THE INSIDE VIEW

Barry Laminack: Early signing day changes things for college football

Barry Laminack
Dec 21, 2017, 6:28 am
Jimbo Fisher's first A&M class got off to a slow start. Tomahawknation.com

Yesterday marked the beginning of the early signing period in college football, and boy are teams already busy. This time of year is make-or-break for a lot of kids and programs alike.

For guys like new Texas A&M football coach Jimbo Fisher changing schools weeks before this moment can be challenging, so we’ll see what he can do on short notice to get recruits to come join him at Texas A&M. And don’t look now but apparently Tom Herman has an outside shot at having the number 1 recruiting class in the nation this year.

Keep in mind, recruiting – and these class rankings – are an inexact science, so take that last statement (and pretty much any recruiting statement) with a grain of salt. Predicting how good recruits will be seems to me like being able to predict how good players will do when they are drafted into the NFL. It’s just hard to tell. Some guys you think will be really good and they’re not, an other guys end up being outstanding, and nobody ever saw it coming.

ESPN predicted that either Ohio State or Georgia would finish with the number one recruiting class in the nation. If that happens it will be the first time that a team not named Alabama, Florida State, Florida, Miami, or USC has done so in the last 12 years.

Here’s your top 10 list as of late yesterday evening (according to ESPN):

  1. Georgia
  2. Ohio State
  3. Texas
  4. Penn State
  5. Clemson
  6. Alabama
  7. Miami
  8. Oklahoma
  9. Auburn
  10. Notre Dame

Other Texas notables: Baylor (16), TCU (19), Texas A&M (26).

If you’re jonesing for a UH update rivals.com says they have the #52 ranked recruiting class for 2018.

Really guys?

All this recruiting talk got me thinking about something – and yes, I know that what I’m about to write is probably going to rustle a few jimmies, and that’s OK. I get it, it’s probably not a popular take (especially here in Texas) – but why are grown men out here watching high school football with no kids on the team?

I’ll never understand how a dude can get off work on a Friday, hop in the car, drive down to the local high school football stadium, grab a hot dog and a coke, and watch a bunch of kids that he has no idea about play football. I’m not talking about guys with kids on the team. I’m not talking about guys with kids in the band, or on the cheer squad, or JV.

Just regular ass dudes who go and watch high school football, just because?

I don’t get it.

Maybe I’m not “Texas” enough, but I just do not understand it. But to each their own, I suppose

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A Look at The AAC

The UH/AAC football report: Coogs run out of gas again; AAC ranked teams go 2-1

UH Footbal Official Twitter Account

There were only four games in the AAC this week, but three of them featured the conference's ranked teams. One of those ranked teams visited UH this week. Here's how I saw Week 12 in the AAC:

Coogs start hot but finish flat again

The Coogs jumped out to a 17-7 lead after the 1st quarter and looked like they were on their way to an upset. Then the second quarter happened. The Tigers outscored the Coogs 21-3 in the second quarter and never looked back cruising to a 45-27 win. UH was more than doubled up in offensive output 531 to 256. Good news: this team should be better next year and years to come. Bad news: there's two more games left this season and the offseason to wait through. If they can improve their efficiency on offense and improve to be an average to better than average defense, this team will be a top team in the conference again.

Other Key Results

Temple 29, Tulane 21: The nine points scored in the third quarter proved to be the difference between these two 6-3 teams. The Owls were up 22-7 heading into the fourth quarter when the Green wave finally found some offense.

#17 Cincinnati 20, USF 17: It took a heroic effort from Michael Warren II and a 37-yard field goal as time expired for the Bearcats to beat the Bulls. USF outgained Cincy by 160 yards, but couldn't pull off the upset of the conference's highest ranked team.

#23 Navy 20, #16 Notre Dame 52: The Midshipmen were dominated by their historic rival. The Fighting Irish recovered four fumbles on their way to a dominant performance. However, Navy still rushed for 281 yards in their loss.

Stars Of The Week

Brady White, QB, Memphis: If you saw a Power 5 quarterback threw for 341 yards and five touchdowns in an 18-point win over a conference rival on the road, you'd think he'd be in the Heisman race right? Someday, things will change for Group of 5 players, specifically in the AAC.

Michael Warren II, RB, Cincinnati: As I stated earlier, Warren kept the Bearcats in the game and helped them win almost singlehandedly. He totaled 164 yards on 28 touches and a touchdown. He accounted for 58.9% of their total yards on offense.

Jadan Blue, WR, Temple: At 12 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown in the Owls win over the Green Wave, Blue accounted for 54.5% of the receptions, 44.1% of the passing yards and a third of the touchdown passes. He's the team's leading receiver this season and is only a sophmore.

Games To Watch This Week

UCF @ Tulane

SMU @ #23 Navy

Temple @ #17 Cincinnati

Players To Watch This Week

Doug Gabriel, UCF: The Golden Knights are a prolific passing team. The Green Wave are stingy against the pass. The one that wins this battle should also win the game.

Malcolm Perry, Navy: Perry is Navy's leading passer and rusher in their triple option attack. However, SMU is worse against the pass than they are against the run. Perry's performance in both phases of the offense will be key to the outcome.

Anthony Russo, Temple: If the Owls want to pull off the upset against Cincy, Russo will have to have a great game. If he can keep the chains moving via the pass game against a Bearcats defense gives up more yards in the air than on the ground, The Owls will have a shot.

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