2025 Recruiting

[FUATT]

The lack of a graduate “business” degree hurts.

Innovation and Leadership starts to 'get at' bid-ness and FUBeAR believes there are some business-y things involved with that Strategic Design Masters.

Combining those with the things available via Furman's Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we can probably cobble together an attractive business-oriented Master's Program - particularly for these young folks that want to start their own businesses...which FUBeAR recently read is 50% of GenZ-ers...and not ALL of them just want to be "influencers." ... just most.

But a more traditional (accredited) MBA AND that Innovation / Entrepreneurship piece FU already has going...particularly with an IT / Technology Masters would be COOKIN' WIT GAS!!!

Supposedly the Innovation and Leadership is our version of MBA.

[FUATT]

I haven't seen the final announcement, but a few thoughts on what's been reported thus far:

1. At RB we continue to target smaller, shiftier type players.

2. Consistent with prior years, we try to land at least three offensive linemen. We typically need a lot of bodies to fill those five spots and those are positions where development really matters long term.

3. Recent history suggests that we typically try to land one split receiver (bigger guy) and one slot receiver (a bit shorter quicker) each year. It looks like we got the slot type guy in James, but the split guy went another direction. Good news is we are not for want of split receivers.

4. No TE in the class to this point. That may seem reasonable with Chappell as a rising junior, Pryor, Ruckh, Burrell, Tormey, etc. all likely to factor in as well as a couple big bodied receivers that will line up in the slot.

5. No QB. That may suggest that the coaches expect all three guys to return next year (or at least two).

6. Picked up a couple of talented athletic "linebackers." We've done a lot of mixing and matching at that position with guys that are athletic enough to both play inside and outside (Achina, Chideo, etc.).

7. Maddox Dykeman is an interesting prospect. It's not often you see Furman bring in a 6'8 guy to play defense.

Good summary.

We are not the only school moving away from the bigger backs in favor of zone runners/pass catchers and home run hitters.

Would still like to see a spit guy, we recruited the guy who flipped for a reason. I could see a portal entry there if right guy is there.

James looks the part at slot, great film. Hope we do not need him sooner rather than later...

At QB we are 3 deep now and I think the only reason we do anything is if QB3 Neuhel gets in the portal the we could looks for a QB3 there.

I look at what we did on D and while some of it is by necessity I agree we seem to look for right sized athletes who can PLAY and then we find a spot for them. I think this is also an emerging trend, particularly at SAM WILL AND SS, BAN, SPUR type slots. If you have a guy who is 215 and can run and tackle and has a nose for the ball, you take him and figure out where to put him in.

[FUBeAR]

1. At RB we continue to target smaller, shiftier type players.

We are not the only school moving away from the bigger backs in favor of zone runners/pass catchers and home run hitters.

Does this Offense really ‘require’ a certain size/type of running back to the exclusion of other sizes/types of running backs?

Going back to the undefeated ‘72 Miami Dolphins, FUBeAR has always been a fan of “Thunder” (Larry Czonka) and “Lightning” (Mercury Morris) … and throw in Jim Kiick for a 3rd type/set of skills … in the backfield.

The current SoCon Football Champions (also #1 in rushing in SoCon games) have a 1,000 yard rushing / SoCon OPOY / Payton Award Finalist Running Back who is 5’ 8” (maybe) 180 lb (probably), who had 40% of their rushing attempts AND his backup, with 13% of their rushing attempts is 5’ 11” 240 (60 pounds heavier than the starter!). Their 3rd Team RB, with 9% of the rushing attempts is 5-10 205.

Stanford Jennings, Mike Glenn, Robbie Gardner, and Brothel Cole (80’s Paladin RB’s) all were amazing talents, but they were VERY different types of runners and brought different skills / stresses to the opposing D’s.

FUBeAR always thought that was a real asset for an Offense … but FUBeAR is old. Still seems to work pretty well though. So … ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[The Jackal]

I don't believe that the offense requires a certain size or type of back. Perhaps we are more heavily focused on guys that played in a certain scheme in high school.

I think the back has to be (1) fast enough not to get tackled by the trail defender and (2) quick enough to explode through the hole when it opens up.

[AstroDin]

I don't see anything on Nettles tape that I dislike… CJ breaks ankles.
I get the vibe Nettle has a chip on his shoulder, too.

[FUBeAR]

I don't believe that the offense requires a certain size or type of back. Perhaps we are more heavily focused on guys that played in a certain scheme in high school.

I think the back has to be (1) fast enough not to get tackled by the trail defender and (2) quick enough to explode through the hole when it opens up.

Got it….

and/or the Playcaller, without totally giving it away, needs to utilize their differing skill sets more optimally.

Nobody could accelerate while taking the pitch on the counter option and break off a 40+ yard run like Bay Cole, but Stanford, Mike Glenn, and RobbieG could still run that play.

Nobody could catch the ball out of the backfield and get YAC like Standiford Jenkins, but we still threw it to Mike and Bay … well, not so much on the latter … and we definitely didn’t send Bay between the tackles. We appreciated his ribs and spleen too much to do that …even if he didn’t seem to.

Oh well … different game today, perhaps. … although…

[The Jackal]

We've had success with that philosophy over the years. A number of years later, but some of our best teams had a backfield with Ced Gipson, Jerome Felton, Daric Carter, and Brandon Mayes, all guys that brought a bunch of different looks and skill sets defenses had to prepare for.

[FUATT]

I don't see anything on Nettles tape that I dislike… CJ breaks ankles.
I get the vibe Nettle has a chip on his shoulder, too.

I met the Nettles kid and his family in the GSP airport after the Wofford game. Very nice family. I think he had some FBS interest at one point but had an injury and the FBS schools dropped him. So, yeah, there's a little bit of a chip.

While he's shifty and spinny and such, the main think I like is he runs LOW. He will make contact. Seems to also have great vision.

I think Furman is very happy to have him.

[Davemeister]

I get the vibe Nettle has a chip on his shoulder, too.

Good. And I hope it's contagious.

[FUwolfpacker]

Christ Church safety offered. Pretty sure he’s the head coach’s son.

[gman84]

I don't see anything on Nettles tape that I dislike… CJ breaks ankles.
I get the vibe Nettle has a chip on his shoulder, too.

I met the Nettles kid and his family in the GSP airport after the Wofford game. Very nice family. I think he had some FBS interest at one point but had an injury and the FBS schools dropped him. So, yeah, there's a little bit of a chip.

While he's shifty and spinny and such, the main think I like is he runs LOW. He will make contact. Seems to also have great vision.

I think Furman is very happy to have him.

Some of his runs remind me of Barry Sanders. I’m not saying he’s the next Sanders, but his running “low” and spin moves are impressive!

[FUwolfpacker]

Some of his runs remind me of Barry Sanders. I’m not saying he’s the next Sanders, but his running “low” and spin moves are impressive!

I didn’t want to say it but I have thought the same thing. He’s one of those backs I think will have several runs in the 2-6 yard range and then pop off a 60 yarder. A lot to like for sure.

[The Jackal]

I think Nettles and Hall will be a unique backfield duo. It certainly seems like there are going to be carries available for a young RB to get on the field early.

I went back and watched a few of Gavin Hall's runs this year. With the possibly exception of Brock Chappell's one-handed TD grab early in the season, this run was probably the most impressive play I saw this year out of our offense. The field vision is just incredible - this is some flag football stuff right here. He's got half the VMI student body on top of him and they look like they're playing two hand touch.

[apaladin]

I think Nettles and Hall will be a unique backfield duo. It certainly seems like there are going to be carries available for a young RB to get on the field early.

I went back and watched a few of Gavin Hall's runs this year. With the possibly exception of Brock Chappell's one-handed TD grab early in the season, this run was probably the most impressive play I saw this year out of our offense. The field vision is just incredible - this is some flag football stuff right here. He's got half the VMI student body on top of him and they look like they're playing two hand touch.

That was FU’s only 20 yd or more from the LOS all season.

[The Jackal]

No it wasn't. Not sure where you got that from, but that wasn't even Gavin Hall's only 20+ yard run in that game.