PowerMizzou.com - 2010 Recruiting Mailbag: Sixth Edition

November 5, 2009

Pete Scantlebury
PowerMizzou.com Staff Writer

nohawks asks: With the chances of landing Dominique Jones going south, are there any other defensive tackles Missouri is looking at?

PS: I wouldn't necessarily say chances of Jones choosing Missouri are heading south. Basically, no one knows what those chances are right now, because no one in the Rivals' network has been able to reach him in quite some time. We know it's going to come down to Missouri and Kansas State, and both teams have certain things going for them. Tre Walker is currently committed to the Wildcats, and he's also Jones' cousin, so there's a connection. Jones is also coached by Steve Huff, who is from mid-Missouri, and is good friends with Missouri coach Josh Henson, from his days at Oklahoma State.

Now, Missouri is looking at other defensive tackles. It seems like the Tigers are most seriously considering Lawrence Rumph, as I'm sure you know. But, the recent revelation -- that 2009 signee Ty Phillips is currently enrolled in prep school and should arrive in Columbia in January -- has put the DT recruiting into more perspective. Missouri only loses Jaron Baston after this season, and now it looks like the Tigers will pick up Lucas Vincent and Phillips for the 2010 season. Could Missouri bring in another tackle if Jones falls through? Sure. But, it doesn't look quite as urgent as people once believed.

314Shroom asks: Do you think if Marcus Lucas commits tomorrow, Bud Sasser] would lean toward KU, and if Sasser commits tomorrow, would this impact Lucas? Hence, not like we would land both and Hunt.

PS: I think, if Missouri had commitments from two or more receivers at this point, then yes, the decision of either Lucas or Sasser could impact the other. But, at this point, it appears that Missouri's receiver class will end at three, and Lucas and Sasser appear to be the two most likely (and most wanted) candidates to fill the class.

With Missouri's offense -- which will get back to throwing the ball more once Gabbert gets more experienced, I'm sure -- entering a class with two other receivers shouldn't impact a recruit's decision too much. For instance, Oklahoma has commitments from two receivers, but are also going after a few more high-profile receiver recruits. That's why Lucas' interest has diminished in the Sooners. But, I think the Tigers are in good position with both Sasser and Lucas, and won't take commitments from other receivers until they know what those two will do.

And, you can be sure that Missouri will do nothing to scare away Lucas as long as he's still interested.

mcraigrod asks: Why do you think Pinkel and his staff do a seemingly better job of evaluating talent than most places (i.e., getting more out of 2 & 3 star "under the radar" type players)? What kind of evaluating can they do so differently?

Or do you think it is coaching and preparation once they are actually on campus?

PS: First, I took a look at how the two-stars panned out during Pinkel's tenure to see exactly how well he's utilized those truly "under-the-radar" players, because in my opinion, I don't consider most of the three-star recruits under-the-radar.

I looked at the total number of two-star signees in each class, and then used my judgment to decide which ones became contributors. I found that in 2002, the Tigers went 1 of 3 (with OL Mike Cook). In 2003, 1-4 (Monte Wyrick). 2004 was a crazy year, and Missouri brought in 16 two-star recruits. Of those, five became contributors (Earl Goldsmith, Jimmy Jackson, Domonique Johnson, Ryan Madison and Stryker Sulak). In 2005, Missouri went 0-5. And, in 2006, Missouri went 3-10 (Sean Weatherspoon, Danario Alexander, Tommy Chavis). I think it's too early to evaluate the two-stars from 2007 on, but there are some gems there (Gachkar, Jake Harry, etc).

So, what does that tell us? Honestly, I don't know. I'm in the group that believes a star rating is a player's percentage chance of succeeding at the next level. So, two stars would have the least chance of success, and Missouri has really unearthed some gems there.

But, I also have another theory. When a four- or five-star recruit flops, you know about it. Everyone knows about it. But when a two-star recruit doesn't pan out, it's no big deal. Pinkel's gained notoriety for those two-star success stories because they're so uncommon. So, perhaps Pinkel has gained that reputation because everyone knows about the players that succeed (Weatherspoon, Alexander), and not so much at the players that don't succeed.

Mizzou-Eddie asks: I seem to remember that when Alex Hill's recruitment was first mentioned, it was unclear if he was being recruited as an OL or a DT. As the recruitment continued, it was obvious they were recruiting him as an OL, but with DT being an obvious need, and Hill saying he would love to come to Mizzou, would he be a possibility at DT if others fall through?

PS: As I said earlier, I don't think DT is as big a concern anymore as some once thought it was, with the recent revelation that Phillips should be here in January. But, Hill was never an option at DT. He only plays offense for his high school, and he told me Missouri never mentioned switching him to defense. So, I think that would be a long shot at best.

Mizzou-Eddie asks: Do you have any idea what the staff plans for Darvin Ruise? I've heard they are recruiting him as a safety, but at 218 with a good chance to put on more weight, do you see him ending up somewhere else?

PS: Missouri is recruiting Ruise as a "safety," yes. But, when I say safety, think of safety like Andrew Gachkar and Zaviar Gooden were once safeties. Ruise will be an outside linebacker in Steckel's system, and he's aware of that. Missouri coaches have already told Ruise that he'll be playing linebacker if he comes here.

fghtgr asks: On the defensive hot board you mentioned we were probably done taking D Ends so Mike Douglas probably wouldn't have a spot. Why do you think that is and what's your take on it? I ask because it looks like the DT's are seeming like more of a long shot and we only have 2 lineman, Ealy and Vincent committed. That seems a little light to me for an entire class on the line.

PS: I say Missouri is done recruiting defensive ends because that's what Arlen Pixley, the head coach of Kony Ealy, was told. Missouri coaches told Pixley that Ealy has been penciled in at defensive end, and they are done with the position. So, I'm going based on that exchange.

And, once again, if Phillips gets here in January, this defensive line class doesn't look quite so light.

mcraigrod asks: If Marcus Murphy were to commit and we ended with 3 rb's -- Marcus Murphy, Henry Josey, & Greg White. In your opinion, who redshirts and who plays early? and does anybody switch positions?

PS: I think Murphy would have the greatest chance at playing immediately as a running back, because De Soto runs a spread offense and he's an admit receiver and return man. Josey and White both could switch positions. The coaches told Josey he could play slot receiver or defensive back, and White could play safety or linebacker. But, of the three, I think Murphy would be the hands-down, true running back.

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