The Daily Sport- February 6th

Ok, so wow-I’m becoming worse and worse at this. But, again, (not to make excuses, but….) yesterday was a pretty big day. For those that do not know, yesterday was College Football’s National Signing Day, an event that always falls on the first Wednesday of each February. Giving 18-year old kids a guaranteed audience of millions of viewers and free reigns of what college the player will choose, how he will announce said decision, and the live reaction of everyone involved on camera will only lead to incredible live television moments. 

I’m an incredibly huge fan of offseasons in general. The rumors, speculation, and strategy involved over a multi month-long span keeps me, as well as many others, interested in the sport even without the benefit of ongoing games and competition in the league. That being said, no day in any professional sporting offseason even comes close to rivaling the excitement and drama stirred up in the college football community on National Signing Day.

Yesterday, Wednesday, February 5, 2014, brought us excitement, surprise, intrigue, and predictability all while entertaining and enthralling us (us being all “hardcore” college football fans) to the point that Signing Day can fit all of a professional sporting offseason has to offer in a single day. 

Obviously, for those that know me, I focus on FSU, UF, and Miami’s classes above all others each and every year. This year, it was in that order, FSU, UF, and then Miami, in which the three traditional Florida-based programs ranked nationally. The Seminoles, ranked 4^th nationally, Gators, ranked 8^th nationally, and the Canes, ranked 12^th nationally, each recruited and ended up hauling in extremely impressive classes that met both needs and desires along the recruiting fronts. 

  I’ll conclude this Daily Sport’s edition with my 5 Top Recruits who I think will bring an extremely large impact on their new collegiate teams next year. 

They are:

Leonard Fournette: #1 Overall recruit, Signed with LSU

Fournette will follow Jeremy Hill and become the extremely productive downhill runner that fits Les Miles’ and Cam Cameron’s system to a “T”. Fournette will use his rare blend of exceptional size, speed, and power to dominate SEC defenses next year and most likely become a key contributor from the outset of his career.

Quin Blanding: #5 Overall recruit, Signed with Virgina

Blanding will most likely walk into a starting role on a hugely under

performing Virgina squad that last year ranked towards the bottom of almost every defensive statistic while Blanding looks to immediately step in and make progress on that front. Raw talent and immense potential lead to high hopes for Cavalier fans looking to the future with Blanding (as well as Andrew Brown who looks to anchor the defensive line). 

Travis Rudolph: #11 Overall recruit, signed with Florida State 

Rudolph will step directly into the role vacated by both Kenny Shaw and the early departure of Kelvin Benjamin. He combines good size, speed, and athleticism with instinctual fervor and the mind to be a talented natural receiver. Having Jameis Winston throw you passes never hurts, but Rudolph would excel with many different options throwing him passes; his quick acumen and rapport with Winston will surely factor into his early success, but his overall skill set is simply too impressive to not equate to success at the next level.

 Damian Prince: #20 Overall recruit, signed with Maryland

As Maryland moves into the Big Ten conference, they know the overall talent level will improve. The signing of Prince only aids in their compensation with this fact. His length and weight are college competition ready as the Maryland native moves into the upper echelon of football competition. This was a big get for the Terps as they kept him away from the Florida schools as both the Gators and Noles looked North to pull an incredibly talented recruit out of his home-state to anchor their offensive line class. 

Deshaun Waton: #31 Overall recruit, signed with Clemson

Deshaun Watson will fill in for one of the most productive and accomplished players in school history in Taj Boyd. This dual-threat quarterback steps in and offers the possibility of immediately stepping in and starting for the departed Boyd as he brings size, athleticism, and smarts to the vital position of Chad Morris’ offense. Time will tell if he can truly make the greatest possible impact he can with his talent, intelligence, and opportunity the match between Watson and the Tigers presents.

Today will be better than yesterday.