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Insider: Early Period Recruiting Class Rankings

Insider: Early Period Recruiting Class Rankings

Oct 10, 2012 by Willie Saylor
Insider: Early Period Recruiting Class Rankings
Early Period Recruiting Class Rankings Willie Saylor, Editor     The early period for college coaches to contact recruits began on July 1st. And although the early signing period doesn’t begin for a month, a mob of talented prospects have given their verbal indication to their schools of choice.

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Early Period Recruiting Class Rankings
Willie Saylor, Editor
 
 
The early period for college coaches to contact recruits began on July 1st. And although the early signing period doesn’t begin for a month, a mob of talented prospects have given their verbal indication to their schools of choice.

Of the Top 100 prospects on our SR. Big Board, 46 have already committed. In total, 77 recruits have verballed to DI schools for next year.

Below we’ll give a sneak peak at how the recruiting classes are shaping up and where they stand nationally. We’ll do the Top 10 and Honorable Mention for now. And they will be updated periodically, culminating in our end of the year and official “2013 Recruiting Class Rankings” with a full 25 teams ranked with extended notes and assessment, next spring.

One thing that should be noted is that I value ‘surety’ very highly. Guys that I consider sure-fire difference-makers get big points in my book. While some kids inevitably will surprise and outperform their recruiting rank, mid-tier recruits typically don’t have a significant impact at the DI level when every kid across the country jumps into the same 77-team pool. In short, quality trumps quantity in my book.

*All numbers preceding names indicate class rank on our Sr. Big Board. Linked names take Floinsiders to their individual recruiting profile.


1. Michigan Wolverines
Commitments:
HM-Payne Hayden, MI (197)

Notes: I’ve knocked Michigan’s recruiting efforts in recent years. A program with history and tradition at a great academic institution, I didn’t quite understand why they brought in so few recruits. For a three-year period, from the classes of 2009-2011, Michigan pulled in just four Top 100 recruits. 

After bringing in Assistants Donny Pritzlaff and Sean Bormet, they’ve beaten those three years with this class alone. Scarier still is that 1) this class isn’t yet complete and 2) it comes on the heels of the 2012 haul which I dubbed the #5 overall class, and which included Taylor Massa, Rossi Bruno, Jordan Thomas, and transfer Conor Youtsey. 


2. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Commitments:

Notes: Cowboy middleweights are perennial among the toughest outs in the country. These two Ohio studs figure to be the next generation following the PA tandem of Oliver-Kindig.
Heil was an Ironman Champ last year when he knocked off #1-Jimmy Gulibon. Collica just navigated an outrageously talented Fargo pool to take that title.


3. Virginia Tech Hokies
Commitments:

Notes: Dance will be a staple in the Hokie line-up and an AA threat right out of the gates. He was the only high schooler to make this year’s Junior World Team, and he’s college ready now.
Epperly has made big strides and now looks like a solid DI starter.

 
4. Missouri Tigers
Commitments:
HM-BJ Toal, OH (174/184)

Notes: In a banner year for Heavyweight prospects, I have Cox listed at the very top. Strength, athleticism, intelligence, maturity, work ethic...this kid has it all. There’s no doubt in my mind this kid produces dividends in the form of NCAA hardware.
HC Brian Smith also plucked two interesting prospects from the Tar Heel State. Kee was a Super 32 Runner-Up last year. VonEgidy a placer at multiple national tournaments. Along with Toal, whose brother Zach is also a Tiger, they supplement Cox to make for a great early class.

 
5. Pittsburgh Panthers
Commitments:
HM-Nick Zanetta, PA (133)

Notes: Bright is good enough to beat just about anyone, as he showed in winning Fargo last year over such names as Ashnault and Retherford, and in reaching Ironman finals with a win in the semi’s over Alex Cisneros. The best part is, he’s getting better and has an unlimited ceiling. Along with one of their 2011 gems, Godwin Nyama, Pitt has found the front end of their future line-up with Zanetta and Bright.
Solomon is a kid I’ve been high on for a long while now. He’s a 6x Fargo AA and a 3x state placewinner. With great athleticism and a slimmed down frame, he could be a college star.
 

6. Penn State Nittany Lions
Commitments:

Notes: Retherford just set the world on fire. Never before has a wrestler won Fila, Fargo, and Cadet World’s in the same summer. He’s style and mentality is perfectly suited for the college grind. 
It will be interesting to see how McCutcheon, Flo’s 4th ranked 195lber, is employed by Cael & Company. He’s a talent, and of sure fire starting capability, but what weight he goes and who he has to beat out is still T.B.D. 


7. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Commitments:
Pat Downey, MD (184)
Anthony Albidin, NY (133/141)

Notes: Two years ago at this time, I had Downey as my #4 184lb prospect. Now, he’d be a #1. Winning every event he went in to in the U.S. and winning Silver in Thailand at the JR World’s, Downey will come right out of the gates as an AA threat.
Albidin, a Junior College National Champion last year, is a much needed 133/141 addition. Great job there be the Huskers in addressing needs.


8. Virginia Cavaliers
Commitments:
Emilio Martinez, CO

Notes: TJ Miller doesn’t get enough credit. He’s in midst of one of the most productive careers in the long history of Garden State wrestling. I like his resume and results. I love his potential even more.
Askey is a grinder who I’m sure will wreak havoc. An unconventional wrestler, with a competitive mean streak, he won NHSCA’s in Virginia on Friday, immediately jumped in a car and drove up to Philadelphia and made FloNational finals.


9. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Commitments:

Notes: Perhaps if the Gophers roster wasn’t so loaded in the middle weights, these two prospects might be valued a bit more Nick Dardanes, Ness, Kingsley, Keogh, and Dolezal are all 41-65 lbers, and all are RS Freshmen or younger.


10. Old Dominion Monarchs
Commitments:
HM-Jake Velarde, WA (141)
Jordan Marshall, OH (157)

Notes: Jeske is a stud that will be competitive from jump street. He has won at every level and has a great all around game.
Velarde is a prospect I’m high on. He has great work ethic and a competitive fire. Don’t be surprised if his college production exceeds his otherwise low high school profile.


Honorable Mention (# of Commitments): Northwestern (2), Ohio State (1), Rutgers (3), Pitt (2), Wisconsin (2), NC State (3), Binghamton (5), Maryland (1), Lehigh (2), Illinois (1), Bucknell (6), Air Force (1), Cal-State Bakersfield (2).



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