National Signing Day Thoughts
by Jonathan Franz on Feb 2, 2010 11:58 PM CST
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I'm sure a few of you have noticed that we don't do much coverage of recruiting on the site. This is intentional. Although we're deeply entrenched in Big Ten football year round, we believe that as a source we're ill equipped to keep up with the fast and fickle nature of the recruiting process. We're also a bit limited in our ability to get unprocessed information. Unlike covering college football, where games are broadcast live, and (with the help of a faithful DVR box) a casual pundit can turn a source inside out, access to high school media is inconsistent. Because more often than not we can't see a prospect perform first -- or even second -- hand, it's a lot more difficult to offer objective coverage.
The exposure we do get is filtered through a professional lens. I mean seriously, can you remember the last time you saw a highlight reel that showed a player drop as many passes as he caught? If I'm truly honest with myself, my perception of recruits is hugely influenced by extrinsic qualifiers: stars and highlights.
It's because of this that -- just this once -- I won't pretend to be omniscient. Today I'll watch signing day coverage just like everyone else: on pins and needles, and with a grain of salt. Because no matter what Dr. Saturday says, ours is a sport where development matters at least as much as potential.
Good luck, Big Ten.
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Check Back Tonight for Meech Breakdown
For those interested, a Meech breakdown of recruiting is coming up tonight when all is said and done.
"ours is a sport where development matters at least as much as potential."
One need only compare Illinois and Iowa over the past few years to see how very true this is.
Brunettes not fighter jets
Amen, brother.
As a Northwestern fan, I tend to ignore the recruiting stuff…..for a school that routinely finishes 9-11th (I doubt we’ve ever finished BETTER than 9th) in the conference according to the “experts” when National Signing Day comes around, I think we’ve shown lately that development is AT LEAST if not MORE important than potential.
In fact, the Big Ten in general (Illinois excepted?) does a better job in developing players than almost any other conference. I mean, check out how many WALK-ONs were excelling in the conference last year….guys like Blair White or Zeke Marshausen, who were at/near the top of the league in terms of receptions.
That's true
Just take a look at guys like John Stocco or Jim Leonhard. They weren’t exactly premier players but had a great set of seasons at Wisconsin (including the ONLY back to back winning seasons over OSU, sigh). Leonhard should have been drafted in the first round in 2005. How do you think the Lions would love to have NOT drafted Mike Williams, bust extraordinaire?
Ultimately, recriminations are all but useless. Leonhard was NOT a top calibur recruit but became the most unlikely All-American Safety.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Feb 3, 2010 4:58 PM CST up reply actions
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