Je'Ron Stokes to Vols - BWI on Meltdown Alert

by Mike on Apr 7, 2008 9:52 AM EDT in Recruiting

I'm staying out of the message boards today. There is a sinister darkness festering. It boils up every time Penn State has a recruiting setback such as we had this weekend when Northeast Philadelphia wide receiver Je'Ron Stokes verbally committed to Tennessee while on an unofficial visit.

Je'Ron Stokes received scholarship offers from 20 major college football programs. Nineteen now must look elsewhere for their next great wideout.
Stokes, a 6-1, 180-pound junior at Northeast High, has made an oral commitment to Tennessee, to which he made an unofficial visit that concluded Saturday before the l-o-n-g drive back to Philly.

"I didn't picture ending the recruiting process this early," Stokes said. "But Tennessee is in my heart. Sometimes, you just know.

"I was still looking hard at Illinois, Oklahoma, Penn State, Minnesota . . . Now, those coaches can develop relationships with other guys instead of still trying to come after me and being hurt."

Here is how the equation works:

A great in-state player

plus

Favorable depth chart

plus

Over-optimistic recruiting analysts

plus

Perceived laziness by PSU coaching staff

plus

Commitment to an out of state school

equals


PSU Message Board Reaction

Seriously, people, get a grip. We're talking about a 17 year-old kid believing God wants him to play football for Phil Fulmer. Some of you act like the government sent you a notice they are taking away your house to put up a Dairy Queen. I'm just as disappointed as the next guy, but the level of vitriol in the message boards is over the top. Posters calling out the "Kool-Aid Crowd". Others shouting down the "Doom-and-Gloomers". Some people are even attacking the moderators as if they had a hand in this. Give me a break. Are we in friggin' kindergarden here?

From everything I've read Stokes fell in love with Tennessee, and can you blame him? How many first round wide receivers and quarterbacks have they produced? How much love do the SEC offenses get on television? I'm not surprised any wide receiver would choose Tennessee over Penn State. But to the kid's credit, he didn't say anything bad about Penn State. And he didn't string us along until signing day (or beyond). And he didn't screw us on signing day by going with the snake-oil selling wizard. So you have to admire his class in being upfront and giving us a chance to pursue other kids.

The comments to this post will undoubtedly lead toward a discussion about the future of Penn State and Joe Paterno and his effect on recruiting. Whatever. If you're already forming the words in your head you've missed the point of this post. I'm getting more and more disgusted in the level of discourse in the message boards I used to enjoy visiting. There is something seriously disturbing about it. I just felt like something needed to be said.

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Don't You Think........

"I'm getting more and more disgusted in the level of discourse in the message boards I used to enjoy visiting. There is something seriously disturbing about it. I just felt like something needed to be said."

anyway you slice it this is a loss ? Another indication that Penn State is more attractive to its alumni and fans than it is to the folks that matter ? The HS players being recruited.

PA isn't the hotbed it used to be so losing these kind of guys to other schools stings a lot more for me than it used to. I doubt Je'Ron grew up a UT fan, yet somehow they were able to come in and blow his socks off. Doesn't seem like we do that. Its either somebody who has always wanted to play for PSU or somebody's son or somebody who has parents who admire and appreciate Paterno (Hazleton and Pryor). Doesn't seem to me the program is selling itself.

We can talk about 18 wins and bowl wins all we want, but I don't think they are as impressive to people like Stokes as we think they should be.

JMHO.

I hope Devlin and Clark shock the shit out of everybody this year.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Apr 7, 2008 10:39 AM EDT 0 recs

When has Penn State Ever

Attracted top WR recruits?

And seeing Morelli "progress" the past couple of years could not have inspired confidence. To be a top NFL draft pick a WR actually has to catch some balls.

No QB development doesn't bode well for WRs either. If the program can't develop a top recruit like Morelli, even if perhaps he shouldn't have been a top recruit, then why should a top WR want to commit?

If Penn State could develop Devlin (fat chance unless they fire JayPa), then perhaps more WRs would commit to PSU.

by CDRS on Apr 7, 2008 10:59 AM EDT 0 recs

I agree completely

with the main point of the post, that message boards have become too negative and, in my mind, entirely too concerned about recruiting.

For all of the great things about the internet and college football blogs, I'm most troubled by the elevation of recruiting to some kind of objectively measurable statistic.

The fact is that for all of the time and money that's put into recruiting rankings, it's extremely difficult to determine how good of an athlete a 17 year old kid will be in four years.

Just look at Sean Lee and Derrick Williams--who was the bigger-name recruit? If we could only have one, which one would you want?

The fact is that recruiting is very important, but the dubious business of ranking recruits is highly subjective. There's absolutely no reason to become highly empassioned about something that's quite indeterminable. Let's focus on the games and the coaching in the fall.

Who would you rather be--Notre Dame, which is perenially in the top ten of recruiting rankings, but hasn't won a bowl game in well over a decade, or Boise State, who's no where to be seen on any of these rankings, but owns the Fiesta Bowl trophy from a couple of years ago?

by spakajewia on Apr 7, 2008 11:21 AM EDT 0 recs

I could not have said this any better myself

and belive me I've tried.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Apr 7, 2008 11:34 AM EDT up 0 recs

Let's Not Overanalyze Recruiting........

Only 10 teams in the country have particpated in 3 or more BCS games since 1999. Over the last 5 years those same teams have averaged recruiting classes according to rivals as follows:

LSU 9
USC 3
Miami 10
Florida 6
OSU 10
Okla. 8
Mich 9
FSU 8
UGA 7
Va Tech 27

Va Tech with an average recruiting class ranking of 27 is also the only one of the 10 teams listed to be winless in their BCS appearances.

Penn State 22

So while I understand the notion that recruiting is subjective and you never know what you are going to get........the teams that are winning more games and playing more often in significant bowls are also recruiting top 10 classes consistently. Take it for what its worth.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Apr 7, 2008 12:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

What I Meant.......

by overanalyzing is let's not search out an exception (Boise State, Utah, Pitt, Wake Forest) in an attempt to disprove what appears to be the rule.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Apr 7, 2008 12:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Incidentally.........

1-11 against OSU and Michigan since 2002. Not that anyone here needs reminded of that.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Apr 7, 2008 1:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

Its Worth

Is more than the stray sentence, as there is certainly value in statistics. The numbers don't lie, as they say. Thanks for adding some measure of measurability to the oft-unmeasured measuring that is Recruiting 'Analysis'

by jtothep on Apr 9, 2008 1:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

Love Sean Lee

But....losing D-will would cost the offense a lot more than if the defense lost Sean Lee. Linebacker is a position PSU always has stockpiled. Despite the average recruiting class this year....still managed to secure a fine linebacker class. Who is behind D-will right now? Right...really no one! Behind Sean Lee...a myriad of players that could start at most D-1A schools across the country.

I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?

by pic15 on Apr 7, 2008 11:39 AM EDT up 0 recs

You might be right

that D-will is more valuable to the team based on the depth chart, etc.--I'm not sure, but you might be right. Regardless, my larger point was, who was the bigger recruit and who's the better player now? Sean Lee is projected as a first round draft pick, if D-will doesn't have a markedly better season, he won't go until the second day of the NFL draft, if he's lucky.

by spakajewia on Apr 7, 2008 12:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

Just like...

Justin King? Who has displayed his freakish natural ability and jumped to first day status...DWill will be a top 2-3 round pick...mark my words...

As for recruiting it does get hyped alot more these days than in the past, but with 24 hour sprots coverage what do you expect? WE have created this beast, so now we must learn to cope with, or change the way it is handled...

I am upset about Stokes, but like you said Mike, this kid was pretty classy about the way he handled the situation. It is still VERY early so I won't start a Sons of Liberty style group to storm the Lasch demanding action just yet...

by carolinaeasy on Apr 7, 2008 12:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

But Class Recruiting Rankings Do Matter.

Sorry - but I would much rather be Notre Dame. Keep in mind that the reason Ty Willingham was fired was due to his dreadful recruiting. Rivals ranked Notre Dame's 2004 & 2005 classes as 32nd and 40th, respectively. Those bad classes came home to roost this past season for Weis and crew. Love him or hate him, Weis worked his butt off (well, obviously not) to secure the 8th ranked class in 2007 and the 2nd best class this year.
Like it or not, if Paterno follows up on this year's 43rd ranked recruiting class with anything other than a top 10 class then all the Coastal Carolina's in the word won't help this team.

by Jerry on Apr 7, 2008 1:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ty Willingham...

was fired because of his dreadful recruiting, but those are the only players that Weis has had any success with.

I respect the opinion of Joe Paterno and Tom Bradley more than the people who make salaries evaluating--and fawning over--16 year-old football players. The PSU staff prepares players better than any other team out there.

Your opinion seems to suggest that you'd rather have Charlie Weis coaching the Nittany Lions than JoePa. That idea underscores how ridiculous your opinion is.

by spakajewia on Apr 7, 2008 1:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

Say what???

I did not say that. And to take that quantum leap of logic is absurd. What I am arguing is that recruiting classes do matter. Would I rather be a team with consistently high recruiting classes than not? Most definitely.

I don't disagree that you can coach-up the talent. I do find laughable, however, your contention that the "PSU staff prepares players better than any other team out there". Averaging a 7-5 record since 2000 either indicates that our talent coached to a 7 win average is gawd-awful, or that we have top talent but are not schooling them as you argue.

by Jerry on Apr 7, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

I would rather

have a team that wins than a team with a great recruiting ranking. You can take Charlie Weis and his A+ recruits; I'm sticking with JoePa and the players that he gets and three consecutive bowl victories.

I think recruiting classes matter very much, but I don't trust the rankings at all.

Just look at the NFL, where teams spend WAY more money than college teams on scouting, and they still routinely make big-time mistakes with the draft. And it's much simpler to compare college athletes than high school athletes, because no one really knows how good any given high school's opponents are.

The fact is that scouting and/or recruiting is a highly-subjective and difficult art, one that I don't think matches well with quantitive measures like rankings.

I'll grant you that I just pulled that line about PSU coaching out of my rear-end.

Nevertheless, I want to win, and if we do it with a bunch of blue-chip recruits or a bunch of walk-ons, it doesn't matter to me, Deon Butler or Ethan Kilmer.

by spakajewia on Apr 7, 2008 3:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

Fuck Charlie Weiss.

Two points to ponder when thinking about Snicker Boy:

1. If Weiss was that critical to New England's
success, why did they have a record breaking
year offensively this year, two years after
the arrogant bitch was gone?

2. With all the rumors about New England
cheating, how smart is he really when he has
inside information and an unfair advantage?

by Ab4PSU on Apr 9, 2008 11:07 AM EDT up 0 recs

Charlie Weis

You said "love him or hate him."

Okay, I hate him. And Notre Dame.

And Pitt. And Miami. And the SEC.

And anyone who ever says " . . .they can't compete with the speed in the SEC."

1968 1969 1973 1982 1986 1994

by zenosdweller on Apr 8, 2008 11:55 AM EDT up 0 recs

That's a lot of Hate

Get this man another zeno's beer....

by jtothep on Apr 9, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don't think we need to hit the panic button

because of one bad recruiting class. These things are always hit and miss. But if we do have another bad recruiting class, I do think we're in trouble. However, I'm not going to wish this kid (or any other kid that commits somewhere other than Dear Old State) any ill will; God will deal with you in his own way if you wish harm to others. The simple facts, though, are these two:

1. Losing this one recruit will not make or break
us.

2. The uncertainty regarding the coaching
position is playing a serious role in
recruiting.

But, on the lighter side, it is fun to listen to the Kool Aid drinkers (We do no wrong ever!!) and the Doom And Gloomers (Will never win another game ever!).

by Ab4PSU on Apr 7, 2008 12:06 PM EDT 0 recs

Thank you Mike

JoePa is my hero.

by psuphiman80 on Apr 7, 2008 12:18 PM EDT 0 recs

Chris Bell

With Bell getting booted from the team, who are our wr's in 09...this team is screwed.

This is what happens when you recruit thugs.

Strike First...Strike Hard...No Mercy

by SweepTheLeg on Apr 7, 2008 10:30 PM EDT 0 recs

Delusions...

...I think people that stay around State College for a bit too long without getting out much become delusional, and that permeates the fan base.

It's entirely possible that someone from Pennsylvania (or anywhere) might, just might, not like to spend time in State College. I remember how everyone got all over T-Pryor over his comment about "not liking it up there" or whatever... What the hell? Maybe the kid just doesn't like the town, the campus or the people, it's possible for good people to have taste not in line with our own.

Penn State is not heaven, nor the promised land. Not everyone has to like it.

by stonewall435 on Apr 8, 2008 4:37 AM EDT 0 recs

What do you mean it's not?!?

Or that people don't have to? Are you insane?!?

(Please imagine that being said with sarcasm. Unfortunately, you can't show sarcasm in print).

by Ab4PSU on Apr 9, 2008 11:03 AM EDT up 0 recs

well

Je'Ron Stokes is a kid from Northeast High in Philly. Players from Philly tend not to go to PSU, I don't know if it is because PSU doesn't really recruit well from Philly or not. When I went to PSU (01-06), there were maybe 3 players from Philly out of a total of 85 and only one started (Donnie Johnson, Northeast). PSU tends to get most of its recruits from central to west PA, IMO.

by kmblue on Apr 8, 2008 7:40 AM EDT 0 recs

Dairy Queen in State College

If they take away a house in State College for a Dairy Queen I would be rather pleased. I miss the ones that were on Calder Way and North Atherton.

Hows that for lightening the mood?

1968 1969 1973 1982 1986 1994

by zenosdweller on Apr 8, 2008 11:49 AM EDT 0 recs

I Hate Dairy Queen

And Charlie Weis, of course...

by jtothep on Apr 9, 2008 2:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

Dairy Queen

I had almost a complete set of those mini-baseball helmets from the DQ on N. Atherton Street. I'm still a sucker for those things. Ice Cream just tastes better when served in a plastic baseball helmet.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Apr 9, 2008 2:17 PM EDT up 0 recs