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Did you see a coach on signing day who confessed that he and his staff had done an awful job of recruiting and had signed a class that probably will cost his job?
It sounded like all of them would be contending for the national championship in two or three years.
What did Illinois coach Ron Zook and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel have to smile about?
The truth is the rich (SEC) got richer, the also-rans (Big 10) continued to play catch-up and UCLA, California and Oregon showed signs that they are serious about challenging traditional power USC for dominance in the Pac-10.
It isn't a coincidence that the elite programs are stocked by blue chip players who are recruited by the most aggressive and highest paid coaches in the nation...Urban Meyer, Mack Brown, Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron, Nick Saban, Les Miles, Bob Stoops, Rick Neuheisel...you know who they are.
And it isn't a coincidence that the SEC is the most dominant conference in college football. It annually recruits the best players--five SEC schools, led by to-ranked Florida, ranked among the top 10 recruiting classes for 2010--and they put an emphasis on big and fast defensive players, a concept the Big 10 hasn't begun to understand.
For example, Florida signed the best crop of defensive players that recruiting analyst Tom Lemming has seen in 31 years. The class included the two best defensive players in the country, Ronald Powell and Sharrif Floyd. Does it get any better than that?
Another negative sign for the Big 10 is some of the best players in the Midwest have chosen to go elsewhere. Some picked Big 10 schools, then de-committed and chose other schools. And the Midwest hasn't been producing a lot of talented high school players in recent years.
Ohio State lost offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson, the nation's No. 1 player, to USC. Illinois lost C.J. Fiedorowicz, the nation's top-rated tight end, to Iowa, wide receiver Matt Milton to Tennessee and defensive back Corey Cooper to Nebraska. Zook made last-minute pitches to wide receiver Kyle Prater and offensive lineman Zach Fulton, all to no avail.
Penn State lost wide receiver Adrian Coxson to Florida. Ohio State lost offensive lineman Matt James to Notre Dame and linebacker Jordan Hicks to Texas. Michigan lost defensive back Sean Parker to Washington.
When signing day had ended, according to Lemming, the Big 10 had signed the fewest number of impact players that he could ever remember. Defensive lineman William Gholston could be a factor at Michigan State and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz hopes Fiedorowicz will become a freshman starter, as former Wheaton Warrenville South star Tony Meoaki once was.
In the meantime, several Chicago area high school coaches were left shaking their heads, wondering why their players hadn't been signed, some not even offered. It is an annual ritual in which the high school coaches are convinced they have players who are good enough to play for Division I schools and can't understand why it doesn't happen.
The list of players still looking for some love from Division I or even Division II schools includes All-Chicago Area linebacker Jake Stockman and offensive lineman Dan Foreman of Joliet Catholic, running back Evan Wright of Fremd, quarterback Tyler Warden of Glenbard West, defensive lineman Steve Laski of Providence, defensive lineman Austin Copley of Lincoln-Way East, All-Chicago Area center Hayden Baker of Cary-Grove, linebacker J.D. Barchard of Crystal Lake South and wide receiver Dan Piko of Marist.
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Taylor, the disparity between the Big 10 and SEC/PAC 10 seems to get worse each year. And you are correct that the Big 10 still doesn't understand recruiting BIG and FAST defensive players. See Ohio State losses to Florida to understand that disparity.
Why are Illinois players leaving the state? Clearly the coaching situation at the UofI has something to do with that. The recruits get to know the assistants during recruiting then those assistants are gone and so are the recruits. I can't imagine Prater gave Illinois more than a cursory glance. MMM, it is a tall, athletic receiver. Does he go to Illinois where Benn did well, but certainly not great. Or does he go to USC where they throw the ball with regularity and you will be playing with a Top 5 quarterback as long as you are on campus? I make the same decision Prater did.
Recruiting is something I will never understand. Tyler Warden is a 6'6" QB who leads his team to the state finals. He is a very good passer, decent runner and manages the game well and is a terrific leader. I saw almost every varsity football game in which he has played. He plays against DGS this year and beats the Illinois recruit Whitmer straight up. No he didn't win top QB rankings at a national QB camp like Whitmer did, but how does Warden not get any offers? He can't play in the MAC? Miami, Ohio U, Bowling Green, Ball State, Toledo, NIU etc. don't think he is good enough to play for them? Please. Give him a year or two at one of those schools and they will have a 3 year starter after that. If they don't think he is athletic enough, have the coaches watch him play basketball (he averages 21 ppg).
Taylor:
Loyola's all-area punter Paul Delaney accepted an offer from Columbia University in New York. He had several preferred walk on offers but went with the Ivy League school. thanks for the support this past season.
Tyler Warden
Tyler warden was overlooked by all Illinois teams!
What a joke no wonder Zook is on the bubble...Whitmer?
Undersized and from what i heard Illinois was thinking about pulling his scholarship at one point. Tayler Graham
from Wheaton? Are you serious? Ohio state? That kid barley played his highschool career and when he did it was fair at best! Tyler Warden has been recently offer by Buffalo. The coaching staff from Cincinnati took the job up there with Coach Quinn. THey obviously see potential and asked as many have WHY isn't this kid signed! The answer...most of these morons from Illinois couldn't pick a quarterback if their life depended on it! How bout the story about Tony Romo? Those sharpies from Eastern Illinois didn't even offer him! They ended up giving him a partial sholarship!!! Eastern still doesn't understand how to get one! Thank god they had Jake Christianson last year transfered from Iowa to put them back on the map! Pittiful recruiting in Illinois.
How do you base the success of a QB by a summer camp? Thats where our buddy Zook is looking!!! Dear god when is that man going to be replaced?
Whitmer...he's 5'11" throwing behing a 6'5" lineman?
Cut it out! He better be in shotgun baby!! Daddy can't get him outa that jam!!!