The 2020 recruiting season is well on the way with many teams logging a dozen or more commitments. So far, the Wave has four, but I’m very happy with them. The early signing period is a little over six months away (December 18) with final signing period beginning February 6, 2020.
By my count, the Wave currently has 81 players on scholarship (4 openings) and 14 seniors, meaning we should have at least 18 spots for incoming players. We’ve also got 7 redshirt juniors who could graduate and leave or transfer elsewhere without sitting out a year. I expect at least one of those to depart. We also have several players who have played little or none in 2 or more years at Tulane due to illness, injury, or simply not being ready to contribute. For good or ill, we’ll probably see a couple of them drop football. Finally, as often happens, players depart for a variety of personal reasons. We haven’t had the academic problems under Coach Fritz that were too common under CJ, but that can always pop up. In the end I’d expect us to have between 22 and the maximum, 25, openings.
Each year, over 2,500 high school players receive football scholarships to BCS (Division 1A) schools. In a normal year, Louisiana provides roughly 100 of those players (4%). However, last year, only 81 high school kids from the state received such scholarships—a truly down year. To compete for the AAC championship and against P5 schools not named Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, or Oklahoma, Tulane needs to sign players from the top half of those who receive 1A scholarships. So for Louisiana that means top 40 to 50. Of course such rankings are subjective and two highly competent and diligent coaches could have very different views of the same player; such is recruiting. So, maybe a consensus #60 or #70 might be the guy we really want. Much lower than that and we’re destined to compete with the ULLs and ULMs of the world. I doubt many Tulane fans would settle for that.
Under Coach Fritz, Tulane has expanded our recruiting area from the Gulf South to the East Coast, Mid-West, and even California. Yet, I think Louisiana needs to be our focal point. Getting 7-8 players (as a minimum) out of the top 50 or so in the state should be, in the short term, an annual goal in my view. For Tulane, Louisiana provides a great opportunity while presenting some significant challenges. Our academic reputation cuts two ways in the state. Peer pressure and the LSU factor are a problem. Family, friends, and classmates tend to be SEC-focused and our conference, schedule, and facilities can’t compare to that of SEC schools. Yet, the players are there and the draw of staying close to home can be significant. In analyzing our Louisiana potential, I think it unlikely that we will sign kids offered by LSU, Alabama, and the like. It could happen and I think we should offer them, but, as fans, we shouldn’t be too disappointed when they sign elsewhere. I think our recent commitment, Angelo Anderson, is a “top 20” player in the state and could lead to more in the Olive and Blue. But for our core signee pool, we should probably expect to get kids in the 30-70 range who the staff believes have potential for greater things. We can’t go back to the CJ/Rollins era when we signed kids at or below the BCS “Cut off” line (#90 and below).
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By my count, the Wave currently has 81 players on scholarship (4 openings) and 14 seniors, meaning we should have at least 18 spots for incoming players. We’ve also got 7 redshirt juniors who could graduate and leave or transfer elsewhere without sitting out a year. I expect at least one of those to depart. We also have several players who have played little or none in 2 or more years at Tulane due to illness, injury, or simply not being ready to contribute. For good or ill, we’ll probably see a couple of them drop football. Finally, as often happens, players depart for a variety of personal reasons. We haven’t had the academic problems under Coach Fritz that were too common under CJ, but that can always pop up. In the end I’d expect us to have between 22 and the maximum, 25, openings.
Each year, over 2,500 high school players receive football scholarships to BCS (Division 1A) schools. In a normal year, Louisiana provides roughly 100 of those players (4%). However, last year, only 81 high school kids from the state received such scholarships—a truly down year. To compete for the AAC championship and against P5 schools not named Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, or Oklahoma, Tulane needs to sign players from the top half of those who receive 1A scholarships. So for Louisiana that means top 40 to 50. Of course such rankings are subjective and two highly competent and diligent coaches could have very different views of the same player; such is recruiting. So, maybe a consensus #60 or #70 might be the guy we really want. Much lower than that and we’re destined to compete with the ULLs and ULMs of the world. I doubt many Tulane fans would settle for that.
Under Coach Fritz, Tulane has expanded our recruiting area from the Gulf South to the East Coast, Mid-West, and even California. Yet, I think Louisiana needs to be our focal point. Getting 7-8 players (as a minimum) out of the top 50 or so in the state should be, in the short term, an annual goal in my view. For Tulane, Louisiana provides a great opportunity while presenting some significant challenges. Our academic reputation cuts two ways in the state. Peer pressure and the LSU factor are a problem. Family, friends, and classmates tend to be SEC-focused and our conference, schedule, and facilities can’t compare to that of SEC schools. Yet, the players are there and the draw of staying close to home can be significant. In analyzing our Louisiana potential, I think it unlikely that we will sign kids offered by LSU, Alabama, and the like. It could happen and I think we should offer them, but, as fans, we shouldn’t be too disappointed when they sign elsewhere. I think our recent commitment, Angelo Anderson, is a “top 20” player in the state and could lead to more in the Olive and Blue. But for our core signee pool, we should probably expect to get kids in the 30-70 range who the staff believes have potential for greater things. We can’t go back to the CJ/Rollins era when we signed kids at or below the BCS “Cut off” line (#90 and below).
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