Sycamore Football Inks Three To A National Letter Of Intent

WANTED: Passionate Sycamore Fanatics. That You?

Register NOW to join our community of die-hard Sycamore fans.

Register Log in
Jason Svoboda

Jason Svoboda

The Bird Level
Administrator
HIYOLZYGSUPCZTI.20130910195404.jpg


Indiana State head football coach Mike Sanford announced this evening (Dec. 17) that three student-athletes have signed a national letter of intent and will join in the Sycamores in time for the spring semester and will be eligible to play in 2015.

Read more at GoSycamores...
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
Snapshot analysis of some QB transfers over the last several years and the current recruit Zach Kline:

1. In terms of Rivals 'star ratings', Kline by far the best coming out of high school: Kline 4 stars, Mike 3 stars,Fouch 3 stars, Coyne 3 stars. (By the way, Jimmy Garroppolo-2 stars).

2. In terms of quality of "Best" offer: Kline-University of California at Berkeley, Mike-Bowling Green University, Fouch - University of Washington, Coyne-University of Wisconsin, Madison/West Virginia University. (Coyne outdistanced all by a mile with 11 FBS scholarship offers) (Jim Garroppolo-0 FBS scholarship offers/3 FCS scholarship offers)

3. High school careers characterized as 'dual threat quarterback's': Mike and Coyne. (Jimmy G too was characterised as 'dual threat', but rarely if ever ran in his EIU career).

4. 40 yard dash speed: Kline 4.9's, the rest 4.7's.

4. High school careers characterized as 'pro style' (drop back) quarterbacks: Kline and Fouch.

Conclusion from brief (some may call chicken-shit) QB comparison/analysis: let these guys learn, grow and compete this winter and spring. Come to early conclusions after the spring game and final conclusions midway through fall camp. Also, I would not put a lot of stock in Coach Sanford's
eyeballing evaluation of QB talent/potential given the misses on Robert and Coyne over the last couple years.

For now, in conclusion, I'm looking for stud/6.5 yards-per-carry backs, more high-level O-line men, another 320 pound, athletic interior D line-man and a clone of Robert Tonyan or Jake Wenicke at wide receiver. More to come!!!
 
The rivals star ratings and evaluations to me are meaningless. I know 2 safeties who didn't even rate being listed much less have any stars. Even though both were defensive POYs in a very competitive conference. Passing the eyeball test and the 40 time has very little to do with productivity on the field and leadership. The people running those sites do it to make a living, not because they are expert talent evaluators. Of the 20-30 DBs listed on the Illinois Rivals site for the coinciding two years there were 3 or 4 that had decent college careers. Not too stellar.

I agree that while the signing is exciting, there will be competition and whoever shows best should play. The development of the OL and finding a durable, productive RB will have much to do with whatever success the QB will have.
 
Props to you dads for bringing some of that much needed perspective! I agree about the o-line. Two words - Doug Williams. Average QB + stellar o-line = Super Bowl MVP.

One thing that I think is good is having high quality competition for any position. The competition will make all the QB's better!
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
To be fair, Tonyan was offered by and signed by Trent Miles.

As for Coyne, he was injured from the moment he stepped foot on campus. He also look at bit too bulked up after being moved to FB at Cincy (if you remember back to his LOI signing picture) so he probably wasn't ever really going to work.
 
the johnner said:
What is everybody thinking about Trent Lancaster these days?
Click to expand...

I've been thinking more about Matt Adams these days. I thought the kid played very well against an FCS semi-finalist (possible national champion) Illinois State in his first start. While I didn't expect him to put up the numbers that Perish did, I wasn't worried about him taking over next year.

Now just because Kline is here doesn't mean he is the starter, but still a tough situation for Adams (and Lancaster too). I like what I have seen from both of them in past games.
 
Bluethunder said:
I've been thinking more about Matt Adams these days. I thought the kid played very well against an FCS semi-finalist (possible national champion) Illinois State in his first start. While I didn't expect him to put up the numbers that Perish did, I wasn't worried about him taking over next year.

Now just because Kline is here doesn't mean he is the starter, but still a tough situation for Adams (and Lancaster too). I like what I have seen from both of them in past games.
Click to expand...

A rising tide lifts all boats. Competition is a good thing. Kline will undoubtedly make Adam better, and I think Adam is good enough to make Kline better. It's a good thing all the way around.
 
Ok, I'm absolutely overlooking opponents here but we have 3 games that I think is ok to get a look at out QBs (and other players) starting the year next year.

I wasn't a fan of Tonyan at QB in our situation last year but I may be his biggest fan at WR maybe going as far as making co-workers watch highlight videos (that SDSU catch over the middle was one of my favorites in recent memory)

I hope whoever doesn't end up as a starter feels like the got their opportunity. I also feel that when I played, if they would have brought in guys to take my spot and I lost it then it was best for the team (they tried but it didn't pan out) however as a lineman 3 to 5 positions are pretty interchangeable so in my case I welcomed more able bodies.
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
IndyTreeFan said:
A rising tide lifts all boats. Competition is a good thing. Kline will undoubtedly make Adam better, and I think Adam is good enough to make Kline better. It's a good thing all the way around.
Click to expand...
I see Adam as having the edge going into and coming out of spring.

While the quarterback competition this spring will be good, the battle at running back may be even better. Look for the all state sleeper on the team, Stratten, to battle head to head for playing time with the incumbents. The junior college transfer from Arizona may be surprised at the talent that remains behind Buck.

Linebacker, Lee Davis should win a spot in the depth chart. He seems to have regained the strength and size that he seemed to have lost at prep school.

Junior Berry should be ready to compete for playing time this summer. The line could use his help.
 
At RB, Taylor is going to get the bulk of the carries IMO and Booker will split with him. After those guys, I'd imagine it is open.
 
Jason Svoboda said:
At RB, Taylor is going to get the bulk of the carries IMO and Booker will split with him. After those guys, I'd imagine it is open.
Click to expand...

Taylor and Booker definitely have the experience and thus a leg up. Stratten could not join the scout team until after the IU game. I saw a couple of practices and he stood out like a sore thumb. When Buck was hobbled, they started dressing Stratten and the staff may have been close to blowing his red shirt if Taylor or Booker had gotten hurt. Fortunately, they did not. Stratten has put on 20 lbs since high school, runs 4.5 or better, and is very intelligent. Most Sycamore fans don't realize that the kid never attended a camp nor did he release his tape to any school despite division one interest. If he stays healthy, he may surprise everyone and be a clone of Buck with a little more speed. That will make a great media story. If not, competition for Taylor and Booker is always healthy. Besides, he has a reputation as a great blocking back and the specialty teams always need depth.

In the end, for fans it may make for a fun spring watching the quarterback and running back battles.
 
Observer said:
I see Adam as having the edge going into and coming out of spring.

While the quarterback competition this spring will be good, the battle at running back may be even better. Look for the all state sleeper on the team, Stratten, to battle head to head for playing time with the incumbents. The junior college transfer from Arizona may be surprised at the talent that remains behind Buck.

Linebacker, Lee Davis should win a spot in the depth chart. He seems to have regained the strength and size that he seemed to have lost at prep school.

Junior Berry should be ready to compete for playing time this summer. The line could use his help.
Click to expand...


I was under the impression Junior Berry left the team this fall. I just checked the player roster at GOSYCAMORES and didn't see his name. You are correct we do need more depth on the defensive line.
 
TwoMinuteDrill said:
I was under the impression Junior Berry left the team this fall. I just checked the player roster at GOSYCAMORES and didn't see his name. You are correct we do need more depth on the defensive line.
Click to expand...

Berry tore up his knee. His dad posted all year long and I saw Junior at every home game I attended. If he left, that is a new development I'd think.
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
Observer said:
Taylor and Booker definitely have the experience and thus a leg up. Stratten could not join the scout team until after the IU game. I saw a couple of practices and he stood out like a sore thumb. When Buck was hobbled, they started dressing Stratten and the staff may have been close to blowing his red shirt if Taylor or Booker had gotten hurt. Fortunately, they did not. Stratten has put on 20 lbs since high school, runs 4.5 or better, and is very intelligent. Most Sycamore fans don't realize that the kid never attended a camp nor did he release his tape to any school despite division one interest. If he stays healthy, he may surprise everyone and be a clone of Buck with a little more speed. That will make a great media story. If not, competition for Taylor and Booker is always healthy. Besides, he has a reputation as a great blocking back and the specialty teams always need depth.

In the end, for fans it may make for a fun spring watching the quarterback and running back battles.
Click to expand...

Good deal. Look forward to checking him out during spring ball.
 
Jason Svoboda said:
Berry tore up his knee. His dad posted all year long and I saw Junior at every home game I attended. If he left, that is a new development I'd think.
Click to expand...

I agree with Jason's statement above. My experience is that the rosters are not always accurate. To my knowledge, Berry was rehabbing his knee as recently as November in the weight room. I will ask around, but I think he is still a Sycamore.
 
Observer said:
I agree with Jason's statement above. My experience is that the rosters are not always accurate. To my knowledge, Berry was rehabbing his knee as recently as November in the weight room. I will ask around, but I think he is still a Sycamore.
Click to expand...

The rosters are terrible. Never accurate.

For example, Kevin Scott is still on the roster and he got kicked off the team before camp broke.
 
I also think that Berry left the team. Unfortunate because I was excited to see his size and athletic ability in the middle of the DL. We did get a committment from a JUCO DT didn't we?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top