Himon a 4 Star…

[PURPLE Book Cat]

… per ESPN

I recall that a few of NU’s less Rivals-touted recruits in the past that received 4 stars from ESPN ended up having standout college careers.

Regardless, it seems that other knowledgeable evaluators see special talent coming to the RB room.

 

[PURPLE Book Cat]

ESPN RB Rankings

 

[corbi296]

ESPN RB Rankings

Alston just below Himon on that list.

 

[pawildcat]

Four of the top six on that list committed to Alabama and Oklahoma. Sigh.

 

[TheC]

Only Penn State has a higher graded RB recruit in the BIG.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

Alston just below Himon on that list.

Samson at 51.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Himon had nearly 3,000 yards of total offense last season. That's pretty absurd.

Saw George Pettaway on that list. I wonder if he is the younger brother of Martell Pettaway, whom we recruited several years ago.

 

[KramerCat91]

Only Penn State has a higher graded RB recruit in the BIG.

"The" has an RB ranked between NU and PSU.

 

[TheC]

"The" has an RB ranked between NU and PSU.

Same grade as ours though.

 

[FanatiCat]

On ESPN’s board Himon is ranked above Damari Alston, quite different from Rivals.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

On ESPN’s board Himon is ranked above Damari Alston, quite different from Rivals.

Where is he on the board in the NU recruiting office? That’s the only board that matters.

 

[Titanium999]

… per ESPN

I recall that a few of NU’s less Rivals-touted recruits in the past that received 4 stars from ESPN ended up having standout college careers.

Regardless, it seems that other knowledgeable evaluators see special talent coming to the RB room.

Congratulations

 

[willycat]

Where is he on the board in the NU recruiting office? That’s the only board that matters.

Do you happen to know?

 

[Katatonic]

Where is he on the board in the NU recruiting office? That’s the only board that matters.

Not always.

Didn't offer Ramsey because had other QBs rated ahead of him.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

Not always.

Didn't offer Ramsey because had other QBs rated ahead of him.

Huh?

 

[EvanstonCat]

Huh?

It's not too hard to understand his point: our recruiting board was wrong that year when we decided not to offer Ramsey instead of going after lesser QBs.

We are good, but we aren't great and certainly not perfect. Sometimes you get the feeling from some people around here that we can do no wrong or that there is no room for improvement.

 

[hdhntr1]

Do you happen to know?

They offered and took him so he was high on that board

 

[hdhntr1]

Not always.

Didn't offer Ramsey because had other QBs rated ahead of him.

Coming out of HS. Who were the guys we rated higher and what were their careers like? He was rated a 2 star, probably after committing and his only P5 offers were IL Wake and IN. We did not even take a QB that year as we were likely suffering from the Thorson effect. And after he went to IN he did something called development (which he was able to do by playing) which he likely would not have been able to do at NU because he would have been behind Thorson. We didn't miss him coming out of HS. We allowed him to go to a farm team and then brought him up when he was ready

 

[PURPLE Book Cat]

FWIW, there are some other interesting rankings on the ESPN site. (Lou, if you're reading this and I'm harming the site's interests in any way, please delete with my apologies)

Of the athletes in this year's class, we have two top 50 athletes nationally in Octavian Smith (35) and Evan Smith (42): ESPN "Athletes" Ranking
Denis Jaquez comes in as the 68th Defensive End in the country: ESPN D End Rankings
Braydon Brus scores high as the 15th ILB in the country: ESPN ILBs
Interestingly Austin Firestone scores as the highest rated offensive lineman at 42 (though he will likely play defense), while Danny McGuire and Nick Herzog come in at 61 and 71, respectively. ESPN OLs
Trevon Howard and Robert Fitzgerald are the 44th and 48th rated safeties in the country, and Devon Turner is 62nd: ESPN Safeties
Chris Petrucci is the 17th best tight end in the country: ESPN TEs
Finally, Reggie Fleurima also comes in as a 4* as the 38th best WR in the country: ESPN WR

It seems that most of the class is made up of players that ESPN's evaluators regard as among the top 50-70 players in the country at their positions. I do not recall that being the case in earlier years from ESPN.

 

[jensberg]

Interesting late this ESPN rating Saka is only a 3-star and 42nd defensive end and would be below five or six other players we have commits from whereas on Rivals he is our number one commit if he does commit

 

[DaCat]

Interesting late this ESPN rating Saka is only a 3-star and 42nd defensive end and would be below five or six other players we have commits from whereas on Rivals he is our number one commit if he does commit

What does Fitz and O'Neil think?

 

[PURPLE Book Cat]

the key point I am making by posting this is that other observers think that we’re bringing in a solid class

 

[Katatonic]

Coming out of HS. Who were the guys we rated higher and what were their careers like? He was rated a 2 star, probably after committing and his only P5 offers were IL Wake and IN. We did not even take a QB that year as we were likely suffering from the Thorson effect. And after he went to IN he did something called development (which he was able to do by playing) which he likely would not have been able to do at NU because he would have been behind Thorson. We didn't miss him coming out of HS. We allowed him to go to a farm team and then brought him up when he was ready

Well, PR was rated a 3* by both 247 and the composite.

Aside from IU, he had offers from BC, Cincinnati, Illinois and Wake.

For that class, the Cats had offered Deuce Wallace (remember him?) who bailed for Vandy, and then got a commitment from Aidan Smith.

Think it's safe to say that PR has had the better collegiate career.

The Cats also had offers out on 2 other QBs - one who who ended up at BC (transferred to Oregon) and the other at VT.

Develop?

In his first year of action in 2017, PR had a 65.4% completion rate and a RTG of 127.9 (both higher than any year for Thorson).

Thorson, in his 1st year, had a 51.6% completion rate and a RTG of 99.7.

Plus, the Cats were desperate for a viable back-up behind Thorson, and if the Cats had PR in the wings, the 2019 season would have turned out differently.

May be talking about back-to-back-to-back B1G W crowns.

The reason why the Cats have brought in a transfer QB for the 3rd year in a row is because they have missed too many times in the QB room.

 

[phatcat]

Where is he on the board in the NU recruiting office? That’s the only board that matters.

Check it out on the Rock.
/s
Or The Athletic
Or Let's Tailgate

 

[hdhntr1]

What does Fitz and O'Neil think?

They like him just fine

 

[hdhntr1]

Well, PR was rated a 3* by both 247 and the composite.

Aside from IU, he had offers from BC, Cincinnati, Illinois and Wake.

For that class, the Cats had offered Deuce Wallace (remember him?) who bailed for Vandy, and then got a commitment from Aidan Smith.

Think it's safe to say that PR has had the better collegiate career.

The Cats also had offers out on 2 other QBs - one who who ended up at BC (transferred to Oregon) and the other at VT.

Develop?

In his first year of action in 2017, PR had a 65.4% completion rate and a RTG of 127.9 (both higher than any year for Thorson).

Thorson, in his 1st year, had a 51.6% completion rate and a RTG of 99.7.

Plus, the Cats were desperate for a viable back-up behind Thorson, and if the Cats had PR in the wings, the 2019 season would have turned out differently.

May be talking about back-to-back-to-back B1G W crowns.

The reason why the Cats have brought in a transfer QB for the 3rd year in a row is because they have missed too many times in the QB room.

Again, if he had come here out of HS, he would not have layed till at least his 4th year as Thorson started. if even then. That was the reality of the situation at NU. Not disagreeing that we have missed in QB room but it does happen when we seem to have QB spot set

 

[hdhntr1]

Well, PR was rated a 3* by both 247 and the composite.

Aside from IU, he had offers from BC, Cincinnati, Illinois and Wake.

For that class, the Cats had offered Deuce Wallace (remember him?) who bailed for Vandy, and then got a commitment from Aidan Smith.

Think it's safe to say that PR has had the better collegiate career.

The Cats also had offers out on 2 other QBs - one who who ended up at BC (transferred to Oregon) and the other at VT.

Develop?

In his first year of action in 2017, PR had a 65.4% completion rate and a RTG of 127.9 (both higher than any year for Thorson).

Thorson, in his 1st year, had a 51.6% completion rate and a RTG of 99.7.

Plus, the Cats were desperate for a viable back-up behind Thorson, and if the Cats had PR in the wings, the 2019 season would have turned out differently.

May be talking about back-to-back-to-back B1G W crowns.

The reason why the Cats have brought in a transfer QB for the 3rd year in a row is because they have missed too many times in the QB room.

We did not really miss him coming out of HS as we never offered . Thorson started as a RS Frosh and there would have been no playing time for PR for 3 years. PR would not have gotten any of the playing time that made him what he was for us when he came. I am not saying we did not have misses in QB room. Just that people assume he would have been what he was for us the last year had he come here and since he would not have gotten any playing time for several years, that is unlikely. And if he had started in 2019 and been successful, likely we would still had McCall.

 

[Katatonic]

Again, if he had come here out of HS, he would not have layed till at least his 4th year as Thorson started. if even then. That was the reality of the situation at NU. Not disagreeing that we have missed in QB room but it does happen when we seem to have QB spot set

1. We don't know if PR would have ended up beating CT for the starting gig.

Plenty of younger QBs have ended up usurping the starter.

ND went thru a period where they seemingly had a new starter every year.

But for the late season injury, CT would have left after his RS Jr year, so that would have meant PR starting his RS soph year (on the premise that wasn't able to beat out CT).

Plus. it's not good enough just to have the starting QB spot set, you need a capable back-up which the Cats did not have (didn't have one during Siemian's tenure either which is why he had to play thru a lower leg injury in back to back seasons).

When Thorson got banged up or injured, you don't think the Cats could have used PR?

We did not really miss him coming out of HS as we never offered . Thorson started as a RS Frosh and there would have been no playing time for PR for 3 years. PR would not have gotten any of the playing time that made him what he was for us when he came. I am not saying we did not have misses in QB room. Just that people assume he would have been what he was for us the last year had he come here and since he would not have gotten any playing time for several years, that is unlikely. And if he had started in 2019 and been successful, likely we would still had McCall.

Not offering PR, but offering 4 other QBs that class is the very definition of missing on him, esp. since he wanted to be in Evanston, and again, we do not know if PR would have ended up beating CT out for the starting gig.

PR's QB rating was up there from the very start - he was a very proficient passing QB even in his 1st year of play.

It was Thorson, not PR, who needed a good bit more development as a passer.

 

[hdhntr1]

1. We don't know if PR would have ended up beating CT for the starting gig.

Plenty of younger QBs have ended up usurping the starter.

ND went thru a period where they seemingly had a new starter every year.

But for the late season injury, CT would have left after his RS Jr year, so that would have meant PR starting his RS soph year (on the premise that wasn't able to beat out CT).

Plus. it's not good enough just to have the starting QB spot set, you need a capable back-up which the Cats did not have (didn't have one during Siemian's tenure either which is why he had to play thru a lower leg injury in back to back seasons).

When Thorson got banged up or injured, you don't think the Cats could have used PR?




Not offering PR, but offering 4 other QBs that class is the very definition of missing on him, esp. since he wanted to be in Evanston, and again, we do not know if PR would have ended up beating CT out for the starting gig.

PR's QB rating was up there from the very start - he was a very proficient passing QB even in his 1st year of play.

It was Thorson, not PR, who needed a good bit more development as a passer.

Sorry but after Thorson's first year here, PR was not going to unseat him. Reality is that he would not have gotten a chance to play till his RS Jr year. And if he had not had those two years starting he would not have been what he was. PR was what he was because he had the chance to play early and he would not have had it here. I am not saying we did not miss on targets for QB over the years, just saying that PR became what he was because he had the opportunity to start early that he would not have had here.

And if he performed as a RS Jr, (2019) we would have still have McCall

 

[Katatonic]

^ You don't know that.

Fitz is all about playing the player who can best help the team to succeed.

PR coming out of HS was a much more polished passer than CT.

The Colter/Siemian experiment was eventually put aside for the better passing QB.

PR's QB rating during his tenure at IU was 127.9 (his very 1st action being against dOSU), 128.2 and 147.7.

During his 1st season playing, he faced dOSU, UVA, Penn State, Michigan, MSU and UMD.

At the mimimum, PR would have started 2 years (which was what Bacher and Siemian did), possibly 3.

 

[hdhntr1]

^ You don't know that.

Fitz is all about playing the player who can best help the team to succeed.

PR coming out of HS was a much more polished passer than CT.

The Colter/Siemian experiment was eventually put aside for the better passing QB.

PR's QB rating during his tenure at IU was 127.9 (his very 1st action being against dOSU), 128.2 and 147.7.

During his 1st season playing, he faced dOSU, UVA, Penn State, Michigan, MSU and UMD.

At the mimimum, PR would have started 2 years (which was what Bacher and Siemian did), possibly 3.

Didn't Coulter get pretty beat up his last year? They were platooning them until the very last game. We had sort of fallen off a cliff after the dOSU game and were usually behind . Siemian didn't really get the reigns until Coulter was gone. They didn't really change QBs as much as platooned them just as they had the year before but because we were often behind...

So PR would not have replaced Thorson unless Thorson was injured and he may have maybe started two years here (and even that might not have happened if HJ had not had the personal issues with his mom's situation. He might have started and rescued the 2019 season. But remember if he had, Fitz would likely not have moved on from McCall. And if we still had McCall, would we have Hilinski in house? And he still did start one year for us so the only difference might have been 2019.

 

[hdhntr1]

1. We don't know if PR would have ended up beating CT for the starting gig.

Plenty of younger QBs have ended up usurping the starter.

ND went thru a period where they seemingly had a new starter every year.

But for the late season injury, CT would have left after his RS Jr year, so that would have meant PR starting his RS soph year (on the premise that wasn't able to beat out CT).

Plus. it's not good enough just to have the starting QB spot set, you need a capable back-up which the Cats did not have (didn't have one during Siemian's tenure either which is why he had to play thru a lower leg injury in back to back seasons).

When Thorson got banged up or injured, you don't think the Cats could have used PR?




Not offering PR, but offering 4 other QBs that class is the very definition of missing on him, esp. since he wanted to be in Evanston, and again, we do not know if PR would have ended up beating CT out for the starting gig.

PR's QB rating was up there from the very start - he was a very proficient passing QB even in his 1st year of play.

It was Thorson, not PR, who needed a good bit more development as a passer.

Don't forget that PR was first guy in his class at IN. He committed 4/22/15 which is when we likely had other guys we liked more still available.