catdaddyp

OL Isaiah Cook withdrew from the portal and is returning to Delaware State.

Not Holtz related, but your Demon Deacs just landed QB Ethan Hampton from NIU.

The teams listed above over a 1 loss Indiana team were in their conference championship game. Indiana was not. Nor was Notre Dame due to not being in a conference. Plus, OSU beat Indiana and the committee said head to head was important. That’s why they were ranked where they were. SEC was planning to move to a 9 game conference schedule, but supposedly that has been put on hold due to how the selection process played out this year.

Army is considered a G5 and they aren’t going to take two G5s. This year wasn’t about getting the best 12 teams in, it was about diversification in an attempt to get the most eyes on a product. MBB still has its flaws and it took a while to get a better selection process, but they got there. I’d bet all three 9-3 SEC teams would wipe the floor with a few of the teams that made the playoffs, but we won’t find out. I’m fine with it, but again, I don’t think the best 12 teams got in and SOS wasn’t a factor this year.

The only way a MAC school gets in is by going undefeated. That would require a weak out of conference slate and most MACs want their payday(s). Strength of schedule didn’t mean anything to the committee this year, so assuming that stays consistent, teams just need to win.

To add on to what @LZIp said, we also need to get these guys on campus. If we’re following the rules like schools should be, the earliest contact could be made was Monday - unless they were grad students who had already entered the portal. This isn’t meant to take a shot at NIU, but I’d rather not be sitting here with 4 DII signees. I’m sure a few will pan out, but if we’re looking for higher quality all-MAC type players, most of those come from P4 and high school recruits that have been developed. Here’s the All-MAC breakdown of recruiting classes from 2022, 2023, & 2024: P5 = 24 G5 = 5 FCS = 12 DII or Lower = 5 HS = 23 JUCO = 6 I did not count a player twice. So players like Nunnally, who made it two years in a row, was only counted once towards JUCO.

We’re getting an official visit from LB Markus Boswell. Looks like he was a 2024 prospect that went to a prep school this past season (similar to Benenge).

It’s a case by case basis. Some coaches are more open to certain players returning, while others aren’t. For example, NIU’s Rudolph hit the portal last year and ended up withdrawing. He’s back in the portal again this year. Another example is Mario Anderson who was named 1st team all-AAC RB for Memphis. Last year, an agent got in his ear and convinced him he could make more money elsewhere. South Carolina still tried to convince him to withdraw from the portal, but it didn’t happen. Beamer is usually a guy that tells players don’t let the door hit them on the way out, unless it’s a situation where a backup just wants more playing time elsewhere. I have to imagine if McCoy and a few others changed their mind and wanted to return, Moorhead would be more than happy to welcome them back.

NIU currently leading the portal signing parade with 4 players from DII, 2 from FCS, and 1 from P4.

Second East Texas A&M recruit we’ve offered. Long snapper Josiah Kennard.

He could if the staff would have him back, but doubtful he will return. I do wonder if part of the reason he left was due to Sean Patrick waiting in the wings. I can’t wait to see that kid on the field.

Offer to JUCO DE John Gayer. He’s already taken a visit to Bowling Green, so we are lagging on this one.

I’m confident in saying we have no chance at landing Ashford. He’s looking to finish out his last year as a starter at a P4 and get paid. He looked the best he’s looked in his career after spending a season with Mike Shula. Ashford had no chance at beating out a healthy LaNorris Sellers, so he hit the portal. I’m not sure what Thompson’s situation is, but a number of the AAC schools have an NIL presence and if he’s looking for some $, that immediately eliminates us. I doubt Finley is afraid of a QB competition if another QB is brought in. He came in knowing he’d have to compete with Bullock for the starting role. The question is does Bullock stay? His people reached out to Rutgers last year and was turned down. Now that he’s shown his versatility, other schools may be interested. If that came to pass, we’d probably have to bring in someone who saw a path to becoming a starter in a year.

As is Robby Ashford. That said, unless Finley or Bullock decide to leave, we are probably set at QB for 2025.

Offer to RB Chase Belcher of West Georgia.

Same would have happened with Akron had Moorhead been let go like some suggested he should be in another thread.

I believe that’s already 6 P4 offers. Just goes to show how crazy the market is for quality OTs.

Offer to OL Isaiah Cook of Delaware State. Only play in 2 games this season, but was a starter at C and RG in 2022 and 2023.

We will soon. I’m sure plenty of offers have already gone out for other positions too. A number of portal guys don’t care for the pomp and circumstance a second time around.

Offered DE Jacob Psyk of Harvard. 1st team all-conference.

Offered OL Peyton Ellis of East Texas A&M.

Former CB coach Tre Bell headed to UMASS after spending a year with WVU.

Offer to Amaury Wiggins of Arkansas. Played in 3 games at LG, C, and RG. He was a coveted JUCO before Arkansas.

Offer to JaQuan Adams of East Tennessee State. Started every game at LT this season and was an all-conference JUCO in 2023.

Offer to OL Nevell Brown of Alabama A&M. Started games at LG and RT.