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Lost two commitments last minute to SEC schools Ole Miss (Knight) and MS St. (Jones). Add FL Atlantic signed Southall. Also lost Gooden who earlier narrowed his list to three P5 schools. Bottom line, coaching staff did excellent job considering first time early signing period was completed prior to staff being in place and very late start handicapped us. Napier is very pleased with kids we signed... now we watch their growth under this new staff!
Further to your question; good article with explanation of recruit losses to SEC SCHOOLS:
Follow the link below to view the article.
http://lafayettedailyadv.la.newsmemo...reid=35db57992
That will stop when Napier gives them more reasons to come here, like a 10 win season or a national ranking, or beating SEC schools.
Point is, what we are missing is street cred. We can hire anybody in the world and pay them all of the money in the world, but until we SHOW them that there is a new sheriff in town, not much will change.
If we get the last two scholly's filled with a DT and OT, I would say a grade of B. The "B" is for laying the base foundation for the next class. This class is similar to Hudspeth's first in that I believe a number of these signees will be major contributors eventually.
It will be interesting as to what level these new guys and existing players can be coached to perform to a higher level..... one area of improvement mentioned was nutrition and with it leaner players.... I assume as all coaches that there is room that these guys can be coached to a higher level...... besides technique, a sense of less penalties and ball retention along with a different philosophy of off and def schemes...... and there ya go, wishing that we get the next rung up the ladder from Faulkinberry through the present..... Geaux Cajuns!!!
Key to do that is to develop quickly the talent that is already on campus. No one expects the recruiting class to fix all our problems. No way to prove that players are being coached up until the actual games start. As far as the staff goes, we had to improve what assistants get to attract the quality of guys we did. I think it was very wise to let the assistants have so much air time at the signing day function. Getting a guy like Jabbar Juluke will allow us to get back into New Orleans which has been a negative since Rebowe left. Getting a successful FCS head coach like Ron Roberts to leave that position in order to become a coordinator here was eye opening to me. If you have not seen the video of the assistants introducing themselves last Wednesday, I hope it is still available. That is what gives me confidence a plan is in place here. As far as Coach Napier goes, he is not a rah rah guy like his predecessor. He has a quiet confidence about him and a plan to achieve his goals.
I can do without a rah rah guy as HC for a while. Give me properly taught X's and O's techniques and I don't care if he bores me to sleep at press conferences.