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Recruiting: A Look Back at How it Went

By Sammy Batten, Fayetteville Observer

Feb 12, 2008

The hangover from college football’s national signing day is starting to fade, allowing us to form a clearer perspective of what were the true high points of last Wednesday’s events.

So before we move on and start discussing the major prospects for 2009, here’s one man’s opinions on “The Best of Signing Day 2008.’’

Signing-Day Shocker: Terry Sanford tight end Dwayne Allen committed to Georgia less than a month after his junior season ended in 2006. Although Allen’s commitment seemed shaky at times over the next year, when he reaffirmed that pledge in a press conference on Monday before signing day it looked like a done deal.

But after delivering an eloquent speech about the pressures of recruiting and defending his head coach Wayne Inman against claims he was controlling Allen’s recruitment, the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder surprised his classmates and his mother by pulling a Clemson cap out of his coat.

The change-of-heart was strangely familiar to those of us in the Fayetteville area, who in 2005 watched another highly touted tight end, South View’s Jonathan Hannah, struggle with his decision. Hannah first committed to Virginia Tech two weeks before signing day, but at the last minute switched to South Carolina.

Both situations are examples of why the NCAA needs to start looking for ways to relieve the pressure on highly recruited athletes, and they need to do it fast.

Program Makers: Usually, one player doesn’t make a program. But on rare occasions, like when Philip Rivers was at N.C. State, the impact of a single player can elevate a team with his talent and charisma.

Two players that have that potential will land in the Triangle next fall in North Carolina running back Jamal Womble and N.C. State quarterback Mike Glennon.

Womble is a game-breaking back like the Tar Heels haven’t seen since Kelvin Bryant and “Famous’’ Amos Lawrence graced the field at Kenan Stadium. He’s fast, powerful and is coming to Chapel Hill with an eye on the starting tailback job.

Because his position is a bit more intricate, Glennon may not have the immediate impact at N.C. State that Womble will at UNC. But once he gets a grasp of the offense and his decision-making skills catch up with his arm strength, Glennon could be a factor by mid-season.

Overlooked and Underrated: East Carolina signees C.J. Brown and Justin Venable are going to have a lot of coaches wondering why they didn’t recruit them in a couple of years.

Brown, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman, was pretty much the equal of more heralded teammate Nick Becton at Wilmington’s New Hanover High. But while Becton was inundated with offers, Brown's only major scholarship came from the Pirates. Two years from now he’ll be a starter at tackle, and in three years a contender for All-C-USA honors.

Venable, from Southeast Guilford High in Greensboro, is a linebacker in a safety’s body. He opened a lot of eyes when he picked up defensive MVP honors for the North Carolina squad at the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas all-star game in December. Because of his speed and physical style, Venable will play early on special teams and one day will be the safety everybody is conscious of when they run pass patterns across the middle against the Pirates.

Kudos To The Assistants: The head coach always gets the glory, but it’s the assistants who really do the bulk of the recruiting.

They all did a great job this year, but here’s a tip of the hat to N.C. State’s Jim Bridge, Tom Elrod of Wake Forest and UNC’s Tommy Thigpen.

Bridge was the primary recruiter for at least six of the Wolfpack’s signees, including prime targets in offensive lineman R.J. Mattes and linebacker Terrell Manning. He also reeled in linebacker Sterling Lucas down the stretch.

Elrod, a Florida native, was pivotal in the signing of six players from the Sunshine State, including three from the successful Nease High program.

Thigpen assisted with or recruited personally key linebacker signees in Kevin Reddick, Ebele Okakpu, Zach Brown, Dion Guy and Kenneth Harris.

Still waiting: The nation’s No. 1 prospect, quarterback Terrelle Pryor from Jeannette, Pa., did not sign with anyone last Wednesday.

Pryor looked like he was headed to Ohio State, but delayed his decision so he could take an official visit to Penn State. Now, everyone is back to waiting and wondering what the Vince Young clone will do, and when.

Of course, he’ll have to do something before April 1 because that’s when the national signing period ends.

Two prominent in-state athletes who also remain unsigned are running back Marquan Brown from Gray’s Creek and running back Darius Spencer of Asheville Reynolds. Both were expected to be ECU signees.

Brown is expected to sign his letter-of-intent sometime later this week. Gray’s Creek coach David Lovette said Tuesday he was told by ECU assistant coach Junior Smith that Brown’s letter-of-intent was in the mail.

Spencer is headed to junior college, according to his head coach Shane Laws. “He still wants to go to East Carolina,’’ Laws said. “But he’ll probably go to junior college and sign with them again in two years.’’

Veteran reporter Sammy Batten of The Fayetteville Observer can be reached at battens@fayobserver.com or (910) 486-534.