Congrats to the Monarchs as they grab a QB from our back yard. They graduate their starter Thomas Demarco in 2011 and Heinicke likely felt he can go up there and compete for playing time within his first 12 months on campus.
We came to him very late but I thought we still had an outside shot. I fully expect an offer to SW Dekalb's Andre Wilson when the dead period ends on January 3rd.
These are the kind of guys we have to be able to bring in. Georgia has so many talented players that just aren't quite at the 1-A level. Gwinnett County and south Georgia especially is such fertile area for high school football talent. We can't be letting our conference rivals come in and steal from our backyard. This is a big loss for GSU.
ReplyDeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteI agree that these are the types of players we need and will bring in future years. ODU offered Heinicke a chance to compete for playing time in 2012. He would not have the same opportunity at GSU.
I'm not sure how big a loss because we currently have Star who is a RS Junior and Drew and Kelton who are both RS Sophmores.
Also keep in mind that ODU offered months before we did and recruiting is all about relationships. We have several guys that we are still evaluating and I'm certain that our coaching staff will get very good players to fill out the roster.
I guess i am buying more into the symbolism of losing a kid like this rather than the actual value of the prospect. It just sets a bad precedent. If we are going to establish ourselves in the FCS and especially in the state then we have to dominate the state in recruiting. Obviously i don't expect us to compete with Tech or UGA, but we should be able to recruit in circles around Southern and Valdosta.
ReplyDeleteBut don't underestimate this kids value. He just had the second most prolific season for a QB in state history. I watched as he torched my high school for 313 yards and 6 touchdowns on 19 for 24 passing. He would have had a UGA offer he was 2 or 3 inches taller and weighed a little more.
And i guess it concerns me a little bit too that he went to another start up program. He wasnt turned off by the fact that we are a new program, clearly. I understand the immediate playing time is a plus, but when we have as much going for us as we do ( the academics, the opportunity of being in Atlanta and having the chance to meet people and build connections in the financial hub of a entire region, and the chance to play for a coach like Curry) these are the kind of kids we need to be building our program around.
But recruiting is a crap shoot. Maybe the kid didn't want to go to school so close to home. Or maybe it is as simple as playing time.
Also keep in mind that as a Gwinnett resident, I am biased. I will take a team of Gwinnett all-stars over a team of all-stars from the entire rest of the state. But i guess when your county has produced guys like Kenny Irons, David Green, David Pollack, Jeff Francouer, George Rogers, Rennie Curran, Caleb King, and Cameron Heyward then you get a little cocky. I would hate to see a kid from our own backyard come back to Georgia and tear us up.
Being a SWD fan. What kind of chances do you think Andre Wilson has of getting playing time?
ReplyDeleteI believe if Andre Wilson signs with us in February he will likely take a RS in 2011 and then compete for the back up role in 2012 with a shot at the starting job as a RS Sophmore.
ReplyDeleteI really like Wilson from the film I've seen and he reminds me of a taller, more accurate Kelton Hill. He would be a very good QB to grab in this cycle to give us 4 arms in Fall camp.