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Hawk maintains patient approach
Other schools gathering early commitments
If Dan Hawkins ever wanted to get out of the football coaching business, he might make a good money manager. He's a big believer in the patient, steady approach.
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Share and Enjoy That philosophy, as much as anything, explains why the Colorado football program generally has been among the last in the Big 12 Conference to begin to pick up commitments from recruits during Hawkins' short tenure.
Hawkins prefers to give young men plenty of time to make up their mind, believing that a commitment with months of thought behind it is more reliable, and likely a better fit, than one from a prospect just beginning the courting process. Several prospects in the past have said they wanted to commit to CU earlier in the process, but Hawkins encouraged them to take more time to make sure it was the right decision for them.
Even when Darrell Scott, the nation's No. 1 tailback prospect, called Hawkins the day before signing day this year to inform the coach of his intent to come to CU, Hawkins' first question toScott was, "Are you sure?"
"I tell kids all the time, I am about trying to help kids ascertain what it is that they want and they need and explaining what we are and is there a fit there," Hawkins said on national signing day this year. "I've said many years, and I learned this from when I was a high school coach, in recruiting, what happens is guys get into, 'I'm a better coach and we're a better football program and we're a better school.' They're all different. They all have pluses and minuses. I try to help explain all those things and see what they want there."
The Buffs and Kansas State are the only two Big 12 teams remaining without a commitment for the 2009 class as the spring evaluation period comes to an end this week. Meanwhile, Texas and Oklahoma have received pledges from 18 and 11 recruits, respectively.
Some Colorado fans see those numbers racked up by other programs early in the process and get nervous. Others are annoyed. But if Hawkins continues to enjoy the success he has had on national signing day the past two years, more and more fans might be willing to adopt his patient approach.
The 2008 CU recruiting class was ranked among the top 20 in the nation and included elite talents such as running backs Scott and Ray Polk, linebackers Jon Major and Lynn Katoa, and linemen Max Tuioti-Mariner and Bryce Givens. Hawkins also has cast a wide net in recruiting future Buffs, signing prospects from 15 different states in the past two cycles.
Plenty of recruits will visit campus over the next two months during a quiet period that runs from June 1-July 31. During the quiet period, coaches are allowed to make in-person contact with recruits on campus only. Players will make unofficial visits to campuses and participate in CU football camps during that time and Hawkins is likely to receive a handful of commitments before training camp begins in early August.
The bulk of the program's commitments this year will once again come during the season and later in the process in December and January. That could change in the future if Hawkins can lead the program back to national prominence and the national championship hunt.
But it's unlikely to completely change Hawkins' approach.
"Good players want to play for good teams and good players want to play with good players," Hawkins said. "We're all like that, but when you go out and start a company or go out and start a football team, you have to build a close relationship with those around you and then spread that.
"The rich get richer -- as you prove that you have a viable product, you start winning, kids start graduating and have a positive experience, then people start getting fired up about what you're doing. It becomes that much easier to get in that next door because you have that reputation about the way that you operate."
Hawkins is a proponent of an early signing period for football. The idea has been discussed for years and has gained some steam in recent years, but it also faces stiff opposition. National signing day traditionally has been the first Wednesday in February. There is no agreement on whether the earlier date would come the summer before prospects' senior year in high school or in December, just two months before the current signing day
Coaches from the Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conferences were in favor of the idea a year ago, while coaches from the PAC-10 and Southeastern Conference were against it. Those in favor of the idea say it would take pressure off prospects and coaching staffs and those who oppose the idea believe it would allow less time for coaches to properly evaluate talent and character.
BIG 12 COMMITMENTS
Texas 18
Oklahoma 11
Texas Tech 9
Texas A&M 8
Missouri 5
Nebraska 5
Kansas 4
Baylor 1
Iowa State 1
Okla. State 1
Colorado 0
Kansas State 0
Source: Rivals.com
Posted by flabuff227 on May 29, 2008 at 4:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How many scholarships do we have to give this year. Last i heard it was 18 I believe. Its gotta be around 21 or 22 now due to attrition. Duren,Perri and yates.
Posted by flabuff227 on May 29, 2008 at 4:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
oh! and maiava of course.
Posted by DCBuff on May 29, 2008 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sure this will change in a few years once Hawkins has the Buffs in the top 20 every year. BTW - what's the latest on Katoa? I'm assuming he is not transferring right? Is he going to redshirt and still practice with the team this year?
Posted by ChicagoBuffsFan on May 29, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The only date that matters in LOI day.
Posted by benny1j on May 29, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
what ever happened to PT Gates??
Posted by shoulder2shoulder on May 29, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
PT Gates is at a DII- Grand Valley State i think
Posted by nwbuff32 on May 29, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Recruiting is actually one of Hawk's strongest points. Anybody that has any valid insight or knowledge of this program knows that we will be just fine.
I would rather have 0 recruits than the 5 early Nebraska committs. If anyone here is on rivals.com knows that the children of the corn are absolutely pissed at the level of talent that Bo has for 2009 so far. Only two of those committs had more than 1 offer, and none of them were BCS schools. Ouch!
BTW, the battle for Nick Kasa is getting very interesting. If it weren't for Hawk, this kid would be UF bound by now. I just read an article about his recruiting. He knows that the Buffs could be a sleeper team next year and wants to see how things play out. However, he wants to make a decision before his senior season.
Posted by MDBuff on May 29, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love Hawk's approach! He'll keep them getting better and better!
Posted by archalon on May 29, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice how a traitor like tall uses the term 'we'.
CU will be fine - LOI day is a long way off. Hawk is patient with kids and its paid off for two years now. No worries about recruiting at all.
Posted by badbuff on May 29, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What ever Hawk's approach it seems to be working...even kids that pick other schools rave about Hawkins.....
Add in that he is keeping the top instate players and starting to recruit the "Big Boys" country wide, I see nothing but Big 12 Titles and in the National hunt from here on out....
Go Buffs....
Posted by rodrigo on May 29, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pard, national signing day is in February. One thing you might learn from our friends from Nebraska is nothing means anything until then, something those with the biggest mouths discovered the hard way.
You might be in good with the have-nots... or at least the know-nots. But Buff fans sleep well at night confident that come pen-to-paper day we'll be celebrating another top-20 class.
Posted by baBUFF on May 29, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm all for an early signing period. I don't like the idea that coaches can contact recruits committed to other programs and sweet talk them into changing their minds. An early signing period will take some pressure off these kids and allow coaches to focus their attention on uncommitted recruits.
Posted by flabuff227 on May 29, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
get real! we didnt have any verbals at this point last year. hey tal the street lights just came on. I think i here your mother calling You. Better run along home before your peers come out and beat you up just like old times.
Posted by nwbuff32 on May 29, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tal- credibility lost again.
You again prove you do not know what you are talking about. I said that I would rather have 0 committs than the pathetic crop of 5 that Bo has pulled in. Honestly, these kids are all walk-ons (expect MAYBE for 1, he's more like a MAC prospect). I never said it was a good thing we had 0, but that is going to change very quickly sources are saying. And you have now set yourself up to look very dumb every time Hawk gets a stud prospect to committ to the Buffs. I'll make sure you know about it before its reported by the Camera.
Last year Texas started out the same way. When recruiting was over, CU finished ahead and also won the biggest recruiting battle in our programs history.
As usual, you prove you don't know anything about recruiting and should really just stop posting here. You just make yourself look stupid.
Posted by LAbuffAlum on May 29, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tall- Why so bitter? We improved a bunch last year and had one of our best recruiting seasons in years.
I'd love to see some recruits right now, but not bad ones, and not ones just for the sake of having them. I'd rather have none than wasted scholies.
Posted by SnowBuff on May 29, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
tall why do you insist that you are a fan of this program? You and everyone else know you are a troll.
Posted by flabuff on May 29, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As long as Hawk keeps the momentum going we'll be just fine. Major didn't commit until november.
Posted by baBUFF on May 29, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Plenty on the radar, not to worry. Hundreds of top prospects out there, only 20 scholarships to give out (+or-), it's not the first wednesday in february yet, so technically every single kid from the 2009 class is still in play.
And Nebraska better load up early because they now have to count on Hawk poaching at least 1 or 2 every year once they realize that Nebraska stinks.
Posted by rodrigo on May 29, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tall's day isn't complete unless he gets in a rip on some member of the Hawkins clan...
Regardless, 20 among ESPN's elite 150 list CU among their top five choices, including Sean Schroeder, QB from Cal. Three other QBs considering the Buffs rate 69 or higher on Scout's scale.
Anyone know much about Ernest Celestine, wr/return recruit from Louisiana ? Is he little brother/cousin/nephew to Kendrick?
Also, 3 E150 DEs (the aforementioned Kasa is one) and 2 E150 safeties on the list, both Colorado kids: Mullen' Alex Logan and Wheat Ridge's Parker Orms.
Anyone who cares to actually look - that leaves you out, Tall - will see CU has the potential to put together another outstanding class.
Posted by montanabuff on May 29, 2008 at 6:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CU had all of three commits in last year's class who commited before August - Vince Ewing, Patrick Mahnke, and Tyler Hansen. While I hope all three work out, it is also true that these three were the lowest rated recruits of the entire class.
Until proven otherwise, I am not going to get excited about the lack of verbal commitments in May. I am going to assume that Hawk and his staff know what they are doing when it comes to recruiting.
Posted by LAbuffAlum on May 29, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cant speak to OU or Texas but the Nubraska guys don't look impressive after the classes Cally used to pull there, and look like filler. I am not sure where they are scholarship wise with the Juco's and seniors they are loosing but even my in-laws in Nub. are not happy about these kids. Dr. Tom would have had them walk-on is what they have said to a man.
Posted by nwbuff32 on May 29, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rodrigo,
I'm on your side, but don't use ESPN's recruiting service. It is absolutely horrible. It rated D Scott the #2 back (when every other site had him #1) and did not even mention Colorado as a choice until January. There are far better recruiting sites to use, and that doesn't include scout or rivals.
Posted by rodrigo on May 30, 2008 at 6:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hear you, nw. But it's all relative. Not to mention the players in question just finished their junior years in high school. Rankings will change... A lot can and will happen before any of them see a college football field.
Posted by JBuff on May 30, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Three Things:
* It's not how you start but how you finish
* It's not about who you don't get but who you do get
* We're not Texas or Okie - thank god
Posted by benny1j on May 30, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
whatever happened on the Keni Kaufusi front? we need more depth at DT
Posted by nwbuff32 on May 30, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kaufusi signed with Utah.
Posted by flabuff227 on May 30, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thats too bad! That kid looked like a freaj of nature in his rivals profile.Definitely a sleeper.
Posted by rodrigo on May 30, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Tall... seen Josh Jarboe's mug shot? The side angle is especially sweet.
Posted by flabuff227 on May 31, 2008 at 4:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If he was a cu recruit, he would not be coming to boulder. Guaranteed! Of course, oklahoma may not have A choice because he is facing expulsion.
oh well! maybe he still can make the trip to norman and work for the dealership that employs all the sooners and pays them to not show up.
Oh! AND HOW DID HE HAVE $4000 TO POST BAIL. THE COPS MUST NOT HAVE FOUNd THE DRUGS HES PUSHIN.
Well tal,lesson learned. thuggin ant ez but it sho is fun! holla!
Posted by flabuff227 on May 31, 2008 at 5:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Im sorry. Just read an updated article. Charges reduced from felony to misdemeanors. Two years probation? what ou booster got a hold of the da/judge and how much did it cost him.
I cant believe he is not facing a suspension!
Posted by rodrigo on May 31, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In truth, Jarboe does not sound a bad kid. Dumb, maybe, but by all accounts this was his first indiscretion. My intent wasn't to rip the kid. Like Katoa and Geer his case should be decided on the facts as determined by whatever court and/or judicial affairs office considers it.
I just get a big bang out of exposing another case of Tall's hypocrisy.
Posted by flabuff227 on May 31, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i agree. I believe in second chances as well in most cases. i do think he deserves one. Although, he should face some kind of suspension. When you are suspended that doesnt mean your not getting a second chance, especially in his case. i still believe if he was a cu recruit, he would not be going to boulder. I may be wrong.
Having said that. i guess i shouldnt stoop 2 talls level and spew out ridiculous statements and assumptions.
Posted by buffalotom on June 1, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
regarding suspensions:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/st...
Posted by extrapoint on June 1, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OU and TX early verbals arent that big a deal. In case anyone has forgotten, these kid's senior high school seasons havent even begun yet. Some or going to fade on he field, some are not going to make the grades and some may blow out a knee.
Texas only has a few scholarships left for offer.
This throws every other kid, especially in the state of Texas, wide open for other schools to compete for.
Brown usually does wind up with excellent classes, but now that Carr and Callahan are gone he is the undisputed king of talent wasters. I wouldnt bet much money on him lasting 3 more years in Austin.
Posted by archalon on June 2, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems that alot of the Rivals, et.al. teaser info out there is about Texas kids interested in Colorado. Possible that we have turned a corner there ? Or is it just that Texas thinks anything related to football is news ?
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