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Hornets appear to be leading contender for Graves

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Phantom Hornet

Active member
From today's Bee by Joe Davidson...

Update on Graves

The one player Moala and Lopa couldn't quite get their paws on last month also has a last-stop recruiting trip this weekend, fully expecting to be wowed.
Folsom quarterback Dano Graves – The Bee and MaxPreps National Player of the Year – is being courted by Sacramento State.

That's one school that has not been overly concerned with Graves' 5-foot-9 frame. If Graves lands with the Hornets, he will be the program's most significant recruit ever. He could give the Hornets the sort of buzz provided in the 1990s by tailback Charles Roberts, another diminutive, elusive talent who made big plays.

The sense here is Graves will pick the Hornets.

He took a recruiting trip to the Air Force Academy earlier this month, was impressed, but wasn't sure he wanted to put in the overall 10-year commitment.

And he turned down a recruiting trip to Portland State last week, explaining that it didn't make sense to go out of state to play for a program in the same conference as Sac State. Advantage: Hornets.

Graves was invited to visit Cal Poly San Luis Obispo this week, but he didn't want to miss school. Looking fatigued and battling a two-week cough, Graves echoed a sentiment thousands of his prep peers would envy.

"I'll know where I'm going to go after this weekend," he said. "My future, where I'm going to play, it's always there."
 
Phantom Hornet said:
From today's Bee by Joe Davidson...

Update on Graves

The one player Moala and Lopa couldn't quite get their paws on last month also has a last-stop recruiting trip this weekend, fully expecting to be wowed.
Folsom quarterback Dano Graves – The Bee and MaxPreps National Player of the Year – is being courted by Sacramento State.

That's one school that has not been overly concerned with Graves' 5-foot-9 frame. If Graves lands with the Hornets, he will be the program's most significant recruit ever. He could give the Hornets the sort of buzz provided in the 1990s by tailback Charles Roberts, another diminutive, elusive talent who made big plays.

The sense here is Graves will pick the Hornets.

He took a recruiting trip to the Air Force Academy earlier this month, was impressed, but wasn't sure he wanted to put in the overall 10-year commitment.

And he turned down a recruiting trip to Portland State last week, explaining that it didn't make sense to go out of state to play for a program in the same conference as Sac State. Advantage: Hornets.

Graves was invited to visit Cal Poly San Luis Obispo this week, but he didn't want to miss school. Looking fatigued and battling a two-week cough, Graves echoed a sentiment thousands of his prep peers would envy.

"I'll know where I'm going to go after this weekend," he said. "My future, where I'm going to play, it's always there."
Click to expand...


Man! O would say this sounds pretty damn promising...
 
I just read that article and was coming here to see if anybody had posted about it yet. I sure hope Joe D is right and that the Hornets are the favorite. If the Hornets land Graves, and with Jake Geringer and Justin Cox already in the mix, this will already be an excellent recruiting class no matter who else they get. Keep your fingers crossed!!!
 
From the Daily Bulletin on players expected to sign Wednesday :

Jacoby Carter, Diamond Ranch, CB - Sacramento State

Link: http://www.insidesocal.com/sb/fowler/recruiting/
 
Here is another commit for the Hornets:

Colton all-CIF offensive/defensive lineman John Taylor committed to Sacramento State last night, according to a text message received today by Colton coach Rick Bray. Taylor is the third Yellowjacket to commit to a Division I school, joining linebacker Rodney Hardrick (Oregon) and RB/DB Tyler Ervin (San Jose State). All three players will sign their letters of intent at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday in the Whitmore Auditorium on campus as part of National Signing Day.

Link: http://www.insidesocal.com/sb/berka/verbal-commitment/


According to Maxpreps he had 14.5 sacks this season.
 
SloStang, thanks for the recruit updates. For anybody interested, I took the time to research the two verbal commits he mentioned and there are some youtube highlights available. Both kids look to be fairly talented.

JaCoby Carter #15 Diamond Ranch High School RB/DB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Cof2GKTps

JOHN TAYLOR, COLTON HIGH SCHOOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnGEw5lTOCs
 
SloStang said:
Dano is head to Air Force.

Link: http://blogs.sacbee.com/preps/
Click to expand...

From a fans POV ... very, very disappointing. I so wanted to see this kid in green and gold. That said, I'm happy for the kid as I'm sure this was one of the toughest decisions he's ever made up to this point in life.

While I certainly will be rooting for him and watching from afar, part of me believes that if Dano develops into the type of player I think he can be, and even grows another couple of inches (not unheard of), he may end up regretting the 10-year commitment, which all but ruins any chance of a pro career.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytCEuuW2_A&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Looks like it's time for the Jake Geringer show in 2012!!!
 
i don't know if any of the rest of the posters have ever been to the Air Force Academy, but, its a very impressive place. it has a sense of spirit that you don't find at a regular college. I can understand how he made the decision he made. good luck to him!
 
Super Hornet said:
Ten year commitment? Anyone hear of Napoleon Kaufman? There ARE ways around that....
Click to expand...

How's that?

First, I'm fairly certain that you're referring to Napoleon McCallum and not Napoleon Kaufman (who played at the University of Washington). McCallum played one season for the Raiders in 1986 before having to fulfill his 5-year commitment to the Navy. He returned to the Raiders in 1990 at the age of 27.

DrMike said:
i don't know if any of the rest of the posters have ever been to the Air Force Academy, but, its a very impressive place. it has a sense of spirit that you don't find at a regular college. I can understand how he made the decision he made. good luck to him!
Click to expand...

If he doesn't believe he has a legitimate shot at a pro career (NFL, UFL, CFL, Arena) or wants to be a pilot more than an athlete, I certainly understand the decision. However, you don't see all that many high profile, star recruits choose one of the military schools for a reason ... it's career suicide. I'm not saying it doesn't happen (David Robinson comes to mind, among others) but it's not the norm. Beginning your pro career at 27 or 28 years old isn't conducive to a great or lucrative pro career.

While Dano isn't a 4 or 5 star recruit, I just happen to believe he is going to become a very, very good QB and may even grow a few inches by the time he turns 21. He obviously made the best choice for him at this time and I'm not damning him for it. It's his life and everybody has to walk their own path. I just think he may end up regretting the 10-year commitment, that's all. I've known others that have.

I don't know the kid, but I get the feeling that if a more high-profile FBS school had recruited him to play QB, he would be going there rather than the AFA. I think he ended up going there because it was the only FBS program recruiting him to play QB. Perhaps I'm wrong though.

Speaking for myself, when I had dreams of playing football beyond college (pipe dream) I never once considered a military school, no matter how impressive they may have been.

All that said, I'm glad Dano is happy with his choice and I wish him all the best. I hope it works out the way he envisions. I'll certainly be rooting for him.
 
BHF: Nice catch. Other than the first name (and the fact that Rev. Kaufman is frequently in the Valley for men's ministries events), I'm not sure why I confuse the two.

You're certainly right about the Academy being a place of honor. However, I do know of ONE outstanding athlete (from the Pacific Northwest) that dropped out of AFA to play for Sac State. Too bad for AFA....

You're also likely right about Graves' rationale. It's sad for us, but I to wish him the best as he is following in a long line of footsteps in protecting our great nation.

That said, if Graves had to ditch us for an academy, I would MUCH rather he chose Annapolis. Navy rules!!!
 
This just sucks for us. We can't keep any of our high profile kids from this area. I just don't ever see this trend changing unless we when a National Title or move to FBS.
 
footballnow said:
This just sucks for us. We can't keep any of our high profile kids from this area. I just don't ever see this trend changing unless we when a National Title or move to FBS.
Click to expand...

National Championship at the Jr. Varsity level or a SJSU type program isnt going to keep local high profile kids home. You cant even compare the AFA to Sac State, if that is what you are referring too.
 
Green Cookie Monster said:
footballnow said:
This just sucks for us. We can't keep any of our high profile kids from this area. I just don't ever see this trend changing unless we when a National Title or move to FBS.
Click to expand...

National Championship at the Jr. Varsity level or a SJSU type program isnt going to keep local high profile kids home. You cant even compare the AFA to Sac State, if that is what you are referring too.
Click to expand...

While I agree that building a winning program will bring in better recruits, the affect will only be marginal. Winning at the FCS level will help land some of the better recruits that weren't highly recruited by FBS schools or those that decided to transfer from a FBS school but do not wish to sit out an entire season. However, it isn't going to help land kids that do get serious attention from FBS schools.

Sac State isn't going to be overly successful at keeping elite local talent in town until they are part of the FBS. Just look at Montana as an example. They are one of the premier FCS programs around, yet a recruit from that area still isn't likely to commit to their program if they have viable FBS options.

First things first. Build a winning program at the FCS level and better recruits will continue to come. Once that occurs, you build up your facilities with the additional revenue (attendance/TV) and then try to make the jump to the FBS.
 
Part of that equation is the money...FBS is full scholarship and FCS is typically 50-70% per incoming freshman. If we were an FBS at least that part of the equation would be gone...We would need a few things to happen before we could get to FBS level...a couple successful years at the FCS level, upgrade in other athletic facilites and better attendance would help.
 
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