1. Bowling Green
The
class is heavy on ... The
defensive line. This might not be a
reaction to getting pushed around
all of last year, but the Falcons
are certainly looking to get better
on the defensive front. Three
tackles and two ends should help
make that happen down the line, but
there's not a whole bunch of size
outside of 280-pound tackle D.J.
Young.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... RB Jahmal
Brown
The player you might care about
this year ... P Alonso Rojas
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
There's always going to be an eye on
who the next star quarterback might
be at Bowling Green, and Anthony
Glaud and Tyler Sheehan, two big
passers, could end up providing the
depth right away. If Anthony Turner
doesn't come through this year,
Glaud and Sheehan could play big
roles. With solid punter Nate Fry
gone, Alonso Rojas, considered to be
the top punting prospect in America,
should start from day one.
2. Toledo
The
class is heavy on ... The lines.
Four offensive linemen and five
defensive linemen were brought in
with quick tackles Nate Cole and
Maurice Hill just needing a little
time to bulk up before they become
the anchors of the defensive line.
The offensive linemen have the size
with the four averaging around 300
pounds, but they'll provide little
more than depth until 2008.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... DT Nate Cole
The player you might care about
this year ... RB Dontae Jones
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
Head coach Tom Amstutz brought in a
balanced class with QB Aaron Opelt
the likely 2008 starter and RB
Dontae Jones too fast to keep off
the field this year, but this group
won't pay dividends for a while.
Even so, there's more talent here
than most of the MAC combined, and
it's a good enough class to keep
Toledo competing for the MAC title.
3. Miami University
The
class is heavy on ... The
defensive back seven. Four
linebackers, four safeties and a
corner were brought in to form the
strength of the defensive class. The
stars are at safety where Peris
Edwards, Jordan Gafford and Armand
Robinson are big and talented. If
they don't combine to be part of the
MAC's best secondary by 2009, it'll
be a major disappointment.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... OT Bob
Gulley
The player you might care about
this year ... OL John Buckman
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
After last year's class heavy on
offensive skill players, Miami was
obviously thinking about defense
with 14 of the 22 recruits slated
for the defensive side. Last year's
class was small after the loss of
head coach Terry Hoeppner to
Indiana, so this is a good bulk
class of lots of players. Last
year's class was about treading
water, so this year's group has to
be the one that shines over the next
few years.
4. Ball State
The
class is heavy on ...
Linebackers. There might not be any
sure things in the bunch, but
linebackers are the focus of the
class with five of them coming in to
be developed. The secondary also got
plenty of help with six defensive
backs led by safety Terrell Johnson,
who might project to be a better
corner if he sees time right away.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... QB Nate
Davis
The player you might care about
this year ... S Terrell Johnson
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
This is a solid class for Brady Hoke,
and after last year's solid haul,
Ball State should have a good future
ahead. If nothing else the Cardinals
should be a player in the MAC West
over the next few seasons. Defense
was the main focus with 13 of the 22
recruits ready to add help as soon
as possible.
5. Western Michigan
The
class is heavy on ... Receivers.
When you've lost players like Greg
Jennings and TE Tony Scheffler, you
need more players to stock the
shelves. Five receivers and two
tight ends were brought in, and
while only JUCO transfer Herb Martin
should play an immediate role,
there's plenty of talent to pick
from in case depth is needed.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... QB Drew
Burdi
The player you might care about
this year ... WR Herb Martin
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
After addressing upgrading the
overall talent level last year, this
class is all about firepower. The
offense started to take off last
year under head coach Bill Cubit,
and this class is designed to do
even more over the next few years
with 16 recruits brought in to put
more points on the board.
6. Ohio
The
class is heavy on ... Defensive
ends. The stars of the show are
receivers Terrence McCrae and Chido
Nwokocha, but the bulk is at
defensive end where five were
brought in led by 6-4, 258-pound
JUCO transfer Alan Goff. Most
interesting to note are how big the
ends are. They might not be
sure-things, but they're big for MAC
ends with almost all hovering around
250 pounds.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... WR Terrence
McCrae
The player you might care about
this year ... WR Chido Nwokocha
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
Ohio needs to throw the ball, and it
got two good receivers to combine
with Scott Mayle to upgrade the
league's worst passing game, and one
that finished 116th in the nation.
Expect things to change this year,
but there weren't any quarterbacks
brought in to compete with Austen
Everson. No MAC team did more to
address a need more specifically on
one side of the ball, yet address
the other side as well as Ohio with
a strong class of defensive players
coming in.
7. Central Michigan
The
class is heavy on ...
Receivers and secondary. Six
receivers were brought in, but only
Matt Torres and Xavier Torres have a
chance to make an impact over the
next few seasons. The class is also
heavy on defensive back where nine
were brought in to help one of the
MAC's worst pass defenses. The
corners aren't huge, but they're
very, very fast. The safeties should
be really good by 2008.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... S Kirkston
Edwards
The player you might care about
this year ... QB Mike Canfield
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
It's a huge class with 26 players
coming in, and head coach Brian
Kelly won't be afraid to ask many of
them, especially on defense, to play
key roles. The star of the class is
QB Mike Canfield, but it might be
way too early to think he can push
for Kent Smith's former job this
year.
8. Eastern Michigan
The
class is heavy on ... Running
backs. None of them are highly
rated, but four of them are coming
in. Clint Allen is destined for
receiver with his 6-1 frame and
sub-4.4 speed, while L.J. Robertson
and Richard Franklin will pound it.
Three tight ends were also brought
in led by Dudley LaPorte, who has a
chance to see time as a receiver
early on.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... TE Dudley
LaPorte
The player you might care about
this year ... DE Eric Young
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
For the second straight year, EMU
went big on running backs. The idea
has to convert several of them to
other positions to add more defense,
but don't expect much right away.
Outside of JUCO tackle Tom Schmeding
and defensive end Eric Young, there
aren't many prospects who'll make an
immediate impact. While other MAC
teams upgraded things for this year,
EMU has to be looking for the future
with this class.
9. Akron
The
class is heavy on ...
Linebacker. The Zips had trouble
against the run, but still had one
of the MAC's best defenses. Things
should be better with 12 new
defensive players led by the four
linebackers. JUCO transfer Mickey
Baker will be an immediate backup,
while Derron Smith will be the best
of the bunch down the road.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... QB Sean
Hakes
The player you might care about
this year ... RB Aaris Reed
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
The defending MAC champions came up
with a diverse class looking for a
little of everything after going for
quality last year. There are some
strong players here and there led by
RB Aaris Reed, who could see
starting time in place of Brett
Biggs. The line got several
prospects to develop over the next
few years, but no one for right
away.
10. Northern Illinois
The
class is heavy on ... Safety.
Five of the 17 recruits are safeties
with Alex Kube and James Jefferies
the best of the bunch. This is a
tall group with decent speed, and
they should only get better after a
few years in the weight room. NIU is
already stocked in the secondary, so
none of the new prospects should be
needed until 2008.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... DE Ed
Jackson
The player you might care about
this year ... DT Kris Cooke
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
After dominating the league on the
recruiting front last year, NIU
didn't need too many new bodies this
year. There aren't any obvious
superstars, but outside of last
year, head coach Joe Novak has never
gotten a who's who of players.
Interestingly enough, there aren't
any running backs of note for the
always strong Huskie running game.
11. Kent State
The
class is heavy on ... Defensive
backs. The isn't a big class in any
one area, but the Golden Flashes
upgraded the secondary for the
future with four new players led by
corner Kirk Belgrave, who has the
size to become a safety, and safety
Brian Lainhart, who has the speed to
become a corner.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... QB Darren
Rogers
The player you might care about
this year ... K Nathan Reed
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
Considering the the running game was
the worst in the nation last year,
there has to be a hope that incoming
freshman Quinton Rainey can become a
playmaker right away. QB Darren
Rogers isn't big, but he can move.
He won't take over the starting role
from Michael Machen, but he could
provide another option as he
develops for 2008.
12. Buffalo
The
class is heavy on ... Offensive
line. You can't turn around one of
the nation's worst offenses without
a strong line, so new head coach
Turner Gill is hoping for his five
new prospects to develop quickly
over the next year. 305-pound
Brandon Flanagan has the size to
provide some depth right away, and
he should be the team's top lineman
by 2008.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... LB Tom
Drewes
The player you might care about
this year ... QB Naaman
Roosevelt
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
Buffalo finished 118th in the nation
in scoring last year but only
brought in two skill position
prospects. QB Naaman Roosevelt might
be an instant upgrade over anyone on
the roster, but WR Skylar Hagg won't
provide more this year than one of
college football's best names. Gill
has his work cut out for him in year
one.