Note that I factor in the need for a given position.
QB: A
Needed: 2 (with one "athlete" that could be moved)
Got: 2 (Darlington and Bush)
We got exactly what we needed by signing a top flight QB from a championship program in a top state along with an "athlete" that can be moved elsewhere if QB doesn't work out for whatever reason. It would have been good to have the second option regardless, due to the fact that we only have two scholarship QB's returning, but it is especially important given Darlington's concussion history. The coaches and family seem convinced that the concussion issue isn't a concern, but I feel better knowing we got the second guy signed just in case. Doesn't hurt that the "athlete" has a live arm either. The only thing that keeps me from giving this position an A+ is the health concern with Darlington.
RB: A
Needed: 1
Got: 2 (Wilbon and Stewart)
Wilbon looks like a stud and should do well in our system. I think Stewart is highly overlooked though. The guy has ridiculous speed and played high level ball in Texas. If Stewart doesn't make it due to grades, I'd drop this to an A-.
WR: A
Needed: 3
Got: 4 (Harrison, Pierson-El, Tolbert, Irons, though I wonder if Irons gets a look at CB)
If, and it is a big if, Harrison makes it to campus, he is one heck of a WR prospect. I also think Pierson-El has been over looked by a lot of people.The kid is a play maker. Tolbert is the sort of bigger receiver that can go get the ball in the air. Irons looks like he could get a shot early at returns. If we do lose Harrison to MLB, I'd drop this to B-.
TE: C+
Needed: 1, maybe (Carter and Cotton were freshmen this year, and we have a few other young ones, so not exactly a need position)
Got: 1, maybe (Akinmoladun)
If he does stick at TE and doesn't move to DE, he's a good athlete for his size. Should provide a good blocker, which is important in our offense, as we saw from the lack of Ben Cotton early last year. Also some chance we could see Stoltenberg or Wills here, but I doubt it.
OL: A+
Needed: 4-5 (with only 2 high schoolers in 2012 and 3 last year, we needed a big OL class)
Got: 5 (Lewis, Farmer, Gates, Foster, Stoltenberg)
Lewis was a freshman all-american that should step in immediately. Most have presumed tackle, but I wonder if he'll give Moudy and Reeves a run at guard, considering that's what he played at CU. Either way, a huge addition. Farmer, Gates and Foster are all exactly the sort of blue-chip linemen recruits that you would hope NU can get with their pipeline tradition. I think our recent improvement on the line has shown these kids that we're serious about re-establishing that tradition and they're the ones to do it. Stoltenberg is a good athlete for his size and I really hope they put him at OT and let him grow and develop. While we may end up needing him sooner on the DL, I think we need to stock the OL with young talent to keep the numbers up there.
DE: B
Needed: 3
Got: 3 (Keels, King, Wills)
Keels was a huge get, both because of his talent and because Moss's departure means we need the help ASAP. Being here for the spring makes him even better. I expect some early returns from him. King was a great replacement for Slade and Wills looks like a pretty good prospect. There's been some talk Wills could play another position, but I think there's too great of a need at DE to do so. Also a possibility that Freedom or Stoltenberg could end up here.
DT: B
Needed: 1-2
Got: 1 (Newell)
I suppose Newell could follow the Suh plan and play DE as a freshmen if he's ready, but with his frame, he'll undoubtedly end up inside by the time he develops. He was an early key to this class and I think some people have kind of forgotten him since he committed so long ago. DT isn't a huge immediate need because of the four we have playing from the last two classes, but it's such an important position that I'd have liked to have a second.
LB: B
Needed 1-2
Got: 1
We've signed a lot of LB the last couple of years, but I still would have liked another one. The one we did get looks like a steal.
CB/Peso: B
Needed 3-4 (with at least one Juco)
Got: 4 (Jones, Mosley, Kalu, Cockrell)
I hope Cockrell surprises, but I would have really liked a Juco DB that felt like more of a sure thing. Mosley looks like a great prospect though and Jones has the length that Bo prefers for his physical style of play. I expect big things from those two. Wouldn't be surprised to see either Kalu or Cockrell get shifted back to safety, but I bet they'll get a look at corner first.
S: C+
Needed: 1-2
Got: 1 (Gifford)
Kid looks like a good enough athlete to play safety, but as we've seen over the years, it's not athleticism that really makes a great safety, it's knowing where you need to be and making the play when you get there. As I mentioned above, I'd guess one of the other recruits will end up here as well.
ST: A
Needed: ?
Got: 1 (Brown)
Kid looks like another great kicker named Brown for DONU. No idea if we needed a kicker in this class, as I don't know how Bondi is as a FG kicker. (He's certainly got the leg for it, judging by his kick-offs.) However, when you've got a top kicker that's a legacy to boot, I don't mind taking him. Hell, maybe he can punt.
Overall: B+
It may not blow people away with star power, but I think we did a good job of filling needs. We got some potential difference makers on offense at pretty much every position. Defense didn't quite go as well, but we got good prospects at the positions we needed. I would have really liked another OL, another DL and another juco CB, but I don't think we're desperate for any of those and that's just nit-picking for what could have made the class better. As has been discussed ad nauseum, losing Harrison would be a blow. Losing Stewart would hurt as well. Obviously a recurrence of concussion issues with Darlington would take us down a notch also, but I don't think his family, doctors or our coaches would let him play if it wasn't safe for him, so I feel pretty good about that one at least. As it stands, I'd give us an A for offensive recruiting and B for defensive. Some more/better playmakers on the defense would have elevated this class.
QB: A
Needed: 2 (with one "athlete" that could be moved)
Got: 2 (Darlington and Bush)
We got exactly what we needed by signing a top flight QB from a championship program in a top state along with an "athlete" that can be moved elsewhere if QB doesn't work out for whatever reason. It would have been good to have the second option regardless, due to the fact that we only have two scholarship QB's returning, but it is especially important given Darlington's concussion history. The coaches and family seem convinced that the concussion issue isn't a concern, but I feel better knowing we got the second guy signed just in case. Doesn't hurt that the "athlete" has a live arm either. The only thing that keeps me from giving this position an A+ is the health concern with Darlington.
RB: A
Needed: 1
Got: 2 (Wilbon and Stewart)
Wilbon looks like a stud and should do well in our system. I think Stewart is highly overlooked though. The guy has ridiculous speed and played high level ball in Texas. If Stewart doesn't make it due to grades, I'd drop this to an A-.
WR: A
Needed: 3
Got: 4 (Harrison, Pierson-El, Tolbert, Irons, though I wonder if Irons gets a look at CB)
If, and it is a big if, Harrison makes it to campus, he is one heck of a WR prospect. I also think Pierson-El has been over looked by a lot of people.The kid is a play maker. Tolbert is the sort of bigger receiver that can go get the ball in the air. Irons looks like he could get a shot early at returns. If we do lose Harrison to MLB, I'd drop this to B-.
TE: C+
Needed: 1, maybe (Carter and Cotton were freshmen this year, and we have a few other young ones, so not exactly a need position)
Got: 1, maybe (Akinmoladun)
If he does stick at TE and doesn't move to DE, he's a good athlete for his size. Should provide a good blocker, which is important in our offense, as we saw from the lack of Ben Cotton early last year. Also some chance we could see Stoltenberg or Wills here, but I doubt it.
OL: A+
Needed: 4-5 (with only 2 high schoolers in 2012 and 3 last year, we needed a big OL class)
Got: 5 (Lewis, Farmer, Gates, Foster, Stoltenberg)
Lewis was a freshman all-american that should step in immediately. Most have presumed tackle, but I wonder if he'll give Moudy and Reeves a run at guard, considering that's what he played at CU. Either way, a huge addition. Farmer, Gates and Foster are all exactly the sort of blue-chip linemen recruits that you would hope NU can get with their pipeline tradition. I think our recent improvement on the line has shown these kids that we're serious about re-establishing that tradition and they're the ones to do it. Stoltenberg is a good athlete for his size and I really hope they put him at OT and let him grow and develop. While we may end up needing him sooner on the DL, I think we need to stock the OL with young talent to keep the numbers up there.
DE: B
Needed: 3
Got: 3 (Keels, King, Wills)
Keels was a huge get, both because of his talent and because Moss's departure means we need the help ASAP. Being here for the spring makes him even better. I expect some early returns from him. King was a great replacement for Slade and Wills looks like a pretty good prospect. There's been some talk Wills could play another position, but I think there's too great of a need at DE to do so. Also a possibility that Freedom or Stoltenberg could end up here.
DT: B
Needed: 1-2
Got: 1 (Newell)
I suppose Newell could follow the Suh plan and play DE as a freshmen if he's ready, but with his frame, he'll undoubtedly end up inside by the time he develops. He was an early key to this class and I think some people have kind of forgotten him since he committed so long ago. DT isn't a huge immediate need because of the four we have playing from the last two classes, but it's such an important position that I'd have liked to have a second.
LB: B
Needed 1-2
Got: 1
We've signed a lot of LB the last couple of years, but I still would have liked another one. The one we did get looks like a steal.
CB/Peso: B
Needed 3-4 (with at least one Juco)
Got: 4 (Jones, Mosley, Kalu, Cockrell)
I hope Cockrell surprises, but I would have really liked a Juco DB that felt like more of a sure thing. Mosley looks like a great prospect though and Jones has the length that Bo prefers for his physical style of play. I expect big things from those two. Wouldn't be surprised to see either Kalu or Cockrell get shifted back to safety, but I bet they'll get a look at corner first.
S: C+
Needed: 1-2
Got: 1 (Gifford)
Kid looks like a good enough athlete to play safety, but as we've seen over the years, it's not athleticism that really makes a great safety, it's knowing where you need to be and making the play when you get there. As I mentioned above, I'd guess one of the other recruits will end up here as well.
ST: A
Needed: ?
Got: 1 (Brown)
Kid looks like another great kicker named Brown for DONU. No idea if we needed a kicker in this class, as I don't know how Bondi is as a FG kicker. (He's certainly got the leg for it, judging by his kick-offs.) However, when you've got a top kicker that's a legacy to boot, I don't mind taking him. Hell, maybe he can punt.
Overall: B+
It may not blow people away with star power, but I think we did a good job of filling needs. We got some potential difference makers on offense at pretty much every position. Defense didn't quite go as well, but we got good prospects at the positions we needed. I would have really liked another OL, another DL and another juco CB, but I don't think we're desperate for any of those and that's just nit-picking for what could have made the class better. As has been discussed ad nauseum, losing Harrison would be a blow. Losing Stewart would hurt as well. Obviously a recurrence of concussion issues with Darlington would take us down a notch also, but I don't think his family, doctors or our coaches would let him play if it wasn't safe for him, so I feel pretty good about that one at least. As it stands, I'd give us an A for offensive recruiting and B for defensive. Some more/better playmakers on the defense would have elevated this class.
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