Signing Day, Loeffler wants HS recruiting, portal news and additional signee

Coach started by saying we had 20 commits and we would keep recruiting HS kids. That will be our formula.  We will go to the portal to fill gaps, but we want to recruit HS kids, even while acknowledging some may only stay 2 years.

He was asked how we keep the momentum going given the massive player loss the team will experience. First, he thinks last year's class was strong and "a bunch" of them will contribute next year.  We will use the portal to equal everything out.  This year, we have 30 guys graduating...so we will be in the portal a little deeper than we wish this year,  After this year, we will revert to a majority of our team being HS kids. He mentioned 15 portal players...I don't know if that was this year or a normal year moving forward.

The biggest news came to BG at 10:30 the night before signing day when JT Kitna called BG to commit.  Loeffler and Kitna's father--NFL QB Jon Kitna--know each other back to 2008 when they were both part of the Detroit Lions' 2008 winless season. He had called recently and wanted to visit BG.  He was committed to UAB, where his brother plays.  Loeffler's assumption was he was looking ahead to maybe a year from now--unsaid was the turmoil around the program with Trent Dilfer.  And then he committed. Was a highly recruited young man.

Wants a high school starter at QB.  For all the football guru stuff, he hasn't produced one HS QB in 6 years.

He doesn't know if the HS class is over...the early signing day means we haven't been on the road. When we get on the road, we might sign others. (In fact see below).

He says our retention rate is very high. He says there are guys in the program that everyone thinks are going to leave and they are not.  Which is interesting.

Speaking of which...since I last posted on the portal, Terrion Stewart and Dierre Kelly have both entered the portal.  Kelly did not play much this year and Stewart played a huge role. I don't think anyone is surprised that Stewart is leaving, however.

So, the full list of signees is here.  There are 20 listed.

Also, I had Reece Little of Findlay as a commit.  It's hard to tell sometimes, but he was part of the Findlay ceremony but wasn't signing an NLI, so I assume he is a PWO.

We offered two OLs in the portal since the presser.

And we have an additional signee.  He is Cash Lewis, from Windsor, CT and is currently playing in the state playoffs.  He is 6'3" or 4, and 215 pounds, WR and LB in college.  Tweets from BG indicate we will slot him at edge rusher. He was offered by UMass, UConn, BG and Morgan State.

Here is what BG lists on him:

• Played wide receiver and linebacker at Windsor High School for head coach Rob Fleeting 

• As a senior caught 45 passes for 895 yards and 11 touchdowns as team is in the midst of the state playoffs in 2024 with a 10-0 record

• Is 34-6 all-time so far in his high school career

• Has notched three interceptions and returned for 100 yards 

• As a junior in 2023 he caught 15 passes for 230 yards and four touchdowns 

• All-state honoree  

• Two-time all-conference

Welcome to the Falcons, Reece and Cash.  And best of luck to Terrion and Dierre in their future endeavors.