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Recruiting 2008


Posted on Fri, 04/20/2007 - 13:46 — by sp4149
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Now that Spring Ball is over and it's a couple of months until fall practice, I have been looking for signs of recruiting activity for the class of 2008.  I only see one Cal commit so far, an offensive lineman who looks undersized but has plenty of time to put on weight.  However UCLA has a slew of verbals already, many kids that Cal was also recruiting.  Even Stanford appears to be ahead in the 2008 recruiting wars.  More and more it looks like kids will commit PRIOR to their senior season (like in basketball), and we are already behind in the next recruiting race.  Last year Texas seemed to have verbals from top players for all their scholarships before the start of fall practice. While we hardly ever go head to head with Texas for recruits, UCLA definitely is direct competition for the same student athletes and their head start is troubling.  Am I over reacting or do others share these concerns? Cal Fan in San Diego PS.  Anybody going to the Bears in the Desert event next weekend?   
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Thu, 11/08/2007 - 20:47 —
ScreenName
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"If these kids come to Cal, they'll have experience in handling high-expectations which will benefit the entire program. To me that seems to have been the biggest problem of this year for our Bears." I have to disagree. I think the biggest problem this year was the inability to overcome, and have the depth to keep, the injuries to key players from having serious impacts.
Sat, 11/10/2007 - 09:44 —
toparchitect
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Hey Jan: one thing though, When Cal was #2 make a huge different, but now, after Cal lost 3 game, I don't know what impact that will be until the LOI day.  I just hope that those who wanted to come to Cal will not be sway by the losts.  Then, Cal will be O.K for a while. GO Bears!  Beat $C.
Mon, 11/12/2007 - 20:43 —
toparchitect
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From looking at the recruit ranking, Can you or someone tell me why Notre Dam did so poorly this year, but still come up with best recruits this year.  I guess tradition power house is good enough to win despice loosing games.  
Tue, 11/13/2007 - 16:11 —
sp4149
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   As discussed before in this thread recruiting 2008 entered uncharted territory.  For the first time the bulk of top ranked recruits has verbally committed before the season.  When this happened in basketball, the NCAA created a pre-season Letter-of-Intent day, effectively ending recruiting of any high school player who had committed before their senior season.  This year the recruiting effort after the end of the regular season will be recuiting the verbal commits from another school.  Texas, UCLA, Notre Dame, etc... will be doing damage control, keeping their early committs from changing to another school.  In the past their have been a couple of verbal committs who changed late in the recruiting process; Montgomery, Conte, at Cal the last couple of years.    The numbers of recruits changing their verbal committs this year will likely be much higher; perhaps 5 or 6 times higher.  This year Cal has been recruiting a high number of tight ends, with two committs already and three highly ranked prospects still thinking.  Other schools will tell the two verbals, hey, they are recruiting two higher ranked prospects, go to Cal and you may never play; committ to our school you are our top priority.  The prospects will be told that Cal already has plenty of tight ends and two verbals, they don't need you like we do.  Possible result, one verbal goes elsewhere as do the three prospects.  A lot of recruiting effort with some early success wasted.  Multiply that 5 or 6 times and you will have some unhappy coaches pushing for an early committ period.   In the PAC-10 this year Cal better watch out for Oregon and ASU raiding Cal's verbals.  The #2 team in the country is way behind in recruiting, and needs a quick fix like stealing verbals in California.  Since Oregon has recruited strongly in Northern California in past years; look for them to return.  Arizona has become stronger in Northern California while this year Cal is not getting the NoCal recruits as they have in previous years.  In 2008 While Cal is doing poorly in California, they have done well in the Pacific NorthWest (Oregon territory) and Arizona (ASU).  Cal could have a poor recruiting year due to this early recruiting phenomenom, not the season results.  And UCLA could have a banner year inspite of being the only team that Notre Dame could beat.   Nasty times and ill will ahead.  -sp4149
Tue, 11/13/2007 - 19:54 —
cal85
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I think that ND's problems highlight the over-emphasis on recruiting rankings.  How did Kansas' classes rate over the last five years?  They may be over-rated, but they're still winning the games they need to win.  How about Navy & Air Force?  Would any "expert" rate the quality of their athletes higher than Notre Dame?  There's enough talent out there now that it's almost impossible to run the table with talent alone.  It's their mental maturity (or potential for that), coaching skills, and how well all these parts mesh together.  Football coaches command huge salaries.  This is why.  1) Speculate how well of an athlete a 17 year old (or younger!) will be two to three years from now 2)  Estimate how well he'll react to living away from home, being a student, being in the spotlight, and partying without his parents looking over his shoulder. 3)  Calculate which players will leave early for pros. 4)  Know how well he'll fit into your system and do his superior skills mesh with his teammates. 5)  Make sure he won't suffer any major injuries and stay eligible. Go Bears!
Wed, 11/14/2007 - 15:55 —
sp4149
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JK,   My primary concern in the last post was about the difficulty in keeping an early committ and how since the number of early committs increased five fold this year, one can expect to see the numbers of decommitts increase as well.  When I was looking at Oregon's verbal list today, I saw that they got there first verbals from 4 star prospects this month.  Both kids from California, one from Stockton.  Oregon before then didn't have any real blue chippers.  Last year Cal lost one of it's best basketball prospects to Oregon after a verbal to Cal.   Looking at the tight ends, Cal has been heavily recruiting at least five prospects, with two verbals.  Cal very occasionally uses a two tight end formation, with one tight end geting the bulk of the plays.  Defensive lineman are a much greater quantity need, 8 or nine see significant playing time each week.  Looking at the commit list from 2007 on Scout.com I only found three defensive lineman all three stars.  This year only one verbal so far but he is a 4 star prospect from the Pacific Northwest    So far Oregon's committ list is much weaker than Cal's and needs to be upgraded.  Due to the bulk of the blue chip prospects having already committed, their recruiting will be either taking a gamble on a bunch of one and two star prospects or raiding other schools list of verbals.  I expect to see the latter this year and since the number of early commits is so much higher, so will be the pressure to de-committ and switch.  Schools like Notre Dame, Texas and UCLA have a lot to lose, more than Cal.  If they lose 20% of their early committs that would be 4 or 5 top players while at Cal it would be only 1 or 2.  The key will be to avoid complacency, don't assume that the verbals will not de-committ.  It's a numbers game and most of the quality numbers are taken.  This has not happened before, Those schools that lagged in the early recruiting will do whatever they can to recover lost recruits. It's naive to expect that past experience can predict what will happen and that this will not have a major impact on recruiting.   =Cal pessimist
Sun, 11/18/2007 - 02:46 —
toparchitect
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got a boy this week and now have a chance to get back on the post.  With the pethetic season this year, I don't know if Cal will have a good year of recruit.  I surely hope so. Go Bears! Edited 11/17/2007 5:47 pm ET by toparchitect
Fri, 11/30/2007 - 22:15 —
sp4149
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Fallout from the Washington game? Two of Cal's top prospects from the state of Washington committed to UW yesterday.  A five-star TE/DE and a four-star WR.  Washington's 2008 class is now ranked 18th while Cal is tied for #26.  Cal's highest ranked prospect with a "High" interest level in Cal is four star running back, Covaughn Deboskie, is attending the Arizona/ASU game this weekend as an official visit (He previously visited Stanford).  He still hasn't taken an official visit to Cal.  At this time he plans to commit at the Army All-American game next January.  -sp4149 Edited 11/30/2007 1:16 pm ET by sp4149
Mon, 12/10/2007 - 22:17 —
sp4149
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I just remember the SC game that year we stopped Bush but didn't stop White.  Late season especially it's good to have a back with that size.  I agree 215-220 is not bad, SC proved that this year when we couldn't stop Washington.  SC can go big or small, Cal doesn't have the "big" option.  Also it would be nice to have a wide receiver that was 6'4", both over the middle as well as out patterns.  When I was at Cal we had a wide out who was 6'7", it really didn't matter that the DBs were quicker, he could outreach any of them.  Saw Tony G. set the record for touchdown catches by a tight end.  Such a great Cal player from the dark days.  I wonder where he would play if he had to switch to defense, might be a terrifying free safety.
Tue, 12/11/2007 - 16:37 —
sp4149
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Wayne Stewart was one of Cal's more productive defensive backs and the biggest at 6'7".  He later played tight end in the pros.  He was a B-ball player as well and could go get passes thrown over the middle.  Certainly added a dimension not seen on defense. Chase Lyman, when not injured, was that big receiver not seen since Dawkins. As for a Cal "big back", there was Chuck Muncie.  He was as big as his lineman and he moved the pile when he hit it.  On todays team he would still be a big back, but he would have to be 6'6" and 275 to be as punishing a runner, given the size of today's lineman.  I can remember many a play, straight up the gut, stacked up at the line of scrimmage, and he still got three yards.  Any sort of a hole he would burst through.  Cal's had many great running backs, but he was Cal's only dominating "big back" that I had the privilege of seeing play at Berkeley.
Tue, 12/11/2007 - 19:57 —
cal85
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As far as tall players, like Gonzalez, we had Wes Howell for THE Big Game.  I believe he had used up his basketball eligibility, but could play one year of football.  He was a great compliment to Marret Ford and I think he caught a TD in the '82 Big Game.  Does Leon Powe have any eligibility left? Go Bears!
Thu, 12/13/2007 - 19:44 —
sp4149
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While Cal's 2008 recruiting appears stalled, Washington has been having a lot of recent success.  They persuaded Chris Polk, the #9 (Scout.com)  running back to switch from USC to U-Dub.  In the Tedford era Cal has never had a running back prospect rated as high as #9 by Scout.com.  Lynch was #16, Slocum was #17, Best was #18, Montgomery was #19.  Washington has recently put together a very strong recruiting class (ahead of Cal & Oregon, closing in on UCLA for #2 in the PAC-10), getting four 4 star and one five star prospects to commit in the last two weeks.  In the same period Cal has had zero prospects commit.  Of the remaining 4 star prospects that Scout.com shows Cal has offered, none show interest in Washington.  With so many top prospects having committed early like Polk, is this the start of switching from early verbals?  Is UCLA going to lose some of It's early verbals as well?  So far Washington has only offered to a couple of Cal's top commits.  -sp4149 Edited 12/13/2007 10:51 am ET by sp4149
Fri, 12/14/2007 - 23:02 —
sp4149
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The NorthWest schools continue to get verbals from prospects that had been interested in Cal.  The biggest loss was 5 star defensive tackle Justin Thompson from El camino JC signing with the ducks.  Cal had offered him as well and it looked like he would provide that inside monster the D-line needs.  Washington also picked up a 3 time all state linebacke Bradly Roussel   from Louisiana who had listed Cal among his favorties.  Neither the Bears or LSU had offered yet.  UW had recruited him the longest and was rewarded.   Not many top prospects left with any interest in Cal who have not committed elsewhere.  The story for the last two months of recruiting may become whether prospects who committed early switch to other teams before LOI day.  Only one JC prospect interested in Cal  has an offer, two 4 star defensive players with medium interest do not report Cal offers.  JC players elgibile to enroll in the spring can sign LOIs this month, one reason the two 5 star prospects committed recently.
Tue, 12/18/2007 - 03:27 —
sp4149
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Yes, I missed that and when investigating found that Sparks had verballed to Cal as you predicted. http://california.scout.com/2/712327.html   I notice that there are a couple of two star prospects Cal has offered, meaning that they saw something that the recruiter scouts missed.  Still there are a couple of kids that rate Cal interest as high, but don't show offers.  In particular Rob Andrews of Pleasanton,  rated #7 FB prospect.  Normally I haven't scanned below 3 star prospects because my browser doesn't like to refresh the second and lower pages of prospects on scout.com. UCLA has lost a couple of big time commits the last month; the raiding has begun of early verbals.
Wed, 12/19/2007 - 17:35 —
toparchitect
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After a bad season, and bad news on the facility, the bears are going down hard on recruits too.  They are falling to 32nd place just ahead of Stanfurd. Well! hopefully, they can beat the Air Force to have some momentum after the season to come up decent recruit for rebuilding. GO Bears! 
Wed, 12/19/2007 - 21:47 —
sp4149
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Obviously not playing this season cost him some in rankings by the scouts, Cal needs to take a gamble on some prospects who didn't get the exposure to garner high rankings. It seems this year Cal went after several top flight prospects and missed while in year's past they only targeted a few and got a couple. K-state got verbals from a couple of 4 stars that had an interest in Cal, including the only big back prospect listed by Scout.com, Chris Harper. The other was a wideout from Santa Rosa, Aubrey Quarles, who Cal didn't offer. Washington picked up another 4 star D-lineman. U Dub has done a great job of keeping local stars at home. Cal has only two verbals from Bay Area prospects out of 12 total.  Washington has roared up to 25 verbals, ten in the last three weeks.  UCLA has slipped to 21 verbals.  Along with USC, those 3 have separated themselves from the rest of the PAC-10 in the rankings.  Cal leads the rest of the PaC-10, most of them bunched up close.
Sat, 12/22/2007 - 22:34 —
sp4149
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Just as I was getting excited about another 4 star JC D-Line prospect visiting Cal in January, he decided to commit to ASU.   6-2 295 Spencer Gasu talked about waiting to commit until after visiting Cal, but decided to commit to ASU after his visit last weekend.   -sp4149
Fri, 12/28/2007 - 22:14 —
axesintexas
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i took a quick glance at the Cal football site and saw some pics of the first day on practice for here in texas... and also noticed a blurb on Kamaron Yancy. any insight to how valuable a pick-up this is??
Sat, 12/29/2007 - 01:17 —
sp4149
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Kamaron Yancy only used one year of eligibility in JC so will have three years to play three seasons at Cal.  Has about average size 5"11"' for a cornerback, 4.4 speed and is father played the position too so he has that intangible.  Probably would have been ranked higher if he had used his second year of eligibility.  Hasn't signed a letter of intent yet, but could be any day. I see that Oregon got a big back to replace Stewart, 4 star LaGarrette Blount, 6'1.5", 230 pounds, 4.5 speed from Scooba, MS.  The only big back prospect that Scout.Com had for Cal was Chris Harper who recently decommitted from K-State and now lists Oregon at the top (high interest).  Harper's used his 5 official visits, been to Oregon but didn't visit Cal.  Cal is one of six schools he shows as medium interest.  Maybe Blount's LOI to Oregon will change Harper's mind again and maybe give Cal a chance at some thunder.
Sat, 12/29/2007 - 04:17 —
sp4149
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  I was reading that too, and wondering why Scout.com listed him as a running back prospect.  Then Istarted thinking Dixon was about the same height, but checking I saw that Dixon was over 40 pounds lighter in high school than Harper.  Nasty visions of the Ducks running a big, pounding version of the spread with big fast Qb and running back.  Hopefully he will go elsewhere.  -sp4149
Wed, 01/02/2008 - 09:42 —
sp4149
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  I had been debating on joining the Riley factor chatter, but deferred til now.  l had been impressed with his first game against OSU.  While I was dismayed at how it ended, in clutch time he didn't throw an interception, fumble or give the ball to the other team.  He ran out of time.  Obviously he has had a long time to think about it and the effects were noticeable.  He ran the team with purpose and little wasted motion.  Cal never punted after he took over; six possessions ended in touchdowns, two ended when time expired, and one ended with a RB fumble.  After so many weeks of waiting for a chance to put the OSU game behind him, he seized this chance and made the most of it.    Remember in the first quarter how the announcers were commenting on how the 25mph wind was making passing and punting difficult?  Air force was running the ball and Nate was only able to hit short completions.  Riley comes in and the wind isn't a factor.  His completion percentage was outstanding for any game, with a strong wind, it was incredible.  He made all the passes, short, long, fade, touch with equal success.  Although his longest pass (52 yards) was held up by the wind, it still traveled close to 60 yards in the air and not many QBs can throw that far with the wind; let alone into the wind.  And I've seen strong armed QBs like Elway who took years to develop their 'touch' pass skills.  Heck, he even moved well in the pocket, made a couple of nice runs, scored a touchdown.  In each of Cal's losses this year, there were two or three plays that if they had gone the other way Cal would have won the game.  Riley made at least 8 plays in the game that Nate hasn't been able to make this year.  It was as good a Cal QB performance as I've ever seen.  It reminded me of Craig Morton coming in as a sophmore in relief of the injured starter and rallying the Bears (although they fell short).  If I see Craig again this year, I'll have to ask him about Riley's peformance   As for recruiting, Riley was getting the ball in good spots, his passes seemed to be easy to catch, the receivers weren't unduly exposed to hard hits.  Receivers would be jazzed about  playing with a quarterback who gives them chances to excell.  Riley's yards per pass attempt against Air Force seemed to be double what Cal was getting during the season.  A stat that receivers like. I didn't notice any QBs having better games this bowl season; that should also help.  Youboty was supposed to be going to Nebraska this weekend.  At first I though he was a team mate of the other Texas prospect visiting this next weekend, Kendrick Payne; but one is from Klein High School and the other attends Klein Forest High School.  After this weekends visits and some verbals being made on  national TV Saturday at a high school all-star game, not many prospects will be visiting before letter of intent day.  Only 6 at last count and three of those have verbal committments elsewhere.  The Army All-star game is this weekend, Covaughn Deboskie plans to announce his commitment at the game.  Will it be to Cal?  Will there be any to Cal at the game???  -sp4149  
Wed, 01/02/2008 - 20:41 —
sp4149
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JKO,   After reading that article, it doesn't sound like Cal.  If he was already registered and enrolled in classes that would be public knowledge at Cal while Stanford could keep it quiet.  ASU given their coach could probably work a back door deal on the quiet as well.  He hadn't really listed ASU equal with Cal before, while he had indicated that he really wanted Stanford but had to retake SATs in October to raise his score.  If he did then it sounded like Stanford was always his first choice.  What is more interesting is that he didn't mention Delano Howell, also a 4 star running back (Scout #16) who has a 4.4 GPA and has already committed to Stanford. http://california.scout.com/a.z?s=166&p=8&c=1&nid=2655983   Scout.com has dropped Deboskie to #27 as a running back and he's going to play at a receiver position in this weekend's All-star game.  The way he listed the teams makes Cal look like it's in third place.  I checked Cal's registration status, Deboskie isn't showing up.  Could be registered under an assumed name?  Did find a Deb Koski, but they weren't registered for Spring 2008.  -sp4149
Wed, 01/02/2008 - 20:59 —
sp4149
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Checking the Stanford academic calendar, enrollment for the spring quarter is in March.  ASU's spring semester begins Jan 14th and enrollment is done.  Deboskie must be going to ASU if he is already enrolled for the Spring session.  -sp4149
Thu, 01/03/2008 - 01:36 —
sp4149
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Well, the info about DeBoskie enrolling came from that "FloridaGatorBait" story you found.  Scout.com hasn't had any updates since November.  Most of the early Scout.com showed he was very high on Stanford, but needed higher SATs.  Then stanford got a higher rated RB with better grades to commit and ASU comes in out of nowhere.  Scout.com didn't report that he had been to all the ASU games, that would have been interesting news to know he was on the ASU sideline during the Cal game.  Sounds like he made his decision before ASU got hammered in the Holiday Bowl.  The ASu web page I found made it sound like you could almost walk up and enroll in classes, no waiting.  Not that easy at some schools.   -sp4149
Thu, 01/03/2008 - 10:33 —
toparchitect
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Hey Jan: One that Cal need the most is comming to Cal. http://calbears.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/122107aaa.html Go Bears!
Fri, 01/04/2008 - 01:36 —
milo2
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Looks like Deboskie is coming to Cal. The AZ Star says so anyway. http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/blogs/recruitingroundup/7224/ "Finally – a couple more notes on the Army All-American game. Covaughn Deboskie, one of the top Arizona players, has decided that he will be a California Golden Bear next season – choosing Cal over Arizona State. Deboskie may still use the forum presented to him at the game to formally announce his decision."
Sat, 01/05/2008 - 04:02 —
toparchitect
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That news broke out from Arizona news press to make Deboskie mad.  Maybe, this was the ASU scheme to try to win him over. Hope that he is smart enough to find out that was their dirty trick. Hey, Deboskie: if you are reading this post.  We all Cal bear fans just to let you know that we are welcoming you in a big way.  We need you very much.  And, you will be sucessful at Cal in both academically and athletically.  Come to Cal, and you will love it. Hope that LOI thing in Rival.com is not a fluke. GO Bears! Edited 1/4/2008 7:03 pm ET by toparchitect Edited 1/4/2008 7:13 pm ET by toparchitect
Sat, 01/05/2008 - 19:34 —
EFDiaz
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Deboskie just committed to Cal - Go Bears!!!
Sat, 01/05/2008 - 21:43 —
theaxe
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deion walker, the 5-star WR from virginia, just committed to notre dame. it looks like we weren't even in his top-5 - the cal hat wasn't even on the table as one of the schools he was debating.
Sun, 01/06/2008 - 21:06 —
milo2
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Also from Chandler, AZ, Marc Anthony, a 4-star DB committed to Cal. Slowly but surely Cal is recruiting better talent, and away from NorCal, and in the defensive backfield. http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=59351&Sport=1
Mon, 01/07/2008 - 18:12 —
toparchitect
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Is he a sure thing of committing yet?.  I know that Rival has him solid verbal.  However, the last article from the sundevil indicated that he is very interested in AS.  I guess we all have to wait until the LOI date to be sure. TA  Edited 1/7/2008 9:14 am ET by toparchitect
Mon, 01/07/2008 - 19:12 —
sp4149
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Scout.com had this article on his committment. http://california.scout.com/2/717787.html Sounds like he is going to be at Spring Ball like Debroskie.   -sp4149  
Tue, 01/08/2008 - 04:45 —
toparchitect
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I am just wondering why no. 2 Center Benji Kemoeatu is not being offered.  He is a 4 stars and interested in Cal.  His resume looks quite impressive.  He listed Cal as his first priority, I think. Cal has not recruit a Center  for a while. GO Bears!     Edited 1/7/2008 7:46 pm ET by toparchitect Edited 1/7/2008 7:53 pm ET by toparchitect
Tue, 01/08/2008 - 05:20 —
toparchitect
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The next few years will be great for Cal .  There are 5 All americans in the army bowl committed to Cal this year.  That show how deep JT is doing in recruits with such a [bleep]ty facility for now. I can't imagine how many top tier player Cal will bring, when the high performance center is built.  I will say equal to $C if not better.  At least, that is a wish. Go Bears!  
Tue, 01/08/2008 - 09:08 —
alpha1906
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According to ESPN... Running back Cyrus Gray names five finalists ESPN 150 prospect Cyrus Gray is now only considering California, Florida, Kansas, Louisville, and Notre Dame, the Courier-Journal reports.
Wed, 01/09/2008 - 01:18 —
toparchitect
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Thanks for the update, and where is J0's blog" Go Bears!  
Wed, 01/09/2008 - 02:10 —
sp4149
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Rios was being recruited solely as a long snapper, not an every down center.  Cal has a tradition of recruiting exceptional long snappers.  The Chargers have a Cal grad who has had a long NFL career only as a long snapper.  He holds the Charger record for most games played.  Long snappers play long and prosper. The Center from Hawaii, ranked #2, was the one of interest apparently ignored by not being offered.  Good size and could be ready to compete after Mack's senior year.  If Guarnero doesn't bulk up, he could be the smallest lineman in the Pac-10; don't plan on many quarterback sneaks against opposing 325# nose tackles. -sp4149
Wed, 01/09/2008 - 23:47 —
sp4149
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Another 4 star DT has committed elsewhere.   Ryan Glazer is going to LSU-Lafayette.  Must have been some issues in his recruiting since this seems to have been his only offer.   He is going to a good party school.   -sp4149
Thu, 01/10/2008 - 10:21 —
bearbacker71
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     It has been recently reported that Michigan junior receivers Adrian Arrington and Mario Manningham along with U. of Hawaii's  two top receivers have declared for the NFL draft.     If Desean Jackson is truly vacillating in his decision to go pro,  maybe this news will give him some more to think about.     In any event, I guess we'll all find out on January 15th at 11:25 PM  when Desean holds his press conference so that the local sports shows can cover it LIVE in High Defintion and 5.1 Dolby surround sound. On second thought, make that 8:25 PM so as not to miss the East Coast news shows not to mention ESPN's  Sportscenter broadcast.        
Thu, 01/10/2008 - 17:57 —
sp4149
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All of a sudden another 4 star D Lineman has appeared on the horizon with a Cal offer. Bernard Wolfgramm    6-3/270/4.80 from College of San Mateo.  No Biography, not much known other than he appears to have good size and speed for a defensive end.  He's got four offers and has planned visits to the other three.  Maybe he has attended some Cal games and beden on campus since he was at San Mateo.  Everyday another 4 star prospect pops up from off the radar.  Is Scout.com missing these guys or has there been some re-rating after the season?   -sp4149
Fri, 01/11/2008 - 20:24 —
sp4149
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Another, new to the Cal list, 4 star prospect is visiting this weekend.  Herman Davidson    from Poly in Long Beach, a 6-3, 216# safety.  He has offers from five other schools, Michigan, Miami, North Carolina, ASU, and San Diego State but not Cal.  Instead of visiting ASU or San Diego with one of his official visits, he's coming to Cal this weekend.  somebody must have started recruiting this kid hard. -sp4149
Fri, 01/11/2008 - 23:02 —
sp4149
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One big difference this year is that most of the top prospects had already committed before the start of the season and even more before the all star games.  The pool of top rated prospects who have not verbally committed  is much smaller than in past years.  More than ever Cal has to focus on "diamonds in the rough" and late bloomers who weren't highly ranked before this last season.  The safety from Poly in Long Beach who visits this weekend didn't start his junior year so he would have been off the radar.  He probably went from no-stars to 4 stars solely based on his senior season.  With his size, sound like he could be a heck of a player. -sp4149
Mon, 01/14/2008 - 20:00 —
milo2
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Cal got a place kicker with a big leg, David Seawright. 50 yard FG and something like 72 yard on kick-offs. http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=2&c=719795
Tue, 01/15/2008 - 01:26 —
sp4149
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Interesting that rather than get an offer like the four Ivy league schools; Cal only gave the kicker 'preferred walkon' status.  Another visitor last weekend, safety Herman Davidson  got an offer during his visit.  Certainly his size, 6'3", 216#, bolsters him as a four star prospect.  
Tue, 01/15/2008 - 01:54 —
milo2
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My guess, as the stereotype goes, is that kickers are a bit flakey and un-predictable. Still this kid sounds like he has a leg. Also, I'm pretty sure Ivy Leagues don't offer scholarships so Mom and Dad are saving a wad...and the kid still gets a chance at the big time and a great education. I would have offered him a half scholarship if I thought he'd make a difference but sounds like the kid wanted to go to Cal. If nothing else Cal has a good tradition of kickers going pro.
Tue, 01/15/2008 - 03:35 —
sp4149
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Last year Cal recruited a 4 star punter, Bryan Anger, what I didn't realize was that he also played wide receiver.  At 6'4 and with a 4.7 time in the forty he had over 600 yards receiving as a senior (16 yards per catch).  Twenty - thirty years ago he would have been touted as a dual threat.  Sounds like there are some special kickers in Cal's future.  Maybe next year put Anger in motion at wide receiver on third and long and have the threat of a quick kick to confuse the defense. Already visualizing the 2008 season.
Tue, 01/15/2008 - 05:21 —
toparchitect
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However, one thing I don't get it.  He had offered from all the ivy league universities, and the airforce, but, chose Cal as a preferred walkon.  I hope at the end he get a scholarship from Cal as he wish. I guess, JT is saving the scholarship for top recruits and until the last minutes to make him an offer if he win out the job. Go BEARS!
Tue, 01/15/2008 - 05:53 —
milo2
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If the kid is from SD, he probably doesn't want to go east. I didn't after a visit for grad school. His other option was Stanfurd and well, they're not doing so well right now. :) If he has the smallest thought about a NFL career, Cal offers him the best chance with a top 25 program while still receiving a top notch degree. Few (if any) schools can offer this combo and I'm guessing it's a calculated risk on his part. I know it sounds like hype but what other schools can provide this? Frankly it's a great sell to the parents of recruits. Go Bears.
Tue, 01/15/2008 - 04:48 —
toparchitect
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I think the matter is that tree hugger may have scare off some the recruits.  Damn, I am so frustrated.  I want to bring in a chain saw myseft and cut the hell out of all those trees down while those hugger is having a sweet dream up there. GO BEARS! Edited 1/14/2008 7:51 pm ET by toparchitect
Tue, 01/15/2008 - 15:29 —
sp4149
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One of the prospects visiting this weekend, Cyrus Gray a 4 star back from Texas, has committed to Texas A&M instead.  Meanwhile a one star running back from Canada with Blazing speed,  KKeynan Parker, is visiting later  this month.  He has an offer from Oregon State and is visiting there this weekend.  Another off the radar prospect. He visists Oregon State the weekend before and has an offer from the Beavers.
Tue, 01/15/2008 - 21:54 —
sp4149
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Some of the other stats for kenyan parker were eye-catching as well. 2007 Statistics: 28 TDs, 219 carries for 2128 yards August 2007 Team BC/Yukon at Royal Canadian Legion Nationals- Gold medal 100m ( 10.57). Gold medal – 200m ( 21.44). **Keynan’s father, James “Quick” Parker attended Wake Forest University (1976 – 1979); was a conference all star/ winner of the Brian Piccolo award. Inducted into the Wake Forest University's Sports Hall of Fame- 1997 and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2001. Sounds like he has the speed and football pedigree that Coach Tedford values.  Remember that Canadian Football is three down football so they may pass more with only two downs to get a first down.
Thu, 01/17/2008 - 20:59 —
sp4149
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Is Cal losing Defensive Line Prospects to Louisville? John Youboty, a three-star defensive end from Klein, TX, was set to visit California this week. But the 6’4, 250-pound pass rush specialist has dropped the Bears and will instead visit Louisville. Will Ken Delgado's relationship help the Cards reel in the talented Youboty?