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Seven recent additions to the 2010 recruiting class, late signings and transfers. Phlugrad says one or two more additions before the class is complete. This has been the best ranked class I've seen since 1994 when I started following the Griz.

For those tempted to say star rankings mean nothing I will respond to that in advance. Going back to 2002 I find that almost 100% of our 2 star recruits became starters, many of them by Soph. year.

Updated 2010 Griz recruiting class.

12 Two Stars
3 Three Stars
1 Four Star

Caleb Statham RB 5-10 185 HS Custer, Wa. (Blaine HS) 2 star Scout/Rivals
Antwon Moutra WR 6-2 190 Jr. TR Culver City, Calif. (UCLA) 4 star Scout/Rivals
Tyrone Duncan DT 6-2 305 Jr. TR Westlake, Calif. (U. of Washington) 3 star Scout/Rivals
Andrew Badger S 5-11 210 Jr. JC Visalia, Calif. (College of Sequoias)
Houston Roots CB 5-10 185 Jr. JC Rocklin, Calif. (Sierra College)
Micheal Jordan TE 6-3 225 HS Chandler, Az. (Chandler HS) 2 star Scout
Jordan Canada WR 5-9 180 HS Covina, Calif. (South Hills HS) 2 star Scout
Cornorris "CJ" Atkins WR 6-2 210 Jr. JC Encino, Calif. (Col. Of the Canyons) 3 star Scout/2 star Rivals
Alex Bienemann DT 6-2 275 Fr. HS Denver, Colo. (Regis Jesuit HS) 2 star Scout/Rivals
Tonio Celotto DT 6-2 305 Jr. TR Oakland, Calif. (Oregon) 3 star Scout/Rivals
Derek Crittendon DL 6-3 230 Fr. HS Whitefish, Mont. (Whitefish HS)
Sean Haynes WR 6-3 183 Fr. HS Los Angeles, Calif. (Bishop Alemany HS)
Jake Hendrickson OG 6-3 ½ 285 Jr. JC Gilbert, Ariz. (Scottsdale CC)
Jordan Johnson QB 6-1 185 Fr. HS Eugene, Ore. (Sheldon HS) 2 star Rivals
John Kanongata'a LB 5-11 218 Fr. HS Bellevue, Wash. (Bellevue HS) 2 star Scout
Brett Kirschner RB 5-10 207 Fr. HS Bellevue, Wash. (Interlake HS) 2 star Scout
Danny Kistler Jr. OT 6-8 335 Fr. HS Seattle, Wash. (O'Dea HS) 2 star Scout
William Poehls OT 6-8 286 Fr. HS Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler HS) 2 Star Scout
Trevor Poole DL 6-5 275 Fr. HS Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS)
Austin Reifeis TE 6-3 230 Fr. HS Sammamish, Wash. (Eastlake HS) 2 star Scout
Stephen Sabin OG 6-4 305 Jr. JC Chandler, Ariz. (Scottsdale CC) 2 star Scout
Mitch Saylor WR 6-5 210 Fr. HS Vancouver, Wash. (Union HS/Camas WA) 2 star Scout
Shay Smithwick-Hann QB 6-4 215 Fr. HS Kalispell, Mont. (Glacier HS)
Taylor Tuliaupupu LB 6-0 225 Fr. HS LaVerne, Calif. (Claremont HS)
Bo Tully S 6-2 185 Fr. HS Spokane, Wash. (Mead HS)
Zach Wagenmann DE 6-3 ½ 210 Fr. HS Missoula, Mont. (Sentinel HS)
Justin Whitted S 6-1 175 Fr. HS Los Angeles, Calif. (St. Bernard HS)

On paper it looks like a great class, and I'm sure there are gonna be some All-BSC and possibly All-Americans in that group, but obviously that will be determined by their play on the field, not how many "stars" they have.

From a recruit's parent, and someone who's been heavily involved in combines/recruiting over the last 3 years (poster on Eagle forum):

His recruiting background/knowledge:

My connection to recruiting is simple. I've attended most of the big combines in the Northwest the last few years, and scattered ones in Calf. and the East coast. Also, over 20 college football camps in the spring and summers to see the competition at various positions. After numerous repititons, you begin to understand where alot of the kids stand athletically. Coaches love speed and athleticism! Strength is important, but not as important as heart, desire and coachability. Film watching and attending games are very important to see a full game summary. I could go on and on but recruiting is not a science. Also, colege coaches aren't allowed to attend these combines unless it's their own camp. So, unless a coach recruiting an athlete has attended a highschool game or watched video, they've only heard of them and maybe never seen them play. NCAA rules restrict college coaches, but not a parent of a prospective athlete. I hope you get the picture now.
As far as EWU committs, coach Baldwin's comments on all of them were great on the main football homepage. IN MY OPINION, I think the EWU staff was REALLY happy with highschool commits of Zylstra, Topps, Goldwire, Butorac, Day and Pinson. But in the end, they wouldn't offer a player who they wouldn't want.

Regarding the star rating system:

I feel your frustration with having to register and get new passwords for different Big Sky Forums etc., but It seems unless it's a pay site like scout.com or many others, they either want you to register for free or pay 9.95/ month for each Division 1 school you want to post. That's how the USC recruits get so many star ratings, they have the most subscribers. If a certain USC commit is a 1 star and then verbals to to big time D-1 school, like USC, or whoever, his stock rises to a 3 star. That's the way the recruiting game works. Then, there are guys who get offered by one or two D-1 schools and become 3 star recruits, but once they commit to a D-1AA school, they automatically are reduced to a 2 star. Seen this happen a hundred times. This is why scout.com has a vested interest in paying subcribers. I know I got a little off track on your question, but this was the bigger picture answer.

Regarding two Griz recruits:

A few examples:
THE GRIZZ: Signed two 6'8 "O" Lineman, one from WA and the other from AZ. Both guys are closer to 6'6, verified from a college coach (the AZ lineman), and the WA kid (I saw) in person at camp and game. Neither are athletic, nor bend very well. Kistler (WA lineman), actually was a 2009 grad who sat out most of his senior season (2008) with an ankle injury and then signed with no one after he graduated and sat out this last season, which means he hasn't played football for almost 2 years. Also, his head Coach at ODEA (Seattle) was a Grizz alum, wonder how he got the offer? All D-1 schools passed on both of these big guys which first year coach Plfugrad took. The scouting report and film on these 2 guys was maginal, even though their big. The Grizz are trying to keep their tradition of huge tall "O" Lineman, but may have busted on these two guys.

Oh, and as per the title of the thread; ridiculous. You won't know how successful this class is/was until they've finished their playing years. Purely conjecture.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:Oh, and as per the title of the thread; ridiculous. You won't know how successful this class is/was until they've finished their playing years. Purely conjecture.

How do you know he didn't mean that they are the most successful class COMING IN to this season. Meaning, they had quality senior years. MY

I believe the biggest failure in the star ranking system is not the players ranked but the ones not ranked. The ranked players do mostly work out. But the unranked players have gems within them, and duds. Colt Anderson, Marc Mariani, Jimmy Wilson, all Griz All Americans, all unranked.

Willie wrote:

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:Oh, and as per the title of the thread; ridiculous. You won't know how successful this class is/was until they've finished their playing years. Purely conjecture.

How do you know he didn't mean that they are the most successful class COMING IN to this season. Meaning, they had quality senior years. MY

If that's what he meant, then so be it. I'm not concerned with and don't care about what they did in HS. At this point, only what they do on the field in college matters.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:Oh, and as per the title of the thread; ridiculous. You won't know how successful this class is/was until they've finished their playing years. Purely conjecture.

Our previously high ranked recruiting class had 7 two stars. Successful based on ranked players.

ronbo wrote:I believe the biggest failure in the star ranking system is not the players ranked but the ones not ranked. The ranked players do mostly work out. But the unranked players have gems within them, and duds. Colt Anderson, Marc Mariani, Jimmy Wilson, all Griz All Americans, all unranked.

Well that's the problem with recruiting in general. There will always be those kids that are overlooked because of size, stats or where they played then end up becoming AAs or even get drafted. Happens at the HS->College level, and at the College->Pro level.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:

Willie wrote: How do you know he didn't mean that they are the most successful class COMING IN to this season. Meaning, they had quality senior years. MY

If that's what he meant, then so be it. I'm not concerned with and don't care about what they did in HS. At this point, only what they do on the field in college matters.

And that's why I went back to check the history of our former 2 star recruits and as I stated before they almost 100% became starters and a majority became All big Sky.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:On paper it looks like a great class, and I'm sure there are gonna be some All-BSC and possibly All-Americans in that group, but obviously that will be determined by their play on the field, not how many "stars" they have.

From a recruit's parent, and someone who's been heavily involved in combines/recruiting over the last 3 years (poster on Eagle forum):

His recruiting background/knowledge:

My connection to recruiting is simple. I've attended most of the big combines in the Northwest the last few years, and scattered ones in Calf. and the East coast. Also, over 20 college football camps in the spring and summers to see the competition at various positions. After numerous repititons, you begin to understand where alot of the kids stand athletically. Coaches love speed and athleticism! Strength is important, but not as important as heart, desire and coachability. Film watching and attending games are very important to see a full game summary. I could go on and on but recruiting is not a science. Also, colege coaches aren't allowed to attend these combines unless it's their own camp. So, unless a coach recruiting an athlete has attended a highschool game or watched video, they've only heard of them and maybe never seen them play. NCAA rules restrict college coaches, but not a parent of a prospective athlete. I hope you get the picture now.
As far as EWU committs, coach Baldwin's comments on all of them were great on the main football homepage. IN MY OPINION, I think the EWU staff was REALLY happy with highschool commits of Zylstra, Topps, Goldwire, Butorac, Day and Pinson. But in the end, they wouldn't offer a player who they wouldn't want.

Regarding the star rating system:

I feel your frustration with having to register and get new passwords for different Big Sky Forums etc., but It seems unless it's a pay site like scout.com or many others, they either want you to register for free or pay 9.95/ month for each Division 1 school you want to post. That's how the USC recruits get so many star ratings, they have the most subscribers. If a certain USC commit is a 1 star and then verbals to to big time D-1 school, like USC, or whoever, his stock rises to a 3 star. That's the way the recruiting game works. Then, there are guys who get offered by one or two D-1 schools and become 3 star recruits, but once they commit to a D-1AA school, they automatically are reduced to a 2 star. Seen this happen a hundred times. This is why scout.com has a vested interest in paying subcribers. I know I got a little off track on your question, but this was the bigger picture answer.

Regarding two Griz recruits:

A few examples:
THE GRIZZ: Signed two 6'8 "O" Lineman, one from WA and the other from AZ. Both guys are closer to 6'6, verified from a college coach (the AZ lineman), and the WA kid (I saw) in person at camp and game. Neither are athletic, nor bend very well. Kistler (WA lineman), actually was a 2009 grad who sat out most of his senior season (2008) with an ankle injury and then signed with no one after he graduated and sat out this last season, which means he hasn't played football for almost 2 years. Also, his head Coach at ODEA (Seattle) was a Grizz alum, wonder how he got the offer? All D-1 schools passed on both of these big guys which first year coach Plfugrad took. The scouting report and film on these 2 guys was maginal, even though their big. The Grizz are trying to keep their tradition of huge tall "O" Lineman, but may have busted on these two guys.

One of the most unathletic linemen we had recently was Cody Bologh. Your All American DE ate him up. Yet he was big, All Big Sky, and made the Chicago Bears practice squad for two years. Go figure.

You can coach and improve speed, footwork, and technique. You can't coach size, height, frame, wingspan. A lineman that has all the teachable attributes and is huge goes FBS 100% of the time. The FCS gets projects for linemen and you know it. Our new O-Line coach was a starting NFL lineman for 11 years. We'll see what he can do with these big boys.