A Step Slow?- Welcome to Tulane!

Some thoughts on a recruiting class- despite having never seen a single guy play a snap:

Overall, I mean, it is what you expect around here. There is some quality in quantity, and there is a serviceable quarterback prospect in Kemp (a must in any decent C-USA class)- which is probably why the class moved out of some services’ bottom quartile. Way, way too many guys who second choice was Southern Illinois or Southeastern Louisiana.

I like the hedge the T-P puts in Joe Kemp’s biography: “Picked Green Wave instead of Houston, Kansas and Miami, said Richland Coach Gene Wier.” Miami?! I sense that disclaimer is very, very, very sensible journalism.

Doesn’t Jordan Stephany feel like the curious recruit C-USA can produce? Obviously a tweener/hard to find his perfect position- bouncing from TE to full back to TB- that odd body type (6’ 2” 245). Probably a step slow to be a I-A TB (4.6 speed probably means 4.7 in real life), twelve catches is not good for an I-A receiver- but at the same time it seems like he can play. Those people at UConn are very good at finding “two-star” players who can play. My vote for prospect I’m most curious to see.

Andrew Higgins- any OT that got a sniff from USM is okay with me.

The only player I “know” anything about is Joey Ray- and that is second hand from a friend who covers college football in Texas for the AP. The kid apparently has project written all over him and can’t stay healthy- BUT he has that frame. You can’t teach 6’4”; you just can’t. He said he’ll never play outside, but had he been a good bit faster and healthy, he’d have been at a major BCS program. I think in C-USA, if you are a power guard, no one cares about your footspeed. You just dominate our League small fronts. Think about what even semi-decent interior linemen do to our defensive fronts? I’d love to give Rice and SMU some of that medicine for three years.

Darren DeRochemont can make’em from 50 yards already. Wow. I can’t wait to see that. I’ve often thought our continual kick-off coverage woes come from our poor kick-offs- particularly in the Dome. Apparently he can punt too. You can see why he apparently garnered interest from real programs.

I dunno- that is what leapt out at me. Here is the class- via the Times-Picayune:

QB Joe Kemp, Richland, North Richland Hills, Texas, 6-4, 220: Played in a district with eight teams that combined for 23 Division I signees in 2006. As a senior, he completed 144 of 231 passes (62.3 percent) for 1,666 yards and 15 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. Picked Green Wave instead of Houston, Kansas and Miami, said Richland Coach Gene Wier. Rushed for 318 yards on 100 carries at the Class 5A school. Has 4.7 speed. Academically qualified.

RB Andre Agers, Bishop Lynch, Dallas, 5-10, 185: Rushed for 2,382 yards as a senior on 296 carries, averaging 8.0 yards per carry and 24.7 carries per game. Scored 36 touchdowns for a Class 6A team that was 8-4. As a junior, he gained 1,646 yards on 283 carries and had 19 scores. Rushed 40 times in a game twice. Also returned punts and kickoffs. Visited Villanova and Missouri and cancelled visits to Southern Illinois and Western Michigan. Also considered Miami-Ohio. Has 4.48 speed and a 3.2 GPA.

RB J.T. McDonald, Flower Mound, Dallas, 5-9, 210: Gained 1,352 yards on 234 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per carry, with 17 touchdowns as a senior. Was the 14th rusher in Texas. Has been timed at 4.45 for 40 yards. Two-year starter. Unanimous All-District selection. Runs track, with a best of 10.8 seconds for 100 meters. Rushed for 1,089 yards as a junior. Considered Colorado State, Oklahoma State, Tulsa and VMI. Has a 3.5 GPA.

RB Jordan Stephany, Hahnville, 6-2, 245: Class 5A All-State selection at tight end as a junior. As a senior, he played fullback and tailback. Rushed for 921 yards on 144 carries and scored 11 touchdowns, an average of 6.3 yards per carry. Gained 349 yards on 39 carries and scored four touchdowns against Assumption, and he rushed for 198 yards on 31 carries against Destrehan. Caught 12 passes for 136 yards in 10 games. Also considered Southern Illinois and Connecticut. Has a 3.2 GPA and 4.6 speed.

FB Cody Blackwelder, Cedar Creek, Ruston, 6-2, 220: Played fullback and linebacker at the Class 1A school. Two-time All-District selection at linebacker. As a senior, he gained 880 yards rushing on 101 carries, averaging 8.7 yards per carry, with 11 touchdowns and four two-point conversions. On defense, he had 74 tackles, 10 tackles for losses and two sacks. Second-team All-State on coaches' team. Honor student with a 3.92 GPA.

FB Antoine Duplessis, Holy Cross, 6-2, 260: Was All-District as a defensive end as a junior and All-District at tight end as a senior. Had three receptions for 21 yards. Considered Southern Illinois and Southeastern Louisiana. Could be a fullback or tight end in college. Has 4.7 speed. Fully qualified.

WR Chandler Davis, Gulf Shores, Ala., 6-3, 175: Caught 19 passes for 339 yards and five touchdowns. Had 25 tackles and three interceptions for the Class 5A school. Initial offer was made by former coach Chris Scelfo, and it was re-affirmed by new Coach Bob Toledo. Tulane was the lone visit. Has 4.68 speed and carries a 3.9 GPA. Plans to major in pre-med.

WR Taylor Echols, Clear Creek, League City, Texas, 6-3, 180: Early summer commitment. Had 31 receptions for 410 yards and five touchdowns as a senior for the Class 5A school. Also runs track. Three-year starter. Has 4.47 speed and a 3.63 GPA.

TE Tyler Helm, Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy, 6-5, 230: Played at St. Paul's prior to attending the Virginia prep school for one year. Played just one year of varsity football at St. Paul's. Has 4.8 speed and has already enrolled at Tulane for the spring semester. At Fork Union, he played tight end, defensive end and offensive tackle. Had 12 receptions for 220 yards. Academically qualified.

OT Andrew Higgins, Duluth, Ga., 6-3, 275: Born in Metairie but moved to Duluth in the fifth grade. Also considered Alabama-Birmingham, Southern Miss, Stanford and Navy. Has 5.3 speed and a 3.7 GPA.

OT J.D. Jeanes, Royal, Brookshire, Texas, 6-7, 270: Two-year starter at the Class 3A school west of Houston. All-State third team. All-District twice and was a unanimous selection as a senior. Has 5.1 speed. Tulane was his lone visit. Has a 3.5 GPA.

G Andrew Nierman, Curtis, 6-0, 300: Could play guard or center. All-Metro and Class 2A All-State selection. Started and lettered for four years at Curtis, which is a rare feat. Visited Dartmouth and Louisiana-Monroe. Cancelled trips to Memphis, VMI and Southern Illinois. Has 5.0 speed. Honor student who is academically qualified.

G Joey Ray, St. Thomas, Houston, 6-4, 315: Two-time All-State and three-time All-District selection at the Class 6A school. Picked Tulane instead of Army and he also considered TCU, Northwestern, Stanford, Iowa and Oklahoma State. Missed half of his senior season with a foot injury. Has 5.0 speed. Academically qualified with a 3.5 GPA.

G Dhamiri Thomas, Galena Park, Texas, 6-2, 290: Three-year starter and unanimous All-District selection as a senior at the Class 4A school that was 8-3. Has exceptional leg strength. Has played basketball for four years. His father, Roy, is the head track coach. Picked Green Wave instead of Utah, Houston and Louisiana-Lafayette. Has 5.2 speed. Academically qualified.

DE Justin Adams, Thurgood Marshall, Missouri City, Texas, 5-11, 250: Was selected as the Touchdown Club Houston-area Player of the Year, which is the highest award in that area. He was All-State in Class 5A and district MVP. As a senior he had 106 tackles, 30 tackles for losses, 21 sacks and five forced fumbles. Very quick off the ball. Visited Murray State and Tulsa and considered Jackson State. Two-year starter with 4.5 speed. Has a 3.2 GPA.

DE Brooks Cunningham, Norcross, Ga., 6-2, 230: Had a school-record of 18 sacks as a senior, along with 22 tackles for losses and 99 tackles. Could be an end or outside linebacker. Picked Green Wave instead of Alabama-Birmingham, Southern Miss, Army and Navy. Norcross was the No. 1-rated team in Class 5A and finished 12-1. Norcross might have 10 signees, including three in Division I. Defense allowed 10 points per game. Two-year starter. All-county and all-region. Has 4.8 speed and a 3.7 GPA.

DE Josh Smith, Upson-Lee, Thomaston, Ga., 6-3, 245: Played end and outside linebacker. A three-year starter with 4.7 speed. Visited Vanderbilt, Memphis, Central Florida and Furman. Could be a linebacker, defensive end, fullback, tight end or offensive lineman. Very strong. As a senior, he had 56 tackles, four tackles for losses and two sacks, in addition to three receptions for 36 yards and one touchdown. An A-student who is fully qualified.

DE Cedric Wilson, Clements, Sugar Land, Texas, 6-2, 245: Played defensive end, defensive tackle and tight end. Was All-District selection at tackle and tight end. As a senior, he had 41 tackles, 29 assists and seven sacks; he caught 17 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns for a Class 5A team that was 8-3. Picked Tulane instead of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin. Has 4.6 speed and a 4.0 GPA.

LB Lamont Simmons, O.P. Walker, 6-2, 210: Lone visit was to Tulane. Has 4.6 speed. Had 71 tackles, eight tackles for losses and five sacks for the Class 4A Chargers. Fully qualified with a 25 on his ACT.

CB Phillip Davis, Peachtree, Suwanee, Ga., 5-9, 160: Was an early commitment to Navy. Also considered Furman. Played for a team that won a share of the Class 5A state championship, finishing the season with a 14-14 tie against Roswell. Team was 11-3-1. Had 39 tackles and seven interceptions as a senior. Averaged 10 yards per punt return; caught nine passes for 87 yard and one score. Intercepted four passes as a junior. A four-year starter. Had 4.43 speed. Academically qualified.

DB Devin Holland, Istrouma, 6-0, 195: A three-year starter who had 95 tackles, 18 tackles for losses and two interceptions, returning one for a score, as a senior. Was Class 4A All-State and All-Metro in Baton Rouge. Has exceptional 4.4 speed. Also played linebacker. Visited McNeese State and also considered Louisiana Tech. Has a 3.0 GPA.

PK Darren DeRochemont, Armwood, Seffner, Fla., 5-10, 185: Hit on all 48 extra-point attempts as a senior. Longest field goal was 49 yards as a junior and 43 yards as a senior. Also punted for a 44-yard average at the Class 4A school that was 11-2 in 2006 and won state titles in 2003 and 2004. Does not use a tee to place-kick. Picked Green Wave instead of Mississippi State and Central Florida. Also considered LSU. Has a 3.1 GPA.

Ath. Dominique Dade, Neville, Monroe, 5-9, 175: Played quarterback for two years and started at cornerback as a sophomore. Completed 69 of 128 passes for 1,187 yards and 14 touchdowns with four interceptions as a senior; rushed for 625 yards and five touchdowns on 75 carries. Has 4.42 speed. Could be a cornerback or kick returner. Team was 10-3 this past season. Had committed to Southeastern Louisiana. Also considered McNeese State. Has a 3.1 GPA and is fully qualified.