The NFL Combine always brings back recruiting memories

by Rob (Rakes of Mallow), Chicago, Sunday, February 22, 2009, 20:15 (6249 days ago)
edited by Joe, Sunday, February 22, 2009, 20:28

<EDIT>: Guess you can't bold in this forum. At least I tried. P.S. thanks for the invite.

for me. As a recruiting nerd, I always like to see how some of the players we recruited but did not sign actually turn out. I think under Davie/Willingham there were a number of players who, at the time, were huge losses/can't miss prospects but who never did anything in college or the NFL. Guys like Kelly Baraka, Rob Schoenhoft, Dan Doering, Wesley Jefferson. I am probably embarrassing myself with the ability to recall some of these names. I took a look at the combine and tried to remember some of the guys we recruited.

QB:
Mark Sanchez - he actually came out to visit us and Off. Coordinator Bill Diedrick was on vacation and didn't make time to see him. Good job, Bill. Actually, in reality, it was probably a blessing in disguise for Mark.
Rudy Carpenter - we recruited him a bit, don't remember much else.
Josh Freeman - also recruited him, but I think I remember Weis telling him he'd be a TE. He was probably right.
Matthew Stafford - Stafford was a target during the Zach Frazer/Demetrius Jones. It seemed like Weis told about 10 guys that they were the "#1 QB in the country". I think Stafford would have done very well under Weis.

RB:
Kahlil Bell - recruited him lightly
Donald Brown - also remember his name, went to UConn and was terrific there.
Chris Ogbonnaya - I recall recruiting him as a WR (I may be entirely off). We thought we had a good chance and then Texas offered. He committed on the spot.
Brannon Southerland - offered at fullback under Willingham I believe.

WR:
Derrick Williams - he was the nation's #1 player during Weis' first class/Willingham's last. We were never really in it with him but I think I remember him telling a reporter that he would come to ND if Urban Meyer went to ND. Of course, he signed with PSU.

TE:
Travis Beckum - he was an athlete we recruited that could have played a number of positions.

OL:
Alex Boone - we recruited him, but he was pretty much a lock for tOSU. Bill Kirk would've loved this guy.
Herman Johnson - we didn't recruit him but I love the story about him being the biggest baby ever born in Louisiana.
AQ Shipley - center that went to play for PSU. Believe we recruited him.

DL:
Zach Potter - another Willingham recruit. Was a TE/DE in high school.
Darryl Richard - went to GTech but I remember us having a good chance at him. Another Willingham guy.

LB:
Brian Cushing - Recruited under Tyrone, probably would've had a better shot if Weis was there.
Anthony Felder - MLB that went to Cal from Seattle. I really thought we had a shot at him. Seemed like a great player in HS.
Marcus Freeman - went to tOSU but I remember us leading for him at some point.
Rey Maualuga - we all know about Rey-Rey. People make fun of his off the field troubles but we recruited him and would've embraced him if he chose us.

DB:
Asher Allen - fast little guy from Georgia. We recruited him as a WR/CB. I really loved his film.
Cary Harris - I remember his name
Derek Pegues - Went to Mississippi but was one of our big targets
Brandon Underwood - picked Ohio State but had some problems there in the classroom and went to Cincinnati.

I'm not sure how big of recruitniks you all are but I thought it was fun to see how some of the guys we targeted are doing now. There are some spots where we didn't recruit very well at (both guys that committed to us and elsewhere). OL and DL jump out at you. Tyrone never was a very big fan of bringing in a lot of linemen...