FanHouse http://www.fanhouse.com FanHouse http://www.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif FanHouse http://www.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ And That's a Wrap http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/and-thats-a-wrap/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/and-thats-a-wrap/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/and-thats-a-wrap/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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As you know, Fanhouse is changing it's course for the upcoming year. So this is the final piece in this space. Like everyone else who was lucky enough to be a part of this ambitious effort, I want to stand and applaud Mr. Irrelevant himself, Jamie Mottram for supporting me over these last 6 months. It's been a rough ride for Buffs fans, myself included. But bright times are just ahead.

I really do believe, like all the high school coaches and all of his competitors in the Big 12, that Hawkins is going to get Colorado football back to the top. Maybe not just of the Big 12, but of the entire conference, and the top of the nation as well. He's determined, has great commitment from his staff and the University, and from a talent standpoint, has already begun making the turn with this year's class.

With that, I ask you to follow AOL as it continues building Fanhouse, it's going to be an amazing space. See you at Folsom. Or when there's no game, maybe once or twice at Peaberry's on Arrapahoe. I'll be the one in the grey Buffs sweatshirt with a big cup 'o coffee.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T23:56:00 00:00 One Final Post Filled With Duck Links http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/one-final-post-filled-with-duck-links/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/one-final-post-filled-with-duck-links/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/one-final-post-filled-with-duck-links/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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This is it, my time here is done. Thanks to Jamie and everyone at AOL for having some vision and standing behind a great idea and then going out and making it happen. I wish you all the best. A few hundred posts later, I hope you've started to see the vision for how AOL's going to cover college football in the future.

I"ll be following it all on AOL closely, hope you do too.

If you need a continous fix of Oregon information in the meantime, the Oregonlive.com blog's a great source. Especially if you don't have a Ducks Sports Authority or Educk.com subscription. But if you don't have one, I recommend it. I'd be remiss if I didn't at least say thanks to both AJ Jacobson and Steve Summers at both of those sites for all the great content they've given me to link to. If you're crazy enough to read these sites, you should just bite the bullet and buy one of their subscriptions. Really. For ten bucks a month, you can give up your latte ever other day or two more beers a month.

Enough preaching, thanks for the time.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T23:54:00 00:00 Sione Tau Saying Yes to Hawkins, No to Erickson? http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/t/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/t/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/t/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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He might be. Rumor is he's got his decision down to Arizona and Colorado and a late push by Hawkins gives the Buffs a strong shot at the nation's 33rd ranked offensive tackle according to Scout.com.

Tau's choosing Boulder at the last minute would be a huge coup for Hawkins at the wire. He represents the best of what Colorado's looking for to rebuild it's offense in the future. A mammoth offensive tackle at 6' 6", 285lbs. with a mean streak and a terrific person off the field.

How coveted are Tau's services? He's been offered by over a dozen schools, including Cal, Arizona State, Arizona, Oregon State, Hawaii and Utah in addition to the Buffs. The Colorado staff has to be salivating at the possibility of putting him at one tackle, Ryan Miller at the other, and forgetting about those spots for a few years.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T23:36:00 00:00 Future Oregon Stars: Anthony Gildon http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-anthony-gildon/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-anthony-gildon/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-anthony-gildon/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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I saved Anthony Gildon for last, hoping he'd avoid the Petey Pull and remain a Duck commit. And he did. His high school coach Bill Redell told Greg Biggins of Scout.com, ""What it came down I believe was Anthony just really liked Oregon a lot. He liked the coaches and felt a connection and I think he also feels he'll have a better opportunity to play early there. USC is going to be bringing in the best corners every year and Oregon doesn't have that same kind of depth.

In the end, Gildon can play sooner at Oregon, he can have a bigger impact on the defense and the program, and he's been recruited by the Ducks the longest, and with the most desire. He's really really wanted at Oregon. At USC he'd be another player possibly getting to play in a couple years.

Gildon caps what I think is the greatest class in the history of the school. Currently ranked 8th overall by Scout.com. (It's definitely since I've been following all of this for a couple decades.) And in terms of defense, Oregon only missed out on two or three players total during the entire recruiting process. Unheard of these days with all the choices that players have.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T23:08:00 00:00 Maiava Slams Defenders, Will He In Boulder? http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/maiava-slams-defenders-will-he-in-boulder/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/maiava-slams-defenders-will-he-in-boulder/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/maiava-slams-defenders-will-he-in-boulder/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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So the Buffs didn't get Garth Gerhart. His daddy's his high school coach and Dennis Erickson plucked another away from a school late in the recruiting game. Erickson does that, ask USC about their quarterbacking depth.) But Hawkins is undaunted. Unfazed, and relentless.

Considering that very possibility he went out last week and recruited Kealaka'i Maiava from the state of Hawaii. Maiava's a 6' 1", 288lb. center who's the 31st rated at that spot in the nation by Scout.com. What's more, he's only got one other Division One school truly pursuing him right now, and that's New Mexico State. He says he'll decide tomorrow between the two, and it's down to just those two. The only other school he visited, was Idaho, back when Dennis Erickson was there. It's a small world isn't it?

Maiava told Andrew Friedman of Buffalo Sports News.com that he knows all about the Hawaiian and Poly pipeline that's making waves in Boulder. "I know that Michael Sipili is there and Jordan Dizon and B.J. Beatty." Clearly, this would be a great late pickup for the Buffs after losing all the youngsters off the offensive line who were on last year's team. And losing both Adam Tello and Garth Gerhart during the recruiting process.

If he comes to Boulder, Maiava would probably redshirt, but again, like all the others, and I know I sound like a broken record, but it's true, like the other offensive linemen in this class, he could contribute early. He's a guy who averaged about 10 pancake blocks a game.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T23:06:00 00:00 Think Cody Hawkins Won't Start in '07? Hahahahaha http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/think-cody-hawkins-wont-start-in-07-hahahahaha/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/think-cody-hawkins-wont-start-in-07-hahahahaha/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/think-cody-hawkins-wont-start-in-07-hahahahaha/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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Ummmmm, think again. Even observers who rarely see the Buff practices are looking at the Hawkins, Bernard Jackson, Nick Nelson competition and liking Cody's chances. And why wouln't you? Jackson led the Big 12's worst passing offense last year and Hawkins knows the offense as well as anyone not named Dan Hawkins or Mark Helfrich.

Additionally, Cody Hawkins has a penchant for being deadly accurate. As a senior in high school he completed 72 percent of his passes for 2,783 yards and 42 touchdowns as a high school senior. Yes there will be a competition. Yes they'll all battle. Yes Jackson has all the playing experience. Like I said, expect Hawkins to be your starter.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T22:03:00 00:00 Future Oregon Stars: Casey Matthews http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-casey-matthews/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-casey-matthews/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-casey-matthews/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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Talk about a great football family. His dad, his uncle both NFL stars. His brother playing linebacker at USC right now. Casey Matthews was the first player Oregon got a verbal from this year that made me think, 'Okay, this class is on it's way.'

A self-professed country boy who also considered Georgia Tech very very strongly after growing up in Atlanta when his dad played for the Falcons. He said this year that the hardest part of the recruiting process was telling coaches he wasn't going to accept their offer. Humiltity, it's taken him a long way and he's got a chance to not just be a good one, but a great one at Oregon. His performance at the Offense-Defense All-Star game in Ft. Lauderdale in January proved he's among the nation's best linebackers this year.

Qualifying: Good grades, good scores, head over to 13th and get your books young man.

Playing time: Like Pritcheet, like Hanna, like Rowe, he's in the mix to play this year. Right away. He's got tremendous tools and plays the game instinctively. Gee, like he's been around it his whole life huh? If not this year, expect Casey to play special teams very very early and to push for a starting linebacker spot almost as quickly in '08.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T21:35:00 00:00 Hawkins' Class is Full? So What, He Adds More Players http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/hawkins-class-is-full-so-what-he-adds-more-players/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/hawkins-class-is-full-so-what-he-adds-more-players/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/hawkins-class-is-full-so-what-he-adds-more-players/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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It's called gray-shirting and if a player's not going to get on the field their freshman year anyway, it's a great way to give them more time to mature before teeing it up in Division One football. Hawkins has several gray-shirts coming in this year, they'll enroll in January instead of at the beginning of the year, and their scholarship will count against next year's class. The theory is that some of the players who sign on February 7th won't cut it academically or may not be here by next January when the gray-shirt player shows up. By then, the scholarship will be opened up to a new player, and the gray-shirt player can take that spot.

It's so prevalent that Hawkins was out recruiting last week, even though he reportedly already had 28 verbal commits. He offered Chaz Servino from New Jersey but Servino chose to go to Syracuse instead just yesterday. Hawkins will also welcomed grayshirt Jonathan Hawkins to the team last month. A cornerback, Hawkins was offered a grayshirt spot last year, accepted, and is now on campus and will be ready for the spring. Hawkins is the son of former ABA star Joe Caldwell.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T20:15:00 00:00 Future Oregon Stars: Tonio Celotto http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-tonio-celotto/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-tonio-celotto/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-tonio-celotto/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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Celotto's listed as the 71st best player in California. He can play defensive end or linebacker in high school but projects as a lineman at the next level because most guys at this age gain some weight just naturally as their physique fills out. Defensive end? Defensive tackle? We'll see.

Celotto transferred to Piedmont High in California to help himself with his grades and to overcome a learning disability. On the field, he tore it up every week and wound up with more accolades than I thought he would, showing up in a new program, in a new place.

He's six four, 240lbs. and runs a quick 4.7 for a defensive end. Wish they could stick him in at middle linebacker. Probably won't happen though as I'm not sure he's got the lateral quickness to play that spot.

Qualifying: Was an issue back in December and January. i don't believe he's in yet, but we'll see. The learning disability should give him some leeway with the NCAA clearinghouse and we'll see where his scores are anyway. He might make it despite that on the first go-round.

Playing time: Again, could play early for the Ducks. Probably not his freshman year but with all the DE's and DT's leaving in the next two years, he's clearly a guy the staff is counting on to step up and play big minutes for at least three years in a row at Oregon.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T19:52:00 00:00 Bellotti's 352 Suit Combinations, Props from Michigan http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/bellottis-352-suit-combinations-props-from-michigan/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/bellottis-352-suit-combinations-props-from-michigan/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/bellottis-352-suit-combinations-props-from-michigan/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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A hilarious post on the Michiganzone.com site. Showing Bellotti wearing various suit combinations in a rouse of Oregon's uniform combinations. Obviously, there's been a lot of discussion about all of Oregon's uniforms. From helmets released for the Vegas bowl. To general discussion about innovative looking uniforms by 'tradition fan' who can't stand something new. Still, those shots are hilarious.

This is one spot worth checking back to from time to time Duck fans. They even gave you props for your performance against the Ducks 3 years ago. Calling the Duck fans among the classiest in the nation among teams with a reason not to be. Well done Michigan fan, well done.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T18:32:00 00:00 Super Bowl Ring Key to Colorado's Great Class? http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/super-bowl-ring-key-to-colorados-great-class/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/super-bowl-ring-key-to-colorados-great-class/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/super-bowl-ring-key-to-colorados-great-class/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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Partially at least. Fans of the Buffs and Brian Cabral know he was a member of the '85 Bears and holds onto that ring religiously. He also says he's not afraid to bust it out his Super Bowl ring when he walks into a kids' house and remind him about the success he's had at every level. And he shouldn't be.

Cabral played on Colorado's 1976 Big Eight championship team, and he's living proof of the success that's happened and will happen in the future in Boulder. Busting out a huge rock for proof probably makes for a nice discussion piece too though.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T18:12:00 00:00 Future Oregon Stars: Jeff Maehl http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-jeff-maehl/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-jeff-maehl/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-jeff-maehl/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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Nobody offered Maehl before Oregon did. But they all wish they had after he started tearing it up his senior year at Paradise High in California. Maehl will come in and play defensive back for the Ducks after doing everything in high school. He's 6' 2" and 190lbs. but has hops, closing speed and great instincts.

His junior year he had 18 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, playing both ways. He's a three-sport star, can flat out fly to the ball and should give the Duck corners a run for their money in the very near future.

Qualifying: Not an issue. He should be in.

Playing time: A likely red-shirt just because of the stack in front of him. But don't be surprised if he breaks through. He's got a lot of Walter Thurmond toughness and skills in him. And at 6' 1" he can match up a little better against the bigger wide receivers in the conference. If he pushes himself the way he has to this point, he'll start for the Ducks.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T16:59:00 00:00 For Oregon, Thursday's Signing Day Too: Bellotti May Name O-Coordinator http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/for-oregon-thursdays-signing-day-too-bellotti-may-name-o-coor/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/for-oregon-thursdays-signing-day-too-bellotti-may-name-o-coor/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/for-oregon-thursdays-signing-day-too-bellotti-may-name-o-coor/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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The Eugene Register-Guard is reporting that Coach Mike Bellotti may announce his decision on an offensive coordinator as quickly as the day after signing day. Thursday. Bellotti says he interviewed five candidates, one of them being a current Oregon offensive assistant, and one of them was interviewed on Monday.

He declined to say which of the offensive assistants were interviewed. It's widely known that one assistant would like to become an offensive coordinator someday. Who that is, I'll let Bellotti announce if and when he's ready. Or talk about at another time.

As for who it might be? Well, since he's interviewed people already, outside the program I'll guess he's interviewed, Bill Musgrave. Bryan Harsin, Chip Kelly, and a wild card that I won't bring up, just in case I'm right.

I've said it here before. I think Harsin or Musgrave would be a home-run hire for the program.

Huge day tomorrow. Maybe just as big on Thursday in terms of Oregon's future.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T16:25:00 00:00 The Boys of Boulder: Eugene Goree http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/the-boys-of-boulder-eugene-goree/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/the-boys-of-boulder-eugene-goree/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/the-boys-of-boulder-eugene-goree/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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Eugene Goree's a tremendous player from the state of Tennessee who's not going to Tennessee, or anywhere else in the SEC for that matter. Instead, he'll bring his 6' 4", 281lb. defensive tackle frame to Boulder and probably be standing on the sidelines ready to play every other down. He's likely just one injury away from losing his red-shirt year and seeing action. With just Jason Brace, George Hypolite and couple others battling ahead of him, Goree looks like he's just outside the two-deep entering summer camp.

Fortunately, the Buffs got a good on in Goree. He was one of three finalists for the 'Mr Football' award given to lineman in the 5A classification, and was first team all-state in the football-crazed state of Tennessee. He won't start this year, but again, like a lot of others in this class, at minimum he should start for year and anchor the defensive line for Hawkins from his sophomore through his senior years in Boulder.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T15:40:00 00:00 Future Oregon Stars: Brandon Hanna http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-brandon-hanna/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-brandon-hanna/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-brandon-hanna/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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Probably the most overlooked big talent coming in this year for Oregon. Hanna played on the same team as Carson York and is one of his childhood friends. As an example, Hanna recently sent his tapes to Rivals and immediately jumped from a two-star to a three-star. (There was some talk that they liked it so much, he might've even jumped to a four-star if they'd seen it earlier and been able to evaluate it at the same time they looked at all the other linebackers.)

Hanna's six three, 225lbs., and runs a legit 4.5 forty. He brings the wood. He drills people. He's a run-stuffing force and he's gonna get his chance to compete for a starting linebacker spot early. Like, in 6 months. Oregon's finally recruited a linebacker with the size out of high school to play linebacker the way Blair Phillips did this past year as a senior.

Don't just take my word for it, watch the video of him in action.

Qualifying: Not an issue. Smart guy with good grades and scores.

Playing time: Could play this fall if he shows he can in August. My guess is he won't. Again, not because he couldn't make the plays, but because in Allioti's defense, the middle linebacker makes all the calls. for him to learn all of it, and be able to direct traffic out there for others just weeks after getting into the system is pretty hard to do. If he redshirts, expect him to play his redshirt freshman year, and be a fixture in the middle for years for the Ducks.

Hanna might be the guy I'm most excited about on the defense. At worst one of the top two or three. He's played the position he's going to play in college so the adjustment's a tiny bit easier. He brings tenacity at a position that has to have it. And he's a Northwest kid with all the right tools.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T13:38:00 00:00 Future Oregon Stars: Terrance Pritchett http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-terrance-pritchett/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-terrance-pritchett/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-terrance-pritchett/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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The first of two players Bellotti and his staff reeled away from Mike Stoops in Arizona, Terrance Pritchett's the 13th rated outside linebacker in the entire nation according to Rivals.com. He's a 6' 3", 205lb. ball carrier eating screaming machine who runs a 4.6 forty and lays it down when he gets to the ball.

On his visit he said a couple things stood out to him. The ASUO Multicultural Center for one, where he told Ducks Sports Authority's John Copp, "I was very impressed by the new multi-cultural center," Pritchett told us. "It wasn't really like anything I saw elsewhere." The other was the crowd at Autzen and the support they give on game day.

Qualifying: He's got a 3.69 GPA and is in. No issues at all. In fact, he could tutor some of the other players probably. He and Drew Davis.

Playing time: Does he play this fall? Maybe, does he start in '08? Um...YES. This guy's got the most talent of any of hte outside linebackers in this class. No reason to think he won't make the academic transition and ifhe were to redshirt this year, he could easily wind up starting for four years at Oregon. He's that smart, that focussed and that gifted.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T10:30:00 00:00 The New Boys of Boulder: Josh Smith http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/the-new-boys-of-boulder-josh-smith/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/the-new-boys-of-boulder-josh-smith/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/the-new-boys-of-boulder-josh-smith/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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Might be the fastest player arriving in this class for the Buffs. Josh Smith is a speed burner who's 6' 2", 175lbs. out of Moorpark, CA. He's the 61st rated wide receiver nationally by Scout.com and probably should've been a lot higher. he and Simas should combine to give the Buffs tremendous size on the outside for a long time. Something they've lacked in recent years is someone who can both stretch the field, and make plays up high when they need them. In Simas and Smith, Colorado got two this year. Smith was the 8th rated wide receiver in California after the season by Scout, Simas was second.

One adjustment Smith will have to make is playing in a more balanced offense, he put up nice numbers last year in an offense that ran the ball a ton. (That's because Moorpark was led by Darrell Scott at running back, a player who may be the nation's top back next year.) The upside is that he might know more about how to block than most receivers showing up. The downside is he's probably not used to having to work so hard to get open, like most freshmen receivers, and he's got to get in sync with the quarterbacks quickly and learn all the nuances of a more balanced, complicated offense really quickly if he's going to contribute. He can, and probably will do those things, but it's a must in Hawkins' offense.

Smith caught 26 balls for 55 yards and 9 touchdowns last year as a senior.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T09:47:00 00:00 Future Oregon Stars: William Wallace http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-william-wallace/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-william-wallace/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/future-oregon-stars-william-wallace/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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William Wallace is the classic definition of sleeper. He was All Conference and all everything as a sophomore. Then hurt his knee as a junior and everything stopped. Not sure how his health was, teams stopped recruiting and following him. But he put in a ridiculously good senior year before committing to Oregon. He can flat out fly with 4.39 speed, and played opposite Oregon's Walter Thurmond on their championship team back in '04.

At 5' 11", he'll no doubt play cornerback and get a look at returning punts during his career at Oregon. He averaged over 30 yards a kick return and over 16 yards per punt return his senior year. He's a great late pickup for Oregon who's doing everything they can to avoid the disaster of starting true corners. Wallace will never be put in that position.

Qualifying: Shouldn't be an issue, he's got the grades and the score.

Playing time: Unless he gains a couple years of Pac 10 experience between now and August, I think he's a redshirting. But with Bates' issues still unresolved and the Ducks wanting to move Jarius Byrd to safety, there is some light ahead of him. Especially with all the multiple wide receiver sets teams throw at each other in the Pac 10. Thurmond was a phenomenal recruit for a guy who wasn't at the top of everyone's list. It looks like Wallace could be too.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T07:09:00 00:00 The New Boys of Boulder: Blake Behrens http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/the-new-boys-of-boulder-blake-behrens/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/the-new-boys-of-boulder-blake-behrens/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/06/the-new-boys-of-boulder-blake-behrens/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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Another offensive lineman. Blake Behrens is a 6' 4", 280 pounder out of Phoenix. And he's going to come in and get a look at eatery guard or center for the Buffs. he told Buffalo Sports News' Andrew Friedman, " Behrens is still being looked at for two positions in Boulder. "They are talking like it will be either center or guard. I like center because you study a lot more film because you have to call out the defensive alignments. Guard is a lot of fun, too. Really it doesn't matter which spot I play at."

Incredibly, the Buffs got his commitment despite Behrens' high school coach being former CSU Ram Scooter Molander. Molander told BSN's Mark Collins, "Well, I think it's a real good situation. As much as we wanted to compete with Colorado (when Molander played for the Rams), Colorado plays at a higher level. Anybody being objective about it will say that. And then Mark Nolan, our former defensive coordinator, is now on their staff (as a recruiting assistant at Colorado). It's a great fit for Blake." Molander went on to note that Behrens' mom grew up in Boulder. Love that story, 'Hey mom, I wanna go to school in your hometown, okay with you?" Can't believe that was a tough sell.

Behrens high school team ran a pro-set offense and threw it a ton for a high school team so he's not going to have to make the same adjustment to pass blocking that some others out of high school will. That might help him in the race to see who gets early playing time among all the incoming freshmen offensive linemen this year.

Behrens was offered by Oregon State, Boise State, Utah, and Colorado State before choosing CU.

 

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]]> RJ Schaer rj-schaer 2007-02-06T06:32:00 00:00 Future Oregon Stars: Charles Neal http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/05/future-oregon-stars-charles-neal/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/05/future-oregon-stars-charles-neal/ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/02/05/future-oregon-stars-charles-neal/#comments RJ Schaerby RJ Schaer

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Neal destroyed the competition in high school. Just like everyone else on the Duck recruiting class. The difference? He's been doing it for awhile and might be the biggest back Oregon's recruited to play that spot, in years. he's six-two and 210lbs already. That's linebacker size normally. I'm going to officially dub him, Mr. Goal Line 2,. (Stewart's the first.)

He's got good hands and can catch it out of the backfield and is the 31st rated back nationally and the 56th player overall in California according to Rivals. Why wasn't he hyped more? He missed all of the summer camps and combines last year when all the early evaluations and the hype begins for most players. Instead, Neal just went out and created his own. But by the time other schools found him, he was basically sure he wanted to come to Oregon.

His junior year, junior year, he had a nine yard average, ran for over 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns. And caught another 8 balls for a nine yard average. That, after as a sophomore he ran up 1,038 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Neal turned down Boston College, Oregon State, Washington to choose Oregon.

 

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