Recruiting and stars

**trajanJ** · 12-01-2008, 12:05 PM

Hey, I thought of you guys when I read this thread. Here's some 2 star players for KU that were very important in KU's win over MU Saturday. Jeff Spikes (freshman tackle that has huge upside and really played good at the end of the year), Jake Laptad (improves every game, made the sack that resulted in the safety), Dez Briscoe (could be the top receiver returning in the conference), Todd Reesing (just makes plays), Jake Sharp (recruit the #1 juco player in the country and Sharp just beats him out), Darrell Stuckey (just an unbelievable player, accounted for all 3 of mizzous turnovers). Stars don't tell the whole story. Chizik reminds me of Mangino. I think he's capable of finding those 2 star guys that end up players and some of your freshmen this year fit that role.

**mplscyclone** · 12-01-2008, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by trajanJ

Hey, I thought of you guys when I read this thread. Here's some 2 star players for KU that were very important in KU's win over MU Saturday. Jeff Spikes (freshman tackle that has huge upside and really played good at the end of the year), Jake Laptad (improves every game, made the sack that resulted in the safety), Dez Briscoe (could be the top receiver returning in the conference), Todd Reesing (just makes plays), Jake Sharp (recruit the #1 juco player in the country and Sharp just beats him out), Darrell Stuckey (just an unbelievable player, accounted for all 3 of mizzous turnovers). Stars don't tell the whole story. Chizik reminds me of Mangino. I think he's capable of finding those 2 star guys that end up players and some of your freshmen this year fit that role.

I've been trying to say stuff like this all along: you can win with 2 and 3 star players. The issue is that with these guys, you've gotta develop them. With a 4 or 5 star in a program like ISU, they're players you expect to step in right away and contribute.

**bootcy** · 12-01-2008, 12:08 PM

Pretty sure Briscoe won't be the top returning receiver in conference as Crabtree and Dez Bryant are true sophs and not eligble for the draft yet.

**cybsball20** · 12-01-2008, 12:09 PM

[quote=bootcy;745316]

Originally Posted by trajanJ

Dez Briscoe (could be the top receiver returning in the conference)quote]

Pretty sure he won't be as Crabtree and Dez Bryant are true sophs and not eligble for the draft yet.

I thought both of them were redshirt Sophs...

**Jables22** · 12-01-2008, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by trajanJ

Hey, I thought of you guys when I read this thread. Here's some 2 star players for KU that were very important in KU's win over MU Saturday. Jeff Spikes (freshman tackle that has huge upside and really played good at the end of the year), Jake Laptad (improves every game, made the sack that resulted in the safety), Dez Briscoe (could be the top receiver returning in the conference), Todd Reesing (just makes plays), Jake Sharp (recruit the #1 juco player in the country and Sharp just beats him out), Darrell Stuckey (just an unbelievable player, accounted for all 3 of mizzous turnovers). Stars don't tell the whole story. Chizik reminds me of Mangino. I think he's capable of finding those 2 star guys that end up players and some of your freshmen this year fit that role.

Thanks for the info. I hope you are correct sir!

**pyrocyz** · 12-01-2008, 12:20 PM

crabtree is a redshirt soph who would be stupid not to leave this year.

**brianhos** · 12-01-2008, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by bootcy

Pretty sure Briscoe won't be the top returning receiver in conference as Crabtree and Dez Bryant are true sophs and not eligble for the draft yet.

I think Crabtree is a redshirt.

**trajanJ** · 12-01-2008, 12:26 PM

My mistake, I guess Bryant wasn't redshirted so he has to come back, but Crabtree's gone. But Briscoe could have a huge year and my point was more on the fact that he wasn't recruited that heavily and yet he's getting the job done against some of the better teams. Against OU Briscoe had 12 catches for 269 yards and 2 TD's. These are the type of players teams like KU and ISU have to find to be competitive and I just think your coach has that eye. It will come in handy for him.

**Melvin** · 12-01-2008, 12:31 PM

As GC says, "The Best Guy, might not be the Right Guy".

KU has a ton of roll players. Kerry Miere gave up playing QB, and instead of transferring, he is one of their best recievers. Those are the kind of players you want on your team. I'm sure their are players that are taller, bigger, faster, and stronger, but you can't measure dedication or the will to win. Reesing is just awsom, but one is going to look at a QB that stands 5' 8", KU got really lucky with him. I'm sure the KU message boards were questioning this Ressing, before he even threw a pass at KU.

**trajanJ** · 12-01-2008, 12:43 PM

Actually Meier was struggling at qb and yanked at home against CU. Reesing came in and won the game and most people wanted him to be the qb after that. He just had a way of making something out of nothing. Meier was taller, a lot faster and had a bigger arm, but Reesing is great at scrambling and keeping his head up looking for receivers. Meier seemed to just run when he got in trouble. It's turned out great for both players. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of year Meier can have when he spends 100% of his practice at receiver next year.

**ajk4st8** · 12-01-2008, 06:41 PM

You can win with 2 star players. It is just not easy to win with Freshman 2 star players.

**cyclonez7** · 12-01-2008, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by trajanJ

Chizik reminds me of Mangino.

The blueberry girl in the Willy Wonka movie reminds me of Mangino.

**kucyclone** · 12-01-2008, 11:10 PM

Mangino is phenomenal at findings "diamonds in the rough" and making them good players. Going back a little further, here's some more examples I found.

- Brandon McAnderson, last season's 1100yd/16TD rusher, was a 2* LB out of HS.
- Anthony Collins, All-American LT and 4th round NFL pick, was a 2* DE out of HS.
- James McClinton, All-Big 12 DT last season, was a 2*
- Aqib Talib, All-American CB and 1st round NFL pick, was a 2* safety out of HS.
- James Holt, KU's leading tackler this season, was a 2* safety out of HS.

Also, trajanJ, I think Meier was hurt when Reesing had his redshirt pulled against CU in 2006. Meier still played the majority of the snaps in the last 3 games of the season. And the majority of KU fans, at least judging from the message boards, wanted Meier to win the QB job at the beginning of last season, and many questioned Mangino and the staff when Reesing won the job.

Moral of the story --- It's hard to do at times, but you have to trust the coaching staff that's in place. Iowa State isn't ever going to be a place where 4 and 5 star players flock to, so we are going to have to do the best we can with 2 and 3 star players. The coaching staff knows a heck of a lot more than we fans do, and they are always acting in the best interest of the team. Seeing the success of our young guys this season should built excitement in the development of this program. Even if Leonard Johnson can become 3/4 of the player Aqib Talib was for KU last season, that is huge for the defense to have a guy who can take a team's #1 receiver out of the game and lock down half of the field. Just look at the difference in KU's stout defense a year ago to the porous defense they fielded this year.