Click on
each team for the fill class list
and top players
Boise State
| Fresno
State | Hawaii
| Idaho
| Louisiana Tech
Nevada
| New
Mexico St |
San Jose
State | Utah State
-
2006
WAC Recruiting Rankings
1.
Boise
State
The
class is heavy on ... Speed and
quickness. A program like Boise
State, even one that's as successful
as it's been, can recruit size or
speed, but usually can't get the
combination of the two. BSU goes for
the guys who can move, and this
class is no exception with a fast
group of receivers, a smallish,
quick bunch of linebackers, and
corners who can fly in Antwon Murray
and Brandyn Thompson. However,
there's bulk up front in 320-pound
DT Johnny Tiavo and on the offensive
line getting a bunch of 275 pounders
who have room for another 10-15
pounds.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... QB Kellen
Moore
The player you might care about
this year ... S Garcia Day
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
The Fiesta Bowl win sort of helped,
but not as much as you might think.
BSU got the players it wanted to get
and picked up the right recruits to
fit the system, even though it
didn't exactly snare a bunch of guys
USC, Florida, or any other big name
targeted. That's fine; this program
has done just fine with the way
things have gone.
2. Fresno State
The
class is heavy on ... Secondary
speed. With WAC teams like Hawaii
and New Mexico State winging it all
over the place, and Boise State
always going to be potent at
throwing the ball, Fresno State had
to keep the shelves stocked with
plenty of fast, fast, fast defensive
backs. Mission accomplished with 4.4
guys like safety Terrance Dennis and
corner Jermaine Thomas. In all six
DBs were brought in along with two
good linebackers in Chris Carter and
Austin Raphael to secure the back
seven.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... LB Chris
Carter
The player you might care about
this year ... CB Sharrod Davis
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
It should say something that Fresno
State flat-out stunk last year and
still came up with one of its better
recruiting classes in the Pat Hill
era. Unlike past years when the
recruiting stars were skill players,
the best recruits in this group are
on the lines led by offensive
tackles Devan Cunningham and Eric
Sproal and defensive tackle Porter
Hill. These three need to be the
building blocks for the future,
which appears to be much better than
the very recent past.
3. San Jose State
The
class is heavy on ... Receiver
and safety. Head coach Dick Tomey
said his team had two glaring holes
to fill, and he and his staff
patched them up big-time getting
help from the JUCO ranks with safety
Jonathan Harris and receivers Kyle
Flynn, and more heralded, David
Richmond. The corners got a nice
boost from JUCO transfer Joe Pates,
while Josh Harrison and Alex Germany
are decent prospects for the future.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... S Duke
Ihenacho
The player you might care about
this year ... WR David Richmond
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
The program was one of college
football's biggest surprises last
year, and no one in the WAC did a
better job of filling immediate
needs for this season. Not only did
it get help for the passing game and
the pass defense, it upgraded over
what it had last year. Tomey has the
Spartans among the WAC's better
teams and is poised for a big run.
4. Idaho
The
class is heavy on ... Receivers.
While the talent in new head coach
Robb Akey's first class is in the
defensive back seven, the bulk is
for the passing game with five
wideouts and and top tight end, JUCO
transfer Jim Reuber. Cory Rhoane
also comes over from the JUCO ranks
to help out the offense right off
the bat. Interestingly enough, no
quarterbacks and only one running
back were signed.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... LB Andre
Ferguson
The player you might care about
this year ... RB Corey White
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
Akey basically had three weeks to
put together a recruiting class, but
he had the luxury of not needing
many immediate playmakers with
stockpiles of past recruits waiting
in the wings. More than a few of the
2007 haul will grayshirt, while
almost all the non-JUCO players will
redshirt. In other words, this is a
building-block class for the future.
5. Louisiana Tech
The
class is heavy on ... Defense,
particularly the line and the
secondary. Derek Dooley and his
staff wanted to stockpile defensive
talent, and it did that with a good
haul of defensive backs bringing in
six good ones including JUCO
transfers Stephen Howze and Mat
Mason, along with prep safety
Tarence Calais, to help out right
now. There aren't any obvious stars
for the defensive front seven, but
there are a lot of players to
develop.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... RB Phillip
Livas
The player you might care about
this year ... CB Matt Mason
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
Dooley has the right attitude when
it comes to recruiting. He doesn't
get too fired up about the unknown,
and he waits to see who develops
over time and who can fit in the
scheme. He didn't have a whole bunch
of time to work after getting hired
late in the recruiting game, but he
was able to go with bulk numbers to
hope a few prospects can pan out in
a hurry.
6. Nevada
The
class is heavy on ... Offensive
line. Linebacker was also a concern,
but the line got the most attention
with six prospects including top
JUCO transfers Clayton Johnson and
Shawn Miller. Guard Jeff Meads will
be a rock on future lines. The
pieces are basically in place for
the passing game with no
quarterbacks coming in, they didn't
want to compete with Nick Graziano
or Colin Kaepernick for time, and
now there's going to be a good line
to keep them clean.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... CB Lampford
Mark
The player you might care about
this year ... CB Joshua Leonard
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
For the second straight year, Nevada
went big on the line, so expect the
fruits of the labor to start to kick
in soon. Nevada is thought of as a
passing team because of the "Pistol"
offense, but it's a running team,
and these last two classes are built
around the running game and ball
control with the line the key piece
of the puzzle.
7. Hawaii
The
class is heavy on ... JUCO
defenders. The Hawaii offense is
always going to put up mega-numbers,
so if the defense is merely
competent, the wins will come
without a problem. Defensive
coordinator Jerry Glanville got an
instant fix with six JUCO transfers
who are the stars of the class.
Safety Erik Robinson and corner Ryan
Mouton have All-WAC potential, while
ends Joshua Leonard and Chris
Leatigaga have to take over starting
roles early on to replace the lost
stars. LB Francis Maka is a
playmaker with the size to clog up
the middle.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... LB Kevin
Konrath
The player you might care about
this year ... CB Matt Mason
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
You'd think at least a few top
quarterback prospects would be
falling all over themselves to play
for the Warriors, but for the second
straight year there isn't a new
passer worth mentioning. Last year's
class got the receivers, this year's
group got the defenders. If the JUCO
transfers can play up to their
billing, Hawaii will be more than
just a dangerous curiousity.
8. New Mexico State
The
class is heavy on ... The
secondary. Eventually, the Aggies
are going to have to slow someone's
offense down, and that begins with
the pass defense that's been torched
so often under Hal Mumme. Two JUCO
transfers, Junior Fasavalu and
Vincent Butler, were brought in to
try to put a band-aid on the
situation, but CB Alphonso Powell
could end up being the best of the
bunch when his career is over.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... QB J.J.
McDermott
The player you might care about
this year ... CB Vincent Butler
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
Unlike last year's class, this group
was brought in to fill a few needs.
The defense was all but ignored in
2006, but not this year. The offense
will eventually add consistency to
the all-around numbers, but if the
defense isn't better, NMSU will
never make much of a move under
Mumme. This class was picked to
change all that.
9. Utah State
The
class is heavy on ... Kicker. Oh
sure, there's plenty of talent being
brought in for the big holes, like
at linebacker, quarterback and the
offensive line, but for a team that
has a nightmare of a time scoring,
just getting points from the kicking
game now and then is a big deal.
Enter Peter Caldwell, who has a
monster leg and can punt, too. The
Agiges nailed two of five field goal
attempts last year, so it's safe to
say Caldwell has the gig for the
taking.
The player who'll someday be a
really big deal ... C David
Disman
The player you might care about
this year ... PK Peter Caldwell
What it all means to the real
world of college football ...
What do you get for the team that
needs everything? 27 recruits were
brought in to all battle right off
the bat for depth chart slots, and
while this isn't the type of class
that'll immediately knock Boise
State off the WAC perch, it's not
all that bad. Unfortunately, there
aren't any sure-things.