^^^ ditto
I don't want to raise expectations but I agree with your point GoFu. At the FCS level and at a higher-academic institution that doesn't lower standards for athletes like others (school nearby and another school comes to mind) you have to build your program from a combination of players that slip through the cracks, off the radar kids, and you have to beat out your direct competition for some players. There was a time Lamb and Fowler era we lost players on a regular basis to Wofford, Chatty, and W&M, and Richmond.
In the last three classes, that's not happening. When we do go head to head we're getting our top-of-the-board picks. Last year's class of players could have gone to just about any southern FCS school from Wofford to Richmond, as well as any academy. Several had more FBS offers than FCS offers.
Let's look at a few examples —
Bryce Stainfield — has FBS size, 6-2 252 DE. Bryce had 25 offers - his first offer was App St, soon after Coastal and Wake jumped in. Furman offered right after and he committed to the DINS on July 28. Based on what I see on Twitter I will be surprised if Bryce doesn't make a big impact this fall. The dude is focused, intense, and has a passion for football.
Jace Wilson — had three offers and committed very early on July 3rd. Furman was on Jace early he made a big splash as newcomer of the year at Del Valle in Austin, TX. I know a little about Del Valle have a very good friend that went there. RIght before the season was to start Jace's father a football position coach took the OC job at Mayde Creek in Houston, one of the best football districts talent-wise in the entire country.
His numbers weren't as eye-popping at Mayde. 2,526 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior at Del Valle. Named 25-6A Newcomer of the Year. As a senior at Mayde Creek completed 126x221 passes for 1,680 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 307 yards and five scores.
IMO, if you watch film on Jace, he's very athletic (Jayson Foster) shifty, and he has a big arm, and he's a coach's son. It will be interesting to see if he earns PT in the fall. I think QB will come down to Sisson, Minson, and Wilson and we will see all three in the mix.
This incoming class has two more players with at least 20 offers — Tommy Beuglas LB (20) from Buford and Landon Whittemore TE (23) from TN.
I think the real key to putting a better team on the field is going to be the rest of the class. Players like Jordan Bass a DT that had 13 offers, Amaah Achina an OLB that had 13 offers (including ECU), Myion Hicks a RB that had 10 offers (Wofford, AFA, Navy), and Joshua Harris a long WR (6-2) had 10 offers including Air Force, Navy, and Bowling Green. No slight on the rest of the 2020 class — Alex Cain OL had 15 offers, Christian Paraison another DE 6-3 248 had 12 offers, and Jack Healy another TE had 9 offers.
The fall will show us a lot — how does DiMaggio play? How do Gunn, Hughes, and Thomas perform? Luke Clark? As I look at the 2019 class — how does that OL class contribute (Hundley, Davis, Wilson)?
My point isn't to make excuses or blow smoke up your a$$e$.
There was a time not that long ago where Furman was competing for players against Big South schools. Furman was undersized and moved players into other position needs. I'm not sure when we had a class bring in two DE's of the size and athletic ability of Stainfield and Paraison???
I know we all have some level of anxiety on how well this fall's version of the Paladins will perform - especially offensively. CCH and staff had their first losing season — being an armchair recruiting troller I saw 2021 recruiting as a big test. Could Furman continue to come out of the gate strong with early momentum and beat out its rivals? Such as getting Carson Jones to commit to Furman over Mercer.
