Beach Runner
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Hey, Kurt, have you seen this?
Signing Day impact could be felt soon at some schools
By JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer
February 8, 2007
Judging the results of national signing day used to take a few years as even top players struggled to get playing time as freshmen.
A look at the last few national champions shows times have changed. Whether it was Reggie Bush or Dwayne Jarrett at Southern California, or Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin at Florida last season, more and more freshmen are making an immediate impact on the field.
The Gators and Trojans both signed plenty more blue-chippers Wednesday who figure to play a big role next season.
"We have taken a new attitude toward recruiting this year that every freshman in my opinion will play next year," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "Obviously, that won't happen but we are taking that approach. It used to be, 'Boy, I will be able to save this guy.' But that's over."
Meyer will have lots of options to choose from as Florida brought in the top recruiting class in the country, according to recruiting analysts.
The Gators signed nine of the top 16 players in talent-rich Florida and the No. 1 players from South Carolina, Indiana, Maryland and New England, according to Rivals.com. SuperPrep, National Blue Chips and CSTV also picked Florida as Wednesday's big winner.
"No one is even that close to them," CSTV recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. "They got help everywhere. In the past 10 years, this has to rank right at the topin recruiting classes. Every position is absolutely loaded."
Florida's class includes Rivals' third-best pro-style quarterback in John Brantley, the nation's top guard in James Wilson, top weakside defensive end in Carlos Dunlap, second-best defensive tackle in Torrey Davis, and top two safeties in Jerimy Finch and Major Wright. A coaching change at Miami and another down year for Florida State played a key part in the Gators' success. "They play an exciting brand of ball on offense and defense and a lot of kids want be in that situation," said Allen Wallace, the national recruiting editor for Scout.com and publisher of SuperPrep magazine. "There's no question they've moved into the catbird seat in Florida. They have taken advantage of tough times for both the Hurricanes and Seminoles."
"It's great ... to be ... a Florida Gator!"
Signing Day impact could be felt soon at some schools
By JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer
February 8, 2007
Judging the results of national signing day used to take a few years as even top players struggled to get playing time as freshmen.
A look at the last few national champions shows times have changed. Whether it was Reggie Bush or Dwayne Jarrett at Southern California, or Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin at Florida last season, more and more freshmen are making an immediate impact on the field.
The Gators and Trojans both signed plenty more blue-chippers Wednesday who figure to play a big role next season.
"We have taken a new attitude toward recruiting this year that every freshman in my opinion will play next year," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "Obviously, that won't happen but we are taking that approach. It used to be, 'Boy, I will be able to save this guy.' But that's over."
Meyer will have lots of options to choose from as Florida brought in the top recruiting class in the country, according to recruiting analysts.
The Gators signed nine of the top 16 players in talent-rich Florida and the No. 1 players from South Carolina, Indiana, Maryland and New England, according to Rivals.com. SuperPrep, National Blue Chips and CSTV also picked Florida as Wednesday's big winner.
"No one is even that close to them," CSTV recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. "They got help everywhere. In the past 10 years, this has to rank right at the topin recruiting classes. Every position is absolutely loaded."
Florida's class includes Rivals' third-best pro-style quarterback in John Brantley, the nation's top guard in James Wilson, top weakside defensive end in Carlos Dunlap, second-best defensive tackle in Torrey Davis, and top two safeties in Jerimy Finch and Major Wright. A coaching change at Miami and another down year for Florida State played a key part in the Gators' success. "They play an exciting brand of ball on offense and defense and a lot of kids want be in that situation," said Allen Wallace, the national recruiting editor for Scout.com and publisher of SuperPrep magazine. "There's no question they've moved into the catbird seat in Florida. They have taken advantage of tough times for both the Hurricanes and Seminoles."
"It's great ... to be ... a Florida Gator!"
