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CO M M E N TA RY--JAY HEATER--IDAHO STATE JOURNAL
Kramer’s smart recruiting path: Full speed ahead
Idaho State football coach Mike Kramer was talking about one of the four wide receivers he signed on Wednesday, Jarrod Daniels.
Daniels, out of Modesto Junior College and Sierra (Calif.) High School, had ogles of yards as a running back in both high school and junior college. “He runs in the 4.4 range,” said Kramer, who noted that he could shift Daniels back to running back if needed.
ISU football fans hear “4.4 range” and they are hoping for Tavoy Moore speed. In reality, history has told us to prepare for 4.56.
We all are hoping for 4.38, because that means that a bunch of Pac-10 teams missed that boat.
In the past, a player of 4.4 stature headed for FCS had some accompanying liability, such as being 5-foot-6 or 145 pounds. More often, a player with blazing speed headed for the Big Sky might have a checkered academic background.
This season, Kramer’s first, is different because Athletic Director Jeff Tingey has laid down the law. Tingey said no potential football signee could visit campus if he hadn’t qualified in terms of NCAA approved test scores. Because of NCAA restrictions, ISU could add no more than two junior college transfers midyear.
Following those guidelines, Kramer said this class was “as solid as any class academically that I’ve ever signed.”
As Kramer put it, all his recruits “fit through a tremendous keyhole of academic proficiency.”
Yes, but can they block?
That might seem like somewhat of a mean question considering that Kramer has been assigned the task of cleaning up Idaho State’s tarnished academic image with the NCAA. Should we care whether they win or lose?
ISU’s last football coach, John Zamberlin, sacrificed wins by cutting dead wood and attempting to make academic strides. For his efforts, he was tarred and feathered.
Now Kramer has been given his guidelines for recruiting and he has done what ISU has demanded, gone out and recruited the closest thing to Rhodes Scholars that the West has to offer.
History tells us that Kramer is a tremendous recruiter and he has a knack for finding players like Daniels, who very well might be a speed burner who was playing out of position. However, Kramer has to be facing an entirely new set of academic standards that could be hindering his recruiting process.
Kramer was asked to compare the two junior college quarterbacks he just signed. “I love that their combined GPA is an 8,” he said.
Would ISU boosters rather hear that both can throw 40-yard ropes? You be the judge.
Kramer said his program is trying to send a message to ISU’s alumni, fans and boosters that only serious students and solid citizens will be recruited. “We need great character,” he said.
It appears that Kramer has recruited top-shelf character and that should make everyone around campus proud. Whether it translates to more touchdowns remains to be seen.
Kramer signed eight quarterbacks and wide receivers among the 18 players he signed on Wednesday. He signed three offensive linemen, but one isn’t enrolling until 2014 when he returns from a mission and another, Kyle Jones, might play defensive line instead.
If I was going to evaluate this particular recruiting class from strictly a football point of view, I would say that Kramer filled huge needs at the skill positions and missed the boat in terms of offensive linemen.
ISU allowed 42 sacks last season and two of its best offensive linemen, Mark Clampitt and Elijah Ruhl, had knee surgery. The Bengals’ most versatile offensive lineman, Mitch Rudder, graduated. Maybe one of those quarterbacks can gain 60 pounds.
Kramer has been handed an intimidating task. Build a program from the bottom up with athletic ability taking a backseat to academic proficiency.
He has taken his first step. We know those SAT scores are for real.
Now about that 4.4 speed ...
Kramer’s smart recruiting path: Full speed ahead
Idaho State football coach Mike Kramer was talking about one of the four wide receivers he signed on Wednesday, Jarrod Daniels.
Daniels, out of Modesto Junior College and Sierra (Calif.) High School, had ogles of yards as a running back in both high school and junior college. “He runs in the 4.4 range,” said Kramer, who noted that he could shift Daniels back to running back if needed.
ISU football fans hear “4.4 range” and they are hoping for Tavoy Moore speed. In reality, history has told us to prepare for 4.56.
We all are hoping for 4.38, because that means that a bunch of Pac-10 teams missed that boat.
In the past, a player of 4.4 stature headed for FCS had some accompanying liability, such as being 5-foot-6 or 145 pounds. More often, a player with blazing speed headed for the Big Sky might have a checkered academic background.
This season, Kramer’s first, is different because Athletic Director Jeff Tingey has laid down the law. Tingey said no potential football signee could visit campus if he hadn’t qualified in terms of NCAA approved test scores. Because of NCAA restrictions, ISU could add no more than two junior college transfers midyear.
Following those guidelines, Kramer said this class was “as solid as any class academically that I’ve ever signed.”
As Kramer put it, all his recruits “fit through a tremendous keyhole of academic proficiency.”
Yes, but can they block?
That might seem like somewhat of a mean question considering that Kramer has been assigned the task of cleaning up Idaho State’s tarnished academic image with the NCAA. Should we care whether they win or lose?
ISU’s last football coach, John Zamberlin, sacrificed wins by cutting dead wood and attempting to make academic strides. For his efforts, he was tarred and feathered.
Now Kramer has been given his guidelines for recruiting and he has done what ISU has demanded, gone out and recruited the closest thing to Rhodes Scholars that the West has to offer.
History tells us that Kramer is a tremendous recruiter and he has a knack for finding players like Daniels, who very well might be a speed burner who was playing out of position. However, Kramer has to be facing an entirely new set of academic standards that could be hindering his recruiting process.
Kramer was asked to compare the two junior college quarterbacks he just signed. “I love that their combined GPA is an 8,” he said.
Would ISU boosters rather hear that both can throw 40-yard ropes? You be the judge.
Kramer said his program is trying to send a message to ISU’s alumni, fans and boosters that only serious students and solid citizens will be recruited. “We need great character,” he said.
It appears that Kramer has recruited top-shelf character and that should make everyone around campus proud. Whether it translates to more touchdowns remains to be seen.
Kramer signed eight quarterbacks and wide receivers among the 18 players he signed on Wednesday. He signed three offensive linemen, but one isn’t enrolling until 2014 when he returns from a mission and another, Kyle Jones, might play defensive line instead.
If I was going to evaluate this particular recruiting class from strictly a football point of view, I would say that Kramer filled huge needs at the skill positions and missed the boat in terms of offensive linemen.
ISU allowed 42 sacks last season and two of its best offensive linemen, Mark Clampitt and Elijah Ruhl, had knee surgery. The Bengals’ most versatile offensive lineman, Mitch Rudder, graduated. Maybe one of those quarterbacks can gain 60 pounds.
Kramer has been handed an intimidating task. Build a program from the bottom up with athletic ability taking a backseat to academic proficiency.
He has taken his first step. We know those SAT scores are for real.
Now about that 4.4 speed ...
