By J.P. Girouard
Signing Day has come and gone, and every fan of every school in the Big East thinks that their recruiting haul is the one that will get them over the top. (Ok, Syracuse fan might see their class as the one that allows them to rise up to mediocrity.) But whose class actually lives up to the hype? Let’s take a look in the very first Best Big East Signing Day Review Ever.
Biggest Winner – West Virginia. Not only did the Mountaineers pick up their quarterback of the future in Eugene Smith, they may have picked up their running back of the future in Tavon Austin as well. Several talented wide receivers were also brought in, meaning that West Virginia should be loaded at the skill positions for years to come.
Biggest Loser – Louisville. If desperation is the world’s worst cologne, then head coach Steve Kragthorpe clearly reeks right now. There’s no good way to spin this – you are not bringing in seven junior college recruits unless you feel like you need to win right away. That being said, JUCO cornerback Preston Pace should help a secondary that wore down last year as the season went along.
The Nick Saban Overallocation Award – USF. Obviously, Jim Leavitt didn’t get the memo about yearly scholarship limits, as the Bulls netted 29 commits. The over-under on number of recruits that are ultimately eligible - even at USF - is decidedly less than 29. However, the talent Leavitt brought in is undeniable, especially on the defensive front.
Weirdest Commitment Story – Ka’lial Glaud, Rutgers. On signing day, Glaud was torn between the Scarlet Knights and West Virginia. Apparently, he was so torn that he hadn’t decided when it came time for him to sign his LOI, so he flipped a coin. Thankfully for Rutgers fans, it came up tails.
Best Under-The-Radar Class – Cincinnati. It’s amazing what an Orange Bowl appearance will do for a program. Head coach Brian Kelly was able to build a fence around Cincinnati, snagging elite hometown players like receiver Josh Jones and defensive backs Chris Williams and Everett Horne.
Five Best Players:
1. Tavon Austin, RB, West Virginia – terrific cut-back runner could be the next Steve Slaton.
2. Ryne Giddins, DE, South Florida – one of the most talented pass rushers in the country.
3. Eugene Smith, QB, West Virginia – multi-dimensional threat in the Pat White mold.
4. Tom Savage, QB, Rutgers – might be most-talented QB recruit in program's history.
5. Jamar Howard, WR, Cincinnati – physically-talented JUCO can step in and play right away.
Knee-Jerk Recruiting Rankings:
1. West Virginia
2. USF
3. Rutgers
4. Pittsburgh
5. Cincinnati
6. Connecticut
7. Louisville
8. Syracuse
J.P. Girouard blogs about the Big East for CollegeFootballNews.com and at the Best Big East College Football Blog Ever. You can email him here.
Best Big East Week Ever Archives:
Best Big East 2008 Awards Ever
Best Big East Week Ever – Key Games of 2008
Best Big East Week Ever – 11/19/08
Best Big East Week Ever – 11/12/08
Best Big East Week Ever – 10/22/08
Best Big East Week Ever – 10/8/08
Best Big East Week Ever – 10/1/08
Other Articles By J.P. Girouard:
Doug Marrone Hired As Syracuse Head Coach
The Real Problem At Notre Dame
Greg Robinson Fired As Syracuse Head Coach
Down The Stretch In The Big East
Nine Pivotal Days For The Big East
The Big East Expectations Game
Is This Going To Be Ben Mauk's Legacy?
WVU Runs Away In Big East Media Poll
Rutgers' Strange Stadium Bargain
The Coach Who Stayed
The Big East Manifesto