BeastMan
02-08-2015, 06:10 PM
For Entire Breakdown Click Here (http://3rdand57.com/msu-class-of-2015-breakdown/)
Immediate Impact
When you look at this class and who you can expect to see on the field this fall the first name you have to take notice is Donald Gray. With Jameon Lewis graduating there is an early opportunity in the slot. The next and equally important for the fall is OT Martinas Rankin. He is in a perfect position to come in and start at OT immediately (I?d guess RT). The next most likely is Jamal Peters and that is based on a need basis with his off-the-charts talent. It would not surprise me at all if he works his way to one of the starting safety positions in 2015.
Biggest Gets
If you?re looking from a headlines, stars, and perception standpoint none were bigger than Leo Lewis. Not only was he a huge get from an in-state perspective, the fact that he was flipped from Ole Miss sweetens the pot. The other two that immediately come to mind are Jamal Peters and Martinas Rankin. Both bring star power and fill a need. Another player that isn?t getting the hype that he deserves as a signee is 4-star Traver Jung. With the graduation of Matt Wells, Jung can immediately vie for the starting OLB position.
Sleepers
There is no bigger sleeper in this class than Anfernee Mullins. I am clueless to why he wasn?t rated higher. His highlight film screams elite talent and skill-set. Another player that I really like is QB signee Nick Tiano. He has all the physical tools and is a good decision maker. He?s underrated as a runner and could be a great fit for Mullen?s scheme. The last sleeper I?ll mention is Michael Storey, A big part of him going under the radar was his recruitment. It was largely kept under the radar and as his SEC interest was about to really take off, he was already an early enrollee at MSU. He has the typical SEC build, frame, and brings a mean streak into the fold. His feet give him some versatility where I could see him at RT or in the interior.
Trends
In year 6 of the Mullen regime, you really get to take notice of what the specific attributes he likes for his staff to pursue. When you look at the OL you see 4 guys who are all 6?4 or taller and none over 300 pounds. It?s clear that MSU likes athletic lineman that have to ability to play on the inside or out depending on need. The only guy I?d pencil in for the inside is Darryl Williams at center but either Storey or Moon at OG wouldn?t surprise me in the least.
Another trend is the rangy defensive player that can run. With signees like LBs Jung, Washington, and Lewis and safeties like McLaurin and Peters you see the blend of length and athleticism. While many other SEC defenses are going all speed at the cost of size to combat the spread offenses it seems that Mullen still wants the size necessary to line up and play smash mouth football.
Points of Emphasis
The first major point of emphasis is on the offensive side of the all. Mullen signed 4 guys that are specialist with the ball in their hands: Donald Gray, Deddrick Thomas, Malik Dear, and Keith Mixon. The one thing that all of them have in common is a home-run threat. Although Gray and Thomas are true slots, Dear and Mixon bring a utility where they can be used in the slot or out of the backfield. Signing 4 players in this mold is a signal that Mullen wants to upgrade the explosive factor on offense.
Another thing I noticed is that MSU signed two players, Fletcher Adams and Kendell Jones, who I think we both be DTs that will play well under 300 pounds. Both will inject some speed off the ball on the defensive interior and bring a skill-set that MSU has never really had at DT. One thing that these cat-quick interior DL can bring is more opportunity to shoot gaps and run twists and stunts.
The Unheralded
I always like to look at the bottom part of the class from a ratings standpoint and see what story it tells. Often times there are a few names you didn?t hear until the end which points to misses. When you look at the bottom of MSU?s class you see Harison Moon, Justin Johnson, Alec Murphy, Nick Tiano, and Farrod Green. First off, none of these guys were late, panic additions. All these guys were evaluated and were core members of this class from the beginning. Then you have to look at them individually. Moon has all the potential in the world and turned down a late push from Penn State. Johnson was the #1 WR in AL. Tiano was the #1 QB in the state of TN. Murphy was the #1 RB in the state of MO. Green is the definition of under the radar playing in rural MS and I think he will surprise a lot of people in college. If this is supposed to be the ?bottom? of MSU?s class, it can only lead to excitement for the ?top?.
Misses
The only true miss was the juco DT position. MSU wanted to add one to give some immediate help on the inside. After multiple misses earlier in the process, MSU thought they had Courtney Miggins until his paperwork for Kentucky went through. Hindsight is 20/20 but I wondered why MSU didn?t show more interest besides an uncommittable offer to former MSU signee Ulric Jones who ended up signing with South Carolina.
Immediate Impact
When you look at this class and who you can expect to see on the field this fall the first name you have to take notice is Donald Gray. With Jameon Lewis graduating there is an early opportunity in the slot. The next and equally important for the fall is OT Martinas Rankin. He is in a perfect position to come in and start at OT immediately (I?d guess RT). The next most likely is Jamal Peters and that is based on a need basis with his off-the-charts talent. It would not surprise me at all if he works his way to one of the starting safety positions in 2015.
Biggest Gets
If you?re looking from a headlines, stars, and perception standpoint none were bigger than Leo Lewis. Not only was he a huge get from an in-state perspective, the fact that he was flipped from Ole Miss sweetens the pot. The other two that immediately come to mind are Jamal Peters and Martinas Rankin. Both bring star power and fill a need. Another player that isn?t getting the hype that he deserves as a signee is 4-star Traver Jung. With the graduation of Matt Wells, Jung can immediately vie for the starting OLB position.
Sleepers
There is no bigger sleeper in this class than Anfernee Mullins. I am clueless to why he wasn?t rated higher. His highlight film screams elite talent and skill-set. Another player that I really like is QB signee Nick Tiano. He has all the physical tools and is a good decision maker. He?s underrated as a runner and could be a great fit for Mullen?s scheme. The last sleeper I?ll mention is Michael Storey, A big part of him going under the radar was his recruitment. It was largely kept under the radar and as his SEC interest was about to really take off, he was already an early enrollee at MSU. He has the typical SEC build, frame, and brings a mean streak into the fold. His feet give him some versatility where I could see him at RT or in the interior.
Trends
In year 6 of the Mullen regime, you really get to take notice of what the specific attributes he likes for his staff to pursue. When you look at the OL you see 4 guys who are all 6?4 or taller and none over 300 pounds. It?s clear that MSU likes athletic lineman that have to ability to play on the inside or out depending on need. The only guy I?d pencil in for the inside is Darryl Williams at center but either Storey or Moon at OG wouldn?t surprise me in the least.
Another trend is the rangy defensive player that can run. With signees like LBs Jung, Washington, and Lewis and safeties like McLaurin and Peters you see the blend of length and athleticism. While many other SEC defenses are going all speed at the cost of size to combat the spread offenses it seems that Mullen still wants the size necessary to line up and play smash mouth football.
Points of Emphasis
The first major point of emphasis is on the offensive side of the all. Mullen signed 4 guys that are specialist with the ball in their hands: Donald Gray, Deddrick Thomas, Malik Dear, and Keith Mixon. The one thing that all of them have in common is a home-run threat. Although Gray and Thomas are true slots, Dear and Mixon bring a utility where they can be used in the slot or out of the backfield. Signing 4 players in this mold is a signal that Mullen wants to upgrade the explosive factor on offense.
Another thing I noticed is that MSU signed two players, Fletcher Adams and Kendell Jones, who I think we both be DTs that will play well under 300 pounds. Both will inject some speed off the ball on the defensive interior and bring a skill-set that MSU has never really had at DT. One thing that these cat-quick interior DL can bring is more opportunity to shoot gaps and run twists and stunts.
The Unheralded
I always like to look at the bottom part of the class from a ratings standpoint and see what story it tells. Often times there are a few names you didn?t hear until the end which points to misses. When you look at the bottom of MSU?s class you see Harison Moon, Justin Johnson, Alec Murphy, Nick Tiano, and Farrod Green. First off, none of these guys were late, panic additions. All these guys were evaluated and were core members of this class from the beginning. Then you have to look at them individually. Moon has all the potential in the world and turned down a late push from Penn State. Johnson was the #1 WR in AL. Tiano was the #1 QB in the state of TN. Murphy was the #1 RB in the state of MO. Green is the definition of under the radar playing in rural MS and I think he will surprise a lot of people in college. If this is supposed to be the ?bottom? of MSU?s class, it can only lead to excitement for the ?top?.
Misses
The only true miss was the juco DT position. MSU wanted to add one to give some immediate help on the inside. After multiple misses earlier in the process, MSU thought they had Courtney Miggins until his paperwork for Kentucky went through. Hindsight is 20/20 but I wondered why MSU didn?t show more interest besides an uncommittable offer to former MSU signee Ulric Jones who ended up signing with South Carolina.