What's the best thing you've noticed so far with Mullen's recruiting?

[TheStateUofMS]

To me, it's the offensive line recruiting. We got three 3 star OL this year, 2010 we had one 4 star, three 3 stars, and two 2 stars in which Day was a 2star but is way better than a two star by watching his film. In 2009 we had two 3 stars. That's a solid crop of offensive line talent. The defensive line has been just as impressive 2009 having three 4 stars, and McKenzie a 2 star that has been thought very highly of by the coaching staff, in 2010 we had two 4 stars and one 3 star(one 2 star in Crawford who is no longer with the team), and so far this year we have don't have any DL commits, unless Maiden turns in a DL, but we have some good prospects on the board.<div>
</div><div>The DL and OL is where games are won especially in the SEC. You obviously have to have speed at the skill positions too, but they can't do anything without a solid OL to open holes for RBs and give the QB time to throw, or a good DL to get pressure on the QBs so the CBs don't have to cover for too long and eventually the WRs get free.</div><div>
</div><div>I think the OL has been Mullen's high points, but the DL is a close second.</div><div>
</div><div>Thoughts?</div>

 

[jeremyrbrown]

nm

 

[thatsbaseball]

nm

 

[muscleshoalssound]

If these coaches can teach fundamentals, the line could be a strong foundation for the future of the program. The one thing I'm waiting for in Mullen is that one big QB recruit. Russell was a good one, though he is shared with Croom and Prescott looks to be solid, but neither are real big names. The QB is the head of the team and I thought that we would have less trouble recruiting the high profile guys when Mullen was hired given his history with QBs.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

When we produce a QB with more than 135ypg one will come.

 

[jackstefano]

before other schools have even had a chance to offer.

trbu

 

[FlabLoser]

[No message]

 

[TheStateUofMS]

I know he has recruited skill positions and speed, but he is taking priority on the OL and DL which is what you need to have a good team. He doesn't ignore the big hog mollies up front like the Reverend.

 

[Todd4State]

I like that philosophy for several reasons. The first is as it has been discussed on here before, we are not going to land a Florida type class with 5 five star guys 15 four star guys, and then 5 three star guys. We have to rely on identifying guys that are overlooked or are very projectable for us to have good teams. Mississippi is a great place to find guys like that- see Jonathan Banks, and in the past guys like Kevin Dockery, Donald Lee, and Barrin Simpson are all examples of players that were Mississippians that were not all that highly thought of in high school that became very good players for us, and now in the pro ranks.

Recruiting Mississippi helps the staff build ties so that if East Webster or whoever has that Dandy Dozen talent, we already are in tight with the staff because we were willing to look at and take their guy.

It also helps promote MSU to those small towns because those fans that don't care one way or the other between MSU and UM may pull for MSU because we have the guy that they remember watching in high school, and they may even go so far as to buy a t-shirt.

I think Mississippians play harder for Mississippi. I can't validate that in any way, but I do know that our old philosophy of recruiting Alabama's leftovers wasn't working out to well save for Titus Brown. I just think that players play harder for their home.

Recruiting Mississippians also sends the message that WE are Mississippi's University of choice.

 

[atlwebdawg]

Great post Todd - everything is right about it. And people, we won't get a sniff from a top notch QB until we win with a QB. If Relf and Russell produce, and Mullen stays, you will see several top flight QBs on the depth chart.

 

[muscleshoalssound]

When we produce a QB with more than 135ypg one will come.

Good point. The recruits need to see progress, and that progress will hopefully come this year.

 

[LAMSUFAN]

In most cases we will not be able to have that many favorable matchups in terms of skill players with the better SEC teams but where we can compete and win is up front. We saw this last year when our lines dominated LSU, OM, and played pretty well vs. Tech and UF. With that said, I do like that we are getting a lot of speed in here, we're going to be a VERY fast team and combine that with the mean mother17ers up front and we'll be able to win some games. Kinda like back in the 90s.

 

[muscleshoalssound]

I like that philosophy for several reasons. The first is as it has been discussed on here before, we are not going to land a Florida type class with 5 five star guys 15 four star guys, and then 5 three star guys. We have to rely on identifying guys that are overlooked or are very projectable for us to have good teams. Mississippi is a great place to find guys like that- see Jonathan Banks, and in the past guys like Kevin Dockery, Donald Lee, and Barrin Simpson are all examples of players that were Mississippians that were not all that highly thought of in high school that became very good players for us, and now in the pro ranks.

Recruiting Mississippi helps the staff build ties so that if East Webster or whoever has that Dandy Dozen talent, we already are in tight with the staff because we were willing to look at and take their guy.

It also helps promote MSU to those small towns because those fans that don't care one way or the other between MSU and UM may pull for MSU because we have the guy that they remember watching in high school, and they may even go so far as to buy a t-shirt.

I think Mississippians play harder for Mississippi. I can't validate that in any way, but I do know that our old philosophy of recruiting Alabama's leftovers wasn't working out to well save for Titus Brown. I just think that players play harder for their home.

Recruiting Mississippians also sends the message that WE are Mississippi's University of choice.

I think one of these overlooked Mississippi prospects could be a 2011 commit Rufus Warren from Indianola. I saw him play last year and he is extremely athletic and smooth for a 6-5 235 pound tight end. He probably isn't highly recruited because of the offense he plays in never throws the ball, but he iscertainly a name to remember in a couple of years.<div>
</div><div>Warren is just another example of how important it is for our coaches to be able to spot and evaluate unknown talent, because the big names do not have State at the top of their lists.

</div>

 

[Beretta.sixpack]

you really hear him preaching "coaching them up"......think, going into last year, our biggest question mark was our OL.....at the end of the year, and going into this year, we have no 'all everythings'....and we have a preseason All SEC pick.....and you dont hear any negatives.....i really do believe Mullen when he says he doesnt pay attention to the stars and stats.....i remember him saying that when he was first introduced in jackson.....and i believe it when, as jackstephano says above, he will offer guys long before anyone else gets to them....he really believes that he can take a player and coach him up regardless of what the experts have evaluated the player as........

this is what i love about mullen......

 

[Todd4State]

because he fills a need.

While I do agree that there is some merit to the star system, the first thing I look at is there size, and their speed. Warren may be a two star guy, but he is 6'5" 235, and he is pretty fast. And for the record, I go ahead and add 2-3 tenths of a second on their fastest recorded speed. We give him to Balis, and he adds about 10-15 pounds of muscle, and then Mullen and in this case Sallach I guess, coach him up, and we have a pretty darn good looking TE.

He is a perfect example of the kind of guys we need to get.

 

[Dollabillz]

We're really not doing anything much differently than Croom did (last few years) in recruiting. We're getting top talent in Mississippi. We're getting a few solid out of state players. But the difference is, one, effort, and two, we're actually signing skill players. He's keeping us solid on the lines too.

 

[coach66]

And won't bring in a questionable guy just to win. Might
Not be smart but I respect him for it.

 

[MaxwellSmart]

asdf</p>

 

[muscleshoalssound]

I also noticed that the only two states we have playerscommitted from so far is Mississippi and Louisiana. This just shows you how close the players from this class are, and how seriously Mullen and co. are taking the local and easilyaccessibletalent.

 

[Hidog78]

Don't know if have seen or read but kid (name ?) out of West Lauderdale with about same size already committed to state.