Class of '26 Verbal Commits and Offers/Discussion

[LZIp]

1 hour ago, Zips1991 said:

Also, just confirmed Jasun Ridley, a DE from Pasadena CC. We've been hitting the California JUCO/CC scene very hard. I understand this is the route we have to rely on with our financial limitations but hopefully it pays off.

Let’s hope it works out better than last year. Basically got nothing from those JUCO DL.

[ZippyDoo]

so ridley and duncan played together at pasadena community college in 24. i don't know about snaps comparison but here are their stats.... duncan from his last year there in 24 and ridley in 25

 

Duncan  6'2 220           Ridley 6'3 260

10 solo.                           32 solo

  5 assisted                     15. assisted

  4 sacks.                        1.5 sacks

  1 fumble rec.                 1 fumble rec

 

both played 10 games.  

[ZippyDoo]

@zipsfb posted on Instagram today. A picture of football players added to the zip's team and said that there are 26 players added to the new spring roster doesn't say if they are scholarship players only or if it includes walk on players, but it does say that there are 26 new players added to the team.

[Blue & Gold]

Walk on probably?

[LZIp]

2 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

Walk on probably?

I’m guessing anyone they announce is on scholarship.

[ZippyDoo]

This is the "Google" write up about the college that Buchanan came from:

 

The Western Mustangs football team competes in Ontario University Athletics (OUA), which is part of the U Sports organization in Canada, not the NCAA. They play at the highest level of Canadian university football (formerly known as CIAU). 

Wikipedia

Conference: OUA (Ontario University Athletics)

National Organization: U Sports

Location: London, Ontario, Canada

They are historically one of the most successful programs in Canadian university football.

 

I don't know anything about the level of competition he faced but to compare:

 

Buchanan 6'1 245 lbs in 11 games 30 solo tackles  34 assisted

Cooper     6'2 225 lbs in 11 games 27 solo tackles  39 assisted

Summers  6'   225 lbs in 10 games 24 solo tackles 30 assisted

 

Can't really complain about Tibs success with LBs though.. 

[Blue & Gold]

 

[Let'sGoZips94]

12 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

 

 

Came here to post the same thing. 6'6" - WOW.

[catdaddyp]

7 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

 

One year of eligibility remaining. Collected 27 total tackles and 4 sacks last year at the DII level.

[ZippyDoo]

Cat you think that is good, bad, or indifferent?  I don't know what to make of the stats.  I couldn't really find much on him.  I saw that he was at three different schools each for a year school for a year year before that.  

 

Texas-Permian Basin:  Played in six games in 2024, recording 11 tackles, a sack, and four tackles for loss.

Dodge City (Kan.) CC: In 2023, earned All-KJCCC Second Team honors as a defensive lineman…Recorded 23 tackles with one sack and four tackles for loss.

Independence (Kan.) CC: Spent one year with the Pirates.

 

Size wise he is a large man.

Edited March 25 by ZippyDoo

[lance99]

12 hours ago, ZippyDoo said:

Cat you think that is good, bad, or indifferent?  I don't know what to make of the stats.  I couldn't really find much on him.  I saw that he was at three different schools each for a year school for a year year before that.  

 

Texas-Permian Basin:  Played in six games in 2024, recording 11 tackles, a sack, and four tackles for loss.

Dodge City (Kan.) CC: In 2023, earned All-KJCCC Second Team honors as a defensive lineman…Recorded 23 tackles with one sack and four tackles for loss.

Independence (Kan.) CC: Spent one year with the Pirates.

 

Size wise he is a large man.

 

 

Question:

 

On Paper he looks great for the Program. However is he just another Transient? Meaning is He someone that just moves around for the next big thing? Or is Moorhead looking for Ringers just to get to 7 Wins to save his Job?

[catdaddyp]

19 hours ago, ZippyDoo said:

Cat you think that is good, bad, or indifferent?  I don't know what to make of the stats.  I couldn't really find much on him.  I saw that he was at three different schools each for a year school for a year year before that.  

 

Texas-Permian Basin:  Played in six games in 2024, recording 11 tackles, a sack, and four tackles for loss.

Dodge City (Kan.) CC: In 2023, earned All-KJCCC Second Team honors as a defensive lineman…Recorded 23 tackles with one sack and four tackles for loss.

Independence (Kan.) CC: Spent one year with the Pirates.

 

Size wise he is a large man.

I think he’s a solid pickup, especially at this stage of the cycle where the portal’s mostly been picked over and almost every program is turning their attention to the JUCO ranks and lower levels without another entry window.

 

My guess is Hull and Highland end up as the starters, with Williams working into the rotation. I doubt we’re done adding at DT either, unless someone already on the roster has eaten their way into the position or there’s a flip from the other side of the ball.

Edited March 26 by catdaddyp

[catdaddyp]

Wonder if this means another lineman isn’t making it to campus.

[exit322]

18 hours ago, catdaddyp said:

Wonder if this means another lineman isn’t making it to campus.

 

Not sure it's that - given a juco signing this could be a "2027 move" as well.  Get him a year here and then he starts next year?

[catdaddyp]

9 hours ago, exit322 said:

 

Not sure it's that - given a juco signing this could be a "2027 move" as well.  Get him a year here and then he starts next year?

Could be another addition due to injuries or desire for more depth. I don’t know. My surprise is that this puts us at 17 scholarship offensive linemen, which is more than we’ve carried in the past.

[AkronAlumnus]

Not sure if this is known already or not.

 

[Zips1991]

11 hours ago, AkronAlumnus said:

Not sure if this is known already or not.

 

He appears to have not appeared in any games during his two years at WKU. Do we expect much contribution from him? 

[catdaddyp]

35 minutes ago, Zips1991 said:

He appears to have not appeared in any games during his two years at WKU. Do we expect much contribution from him? 

I doubt it. He has impressive size and length, but his HS film isn’t anything special. Nor is the fact he hasn’t seen a single snap on defense or special teams during his time at WKU. I hope he proves me wrong, but this feels like more of a depth addition.

Edited 17 hours ago by catdaddyp

[72 Roo]

I talked to a coach about him. He said the player was brought in for depth and development. This staff does an impressive job in mining and growing under-developed players. Another interesting part of the discussion was that the staff rates itself on the performance of the players they bring in. Regarding JUCO's they have a hit rate of about 50%, but on high school players they are near 90%, especially in O linemen. The obvious problem is that we are developing high school players for other programs with money. It is what it is until Congress changes things.

[ZippyDoo]

On the defensive line regarding the high school players that they brought in last year that sat and were not allowed to get any reps "to develop" going into next season ... Brown - Demery is 6'4 about 330 lbs had a sack/force fumble Saturday and is going to be hard for anyone to stop at the zero gap; Watkins is about 6'4 240 and looks raw but has been getting a lot of reps, he returned the fumble that Brown-Demery forced for six; Bivens is listed on the roster at 6'0 255 although I think he is much heavier; and Kavals is listed at 6'5 265; he is 6'6 and is between 275-280.  Not sure if they are going to move him to tackle or leave him at end, (last year on scout team he played both and did well; he has long arms and is quick and athletic) he played end in high school and qb so he is athletic.  Should be interesting to see if these guys can contribute right away this year.