2022 Commitments

[The Jackal]

I think Furman has made up a lot of ground in recruiting.

I believe that for much of the 2000s/2010s, administration and coaches operated like Furman would just maintain its position near the top of the FCS hierarchy by doing the same thing it always had. The "it worked before, it will work now" type of mentality.

What we saw was Furman's facilities lagging behind other smaller or newer programs. There wasn't the investment in maintaining its edge. We appeared woefully unprepared for the shift in college football over the last 10 or 15 years.

I think we have remedied a lot of those problems. Money is being spent in the right places. Real attention is being given to getting Furman back where it needs to be. It is a cautionary tale. A few years of not minding the store or resting on your laurels and you start looking up at Gardner Webb, Wofford, and Elon.

[Affirm]

I think Furman has made up a lot of ground in recruiting.

I believe that for much of the 2000s/2010s, administration and coaches operated like Furman would just maintain its position near the top of the FCS hierarchy by doing the same thing it always had. The "it worked before, it will work now" type of mentality.

What we saw was Furman's facilities lagging behind other smaller or newer programs. There wasn't the investment in maintaining its edge. We appeared woefully unprepared for the shift in college football over the last 10 or 15 years.

I think we have remedied a lot of those problems. Money is being spent in the right places. Real attention is being given to getting Furman back where it needs to be. It is a cautionary tale. A few years of not minding the store or resting on your laurels and you start looking up at Gardner Webb, Wofford, and Elon.

In your 2nd sentence, you correctly call out administration and coaches over the last 20 years.
But what about fans and alumni for the same mentality?
And what about the future impact on Furman and FCS generally from the present and future realignments of conferences? See the separate thread on that topic. I realize “we don’t know”, but things are going to continue changing. Whatever adjustments and adaptations we think we need to make now (and already made /are making) are very likely going to change over the coming month, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, and beyond.

[The Jackal]

I think Furman has made up a lot of ground in recruiting.

I believe that for much of the 2000s/2010s, administration and coaches operated like Furman would just maintain its position near the top of the FCS hierarchy by doing the same thing it always had. The "it worked before, it will work now" type of mentality.

What we saw was Furman's facilities lagging behind other smaller or newer programs. There wasn't the investment in maintaining its edge. We appeared woefully unprepared for the shift in college football over the last 10 or 15 years.

I think we have remedied a lot of those problems. Money is being spent in the right places. Real attention is being given to getting Furman back where it needs to be. It is a cautionary tale. A few years of not minding the store or resting on your laurels and you start looking up at Gardner Webb, Wofford, and Elon.

In your 2nd sentence, you correctly call out administration and coaches over the last 20 years.
But what about fans and alumni for the same mentality?
And what about the future impact on Furman and FCS generally from the present and future realignments of conferences? See the separate thread on that topic. I realize “we don’t know”, but things are going to continue changing. Whatever adjustments and adaptations we think we need to make now (and already made /are making) are very likely going to change over the coming month, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, and beyond.

I'm not sure I hold fans and alumni to the same standard. The fans and alumni are guilty, perhaps, of outsized expectation, but I also think they need to look to the leadership. Someone's got to bell the cat.

I do think fans (not just Furman fans) tend to look at the "glory days" and fail to realize that we cannot just replicate a world that no longer exists. Football in 2021 is different than it was in 1988. The basic rules of the game are the same, but the world in which it is played is different.

20 years ago, Furman basically had a market cornered - smaller private institution playing nationally relevant football at the IAA level. Now, there are three or four such schools just in the Southern Conference alone. I'm not sure our administration saw that coming from a recruiting/facilities standpoint; that is, other schools could show up on the scene with similar offerings to Furman with nicer stuff.

Incidentally, now that Furman has gotten back in gear, I think we'll continue to do well in recruiting.

[AstroDin]

another …

[FUBeAR]

another …

Offers from All 3 D1 FBS Service Academies, FBS Kent State, Elon, Indiana State, and Eastern Illinois (per his Twitter)

[AstroDin]

Where are we? With a fast flurry of recruiting activity in the last several weeks.
A few thoughts.

Furman has three OL commits for this class — I think we've wrapped up that position.
Furman has three Defensive back commitments — I feel very optimistic these three were at the top of Furman's list. This position is a wrap.
Furman landed a commit from a QB that they know well — I don't expect another QB.
Furman has one WR commit — based on offers posted by players Furman wants at least one more WR. I think I know who the coaches want - waiting and watching.
Furman has offered several DTs — based on coaches' tweets there is a not-public commit out there. My guess is this is a DT - again, just a guess. Based on Twitter activity Furman would love to wrap up Marc Hernandez a big (6-4 315 DT) from TX. Marc has recently picked up an offer from Boise St.

I'm not sure what other positions Furman would want to bring into this class?
Last year Furman brought in two DEs, two RBs, and two TEs.
Maybe, we could see an ATH or two — and this class is a wrap!

[AstroDin]

Furman has picked up another commit >
DT Seth Vaughan 6-2 290

[AstroDin]

I recommend watching Vaughan's film, for a 290 DT the dude is quick off the snap.
http://www.hudl.com/v/2EEzjX

[AstroDin]

if you have some time to kill on a Friday night - I'd recommend trying to find a feed for a Maryville football game.
This guy will be in the quarterback bullpen next year.

[Paul C]

Another DL commit

[AstroDin]

^^^ the dude is quick… and nasty

[gofurman]

Thanks PaulC and Astro..! Appreciate the info (and look at the positivity from GF

no, I Really do appreciate the info - especially on where they had true offers from

[AstroDin]

Thanks PaulC and Astro..! Appreciate the info (and look at the positivity from GF

no, I Really do appreciate the info - especially on where they had true offers from

I'm not going to read into your comment about true offers other than to say Paul and I both don't make up offers if we list them with a player. It's pretty easy to find offers now. You can search players' feeds (searching media is faster). You can do a Google search, read up on offers from a local news source, as well as search for them 24/7 and Rivals.

Example:

[The Jackal]

Thanks PaulC and Astro..! Appreciate the info (and look at the positivity from GF

no, I Really do appreciate the info - especially on where they had true offers from

I'm not going to read into your comment about true offers other than to say Paul and I both don't make up offers if we list them with a player. It's pretty easy to find offers now. You can search players' feeds (searching media is faster). You can do a Google search, read up on offers from a local news source, as well as search for them 24/7 and Rivals.

Example:

"I don’t even have to look far to find it"

[The Jackal]

Been watching some of Tobi Olawole's film.

He's a 6'2 WR out of Buford, arguably Georgia's top football program. We've been getting about 1 player a year out of Buford, so that has definitely become a pipeline for us.

Olawole's a big fast kid. Of course, prospects are prospects, but if he pans out we could see a WR corps with Harris (6'2), Shiflett (6'2) and Olawole (6'2).

I'm not big on absolutes, but I really can't think of a time Furman would have had that much size and speed at WR at one time.