The Buffs' 2007 recruiting class is in the books, the ink dry, and now it's time to see if coach Dan Hawkins' new presents to CU fans are the real thing or if they end up sitting in the corner, not played with because they don't keep his attention.
To that end, the Black and Gold Truth went to Adam Munsterteiger of BuffStampede.com to get the shakedown on that list of talent as my gift to you. Here is our conversation.
BGT: Everyone's talking about mega-recruit Ryan Miller but of the two-star and three-star players which ones could likely end up shining down the road? How about a couple of names?
Munsterteiger: One of the kids that is an interesting story is (defensive lineman) Chris Perri.
He is somebody who is really impressive on film and ended up picking up late offers from Oregon and UCLA. He saw his stock take off the last few weeks before signing day. That makes you think Hawkins and his staff are pretty good talent evaluators. He's somebody to definitely keep an eye on.
Another guy the coaching staff loves is Brian Lockridge. He's a two-star guy on Rivals but the problem is he had to share his carries in high school so he didn't put up 2,500 yards rushing. But you take his carries from his junior and senior seasons and he ended up averaging about 10 yards a carry. You watch his film and you wonder how this guy was a two-star.
BGT: Why does quarterback Matt Ballenger come to CU knowing Cody Hawkins, a more touted recruit and the head coach's son, is on the roster, most likely destined to become the starter and with Ballenger and Hawkins only being separated by a year in class?
Munsterteiger: There isn't a ton of depth and there's always going to be injury at the quarterback position. The reason he came here, I think, primarily was the coaching staff. (Dan) Hawkins had been recruiting him since his sophomore year when Matt showed up to Boise State's camp. And, obviously, (offensive coordinator) Mark Helfrich has put together an impressive resume developing quarterbacks (Jared Zabransky, Sam Keller, Rudy Carpenter).
BGT: The quarterback position is so critical to success so let me ask what do you like best about Ballenger?
Munsterteiger: He's pretty accurate, pretty mobile but he's so raw because he grew up a basketball player so he hasn't concentrated on the quarterback position like others rated a little bit higher. So you got to like, first and foremost with him, his upside.
BGT: Can you compare Ryan Miller to another player you've seen? Who does he remind you of?
Munsterteiger: I've been told by all national guys that saw him practice that he's a clone of Sam Young (Notre Dame).
BGT: P.T. Gates -- is he a true, durable, home-run hitter or is more likely a solid but unspectacular performer who fans should not expect too much of in a Buffs' uniform?
Munsterteiger: He really is an electric football player, he does all the little things well, the ones that maybe don't show up in the stats column, like blocking.
BGT: Can you compare him to a past CU back?
Munsterteiger: It's hard because CU seems like they have had speed guys or bruisers, not someone who is as well-rounded as he is. He's an all-purpose running back and I think that's why the coaches are so high on him because he can do so many things well.
BGT: The Buffs need some help on the defensive line for Brandon Nicolas and George Hypolite so what do you think about the troika of Drew Hudgins, Conrad Obi and Lagrone Shields -- servicable talents or quarterback crushers and impact players?
Munsterteiger: Conrad Obi only played 14 varsity games because he got hurt as a senior so he's still pretty raw. He certainly has a lot of upside.
Lagrone Shields is somebody who was a sackmaster battling double-and-triple teams so that's pretty impressive.
Hudgins is going to have every opportunity if he's as good as he was at the junior college level. If he is, it will be hard to keep him off the field. He's definitely someone who is pretty good at getting after the quarterback.
BGT: A recruit with the biggest upside and hate to do it, but it's my job, one with the biggest boom-or-bust profile?
Munsterteiger: (WR) Josh Smith. Whatever clips I've seen on the kid are pretty amazing.
And that's hard on the bust. (Running back) Kevin Moyd was a kid a couple of years ago that had a lot of potential, then he got on campus and he can't pass block so they can't even put him on the field because he's such a liability in that area and that's a thing at the high-school level you just don't know.
A couple of guys are (DT) Eugene Goree, who has really good strength but has to develop more and (OL) Ethan Adkins, who is a pretty good athlete but it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the next level.
BGT: Want more Munsterteiger? Look for the rest of our discussion in the Sunday Truth, where I ask him about what CU can do in the recruiting battles if they can put six or seven wins on the board in 2007, what happened in Texas this year and how far the Buffs went towards restocking a sparse talent cupboard with this season's class?
Hawkins sleeping
So what is Dan Hawkins doing? Doesn't he know Texas has already punched the clock on the 2008 recruiting season?
The word from the Austin American-Statesman and writer Alan Trubow is that the Longhorns picked up 10 commitments in the 48 hours after its first Junior Day and then quickly added another commitment.
To the victors go the spoils. Not many programs can pull off such a thing, not even the dynamic personality of Hawkins. Right now, UT is one of the hottest girls in school, the one all guys are wrestling each other to get to call their own. The Horns can simply smile and players line up to get noticed. It's just a different world. Coach Mack Brown has it good -- he's seen as a Hugh Hefner of college football where 99 percent of the best preps in Texas want to get into his party. That, and the man is a kingmaker when it comes to getting guys to the NFL draft.
Knight chided
Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight got spanked. Well, sort of.
More like a hand slap from the Big 12 for his comments about the officiating in a double overtime loss at Oklahoma State last week, drawing a public reprimand as a bad doggy.
What invoked the wrath of the conference was when Knight had the nerve to label one call, a charge, as "horrendous" and "maybe as bad a call as I've ever seen."
That was in violation of the conference's principle and standards of sportsmanship, which prohibit coaches from commenting critically in public about officials, according to the Big 12.
BGT: Yes, Knight is a schmuck but know what? This antiquated rule in sports that one dare not criticize officials is now and has always lacked any credible logic behind it. Why can't you criticize an official for bad work? What country do we live in? Let's see, we can rip the President of the United States or any member of congress to shreds without fear of going to prison or being executed as in other parts of the world but dare say anything about a man in a funny uniform and somebody gets detention or his cookies taken away. Ludicrous.
Comments don't undermine officiating in any way. On-court or on-field verbal attacks on the officials are far worse than any post-game comment, within reason. No chaos is going to be created from honesty being spoken. Officials, by and large, do well and when they don't, they should be open to their shortcomings, just like coaches and players. With all apologies to Dan Hawkins for stealing his material, you don't like it then go officiate intramurals!
Parents lie
So see if you've heard this one before.
A collegiate sports star, hoping to keep everyone happy, tells all who will listen that he hasn't yet made up his mind about returning for another season.
We all laugh, if we're smart, or we continue to believe in Santa Claus.
Seems the father of potential NBA Hall-of-Famer Kevin Durant likes to tell funnies "There's a chance (Kevin) would come back to Texas next year," Wayne Pratt, told the Dallas Morning News, according to a report on ESPN.com.
HaHaHaHaHaHa.
Right!
Your son is not only tearing up the Big 12 but the nation like he's playing in a Biddy Basketball tournament and you expect us to believe he's coming back to school when he's almost maxed out as far as how high he can go in the NBA draft?
Pratt is not a very good liar. I think my ex-wife is teaching a class this semester on it though and maybe it's not too late to add in.
Durant is averaging 24.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per game on the season and much more in conference play and will go no lower than second in the draft (behind Ohio State's Greg Oden) when he declares after this season and could end up first overall.
Silly Mr. Pratt, thinking us gullible.
Why not me?
So how come no one has asked me about how I feel about gay athletes?
I can't put my foot in my mouth like everyone else?
Isn't it amazing how such a little thing can mushroom when the mainstream media fertilizes it, like they do.
Do you truly care that there are gay athletes? I mean, really care? I mean, I don't care what you do sexually if you and I work in the same office, other than if you have wilder experiences.
Hey, if I'm in the locker room and I know JeffDonSteveBill is gay, how does that affect whether he can play or not, whether he's a good teammate, a decent person? It matters to God but hey, not my business, not my job to judge. I have enough problems of my own anyway.
Like, who took my towel and why do you all have to snap my butt with it?
Checking out, best your way
Truth
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