2007 MAC Recruiting - What It All Means

How does the 2007 MAC recruiting class really affect the college football world?

East  Akron | Bowling Green | Buffalo | Kent State | Miami Univ. | Ohio | Temple
West  Ball State | Central Mich | Eastern Mich | Northern Illinois | Toledo | West Michigan

- 2006 MAC Recruiting Rankings

1. Akron
The class is heavy on ... Wide receivers. J.D. Brookhart and his staff went after the passing game with six decent receiver prospects led by speedy Vince Hill. There's size, there's speed, but there's not a combination of the two. The strength of the class could end up being in the secondary with three fantastic corners, with Da'von Moore for the future and and JUCO transfers Bryan Williams and Miguel Graham for now, and safety Sean Fobbs a nice pickup.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... LB Aaron Williams
The player you might care about this year ... OT Casey Estrada
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Last year was about quantity, two years ago was about quality, and this year's class is about a mix of the two. Akron slipped last year after winning the MAC title, but this class should help the turnaround in a hurry with several players ready to see the field right away. The defense will get more immediate help than the offense.

2. Temple
The class is heavy on ... Running backs. JUCO transfer Marcellous Grigsby will get the ball right away this off-season in practices and needs to be a major part of the attack, while Joe Jones might be the star of the future. In all, Al Golden and his staff brought in five backs, with some certain to move elsewhere to help the overall team speed and athleticism. The other strength is corner with five prospects brought in led by Daryl Robinson, the best, but the slowest of a very, very fast bunch.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... CB Daryl Robinson
The player you might care about this year ... RB Marcellous Grigsby
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Temple's entry into the MAC should be interesting thanks to a shockingly good, and very large, recruiting class. Part of the sales job done by Golden was that everyone all the jobs were open on a team that struggled so much over the last several years, but beyond that, there are players here to build around.

3. Kent State
The class is heavy on ... Variety. 25 players were brought in with a little something for every position. Outside of possibly receiver, there isn't one area that stands out with many decent players to fit the overall system. Head coach Doug Martin can evaluate talent as well as anyone in the conference, and now he has more than a few prospects to provide immediate depth as well as to develop over the next few seasons.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... WR Rashad Tukes
The player you might care about this year ... RB Alan Vanderink
What it all means to the real world of college football ... The Golden Flashes found a gem in QB Julian Edelman last year, and it might have unearthed another potential star in small, but speedy RB Alan Vanderink who might be a third down back early on. Receiver Rashad Tukes is considered a mirror image of ultra-productive KSU receiver Najeh Pruden and could be a main target for Edelman right off the bat.

4. Miami University
The class is heavy on ... Linebackers and the offensive line. This was the main focus for head coach Shane Montgomery as he was looking for instant depth while hoping to hit the jackpot and get a starter or two right away. Five linebackers were brought in led by Jerrell Wedge, while the line is heavy on guards with 300-pound Brandon Brooks the best prospect of the bunch.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... WR Chris Givens
The player you might care about this year ... RB Thomas Merriweather
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Thanks to a variety of injuries and other problems, there were more freed scholarships than expected. This was a very nice class with two key pieces to the future of the offense in big QB Clay Belton and talented RB Thomas Merriweather, who both could've gone to much bigger name schools. Few MAC teams got the quality of MU's class, to go along with the quantity.

5. Toledo
The class is heavy on ... Top-shelf talent. The overall depth might not be there in this class, but no one in the MAC, outside of possibly Miami, got as many players that could've gone to BCS conferences, and no one got more ready made starters. Running backs Morgan Williams and Gordon Walker might be in the rotation right off the bat, while Travaris Cadet might be the best high school receiver recruited by a MAC team this year. The defense was all but ignored just getting a few linebackers.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB D.J. Lenehan
The player you might care about this year ... WR Travaris Cadet
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Even with Toledo's down year, there wasn't cause for panic and there wasn't the need to go after quick fixes. However, that's what Toledo got with this class with several players certain to play key roles right away. This class was all about offense, and head coach Tom Amstutz brought in the type of talent that should make Toledo a MAC power for years to come.

6. Western Michigan
The class is heavy on ... Receivers. WMU didn't go after any quarterbacks and will make that job one for 2008, but Bill Cubit and his staff got his current passers some big-time targets to deal with led by JUCO star Schneider Julian, who could've gone to any school just outside of the top 20. Tight end Anthony Middleton will be a featured playmaker in the attack and should grow into a Tony Scheffler type of receiver before he's done.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... TE Anthony Middleton
The player you might care about this year ... WR Schneider Julian
What it all means to the real world of college football ... You know you're doing something right when everyone's trying to take your recruits. WMU had to withstand a flurry from the big boys who came calling at the last minute for some of the better prospects, but most stuck with Cubit. In the mini battles that the recruiting game brings out, WMU beat Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan with ease this year.

7. Ball State
The class is heavy on ... Defense. Brady Hoke and his staff brought in five defensive linemen led by tackle Renee Perry and end Jafe Pitcock. Five linebackers, including top outside prospect Pete Rolf, were picked up, while four defensive back prospects were signed, although all are expected to take a few years to jell.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Simeon Kelly
The player you might care about this year ... RB Frank Edmunds
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Ball State's offense is basically solid, especially after the emergence of QB Nate Davis last year, but it wanted a little more pop to the running game. Only one back was brought in, Frank Edmonds, but he's the one the staff really wanted. He's not big, but he's fast and could be an immediate home run hitter alongside MiQuale Lewis, Jacolby Bond and Cory McGee. If he's the real deal right away, the Cardinal attack could be devastating.

8. Bowling Green
The class is heavy on ... Defensive linemen. There wasn't a lot of top talent brought in, but there was bulk. The line epitomized this class with six recruits, all average, but all certain to play key roles by 2008. Ends Kevin Alvarado and Preston Burrell bear watching over the next few seasons, while Ben Bojicic and Nick Torresso should be the future of the interior.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Nate Brown
The player you might care about this year ... LB Jerrson Davis
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Gregg Brandon did the best with what he had. Scrambling a bit considering all the turmoil in the Falcon coaching staff, this wasn't the type of class that'll scare anyone in the MAC over the next several years. It's a group that'll require developing, so as the recruiting saying goes, give it three years before anyone knows what this group can really do.

9. Northern Illinois
The class is heavy on ... Defensive backs. There wasn't one glaring strength to the class, but the bulk of the pickups were for the secondary with four probable corners and a safety in Kyle Skarb. Outside of JUCO transfer Chase Carter, they all signed relatively early and might compete right away to help tighten up an awful pass defense.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... OG Keith Otis
The player you might care about this year ... CB Chase Carter
What it all means to the real world of college football ... For the second straight year, NIU came up with a stunning yawner of a class. While every team tries to get the players that'll fit the system and be the right pieces to the puzzle, talent is a must and NIU didn't get many obvious, sure-thing future playmakers compared to other MAC powers. MAC teams usually get one or two players who could've gone somewhere much bigger, but outside of 320-pound Keith Otis, there aren't any of those types of prospects.

10. Ohio
The class is heavy on ... Offense. 14 players were brought in including thee running backs, three receivers, and five big offensive linemen. The Bobcats got guys up front with room to grow even though Marcus O'Hara and Chris Spegal are each already around 300 pounds on a 6-7 frame. The strength of the class might be at guard where A.J. Strum and Dustin Laudermich need to be rocks for the line starting in 2009.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... OG Dustin Laudermilch
The player you might care about this year ... QB Theo Scott
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Considering the great season Ohio had getting to the MAC title and a bowl game, this was a strangely non-descript haul of players. Did rumors of Frank Solich leaving for Minnesota have anything to do with it? Was it the running offense that kept away top receivers? In the end, these are pieces to fit the Solich system and they wouldn't necessarily translate to other programs.

11. Eastern Michigan
The class is heavy on ... Offense. The team needs more punch, and it'll hope to get it right away from this class. Quarterback Kyle McMahon signed early and should be the leader of the future, while speedy Dwayne Priest and big Aeric Clay have to be early factors in the ground game. Three receivers, two tight ends, and four linemen, led by 350-pound Darrell Davis-Budanauro, were brought in.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Kyle McMahon
The player you might care about this year ... OG Darrell Davis-Budanauro
What it all means to the real world of college football ... It wasn't a bad overall class, but EMU failed to steal any players away from other MAC schools when push came to shove. The team is in desperate need of a quick turnaround, so either this group has to help contribute right off the bat, or at least provide depth behind last year's decent class, or someone other than Jeff Genyk will be coaching these recruits next year.

12. Central Michigan
The class is heavy on ... Brian Kelly's recruits. New head man Butch Jones kept ten of Kelly's commitments and was able to sell the program would stay on track. It's not a big class with the main focus on offensive reinforcements with three big receivers and two decent offensive lineman. JUCO transfer Jason Bertoni will provide depth at guard, while 6-8, 240-pound Jacob Olson is an interesting prospect for the future once he fills out his frame.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... DT Josh Allison
The player you might care about this year ... OG Jason Bertoni
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Jones was in a tough situation with only a few short weeks to work. Basically, his job was to keep things from completely falling apart, and he did that and then some keeping DT Josh Allison and DE J.J. Watt from going to Minnesota while making sure most of Kelly's recruits stuck around. Don't read too much into the mediocre overall class; that'll change for Jones next year.

13. Buffalo
The class is heavy on ... Defensive backs and instant challengers to the skill starters. QBs Zach Ingle and Ed Young might not be in the mix for the starting gig right off the bat, but they're the type of playmakers the offense might revolve around sooner than later. RB Obi Ezemma and receiver Terrell Jackson and Marcus Rivers will be expected to compete for jobs. The secondary is the strength of the class with five prospects that are as good as anything the Bulls have right now.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Ed Young
The player you might care about this year ... LB Fred Branch
What it all means to the real world of college football ... After spending last recruiting season trying to find live bodies to give scholarships to, Turner Gill and his staff went after players to make the team better right now. Every position is open for competition, and many of this year's class will get hard looks early on for starting jobs as well as depth. Fine, so the UB class won't be confused for USC's, and it might not have any obvious stars, but it's probably going to turn out to be better than it's rated here.