Big 12 Classes of 2007: Kansas State
9 comments so far
February 14, 2007 by
Perhaps the most compelling recruiting class in the Big 12 North (in the same way that you can't help staring at a train wreck), belongs to Kansas State. No, it's not the worst class in the Big 12, but it was perhaps the most poorly managed.
Kansas State began with a flurry of commitments way back in March of 2006 and by June had thirteen. But unlike a school like Texas that also gets a ton of early commitments, the Wildcats were locking in two-star athletes the likes of which are available right up until signing day (February 2007). As a result, fifteen of the Wildcats 35 commitments came from two-star players. The class became so large that they were unable to allow two players to sign letters of intent and a third had his offer completely revoked less than one week before signing day.
That gives rival programs plenty of ammunition in future recruiting battles, "How do you know they'll really give you a scholarship?" It's reminiscent of Jerry Seinfeld explaining the purpose of a reservation to a car rental employee. "I know what a reservation is for sir", said the employee. "I don't think you do", says Seinfeld, "The reservation should hold the car here. Anyone can take reservations, but the key is the hold."
Among the 32 players that did sign letters of intent, thirteen remain that received a two-star rating from both Rivals.com and Scout.com. That's a lot of "longshot" players in a class that followed the school's first bowl season in three years and an upset to defending national champion Texas. It seems likely that if the Wildcats had spent more time recruiting fewer (and better) players, they wouldn't be stuck with such a numbers mess and would have a better overall class.
That's not to say they didn't get some good players. The Wildcats landed four players that were given a four-star rating by either Scout or Rivals. Lamark Brown is a four-star linebacker/athlete from a high school in St. Louis that Nebraska offered very early on. In addition, three of KSU's eight junior college transfers received four stars including a safety, a linebacker, and an offensive tackle.
That leaves another fifteen players that received a three-star rating from either Scout or Rivals. That's as many as Colorado received and more than Kansas or Iowa State. So despite the negatives associated with the class there is some good raw material to at least remain at the bowl-eligible level in years to come. While the Wildcats weren't able to use Josh Freeman to lure in some big name offensive player, they were able to add some bodies.
It will be interesting to see how well head coach Ron Prince has learned about recruiting in his first season. Maybe the next class won't be such a mess.
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Shawn Feb 14 07
Lamark Brown is a WR. So that is the big offensive player. Please go watch film on him, you will be impressed.
Steve Feb 14 07
Interesting. Look out Marques Colston!
Steve Feb 14 07
Saying that a player "had his offer completely revoked less than one week before signing day" is nothing more than speculation and bad journalism on your part. If you have information to back it up, then include it in your story.
Brian Feb 14 07
some of the two star commits are placements
Steve Feb 14 07
Steve.
My source is the Kansas City Star:
K-State is an example of how oral commitments
carry no guarantees.
By HOWARD RICHMAN
The Kansas City Star
New Jersey high school running back Adonis Thomas learned what has to be the toughest lesson about making an early oral commitment.
Thomas agreed months ago to play for Kansas State.
So why did he sign Wednesday with Toledo instead?
“An offer is good as long as they like you or until somebody takes your spot,” recruiting analyst Allen Wallace of Scout.com said Thursday. “It’s kind of unrealistic to expect 100 percent of the schools that are recruiting will continue to think a certain guy is going to be right for them.
“That’s a tough situation for everybody because the college can be subjected to bad press, but the school is pretty much obligated to turn a player away if it has doubts he’s going to be successful there.”
What made it tough for Thomas, according to his high school coach, Altarik White, was when K-State informed Thomas he was no longer part of its plans — telling him so late in the process.
“They called last Friday,” White said. “They (K-State coaches) didn’t think he would make it academically, which I didn’t agree with. But he’s got a school now, and it will work out.”
The story goes on about the two guys who have to wait but you can see where it came from.
Josh Feb 14 07
Great work, Steve!! Your posts are always well-written.
Looks like you upset some K-State faithful, or should I say "fair-weather" fans??
I despise K-State. I hope they lose all their games.
GO BIG RED!!!!!!!
Steve Feb 15 07
Thanks Josh, just the response I was waiting for and expected. You pretty much made my point for me. My point is that maybe those that live in glass houses shouldn't cast stones. The "facts" in this article sound an awful lot like the "facts" with a situation involving a walk-on QB who says he was "promised" a scholorship. Ring a bell to anyone? There are two sides to every story. Only presenting one side of the story and not crediting sources (also known as Plagiarism) is bad journalism. Oh, for the record, I graduated from UNL in 93 so I guess that blows your "fair-weather" fans theory.
Steve Feb 15 07
Steve,
If I ran the story as I did in the comments and didn't mention the KC Star or the author, THAT would be plagiarism. If I repeat in single sentence the gist of an entire article that's far from plagiarism.
Any regular visitor to our site knows that all of our "intel" comes from secondary sources. We have day jobs after all. If you want footnotes, go to the library. Besides, if you want to know where something comes from, all you have to do is ask.
Recruiting and accepting transfers are two rather different things, I'd say. Thomas was to sign a letter of intent, until at a very late date he was told he was no longer invited. Hildebrand knew he'd be paying his own way, and did for a semester. If a KSU fan (and NU grad? - whatever) says Hildebrand was duped or that Callahan mishandled it, that's your right. I'm not going to whine about only one side of the story. If Callahan has something to say he has every opportunity to do so. So does Prince.
In this case, I believe Thomas (and the KC Star) because what reason does he have to lie? Why would he have been declared a KSU commit for so long if that wasn't the case?
Gregory Feb 17 07
Steve, you story wasn't overly critical of K-state. It's opinions with a factual basis. I practically "like" K-state, compared to Colorado (having marvelled at their audacity and ability, to put such thorough "whuppins" on my beloved Cornhuskers). I'm just glad Nebraska finally won one at the Manhatten phalanx. Now, to hold serve in Lincoln.....