2009 Recruiting Class

No subject in college football is murkier than recruiting. I blogged extensively on this topic last year, but to summarize:

• Everybody's recruits sound good.
• Every D-IA player has a good highlight reel.
• Recruiting services are as uninformed on the MAC as I am.
• I like to look for validation--All-State, All-conference, Etc.

Then I break them into three categories, based on available evidence. I don't say any of them won't contribute, just what we can tell from what we know:

• STAR
• Tweener (Between Star and Contributor)
• Contributor/NEI (Not enough information)

So, let's see what we have for this year's class.

Star (7 out of 22)

Jairus Campbell, DE, 6-5, 246, Pickerington, Ohio. All-State as a senior, and some pretty eye-popping numbers for a d-lineman.

Dylan Farrington, DE, 6-5, 220, Adrian, Mich. All-State and a nationally known recruit, he was ranked the best d-end recruit in the state of Michigan by the Free Press.

Jordan Hopgood, WR, 6-0, 195, Cincinnati, Ohio (Princeton). Nationally known recruit who had 59 catches his senior season. Was team MVP as well.

Tim Moore, DB, 5-11, 185, Mentor, Ohio (Mentor). Might be the best player in the class, all-state and in the Big 33 all-star game.'

John Pettigrew, RB, 5-10, 185, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy). All-State his senior year, and rushed for over 2,000 yards and 23 TDs. Was also the Plain Dealer player of the Year as well. Ran for 300 yards twice.

Matthew Schilz, QB, 6-2, 190, Arcadia, Calif. Easily the recruit that has caused the most buzz in the Falcon Nation. He was ranked one of the top 100 players in Cali, and was one of the five best QBs not at a BCS school. Was going to K-State until coaching change. 3,200 yards and 31 TDs as a senior.

Dwayne Woods Jr., LB, 6-1, 220, Cincinnati, Ohio (Princeton). Very highly recruited player who had huge numbers and wants to be a doctor.

Tweener (10 out of 22)

Ali Alaboody, WR, 5-9, 185, Dearborn, Mich. A RB in HS that we immediately project to WR. All-League and All-City, ranked#36 in Michigan by Free Press.

Alex Bayer, TE, 6-4, 225, Pickerington, Ohio. Highly ranked TE, very productive in high school. He was all-district. #25 recruit in Michigan.

Kyle Bryant, OL, 6-6, 265, Detroit, Mich. Was all-Detroit and in Free Press Top 50 for Michigan.

Austin Collier, WR, 6-1, 195, Sterling, Mich. A QB/ATH we are projecting to WR right off the bat. Was small-school POY in Michigan.

Erique Geiger, RB, 5-9, 205, Huber Heights, Ohio. All-District player who picked up 6 yards per carry and 18 TDs his senior season. Also a productive kick returner as a junior with four TDs.

Ronnie Goble, DE, 6-3, 236, Plymouth, Mich. (Plymouth). Was all-conference and all-area, with some pretty impressive defensive stats as well. Both his mother and father were intercollegiate athletes.

Chris Jones, DT, 6-2, 275, Brownsburg, Indiana (Brownsburg). Was all-state in Indiana his senior year.

Ted Ouellet, DE, 6-3, 245, Sherborn, Mass. All-division, two-time all league.

Jordon Roussos, DE, 6-4, 256, Pittsburgh, Pa. Also star wrestler and 100-yard dash man (man, you gotta like that combo). All-Pitt player in very talented region. Middle name is Aristotle!!

Paul Swan, LB, 6-1, 210, Nashotah, Wisc. All-State in WI, with 113 tackles and 12 sacks last season. He was an early verbal who had a killer senior year.

Contributor-NEI (5 out of 22)

Aunre' Davis, DB, 5-10, 170, Warren, Ohio. Highly ranked athlete who was all-County in Trumbull County.

Vince German, FB, 6-2, 230, Newark, Ohio. All-District player who seemed to be a TE and pass-catcher in HS. Brother is on Falcon team. First player recruited to play FB at BG this century.

Eric Jordan, LB, 6-0, 220, Sandusky, Ohio (Sandusky). Second-team all-state, but on offense. Information is less available on his defensive contribution.

Mark Mays, RB, 5-10, 170, , Clayton, Ohio. Highly ranked recruit, but without the production or honors you might expect.

Alex Thomas, LB, 6-2, 218, Stow, Ohio (Stow-Monroe Falls). All conference and team captain.