[2024] Huskies Insider Post Week 17 Recruiting RoundUp

[Ape]

 

Dekalb, IL

 

Welcome back to Huskies Insider. We have been long delayed in updating you on the Huskies current class. When we last updated you the Huskies were still in the running for 5* QB Douglas Burns. I know loyal reader that you were anxiously awaiting our announcement of the Huskies new Star Freshman QB but alas we can not do that. Douglas Burns did not sign in Dekalb and its been tough to cope with. After the Huskies lost out on Burns they had to turn to other targets. Coach Ape went for 4* QB Anthony Goldade, another Florida HS product. His potential was rated as B overall. Coaches were optimistic that they ahd put in the effort needed to land him, apparently it came down to the actual flip of the coin... and the Huskies lost. Needing to land a QB that the program could dream on the Huskies turned to 4* Xin Perry out of San Diego. Perry is C+ potential rated according to the scouting services and finally the Huskies got their QB of the future. Perry was even invited to the Elite 11 competition. Xin finished with a Film Room score of 95, the 2nd highest in the competition (2 points higher than Douglas Burns). Perry ended up finishing 16th in the Elite 11, meaning he just missed. However Perry now has become something of the face of the class for the Huskies. He has a whole pack to lead. Let us introduce you to all the committed Huskies so far.

Offensive

4* QB Xin Perry C/C+

4* RB Benito Garcia C/B-

3* RB Gary Illescas C/B-

4* WR Rich Dust B/D

4* TE John Ridings C/D-

4* OT Grant Dotter B/D+

3* OT Carlos Betancourt C/C+

4* C Jorge Lee C/C+

 

Defense

3* DE Adrian Hernandez C/B+

3* DE Eloy Perez C/C

3* ILB Andrew Levin C/A

4* CB Shane Hadnot B/B

4* CB Mark Amador B/C+

4* FS Adam Lively B/B

4* SS Owen Davis C/C+

 

Athletes

4* ATH (Return Specialist) Steven Kotar C/C

3* ATH (Bandit) Carlos Justiz C/B

 

Currently the class has 11 4* commitments and 6 3* commitments. Coach Ape is still busy with recruiting, NIU is in battles for 3* OLB Shashi Willis (C/C+) with Alabama, Penn State, James Madison and Colorado also said to be on his finalists list. 3* SS Stephen Schindler (C/C-) is also narrowing down his options between the Huskies and five Power 5 schools. Perhaps more interesting is Coach Ape's pursuit of 3* QB Erich Hurst (C/C+) who is a Field General like Xin Perry. Hurst is deciding between NIU, SMU and Notre Dame. That's it for 3* players we know of that Coach Ape is pursuing currently. If Coach Ape can pull all 3 of those targets that would put the class at 20 signees who were 4* or 3*, which is the same total as last years class, but instead of 3 4 *s and 17 3*s, Coach Ape has pulled in 11 4*s and currently 6-9 3*s. Coach Ape has done well to restock the cabinet in Dekalb and fast. Many of these recruits will probably be featured heavily next year. Both Mark Amador and Shane Hadnot will compete for CB minutes, Adam Lively might be the best FS on roster next year. Rich Dust will almost certainly be the Huskies top WR on talent alone and might get the most targets next year, the same can be said for John Ridings pending progressions. Xin Perry is possibly the Huskies starting QB next year unless they get a transfer the job will be a competition between Perry, Jermaine Morgan and a host of unimpressive upper classmen. Grant Dotter should start for the Huskies for 4 years at tackle and Jorge Lee has a chance to do that also at Center. The most interesting one that will certainly play from day 1 is 4* Return Specialist Steven Kotar who will almost certainly return punts and kicks right away but depending on how he tests out might factor into the offense in a shifting environment for the Huskies. These true freshmen will join the other 4*s that Coach Ape grabbed last year, Punter Daniel Bennett who received all Mac votes as a true Freshman and the two who redshirted, ILB Mario Glenn and DT Jamie Powroznik in the youth movement, with hopefully some other redshirt 3*s making some good progressions to help fuel the youth movement next season.

 

Overall the class as it stands is ranked 32nd in the nation which would be an improvement of 49 places compared to last years class. That pretty much sums up anything we could really say about this class. The rank shows you just how impactful it is to get 11 4* players, especially with 5 of those players with B overall grades and includes an Elite 11 invitee. We hope that Coach Ape can snag Willis, Schindler and Hurst because we want them to be a part of this special group Coach Ape is assembling. Next year will definitely feel like a changing of the guard truly, with this season feeling like the transition year.