Part of me wishes that Beaty would have been around a few years before to recruit the state from a couple of previous classes compared to now. There has definitely been some talent in this state, but this current class and possibly next year's class (too early to tell) are pretty sparse compared to some of the previous classes.
As it stands right now, there are only 6 kids in the state that have Power 5 offers in the 2016 class with some question around if Mike McCoy will end up at a P5 school and there are no early offers out for the 2017 class. Now there will likely be a couple of more local kids end up at P5 in the 2016 class and there certainly will be some 2017 guys get some offers (noting again that is is too early to tell for some of these kids, but does make you wonder if there is much star power locally for 2017 as there typically is offers out to 2017 kids if they are studs by this point in time...still wonder if Angel Dominguez will be the first local offer...).
On the surface, this may seem like a bad situation for an incoming coach. But I am beginning to think it could be a big help for KU because of Beaty. One reason is Beaty has strong Texas ties, so he won't need local guys as much as some others would (although I am sure he would love to recruit more kids locally).
In addition to that, without much star power locally, that means recruiters from outside the area won't stop by as much. To me, it means that we could potentially get some quality local kids as walk ons. Now we do have to compete with KSU for these kids, so it isn't a given, but I think this could possibly help KU land a couple of quality local kids as walk ons.
In the "initial long run" this could be huge in helping KU get the roster numbers back up. Even just landing a walk on or two that is Big 12 quality for the next four years would increase roster numbers by 4 to 8 people over this time span. That's pretty significant for our situation. I keep telling myself if we can get a handful or so of the current walk ons to at least be quality backups and special teams contributors it is huge. I can see a guy like Mason Ramirez getting some backup snaps in a few years at safety and playing special teams, Mazin Aql being a quality backup DE and special teams guy, and Hunter Saulsbury and Jackson Jenkins being in the two deep at OL. This would be a pretty significant deal.
We really are in a situation where we have to turnover every rock to help this program. However, rocks come in all shapes and sizes of which even a possible bad rock can be a bright spot. I think that is the case with being down locally talent wise for right now...may seem bad, but could end up being helpful...
As it stands right now, there are only 6 kids in the state that have Power 5 offers in the 2016 class with some question around if Mike McCoy will end up at a P5 school and there are no early offers out for the 2017 class. Now there will likely be a couple of more local kids end up at P5 in the 2016 class and there certainly will be some 2017 guys get some offers (noting again that is is too early to tell for some of these kids, but does make you wonder if there is much star power locally for 2017 as there typically is offers out to 2017 kids if they are studs by this point in time...still wonder if Angel Dominguez will be the first local offer...).
On the surface, this may seem like a bad situation for an incoming coach. But I am beginning to think it could be a big help for KU because of Beaty. One reason is Beaty has strong Texas ties, so he won't need local guys as much as some others would (although I am sure he would love to recruit more kids locally).
In addition to that, without much star power locally, that means recruiters from outside the area won't stop by as much. To me, it means that we could potentially get some quality local kids as walk ons. Now we do have to compete with KSU for these kids, so it isn't a given, but I think this could possibly help KU land a couple of quality local kids as walk ons.
In the "initial long run" this could be huge in helping KU get the roster numbers back up. Even just landing a walk on or two that is Big 12 quality for the next four years would increase roster numbers by 4 to 8 people over this time span. That's pretty significant for our situation. I keep telling myself if we can get a handful or so of the current walk ons to at least be quality backups and special teams contributors it is huge. I can see a guy like Mason Ramirez getting some backup snaps in a few years at safety and playing special teams, Mazin Aql being a quality backup DE and special teams guy, and Hunter Saulsbury and Jackson Jenkins being in the two deep at OL. This would be a pretty significant deal.
We really are in a situation where we have to turnover every rock to help this program. However, rocks come in all shapes and sizes of which even a possible bad rock can be a bright spot. I think that is the case with being down locally talent wise for right now...may seem bad, but could end up being helpful...
