QB Kevin Johnson [Scrambler] Oak Park, MI (C/B)
4* RB Kenneth Curry [Speed] Marietta, GA (C/A-)
4* WR Ralph Nieter [Possession] Oskaloosa, IA (C/B+)
4* TE Joshua Osorio [Vertical Threat] Plant City, FL (C/C+) 
3* OG Eric Morris [Run Blocking] Dexter, MI (C/C)
3* C Guillermo Tomas [Run Blocking] Avon, OH (C/C+)
3* QB Jeffrey Mona [Scrambler] Ripon, CA (C/B-)
3* RB Louis Dolan [Power] Arlington Heights, IL (C/B)
3* WR Nick Klemm [Speed] Elkhart, IN (C/B)
3* OG Lee Hayes [Run Blocking] Holliday, TX (C/C+)
3* CB Charles Coleman [Man Coverage] Albany, GA (C/C)

As things stand, Mona and Dolan are going to be insurance policies for higher-rated croots in Johnson and Curry.  Coleman and Hayes provide critical depth, and coach’s son Klemm gives a solid floor to the WR room.

Looking Forward: Ball State is following Country Roads to West Virginia and Wheeling tackle Charles Olson.  Olson is very likely to follow the Cardinals back to Muncie.

 

Bowling Green Falcons ( @PoopyRhinoPickle)

Class Stats:
Ranking: 50 (+/-0)
Signees: 13

Scores:
Composite: 1.41
ESPN: 1071    Rivals: 47.4    247: 230.85

Current Class:
#169 4* DE Ray Wise [Run Stopper] Hilliard, OH (C/A-)
#196 4* C Douglas Springsteen [Line Captain] Houston, TX (C/A-)
#213 4* WR Donald Hairston [Possession] Philadelphia, MS (C/B-)
4* RB Todd Marriott [Balanced] Strongsville, OH (C/B-)
4* FS Krishna LaBrie [Run Stopper] Wall, TX (C/B+)
4* SS Philip Quiton [Run Stopper] Camarillo, CA (C/C)
3* OT David James [Run Blocking] North Canton, OH (C/B)
3* WR Frank Tilghman [Route Runner] Bauxite, AR (C/B+)
3* DE Paul Riggs [Speed Rusher] Prescott Valley, AZ (C/A-)
3* OLB Armando Flores [Pass Rush] Rio Linda, CA (C/B-)
3* QB Timothy Bush [Pocket] West Branch, IA (C/B)
3* TE Francisco Ocampo [Blocking] Chula Vista, CA (C/B-)
3* ILB Michael Mora [Coverage] Lakeville, MN (C/B-)

Over the last two weeks the Falcons just kind of stayed put, just getting edged out by NIU for the conference’s second-best class.  As far as what the new commits bring to the table?  Potential, for sure, but they are very unlikely to see meaningful time on the field except on special teams.  I suppose if Bowling Green moved to a heavier running attack we could Ocampo get some TE2/TE3 minutes, but I’m reaching here.  They beat out Western Michigan for Ocampo though, so they have that going for them.

Looking Forward: Florida guard Ravindra Clark is considering both the Falcons and Kennesaw State.  Perhaps it’s our MAC homerism but although it’s a tight race right now, I have to think Bowling Green will pull away and sign him.

 

Buffalo Bulls (AI)

Class Stats:
Ranking: 64 (+33)
Signees: 14

Scores:
Composite: 1.25
ESPN: 1087    Rivals: 0    247: 203.75

Current Class:
3* QB Lawrence Fair [Pocket] Tuscaloosa, AL (C/C+)
3* QB Kenneth Peterson [Field General] Houston, TX (C/B-)
3* OT Kent Baublitz [Balanced] Avondale, AZ (C/C+)
3* C Timothy Grube [Pass Blocking] Fort Myers, FL (C/A-)
3* DE Daniel Patella [Run Stopper] Algona, IA (C/D+)
3* DT Michael Luck [Nose Tackle] Avon, IN (C/C+)
3* OLB Bradley Sarkissian [Run Stopper] Eatonton, GA (C/B)
3* CB Alan Strickland [Ball Hawk] Norfolk, VA (C/A)
3* FS Gregory Rusak [Ball Hawk] Cashion, OK (C/B-)
3* RB Erich Patterson [Balanced] Ocilla, GA (C/C)
3* WR Stanley Dollar [Speed] Lexington, KY (C/C+)
3* ILB Nathan Breland [Coverage] Orlando, FL (C/C+)
3* OLB Dwight Decker [Run Stopper] Spring Valley, CA (C/B-)
3* CB Abelardo Barrientos [Man Coverage] Pageland, SC (C/C+)

A big haul of commits vaults the Bulls up the rankings, making them the MAC’s second-biggest riser.  It feels like I say some version of this in every article for one of our AI teams, but Dollar will be Buffalo’s only underclassman WR in 2024.  Everyone else should have some time to redshirt, sit, and learn though.

Looking Forward: Not so promising news here.  Mindful of their need for more WRs, Buffalo extended an offer to Washington wideout John Murphree.  It looks like Maryland had the same idea however, and Murphree seems more receptive to the Terps.

 

Central Michigan Chippewas (AI)

Class Stats:
Ranking: 159 (+16)
Signees: 9

Scores:
Composite: 0.82
ESPN: 698    Rivals: 0    247: 137.28

Current Class:
3* QB Ralph Nunez [Scrambler] McKinney, TX (C/C)
3* WR Tommy Pennington [Possession] Cumberland, MD (C/B-)
3* OT Katarzyna Meunier [Pass Blocking] Massillon, OH (C/C+)
3* DT Kurt Almond [Balanced] Killen, AL (C/B-)
3* P Richard Durrance [Balanced] Portland, OR (C/C)
3* DT Herman Bridges [Pass Rusher] Houston, TX (C/B-)
3* CB Teddy Perez [Zone Coverage] Tampa, FL (C/C+)
3* CB Joseph Mullen [Man Coverage] Hudsonville, MI (C/C)
3* FS Joseph Gander [Ball Hawk] Mentor, OH (C/C+)

Bridges will pair nicely with fellow DT Kurt Almond, and Gander shows nice ball tracking skills at safety.  Mullen and Perez are an odd duo, though, because of their contrasting styles.  It’s not like CMU could afford to turn down recruits, but it is odd they went for different schemes on the back end.

It may not bode well for our nation’s defense that Army lost a pair of battles on the front line to the Chips, first for Almond then for Bridges.

Looking Forward: A good old-fashioned #MACtion donnybrook between Central, Eastern Michigan, and Toledo for local running back Minh Shirawaka.  We hope to have a winner in this Triple Threat match in time for our next review.

 

Eastern Michigan Eagles (AI)

Class Stats:
Ranking: 145 (+19)
Signees: 9

Scores:
Composite: 0.87
ESPN: 708    Rivals: 0    247: 153.82

Current Class:
3* FB Isaac Walter [Blocking] Quincy, IL  (C/A)
3* DE Dagoberto Garcia [Balanced] Tyler, TX (C/B)
3* DT Phil Terrell [Pass Rusher] Groveport, OH (C/B+)
3* SS Scott Strahler [Zone Coverage] Salisbury, NC (C/C+)
3* ILB Anibal Stone [Run Stopper] Austin, TX (C/B-)
3* K Matthew White [Accuracy] Minster, OH  (C/B)
3* WR Joel Sheridan [Route Runner] Sparta, MI (C/C+)
3* OG Marcel Brogdon [Pass Blocking] Cedartown, GA (C/B)
3* DE Christopher Bail [Speed Rusher] Buda, TX (C/B-)

The EMUs Herons Eagles brought in a great group of commits, but Brogdon will have the biggest impact.  Eastern’s guard depth is awfully thin, and it’s not inconceivable that he starts from day one.  The Eagles managed to beat out the mighty Georgia Bulldogs for Brogdon, pulling him away from the local team.

Looking Forward: A battle in America’s heartland between Eastern and the Clemson Tigers for 3-star linebacker Thomas Livingston looks close to wrapping up, and it’s anyone’s guess whose hat the Lake Cormorant native will don on signing day.

 

Kent State Golden Flashes (AI)

Class Stats:
Ranking: 166 (+4)
Signees: 9

Scores:
Composite: 0.76
ESPN: 664    Rivals: 0    247: 125.14

Current Class:
4* QB Andrew Hoover [Balanced] Miamisburg, OH (C/B)
3* RB Jeffrey Eakin [Balanced] Chagrin Falls, OH (C/B)
3* WR George Campus [Red Zone Threat] Richwood, OH (C/B+)
3* OG Douglas Follett [Balanced] Madison, OH (C/C)
3* DE Jose Rodriguez [Balanced] La Puente, CA (D/C)
2* RB Richard Ramirez [Balanced] Sugar Land, TX (D/D)
3* OT Robert Gardner [Balanced] New Albany, OH (C/C+)
2* OLB Wayne Brown [Run Stopper] Lafayette, IN (D/B+)
2* CB Mark Henderson [Zone Coverage] Chambersburg, PA (D/C+)

Unfortunately they lost local punter Phillip Kozel to Charlotte, but the Golden Flashes were not empty-handed, signing a trio of players from across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.  None of them need to be pressed into action right away and can spend a year hitting the weights and studying the playbook.

Looking Forward: Kozel aside, special teams reinforcements are soon on the way.  Huntingburg (IN) kicker Benjamin Kea is ready to sign with the Golden Flashes, and with the only other Kent State kicker being a senior, Kea would be pressed into action pretty quickly.

 

Miami (OH) Redhawks (AI)

Class Stats:
Ranking: 71 (+18)
Signees: 13

Scores:
Composite: 1.22
ESPN: 1028    Rivals: 0    247: 207.39

Current Class:
#254 4* RB Sam Taylor [Speed] Coldwater, OH (C/B-)
4* OLB Terrence Levy [Pass Rush] Thornville, OH (C/C)
3* FB Omar Abbott [Balanced] Tucker, GA (C/C-)
3* TE Sang Petersen [Blocking] Gilmer, TX (C/B-)
3* C Imad Bunt [Pass Blocking] Salisbury, MD (C/C+)
3* DE Ted Shank [Speed Rusher] Taylorville, IL (C/B+)
3* DT Sebastian Cintron [Balanced] Brooksville, FL (C/C+)
3* DT Pedro Peters [Balanced] Walnut Grove, CA (C/B+)
3* CB Yang Yuan [Man Coverage] Attica, OH (C/C+)
3* RB Charles Townsend [Receiving] Eureka, MO (C/B-)
3* WR Henry Ashe [Red Zone Threat] Peculiar, MO (C/C+)
3* OT Steven Suwyn [Pass Blocking] Bamberg, SC (C/B-)
3* OT Shane Phillips [Pass Blocking] Garden Grove, CA (C/C+)

Ashe is a huge signing for the Redhawks.  He will be only the fifth wideout when he arrives on campus, and two of those five will be seniors in 2024.  The other three are still very good gets for Miami, just not as urgent.

Looking Forward: Massachusetts QB Scott Kirkland is still torn between the Redhawks and their Cincinnati rivals, and it’s still too close to call.  The only thing we can say about this battle is that it should be over by our next update. 

 

Northern Illinois Huskies ( @Ape)

Class Stats:
Ranking: 49 (+32)
Signees: 15

Scores:
Composite: 1.42
ESPN: 1199    Rivals: 0    247: 239.65

Current Class:
#250 4* ILB Mario Glenn [Speed] Detroit, MI (C/B)
4* DT Jamie Powroznik [Pass Rusher] Tallapoosa, GA (C/B)
4* P Daniel Bennett [Accuracy] Shrewsbury, MA (C/C+)
3* QB Jermaine Morgan [Balanced] Grayslake, IL (C/A-)
3* RB Ruben Saucedo [Speed] Las Cruces, NM (C/B+)
3* FB Oscar Brinkley [Balanced] Yuba City, CA (C/A+)
3* TE Michael Ray [Balanced] Princeton, IL (C/B)
3* OT Cesar Flores [Pass Blocking] Morton, IL (C/B+)
3* DE Andrew Coleman [Balanced] Edwardsville, IL (C/A-)
3* WR Tommy Mcclellan [Red Zone Threat] Parkersburg, WV (C/B+)
3* OG Ralph Morales [Run Blocking] Romoland, CA (C/B-)
3* C David Litzinger [Pass Blocking] Kiln, MS (C/B)
3* OLB Mickey Kenney [Coverage] Jefferson City, MO (C/B+)
3* OLB Christopher Anderson [Coverage] Rockford, IL (C/B)
3* FS Daniel Kovacs [Zone Coverage] Montgomery, AL (C/C+)

 

After defending the state of Illinois from the pesky Oregon Ducks by beating them for Anderson, NIU rode their momentum by signing a full six-pack of recruits over the last two weeks.  Ape is doing a sterling job of filling roster holes; Morales, Litzinger, and Kovacs all could see starting roles as (presumably) redshirt freshmen.

Looking Forward: LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEEEEE~
The noted football powerhouse state of Rhode Island found itself in perhaps the biggest melee for a recruit the site has seen.  At least 12 schools have made offers to Providence CB Michael Byers, and with not many 3-stars recruits left out there it’s likely gonna continue to be a busy time at the Byers household.

 

Ohio Bobcats ( @AFu01)

Class Stats:
Ranking: 78 (-17)
Signees: 12

Scores:
Composite: 1.19
ESPN: 964    Rivals: 19.3    247: 197.73

Current Class:
#174 4* ILB James Oneil [Speed] Monroe, GA (C/C+)
#223 4* OT Gregory Fuller [Pass Blocking] Orange Park, FL (C/B+)
#253 4* DT David Squicciarini [Balanced] Cincinnati, OH (C/B-)
#281 4* DE Thomas Robertson [Balanced] Ashland, OH (C/C+)
3* QB Thomas Mishoe [Scrambler] Pensacola, FL (C/C+)
3* WR David Larsen [Route Runner] Nashville, TN (C/C)
3* CB Gerard Sewell [Man Coverage] Hawthorne, FL (C/C)
3* FS Vincent Welch [Ball Hawk] Cincinnati, OH (C/C)
3* SS Joseph Chase [Zone Coverage] Elkhart, IN (C/B)
3* K David Brister [Power] Cincinnati, OH (D/B)
3* DE Nathan Wickersham [Run Stopper] Altamonte Springs, FL (C/B-)
2* TE Dung Vines [Vertical Threat] Celina, OH (D/C)

 

Ohio only pulling in a pair of commits makes them one of only two MAC teams to drop in the rankings (WMU is the other).  While Vines is basically there to keep the TE classes even, Wickersham will join fellow DE Thomas Robertson in replenishing the DE room.  The Bobcat coaches may choose to redshirt Wickersham, but it would be totally understandable if they didn’t, that’s how thin the position could be in 2024. 

Looking Forward: Ohio is working hard to find overlooked players with promise, and they believe Arizona WR James Douglas is one such person.  The Bobcats are comfortably in the lead for him.

 

Toledo Rockets (AI)

Class Stats:
Ranking: 65 (+8)
Signees: 14

Scores:
Composite: 1.25
ESPN: 1074    Rivals: 0    247: 206.22

Current Class:
3* WR Nicholas Seals [Speed] Booneville, MS (C/C+)
3* WR Robert Ouellette [Route Runner] Brownsville, TX (C/C+)
3* WR Doyle Foreman [Route Runner] Olney, MD (C/B-)
3* TE Paul Olson [Vertical Threat] Gainesville, FL (C/C+)
3* C Humberto Perez [Pass Blocking] Fort Myers, FL (C/C-)
3* ILB Ernest Bolte [Speed] Winter Haven, FL (C/A)
3* CB Lawrence Wilkinson [Man Coverage] Lynden, WA (C/C)
3* CB Gregory Smith [Man Coverage] Mableton, GA (C/C)
3* FS Mark Nye [Man Coverage] Massillon, OH (C/C+)
3* SS David Curtis [Ball Hawk] Hazlet, NJ (C/B-)
3* DE Juan Vargas [Run Stopped] Seminole, FL (C/C+)
3* DT Lawrence Muse [Balanced] Akron, OH (C/C)
2* DE Gary Empson [Speed Rusher] Trotwood, OH (D/B+)
2* FS Roy Jones [Ball Hawk] Plainwell, MI (D/B-)

A trio of D-line players headline this group of signees.  Muse is probably the one that raises his position’s floor the most, but even he shouldn’t need to see the field until 2025, maybe 2026.  But that’s a good issue for AI teams to have.

Looking Forward: Savannah punter Hugo Miranda is close to deciding between San Jose State and Toledo.  The Rockets still have a chance, but it seems that Miranda is favoring the teams from Cali.

 

Western Michigan Broncos (Jieret)

Class Stats:
Ranking: 4 (-1)
Signees: 17

Scores:
Composite: 2.27
ESPN: 1468    Rivals: 247.1    247: 313.76

Current Class:
#4 5* OT Curtis Davis [Pass Blocking] Maroa, IL (B/B)
#7 5* SS Timothy Khan [Man Coverage] Madison, MS (B/B-)
#33 5* OG William Radosta [Balanced] Yorktown, VA (B/C+)
#139 4* CB Ryan Topping [Zone Coverage] Brookfield, WI (C/C+)
#232 4* RB Carlo Liu [Balanced] Arlington, MD (C/B-)
#237 4* C Richard Powley [Pass Blocking] Muskegon, MI (C/A)
#274 4* OLB David Hartshorn [Coverage] Brooksville, FL (C/B-)
4* WR Shane Morris [Red Zone Threat] Charleston, SC (C/C+)
4* OLB Anthony Reevey [Run Stopper] Montague, MI (C/C)
4* ILB Ronald Fennell [Speed] Swainsboro, GA (C/B)
4* K Alejandro Rivera [Power] Mesquite, TX (C/B-)
4* P Phan Dighe [Balanced] Greensboro, NC (C/C+)
3* ILB Robert Roe [Run Stopper] Parma, MI (C/A-)
3* QB Diego Alvarado [Balanced] Longview, TX (C/B+)
3* TE David Pause [Receiving] Van Meter, IA (C/A)
3* OT Ronald Demotte [Pass Blocking] St. Louis, MO (C/B)
3* DE Anthony Jackson [Balanced] Metairie, LA (C/B-)

The Broncos focused on potential with this group of signings.  The coaching staff are especially high on Pause, who could inject some much-needed big-play ability into the TE room if he meets his lofty ceiling.

Looking Forward: In perhaps the worst-kept secret of the WMU recruiting cycle, local guard Derek Garrett looks ready to stop being a silent commit and put pen to paper.

 

~~~

 

 

 

Edited August 17, 2023 by Jieret

[Ape]

Bought my Byers lottery ticket again this week! Low price for 20 points!