I have seen several people mention that we are going to have a small class this coming year(8 to 10). Since we already have seven committed and are still after Coty Blanchard, Wes Rea, Jackson Posey, and some others, how many guys do you think we take in this class? Also, where are the national type recruits that we were all expecting?</p>
Todd, baseball class of 2010 question.
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Cohen believes if you haven't finished your class before august you are already behind because all the quality players are gone for the most part. 8-10 is still the number He has said.
But I have also heard him say 8-12. In my opinion, I don't think he necessarily has a set number. I think it's if you can play, we want you. I saw today that Butch Thompson was wanting six pitchers in this class. Remember, last year Cohen said at one time that we were signing only 16 players, and then he later increased that to 20 or so.
That's one of the things that's different between Cohen and Polk. Polk would recruit guys and say "You are our second baseman for the next four years, no matter what", and Polk would keep his promises more often than not. Cohen is going to get a bunch of guys together and let them compete, let the best men win, and find a spot for them on the field. I think Taylor Stark, who we just signed is a good example. He's a SS in HS, but if he performs well, proves that he can help the team, but Chase Luwallen fits the team better at SS, well Stark will probably move to another position. I think Cohen is looking at these players in several categories- pitchers, catchers, middle of the field guys- which includes CF, corner guys, and role players rather than position specific. Cohen is looking for athletes, and I think that's a good way to go.
OK, the national recruits. The two main ones that we are after are Daryl Norris from Fairhope HS and Kaleb Barlow from Jackson Prep. I think we have a good shot at Norris. I think it's between MSU and Alabama at this point. Norris is a two way player who throws in the mid nineties and tops out at 96. He's consistently at 92, and he's probably one of the top prosepects in Alabama. His teammate- Garrett Pitts is a MSU recruit this year, and this is the same school that Aaron Weatherford came from in Mobile. Norris also hit 14 home runs last year. If we get him, I think he's probably our closer. Barlow, you've probably heard of- we're recruiting him VERY hard. But I think Barlow likes LSU. If I had to handicap it, I would say it's 60% for LSU and 40% for State. We need him more than they do. I really think he is a program changing guy, if we get him past the draft and LSU. Barlow is a legit 5 tool player. He hit 17 home runs, hit well over .500, and he stole something like 8-10 bases. If I piss off Kirk Presley, my blog might become Kaleb Barlow's Graceland. To me, Barlow is #2 in the state behind Jacoby Jones as far as top player in Mississippi goes.
That's one of the things that's different between Cohen and Polk. Polk would recruit guys and say "You are our second baseman for the next four years, no matter what", and Polk would keep his promises more often than not. Cohen is going to get a bunch of guys together and let them compete, let the best men win, and find a spot for them on the field. I think Taylor Stark, who we just signed is a good example. He's a SS in HS, but if he performs well, proves that he can help the team, but Chase Luwallen fits the team better at SS, well Stark will probably move to another position. I think Cohen is looking at these players in several categories- pitchers, catchers, middle of the field guys- which includes CF, corner guys, and role players rather than position specific. Cohen is looking for athletes, and I think that's a good way to go.
OK, the national recruits. The two main ones that we are after are Daryl Norris from Fairhope HS and Kaleb Barlow from Jackson Prep. I think we have a good shot at Norris. I think it's between MSU and Alabama at this point. Norris is a two way player who throws in the mid nineties and tops out at 96. He's consistently at 92, and he's probably one of the top prosepects in Alabama. His teammate- Garrett Pitts is a MSU recruit this year, and this is the same school that Aaron Weatherford came from in Mobile. Norris also hit 14 home runs last year. If we get him, I think he's probably our closer. Barlow, you've probably heard of- we're recruiting him VERY hard. But I think Barlow likes LSU. If I had to handicap it, I would say it's 60% for LSU and 40% for State. We need him more than they do. I really think he is a program changing guy, if we get him past the draft and LSU. Barlow is a legit 5 tool player. He hit 17 home runs, hit well over .500, and he stole something like 8-10 bases. If I piss off Kirk Presley, my blog might become Kaleb Barlow's Graceland. To me, Barlow is #2 in the state behind Jacoby Jones as far as top player in Mississippi goes.
told by Cohen/Thompson we would sign six pitchers. If that's correct so that puts next years numbers in the low teens.
seem to know each other. If Luke Maddox does indeed decide to come to MSU, I think that might help to, but you never know. I know Maddox is going up there with Chuck Box, his HC, but I have no clue if that will help or not.
Box may very well be trying to lobby for an assistant coaching position one day. He was a coach at Freed-Hardeman, I believe before he went to Prep, and he has family from Columbus.
But I'm glad to hear that we've recruited some of his buddies.
Box may very well be trying to lobby for an assistant coaching position one day. He was a coach at Freed-Hardeman, I believe before he went to Prep, and he has family from Columbus.
But I'm glad to hear that we've recruited some of his buddies.
goldenwavedawg said:
I'm thinking it could be as high as something like 14-15. But that's just my guesstimate, and that's also assuming that they don't pull offers.
be pursuing that are out of our region and there names just haven't surfaced yet? I believe Cohen had something like 15 states plus Canada on his roster. So far Cohen in 2 years has signed or committed players from MS, GA, AL, TX, KS, FL. I have to believe Burroughs is making the rounds further away and Tyler Bratton just hasn't gifted those names to Gene.
With Polk, it was fairly easy because when you have one avenue of recruiting, it kind of narrows things down a lot.
At the same time, I'm not holding my breath. Personally, I'd be happy with Barlow and Norris.
At the same time, I'm not holding my breath. Personally, I'd be happy with Barlow and Norris.