I like to see the commitment by the admin to addressing an issue by essentially adding another coaching position since Chapatte is staying. He did a nice job with the TE group given the early injuries.

I think our profile is definitely ascending, you're seeing guys on the NFL/CFL radar, and the reputation of the program as a frontline option is outstanding. I doubt that our staff gives a rip about the number of stars, but I think it's a byproduct of recruiting a higher caliber of player (and being willing to compete with and lose players to the Mountain West, for example) and setting the standard. You are seeing Offensive and Defensive Linemen, for example, that are of very specific measurable categories, at least with the ones who are playing and likely scholarship dudes.

That's wild. Those freaks are usually taking their measuring steps and making sure all the stars are aligned and gauging the wind and geometry

Where did you see the change of ST coordinator?

Three stars are the norm for a kid with the measurables, especially from bigger/well-known high school programs. If you look around, the vast majority of FCS/low-level FBS kids are "3-Star" kids. It is more a means of differentiating between that level of football and the D-2/D-3/NAIA types.

Axel has the height/weight, he was the starter at a reputable SoCal football program, and probably performed well at the camps during his junior spring and senior summer. That is more than enough to earn your 3-Star rating. Injury, I assume, cut his senior season short. I don't know what his other offers were, but based on what I explained, that's an easy 3-Star rating.

We'd have to check the film, but did the holder and kicker also join the sugar huddle, or was it just the protection? If it included the kicker and holder, then I agree 100% on revisiting that. If not, then moot point if the holder and kicker were separate.

Several things about transfers and recruiting:

-JUCO football is not what it was when I was growing up. Back in the 80s/90s it was often looked at as a bunch of bandits and mercenaries. While JC football still has the element of guys out to get theirs, it has become a much more viable option for HS prospects with the advent of the transfer portal. You will see a rise in the quality of play as well as the caliber of student coming from JCs soon. It has already happened to some degree. Kids that want to play college football but aren't being recruited by the FBS programs are turning that direction more and more.

-Grad transfers vs. Transfer portal dwellers. Grad transfers have played for four seasons and graduated and are looking for a place to play their final year(s) while enrolled in grad school. Most transfer portal guys are either the top 5-10% types who will get paid, while the rest were CUT by the FBS program. Truth.

-Grad school is typically more expensive than undergrad, correct? Therefore, they cost more to recruit. I also found it interesting that we signed a few guys from out of state as that tuition (and the associated scholarships) costs more. Anyone know how that works for football? The international scholarships in other sports is a very good point and would be interesting to know more about.

-"Star" ratings. Most recruitable players for FCS and lower FBS automatically are awarded 3-star status automatically. I would venture that very few of our recent signees are not 3-stars. I also know that attendance at certain camps run by certain recruiting companies equate to the higher likelihood of gaining another star. Or the prospect hits certain universal metrics (measurables, testing results, speed, etc.) at the camp and is awarded a star or at least the possibility of another star in a subscription write-up. It's a screwed up process of evaluation, but it is what it is.

The team down south with commitments from the Lehigh RB (who UCD offered) and a Fresno St. DB. Also a LB from Boise State and a few JUCO guys. New HC leveraging some recruiting relationship from his time in Fresno and Westwood. Going to be transfer central. Easier to get transfers admitted there than it is HS kids. Sac State south?

That made me spit my coffee onto the computer screen!!! Sac State has become the Lincoln of "FBS Independents"

Sounds like Tosh is going to run the football!

Yup. One from the portal + the young guys coming up to be the #3/#4 TEs and we have some versatility. Would also like to see the Fullback position utilized at times... can be a shorter TE (6'1"-6'2" type) or even a Linebacker. Put that QB under Center, sub out the Slot for a Fullback, talk dirty to me baby!

The fact that a kid even used punctuation in text/social media has to mean something. His measurables are nearly identical to Simpson's as far as height/weight.

Agree 100% on the shape of college football and how gross it is.

Jackson was a horse in high school. I remember seeing him in a TV game, outstanding player. Our RB room is solid behind Fish. Aside from the young Jackson, you have Acia who took meaningful carries and Walsh who saw time on special teams duty. Going to be interesting to see if the portal offer to the one Running Back pans out.

Ellison simply needs to look at how Plough utilizes the TE position and the season Simpson had. He also has Rhode Island and Tennessee Tech offers. I saw URI in person, no real Tight End presence. Offensive scheme matters, Cyrus. Choose Davis!

DO NOT be concerned. Davis has never been a hype machine. And Movieliver is correct about keeping things close to the best. There are recruiting staffs that dedicate personnel to stalking their rival’s prospects and commits. Best to keep things on the down low

Having finally watched the presser for myself, the mics DID suck once again. Thank goodness for the captions that display the questions/subject matter.

What jumped out to me were Plough’s list of QB successes and the competitive nature of Davis’ offer to Pinnick. The later shows the University’s commitment to football. Rocco and his team not only spearheaded those efforts and mobilized resources, but then Rocco was with Rex Connors out at the FCS combine deal. Plough typically expresses his appreciation for the admin and they are proving to be real winners. We will win a lot of games with that commitment.

As far as the QB development piece, great track record. That development is difficult to quantify in the “stay or go” decision making process for teenage boys/their families seeing dollar signs. Call me a conspiracy theorist, and SailorGabe might not like this, but Plough mentioned repeatedly “___ player joined us in June and accomplished ___”. At the very least, that cracks the door to the possibility of a transfer QB coming on late and competing for the job, even if it’s for one season as Cleeland/Eason develop.

I doubt Rasor or Wrighster are back, just my hunch and could be wrong.

I will admit, I actually thought during the holidays, "man, I love when our posters rip on the mic situation at the pressers." Thank you for making my day!

Good fit

My guess is that its simply highlighting a few players. No news is good news on the portal front.

Spot on with the DE, he was better than advertised. Dude can play. Riveraggie is on the money, the Ivies get those guys in and out in four and even promise to help place guys at "bigger" programs after the graduate. Pretty good deal for kids.

Also, it was definitely an entertaining game from a fan perspective and there were some athletic plays. It was just all the guys choking down the stretch that made it hard to watch. Maybe I was just frustrated by the way it ended for UCD and had some anger issues watching it, but you're right, it was fun in spite of myself!