National Signing Day - Caste Rankings

[SteveB]

I have gone through the signing lists of all Division 1A schools and ranked them by how many white RBs (no FBs), DBs, WRs, and Athletes (can play multiple positions) they recruited. It's a little depressing. Keep in mind I am only looking at the "speed" positions and there are a lot of very athletic white LBs, TEs, and QBs out there that are not included. If I missed some, I apologize. It is hard to find pictures on all of these guys.

Listings include player name, position, height, weight, 40 time, and hometown.

1. Rice University
Joseph Agnew, S, 6-0, 187, 4.5, Southlake Carroll TX
Evan Fentriss, WR, 6-1, 185, 4.4, Southlake Carroll TX
Drew Mehringer, ATH, 6-0, 197, 4.7, Mansfield TX
Andrew Novak, WR, 6-2, 190, 4.5, Ennis TX
Andrew Sendejo, S, 6-1, 200, Smithison Valley TX

2. Army
Mark Allen, WR, 6-0, 166, St. Cloud FL
Cody Buck, S, 6-3, 215, Niwot CO
Tyler Madlom, WR/S, 6-0, 173, 4.58, Union KY
Ryan McGuiness, S, 5-11,166, 4.62, Howell NJ
Eric Shaffer, WR, 5-10, 170, 4.31, Springdale AR

3. Air Force
Cody Blevins, S/WR, 6-2, 195, 4.6 Miamisburg OH
Geoff Hayth, CB, 6-1, 195, 4.48, Dripping Springs TX
Nick Lind, RB, 5-8, 197, 4.6, Highlands Ranch CO
Eric Moats, WR, 6-0, 170, 4.5, Highlands Ranch CO

4. BYU
Rhen Brown, WR, Highland UT
Mike Hague, S/RB, 6-0, 210, 4.5, Salt Lake City UT
McKay Jacobson, WR, 6-0, 183, 4.47, Southlake Carroll TX
Michael Moore (looks part hispanic), S, 6-1, 190, 4.4, Moreno Valley CA

5. Colorado St.
Grant Detwiler, ATH, 6-3, 230, 4.61, Tulsa OK
John Mosure, RB, 5-10, 200, 4.5, Miami FL
Nick Neuenfeldt, ATH, 6-3, 235, 4.5, Scottdale AZ

6. Northern Illinois
Tyler Clasey, WR, 6-1, 187, Champaign IL
Mike Sobol, S, 5-11, 191, 4.59, Pevely MO
John Tranchitella, S/WR, 6-2, 200, Addison IL

7. Cincinnati
Robby Armstrong, RB, 6-2, 210, Export PA
Peter Carriere, S, 6-0, 202, Laval Quebec
John Goebel, RB, 6-1, 186, 4.5, Birmingham MI

8. Stanford
Toby Gerhart, RB, 6-1, 228, 4.48, Norco CA
Mark Mueller, RB, 6-3, 195, 4.6, Aurora CO
Tyler Porras, S, 6-2, 165, 4.6, Scottsdale AZ

9. Texas A&M
Cody Beyer, WR, 6-1, 175, 4.47, Smithson Valley TX
Christian Caflisch, ATH, 6-2, 178, 4.68, San Antonio TX

10. Alabama
Andy Davis, S, 6-0, 205, 4.43, Birmingham AL
Jake Jones, WR/CB, 6-1, 177, 4.48, Mountain Brook AL

11. Notre Dame
Barry Gallup, WR, 5-11, 175, 4.44, Wellesley MA
Robby Parris, WR, 6-4, 185, 4.52, Cleveland OH

12. Minnesota
Brylee Callender, RB, 6-0, 195, 4.5, Lakeville MN
Ben Fisher, WR, 6-2, 180, 4.4, Wausau WI

13. Purdue
Brandon Erwin, DB, 6-2, 180, 4.45, Grayson GA
Jeff Lindsay, ATH, 6-4, 210, 4.55, Macomb MI

14. Washington St.
Skylar Jessen, RB, 5-11, 196, 4.47, Spokane WA
Andy Mattingly, S, 6-3, 217, 4.6, Spokane WA

15. TCU
Colin Jones, S/RB, 5-11, 187, 4.65, Bridgeport TX
Clint Renfro, WR, 6-0, 165, 4.4, Southlake Carroll TX

16. Ball St.
Dane Cook, S, 6-1, 190, Delta IN
Alex Knipp, S, 6-0, 180, Amherst OH

17. Central Michigan
Cam Bramer, S/RB, 6-0, 200, 4.51, Olivet MI
Robby Leith, WR, 6-4, 192, Ventura CA

18. Florida Int'l
Chance Attaway, S/RB, 5-10, 193 Blountstown FL
John Houston Whiddon, WR, 6-0, 185, 4.61, Niceville FL

All the rest:

Iowa: Jeff Tarpinian, S, 6-2, 195, 4.55, Omaha NE
Northwestern; Brad Phillips, ATH, 6-3, 202, 4.65, Export PA
Ohio St: Grant Schwartz, S, 6-0, 201, 4.5, Dana Point CA
Iowa St: Zac Sandvig, ATH/RB, 5-10, 171, 4.52, West Des Moines IA
Kansas: Jake Sharp, RB/CB, 5-10, 173, 4.5, Salina KS
Kansas St: John Houlik, S, 5-10, 193, 4.66, Wichita KS
Nebraska: Corey Young, S/RB, 6-0, 194,4.45, Omaha NE
Missouri: Paul Simpson, WR/CB, 6-2, 185, 4.5, Hayward CA
Oklahoma St: Anthony Parks, WR, 6-1, 185, 4.5, Eldorado KS
Clemson: Jeff Ogren, WR, 6-3, 154, 4.42, Tuscaloosa AL
Duke: Matt Pridemore, CB/RB, 5-11, 170, 4.41, Buford GA
Virgina: Matt Leemhuis, DB, 6-1, 187, 4.38, Bethesda MD
Wake Forest: Lucas Caparelli, RB, 5-11, 190, 4.4, Burke VA
UConn: Brad Kanuch, WR, 6-0, 178, 4.26, Johnstown PA
Syracuse: Dan Sheeran, WR, 6-3, 200, 4.45, Cross River NY
Arkansas: Andrew Norman, S/WR, 6-2, 175, 4.46, Springdale AR
Florida: Riley Cooper, DB/WR, 6-4, 208, 4.37, Clearwater FL
Georgia: Kris Durham, WR/S, 6-5, 186, 4.54, Calhoun GA
Kentucky: Michael Strickland, WR, 6-1, 190, 4.62, Marrieta GA
South Carolina: Nick Prochak, ATH, 6-4, 207, 4.6, Spartanburg SC
Vanderbilt: Matt Quinn, WR, 6-5, 200, 4.69, Duncan SC
Boston College: Chris Fox, CB/WR, 5-11, 151, 4.47, Westwood MA
Houston: Britton Maxwell, ATH, 5-10, 195, 4.47, Brownwood TX
Marshall: Mike Bolio, WR, 6-0, 195, 4.4, Los Angeles CA
Memphis: Turner West, S, 6-3, 185, Germantown TN
SMU: Morgan Hudnall, WR, 5-9, 162, Highland Park TX
Southern Miss: Ryan Ellis, WR, 6-2, 190, 4.6, Jacksonville FL
UTEP: Kyle Darden, ATH, 5-11, 165, 4.5, Brownwood TX
Arizona: Glyndon Bolasky, S/RB, 6-0, 191, 4.41, Tucson AZ
Oregon St: Casey Kjos, ATH, 6-4, 190, 4.5, Middletown OH
Washington: Jake Merrill, S, 6-2, 220, 4.5, Gig Harbor WA
Kent St: Brian Lainhart, S/CB, 6-1, 185, 4.49, Cincinnati OH
Miami OH: Jordan Gafford, S, 5-11, 191, 4.6, Columbus OH
Temple: Anthony Ferla, CB, 5-10, 194, 4.52, Waldwick NJ
Bowling Green: Derek Brighton, WR, 5-11, 173, 4.5, Allen Park MI
East. Mich: Mark Mitchell, CB, 5-10, 165, Blissfield MI
New Mexico: Roy Hackney, S, 6-1, 186, 4.5, Hatch NM
UNLV: Rocki Sandusky, WR, 6-1, 165, 4.5, Ferndale WA
Utah: Sean Fitzgerald, WR, 6-3, 185, 4.6, Mission Viejo CA
Tulane: Alex Wacha, CB, 5-11, 170, 4.5, Sugarland TX
Utah St: Riley Nelson, S, 6-1, 195, 4.8, Logan UT
Louisiana-Lafayette: Richie Falgout, WR, 5-10, 169, 4.6, Lafayette LA
Wyoming: Darryl Gober, S, 6-0, 205, Fullerton CA
Navy: Greg Jones, ATH, 6-0, 165, 4.5, San Antonio TX
Edited by: SteveB

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Great work SteveB! Good database for keeping up with the future of these great athletes! Let's hope at least 5 of the RB's, 20 of the WR's, and 20 of the S/CB's start! That would make a big impact.

 

[GreatLakeState]

The Detroit Free Press mentions Mitchell -- actually played at Tecumseh
High School -- in the opening paragraph of its article on EMU's class,
mentioning him as the type of recruit that could turn the program
around.

Free Press also names Robbie Leith as one of the three recruits most
likely to play for CMU in the 2006 season.

Edited by: GreatLakeState

 

[GreatLakeState]

Free Press' top Michigan kids:

(6) Charlie Gantt 6-4 233 TE Birmingham Brother Rice MSU
(7) Jeff Lindsay 6-4 220 LB Macomb L'Anse Cruse North PURDUE
(8) Patrick Rigan 6-6 235 DE Traverse City St. Francis MSU
(10) Eric Gordon 6-0 220 LB Traverse City West MSU
(11) Michael Canfield 6-1 215 Lansign Everett CMU
(14) John Goebel 6-1 208 RB Birmingham Brother Rice CINCINATTI
(15) John Stipek 6-4 239 DE Macomb Dakota MSU
(16) Jeff Maddux 6-4 295 OT Monroe CMU
(19) Danny Richard 6-2 220 LB West Bloomfield GRAND VALLEY STATE
(23) Matt PIckens 6-0 235 LB Birmingham Brother Rice WMU
(24) Martk Mitchell 5-11 180 DB Tecumseh EMU
(26) Jon Misch 6-3 195 LB Orchard Lakek St. Mary's MSU
(30) Jim O'Neil 6-4 225 TE Grand Haven WMU
(32) Cam Bramer 6-0 200 RB Olivet CMU
(37) Josh LeDuc 6-4 215 TE Plymouth EMU
(39) Derek Brighton 5-11 173 DB Allen Park BOWLING GREEN
(43) Ben Hunderman 6-5 240 Zeeland West WMU
(48) Levin Breeze 6-7 270 OT Chelsea CMU
(50) Phl Swanson 6-4 313 OL Grand Haven WMU

 

[OC football]

wow that list is kind of depressing.... No white skill players for UCLA, USC, Arizona State, LSU, Texas, Texas Tec, Michigan, Virginia Tec, West Virgina, Auburn, ........ect.


Not that those programs have any white skill players anyways. Ok West Virginia has one.


Well at least we can count on some white skill players walking on to some of these kids...........


Prime example: Haas

 

[Colonel_Reb]

19 out of 50! Man, that is sad. These local and state sports writers help perpetuate the myth and system just as much as anyone. I have seen articles before that made me want to hurl because they so gushingly praised often mediocre performances by blacks and give whites a critique for gaining 200 yards or throwing for 300 in a high school game.

 

[SteveB]

Here are some observations from going through this excercise:

1. A lot of schools that we think of having white talent are getting blacker, ie Iowa, Iowa St., Nebraska, etc.
2. There are a BUNCH of black WRs and DBs that are highly rated by the scouting services, but are relatively slow (4.6-4.8 40 times). It's sad because there are a ton of 4.5 white kids out there now going to Div II, III, or JUCO.
3. On a positive note, there are a BUNCH of big, fast white LBs coming up. I saw a whole lot of guys 6-3, 225, with 4.4-4.5 speed. I guess guys like Urlacher are starting to have an influence.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Yeah, I see the LB trend as well, when I was looking at some SEC and MWC teams. Maybe this will translate into some other positions as well.

 

[whiteCB]

Notre Dame got white WR Robbie Parris.

 

[REDNOSE]

Weis for Notre Dame also stated that Luke Schmidt is an incredible runningback that can play halfback and fullback. Don't be surprised to see him carrying the ball for the Irish in the near future.

 

[sunshine]

Thanks Steve B --I love big lists that give us a clue of what to look for. Again the trends are still the same and until more white athletes show up at speed/ skill positions the college and NFL will continue to have blacks dominate the speed positions. Same is true at high school track events.

 

[SteveB]

Here's a list of schools that did not sign a single white WR, DB, or RB on National Signing Day. Navy only had three kids total on their list, so I am sure they will sign more down the road. Some of the smaller schools (MAC, Sunbelt, etc) it is hard to tell since alot of the kids aren't pictured.

Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan St, Penn St, Wisconsin, Baylor, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi St, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida St, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami-FL, NC St, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Florida, West Virginia, Arizona St, California, Oregon, USC, UCLA, East Carolina, Tulsa, UAB, Central Florida, Boise St, Fresno St, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, New Mexico St, San Jose St, San Diego St, North Texas, Middle Tenn. St.

 

[OC football]

We should start our own recruting service.


I know for a fact that there are a great many white skill players that are being overlooked by the scouts.


Scout's dont want to go aginst the grain and give a significant number of white players high ratings.


My conclusion. How is it possible that white suburban high schools consistantly defeat all black inner city schools without good skill players. Its just impossible.

 

[whiteCB]

Scouts don't look at logic when scouting players they look at what position he plays and then what skin color he is and they go from there. If recruiting services and scouts actually used logic and sense then the NFL would be alot more racially balanced.

 

[OC football]

If i were to start a recruting service. And I am thinking about it. I would rate players according to the outcomes ofa mathematical equation. It would take into account production, speed, size, and other factors. No scouts.


What do you guys think???

 

[Gary]

SteveB-very good post! I have seen some good White high school players here really get the shaft. Did Army, Navy and Air Force get mostly White players?

 

[SteveB]

SteveB-very good post! I have seen some good White high school players here really get the shaft. Did Army, Navy and Air Force get mostly White players?

Players listed as signed or committed:
Army: 14 players listed, 10 are white
Air Force: 15 players listed, 10 are white
Navy: 4 players listed, 4 are white

I assume that these teams will pick up more recruits as they pick up kids that the other teams don't want.

 

[Don Wassall]

Great work, SteveB! I took the liberty of stringing together three of your posts on this thread and made them into an article for the homepage. This topic should be of interest to all white high school football players who have aspirations of playing in college and the pros.

 

[whiteCB]

Yeah man props to the research and hard work you put in for a great read!

 

[JD074]

If i were to start a recruting service. And I am thinking about it. I would rate players according to the outcomes of a mathematical equation. It would take into account production, speed, size, and other factors. No scouts.


What do you guys think???

We sure could use more objectivity and reason in college recruiting (and also in the NFL, of course.) I don't know if it can be boiled down to a mathematical equation, but there has to be a better way. I wish there was a football version of Billy Beane: someone who's willing to disregard physical "imperfections" (like skin color) and put their focus on a player's actual ability and production. Someone could personally benefit enormously from that strategy. This is especially true at the professional level, where an NFL coach/ GM/ owner could get a lot of really good, undervalued players without much competition from the other organizations, and for far less money than what they're actually worth.

 

[SteveB]

Wow, I made it to the home page, thanks Don. There is a rating system called the SPARQ rating. You can read more about it at SPARQ Rating. Each player that goes to a Nike camp gets a SPARQ rating. It takes into account all of the measurables (40 time, vertical jump, bench press, etc.) to determine the recruit's "overall athleticism" using a mathematical formula. I found a list on Rivals.com of the top SPARQ rated athletes and over half of the kids on the list are white.

The problem is the scouts and the coaches aren't using the rating to help determine the value of the recruit. I saw kids with a very high SPARQ rating, yet Rivals only rated them 2 or 3 stars out of a possible 5 stars. If the SPARQ rating was given more value, you would see more highly rated white recruits.

 

[white tornado]

Wow I compared pretty good to Lance Briggs.

 

[Don Wassall]

I found a list on Rivals.com of the top SPARQ rated athletes and over half of the kids on the list are white.

The problem is the scouts and the coaches aren't using the rating to help determine the value of the recruit. I saw kids with a very high SPARQ rating, yet Rivals only rated them 2 or 3 stars out of a possible 5 stars. If the SPARQ rating was given more value, you would see more highly rated white recruits.

What could account for this discrepancy, which probably happens every year, besides blatant racism? Just how do Rivals and the others come up with their ratings? Maybe it's been codified into a simple formula based almost solely on racial slotting. These "scouting services" seem to be the key element in establishing and maintaining the Caste System in college football and the NFL.

 

[white tornado]

These "scouting services" seem to be the key element in establishing and maintaining the Caste System in college football and the NFL.


Yeah Ive played with about 10 D-1 players andwas recreuted myself (2004)soI know how the system works. You would be suprised how little actual scouting the schools do.The serveses identify all the players and give them a ranking the schools just look at the serveses rating then recruit acording to there position in the college footbal higherarcy. If you look at their list of prospects some two star guys will have much better stats than a four star guy will have. I played with a white guy who was a four year starter with 4.3 speed was not offered a scholership a few years later we had a black guy same position but only a one year starter with 4.7 speed get a full scholership.

 

[SteveB]

Your right Don. It reminds me of my playing days when we had an offseason competition for the football players. We had a similar rating system that took our bench press max, squat max, power clean max, vertical jump, 40 time, and standing long jump. The strength coach came up with a formula that gave each player a rating based on all of the values divided by our body weight. At the end of the competition, me and two other white walk-on players had ratings ranked in the top 10 on the whole team. The top ten players were called the "Iron Aggies" and their names were placed on a large plaque in the weight room. The following day the strength coach posted the plaque and my name (along with the other walk-ons) wasn't on the list. I asked the coach why I wasn't considered an "Iron Aggie" and he said he didn't want the star players (ie black) to feel bad by getting beat by a walk-on. Go figure. Edited by: SteveB