Coach Clawson held his presser today for the signing class. It lasted more than 30 minutes, but I watched and here are the highlights as I heard them.
Earlier today I posed questions on two things: the unexpectedly large class and the number of players from Florida.
As for the class size, we have been noting that it is more than had been expected and also more than it seemed like we had scholarships for. Coach proactively answered that by saying that 2-3 of the BG players may grayshirt. Here is how that works.....they are signed to BG, but they do not enroll until (in this case), January of 2014. The hope is that some of BG's 5-year seniors will graduate mid-year and open scholarships up.
Coach says the 2-3 guys have been told about the gray-shirting plan. If there is attrition in the program, they have a shot to come in August.
BG added the additional players that created the grey shirt situation because of some attrition, especially at TB, which went from a position of depth to one of need. So, we needed to get some RBs who could help right away, and that forced the overall numbers up and created the greyshirting situation.
As for Florida, the answer according to Coach is related. We needed some positions and they need arose late. Most of the midwest players commit early, so the players who were available were in Florida. Also, they are skill players and Florida seems to be where those guys are. He says 2/3 of the class is from the "State of Bowling Green" and the "heart and soul" of our program is from 5-hours around campus, but the "arms and legs can come from anywhere."
Beyond all that, it is the first time BG has not had a full class since Coach Clawson got here. He wants us to move to where we have 5th year seniors in the program and says we are getting there.
Beyond the immediate need at RB, there was a need for depth at LB, which is why JUCO Paul Senn is in school. We also saw needs coming down the road at S, interior O-line, interior D-line, TE, P....and we moved to fill those spots.
A bunch of these guys were team captains, but Coach kind of poo-pooed that, saying that if you have a D1 player on a HS roster, chances are he will be a captain.
Anyway, then he showed some film and commented. Here are the bios of the players...in italics are anything I gleaned of use from what coach said. The video will be available at bgsufalcons.com if you want to watch the whole thing.
Aaron Banks, DB, 6-2, 200, Chicago, Ill. (Simeon)
High School: Currently attends Simeon High School ... coached by Dante Calbreath ... team captain ... ranked as a top-40 recruit in the state of Illinois.
Tall, rangy and athletic safety. Reminds him of Gabe Martin.
Clark Clancy, OL, 6-4, 270, Troy, Mich. (Avondale)
High School: Currently attends Avondale High School ... coached by Steve Deutsh ... team captain ... earned first-team all-league and honorable mention all-state as a senior ... ranked as the No. 54 recruit in the state of Michigan by the Detroit News ... selected to participate in the Michigan High School Coaches Association All-Star Game.
Physical interior lineman. Finishes blocks and is what we need in the middle of the line.
Fred Coppet, RB, 5-9, 180, Ft. Lauderdale. Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas)
High School: Currently attends St. Thomas Aquinas High School ... coached by Rocco Casullo ... team captain ... three-year starter ... rushed for 3,300 yards and 58 touchdowns in his career ... earned first-team all-county for three consecutive years and is a two-time first-team all-state member ... led his team to a state championship as a sophomore and senior ... team won the national title as a sophomore.
Home run hitter. Huge recruit. 3-year starter on national title team. Also state champions. Is the 4th TB from this HS to play for Dave Clawson.
Joe Davidson, P, 6-7, 200, Findlay, Ohio (Findlay)
High School: Currently attends Findlay High School ... coached by Mark Ritzler ... team captain ... as a senior earned second-team all-state as a defensive back and third-team all-state as a punter ... also earned Academic All-Ohio that same year ... added first-team all-conference and first-team all Northwest Ohio in 2012.
Hopes to redshirt his year. Strong leg. Athlete who happens to punt. Was considered as a WR recruit. A very good athlete.
Gehrig Dieter, WR, 6-3, 205, South Bend, Ind. (Washington) (SMU)
Prior to BGSU: Played in 10 games, making three starts at Southern Methodist University ... caught 10 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. High School: Was a 2011 graduate of Washington High School ... team captain ... was named a Parade All-American his senior year ... was named Indiana 4A Player of the Year ... holds a national record for receiving yards in a game (437), in a 4A state playoff contest (168) and career touchdown receptions (49) ... was also named first-team All-American by Max Preps ... earned second-team All-American by SI.com and third-team All-American by ESPN.
See above. Highly decorated player in Indiana who was FR of Year at SMU. Wants to be closer to home. Top WR on our list last year and is a really good guy for us to pick up. Great ball skills.
Brandon English, RB, 5-9, 186, Orlando, Fla. (Evans)
High School: Currently attends Evans High School ... coached by Chip Gierke ... team captain ... led the district in all-purpose yards and rushing yards, while adding 23 touchdowns as a senior ... participated in the Central Florida All-Star Game.
Reminds them of John Pettigrew. Shifty, small but physical. Runs low.
Hunter Folkertsma, TE, 6-6, 240, Grand Rapids, Mich. (Forest Hills Central)
High School: Currently attends Forest Hills Central High School ... coached by Tim Rogers ... team captain ... was named to the Grand Rapids Press All-Dream Team ... earned first-team all-conference as a senior.
Dad played at UM. Could end up being a 270 lb TE with ball skills.
Isaiah Gourdine, DB, 6-2, 195, Farmington, Mich. (Farmington)
High School: Currently attends Farmington High School ... coached by John Bechtel ... team captain ... earned first-team all-county and all-state as a senior ... ranked as the No. 17 recruit in the state of Michigan by the Detroit News ... was selected to participate in the Michigan High School Coaches Association All-Star Game.
Was a UC commit. We picture him as a rangy, athletic high safety.
Eric Harrell, RB, 5-9, 200, Orlando, Fla. (Dr. Phillips)
High School: Currently attends Dr. Phillips High School ... coached by Rodney Wells ... team captain ... earned second-team all-state while rushing for over 1,000 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior ... was selected to participate in the Central Florida All-Star Game.
Good hands. Big back. Runs with a good pad level. Good in pass protection and on screens.
Patric Hannon, LB, 6-0, 225, South Euclid, Ohio (Brush)
High School: Currently attends Brush High School ... coached by Josh Wells ... two-time team captain ... four-year starter ... is a three-time all-conference player ... earned at least a 3.0 in all four years at Brush.
Great range at LB. Was a successful RB. Can cover sideline to sideline.
Darius Holiday, DT, 6-5, 260, Miramar, Fla. (American Heritage)
High School: Currently attends American Heritage High School ... coached by Jeff Dellenbach ... was a 2.5 year starter ... recorded 14 sacks in his junior and senior year combined ... earned all-county as a senior ... participated in the Dade-Broward All-Star Game.
Reminds them of Jarius Campbell. Sees him playing over 300 lbs. Hard to find a guy with this range and size.
Ryan Hunter, OL, 6-5, 315, North Bay, Ontario (Canisius)
High School: Currently attends Canisius High School ... coached by Rich Robbins ... team captain ... won the Trench Trophy, given to Western New York’s Lineman of the Year ... was named the Buffalo News Player of the Year ... was named Buffalo Bills Alumni Defensive Lineman of the Year ... earned first-team all-state and first-team All-Western New York ... team MVP ... was a two-time Canadian weight lifting champion.
Note weight lifting success. Dominating player.
Logan Larson, TE, 6-4, 255, Springfield, Ill. (Pleasant Plains)
High School: Currently attends Pleasant Plains High School ... coached by Brad Pugh ... earned all-conference as a running back his senior year ... that same season was named first-team all-area as a defensive tackle ... earned National Underclassman Tight End MVP Award as a junior.
Good ball skills. Smart player who could play right away. TB experience is appreciated.
Marcus Levy, RB, 5-11, 200, Fort Pierce, Fla. (Fort Pierce Central)
High School: Currently attends Fort Pierce Central High School ... coached by Josh Shaffer ... team captain ... four-year starter ... combined for 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior and 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior ... earned first-team all-area and all-state in each of the last two years ... competed in the Miami-Dade vs. Florida All-Star Game.
Early UC commit. Loved his junior tape. Another bigger back for us, could end up playing at 215 lbs.
Nate Locke, LB, 6-1, 220, Canton, Ohio (Massillon Jackson)
High School: Currently attends Massillon Jackson High School ... coached by Beau Balderson ... two-time team captain ... earned first-team All-Federal League and second-team all-district ... was also a member of the National Honor Society and a member of the Academic All-Ohio team.
Smart, physical, "downhill" LB. Should play Mike. Good straight line speed and could get bigger.
Tim McAuliffe, OL, 6-2, 275, Lemont, Ill. (Lemont)
High School: Currently attends Lemont High School ... coached by Eric Michaelsen ... two-time team captain ... earned a spot on the 2012 IHSCA all-state class 6A team ... is a three-time South Suburban All-Conference player ... was named All-Area as a senior by the Chicago Tribune, Joliet Herald and Southeastern Star ... helped lead team to three-straight playoff appearances.
Tough and physical. Targeted to C.
Ronnie Moore, WR, 5-10, 165, Sanford, Fla. (Seminole)
High School: Currently attends Seminole High School ... coached by Robert Vite ... three-year team captain ... was named the Offensive Player of the Year in Central Florida by the Orlando Touchdown Club ... earned first-team all-state ... was named Most Valuable Player of the Central Florida All-Star Game.
Versatile player. Dynamic playmaker. UC Commit. With scholarships available, we had the ability to go for some of the UC guys.
Omar Pierre-Louis, DB, 6-1, 190, Loxahatchee, Fla. (Seminole Ridge)
High School: Currently attends Seminole Ridge High School ... coached by Matt Dickmann ... team captain ... three-year starter ... earned first-team all-state as a senior and is a two-time all-county first-team selection ... has 16 career interceptions ... competed in the Florida versus Georgia All-Star Game.
His coach is from Napoleon, OH. Another long, rangy safety. Played CB in HS. Has CB cover skills but LB hitting skills. Fits great in the 4-2-5, 3 S look we use.
Teo Redding, WR, 6-2, 170, Warren, Mich. (Michigan Collegiate)
High School: Currently attends Michigan Collegiate High School ... coached by Friedo Calderon ... team captain ... earned first-team all-county and first-team all-state as a senior ... named the No. 23 recruit in the state of Michigan by the Detroit News ... selected to participate in the Michigan High School Coaches Association All-Star Game.
Big vertical leap, good ball skills.
Michael Rogers, WR, 6-1, 185, Fort Wayne, Ind. (Bishop Luers)
High School: Currently attends Bishop Luers High School ... coached by Steve Keefer ... team captain ... helped lead team to four straight state championships ... had 48 catches for 1,030 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior, earning first-team all-state ... was a four year starter.
Saw him when we recruited Knapke. Playmaker, early commit. Didn't throw as much his senior year.
Paul Senn, LB, 6-1, 215, Norco, Calif. (Norco) (Riverside CC)
Prior to BGSU: Spent two seasons at Riverside Community College ... coached by Tom Craft ... earned second-team all-conference and was the team’s defensive player of the year ... finished tied for the team lead with 63 tackles. High School: Was a 2010 graduate of Norco High School ... coached by Todd Gerhardt ... earned first-team all-conference as a senior and second-team all-conference his junior season ... was team’s defensive player of the year as a senior.
Gives immediate depth at LB. Jhalil Corley was supposed to be a LB but has ended up a DE which has meant that there was a need at LB now.
Jason Shepherd, DE, 6-1, 245, Loxahatchee, Fla. (Seminole Ridge)
High School: Currently attends Seminole Ridge High School ... coached by Matt Dickmann ... team captain ... two-year starter ... earned first-team all-county and second-team all-state as a senior, recording five sacks and 15 tackles for loss ... played in the Florida versus Georgia All-Star Game.
BG needs outside rush help (witness the move of a TE to the edge). Shepherd can be that guy.
Shannon Smith, DT, 6-1, 290, Chicago, Ill. (Marist)
High School: Currently attends Marist High School ... coached by Pat Dunne ... team captain ... named first-team all-state by the Chicago Tribune as a senior ... same year was named East Suburban Catholic Defensive Player of the Year ... had 81 tackles and 12 sacks in 2012.
Reminds Coach of....Chris Jones. Which is a high standard.
Austin Valdez, QB, 6-1, 210, Sylvania, Ohio (Sylvania Southview)
High School: Currently attends Sylvania Southview High School ... coached by Jim Mayzes ... team captain ... earned all-conference and all-district as a junior and senior ... threw for over 2,000 yards and added another 1,000 yards on the ground his senior year ... led his team to a pair of conference championships.
Local guy. Different kind of QB in that he is a dual-threat guy. Strong arm, good athlete. This year's QB.
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