Sorry for being MIA yesterday...recharging the batteries for Wednesday. We are almost there. It is funny because this time, this quiet time, before National Signing Day should be named something like "National Freak Out Days." Everyone is writing off recruits or being overly optimistic...no patience what so ever. Hilarious times on message boards, blogs, or whatever avenue you are reading to get your inflated information. Let's get the week started with some headliners from the weekend:
A few more Buff commits and hopefuls look to be going elsewhere for school, specifically at wide receiver. That is not good news but it is a correctable problem. B.G. Brooks of the Rocky Mountain News reports that "Simmons, a 6-foot-3, 201-pounder who committed to CU in November, now is said to be leaning toward Kansas State after a weekend visit to Manhattan, Kan., according to Rivals.com." JUCO wide receiver Markish Jones was thought to be a silent commit to the Buffs but instead pulled the trigger for the California Bears over the weekend.
So now CU will have to hope ALL of the Diante Jackson, Terdema Ussery and Emory Blake become Buffs, maybe even JUCO WR Jewel Hardy. I feel good about Ussery and 50 - 50 on Jackson and Blake. I am not sure on Hardy strictly because who knows if he will qualify. Nothing we can do now except hope that Jackson will be allowed to make his own decision & be happy with it and that Blake was "wowed" enough by Coach Kiesau & others this weekend to sign on the line.
CollegeFootballNews.com has 20 questions for the 2009 recruiting cycle and what do you know, they wonder how Dan Hawkins is doing at Colorado. Kyle Ringo answers:
12. Q: How much juice does Dan Hawkins have on the recruiting trail at the moment considering Colorado's struggles so far? What's the one area the team really needs to beef up?
A: Kyle Ringo, Colorado football beat writer, Daily Camera newspaper, www.Buffzone.com
Dan Hawkins has a surprising amount of juice on the recruiting trail considering his team has gone 13-24 in his first three years on the job. With that track record, you wouldn't figure five-star defensive end Nick Kasa of Broomfield, Colo., would be de-committing from Florida just days after the Gators won the national championship to stay home and attend CU. You also wouldn't expect the Buffs to even get a visit from the likes of Byron Moore, a one-time USC commitment, who will decide on national signing day between the Buffs, Trojans and Notre Dame. If Hawkins can get in the conversation with these guys now (remember he nabbed the No. 1 tailback in the nation in 2008, Darrell Scott), I wonder what he might be able to do in recruiting if he ever has a winning season in Boulder.
Kyle Ringo of the Boulder Daily Camera puts together a little synopsis of how Dan Hawkins has recruited in his tenure at Colorado. Nothing ground breaking but still a good look if you aren't as well-versed on how Dan Hawkins has recruited in the past.
A good article about Darrell Scott in the Denver Post yesterday about the expectations of him becoming a freshman phenom and the recruiting process. Scott along with Hawk and Hagan expect big things next year. Favorite quote of the whole article:
"My ankle was messed up last year," Scott said last week after a weightlifting session, "but as Coach Hawk says, 'No excuses.' That's the motto for all the guys. I've matured from last year. I'm really ready now. I wish we had a game tomorrow."
I am really impressed with his maturity. Darrell Scott will be fine. The "bust" word is totally unfair.
Apparently, Josh Moten will announce his decision on NSD with high school teammate, Byron Moore. Could we get a two-fer?
DE Iuta Tepa from Long Beach Poly has committed to UCLA. We knew we weren't going to get him but anyone other than Slick Rick.
6-foot-6, 210-pounder QB, Seth Lobato, has accepted a preferred walk-on spot from the Buffs. He played his high school ball at Eaton High in Colorado. He will get a shot at quarterback but he has the versatility and of course, the size, to play a few spots on both sides of the ball. Hey, we might need another wide receiver.
I know the reason why Grimes left for Auburn now...a four year contract good for $290,000 a year. Not too shabby for an offensive line coach. Look no further than this list as one of the reasons the Colorado Buffaloes are always at a disadvantage year in and year out.
Rivals.com looks back at "special recruits" and how they have panned out. Of course, Darrell Scott is on the list but the jury is still way out on him:
4. Darrell Scott, Colorado, Class of 2008: He was beaten out for the Buffs' starting job by fellow true freshman Rodney Stewart, whose only other offer was from Toledo. But after Stewart got injured, Scott filled in and started looking like a special prospect.