Rice University Athletics
Examining Scholarship Distribution
2/5/2010 1:47:34 PM | General, Blog
One of the more fascinating conversations I shared with David Bailiff last year centered on scholarship distribution. We'd discussed at length how three successive recruiting classes (Ken Hatfield, 2005; Todd Graham, 2006; Bailiff, 2007) hamstrung his plans to build a solid foundation, and when injuries arose, the lack of depth undermining program development was directly attributed to the number of borderline FBS players signed in 2005-07 due to general malaise (Hatfield), reckless self-promotion (Graham) or unavoidable haste (Bailiff).
During one discussion Bailiff pulled out a chart and outlined where his scholarships were distributed. At some positions he had too many scholarships allocated, and at others too few. His argument provided food for thought, for while some demanded that he signed players at certain positions, Bailiff was working two fronts. Not only was he attempting to fill immediate needs (defensive tackle!!!), he was seeking functional balance regarding his 85 scholarships.
With his signing of 16 recruits for the Class of 2010, Bailiff moved a significant step closer toward balancing his roster. Of the 14 seniors on scholarship for the 2010 season, only six are Graham holdovers from 2006: WRs Pierre Beasley, Patrick Randolph and Corbin Smiter; DBs Max Anyiam and Willie Garley; DS Brandon Long. Smiter might be the lone potential starter from that sextet, so Bailiff will not only field a team almost completely comprised of players he signed, he is just one season away from producing a roster that fits the same description.
I've taken the liberty of breaking down scholarship distribution at each position save the specialists. I am going to include the Class of 2010 and WR Klein Kubiak, who signed last February but was grayshirted, and will operate under the assumption that Jr. DB David Falgout and Jr. LB Justin Allen have not received scholarships until informed otherwise. Even with that manipulation the total stands at 87. Bailiff discussed the possibility of grayshirting a few members of his incoming class, so keep that in mind when pondering the plus-2 number.
QB (4): Sr. - 0; Jr. - Fanuzzi; So. - Cook; RS Fr. - McHargue; Fr. - Taylor.
Comment: With Ryan Lewis relinquishing his scholarship to focus exclusively on baseball, Fr. Jordan Taylor becomes the fourth scholarship quarterback on the roster when he arrives this summer. The battle for the starting job will be fierce come the spring. Get your popcorn ready!
RB (5): Sr. - 0; Jr. - T. Smith; So. - McGuffie, Ross, Turner; RS Fr. - 0; Fr. - Eddington.
Comment: No immediate or distant concerns here, at least for everyone besides OC David Beaty, who is charged with the chore of creating playing time for several capable tailbacks.
WR (16): Sr. - Beasley, Dupree, Randolph; Smiter; Jr. - Hotard, Kitchens, Maginot; So. - Clark, Patterson, Wells; RS Fr. - Gautreaux, Moore, Petersen; FR. - Erickson, Hull, Kubiak.
Comment: The distribution by classifications is sound, with three receivers apiece in the underclassmen groupings. Now if only someone would emerge as a legitimate deep threat ...
TE (3): Sr. - 0; Jr. - 0; So. - McDonald, Willson; RS Fr. - 0; Fr. - Gillette.
Comment: It's easy to see why all were willing to wait it out as Gillete pondered life in Norman. The Owls are young here, but another player at this position wouldn't hurt matters in the least.
OL (15): Sr. - Mitchell; Jr. - Allen, Carrington, Emmert, Hicks, Parish; So. - Ball, Hebert, Navar; RS Fr. - Hodde, Janisch, Shaw; Fr. - Carroll, Gray, Warren.
Comment: It's clear that Bailiff will go heavy on O-linemen next season, for he'll have five seniors at that position in 2011. Given the makeup of the sophomore, redshirt freshmen and freshmen classes, expect Bailiff to sign at least three O-linemen next February, possibly four.
DL (13): Sr. - Lucio, Ozougwu, Solomon; Jr. - Gioffre, M. Smith, Stacey; So. - Bauer, Lowry; RS Fr. - Shahin, Skinner; Fr. - Carlson, Klare, Patt.
Comment: If things go particularly well, Bailiff will sign at least four D-linemen next winter. Solomon and Ozougwu have been mainstays, and Bailiff needs a serious talent upgrade just in case their successors aren't ready for the responsibility of carrying the pass-rushing burden.
LB (10): Sr. - Hill, A. Williams; Jr. - Lillard, Nordstrom, Shuck; So. - Briggs, J. Williams; RS Fr. - Hammett; Fr. - Nwosu, Radcliffe.
Comment: OK, so I'm going against my earlier pledge by assuming that Nordstrom has been given a scholarship, and I am doing so because he earned it with his play last season. In the 4-2-5 the Owls don't need a ton of linebackers, but they'll sign at least two next year to replace the two they are losing. Hard not to get excited over the two freshmen coming in this summer.
CB (8): Sr. - 0; Jr. - Ben, Jammer, Leary; So. - Gaddis, Gaines; RS Fr. - Francis; Fr. - Callahan, Jackson.
Comment: I don't know about you, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Leary. If his hamstring issues are a problem of the past, he will provide the Owls a huge boost on the field. Gaddis and Gaines proved their value last season, but there was no reason to turn down a talented recruit like Bryce Callahan. He might not have to play early, but he certainly could.
S (10): Sr. - Anyiam, Garley, Jones; Jr. - Bradshaw, Webb; So. - Frazier; RS Fr. - Akinwumi, Brackens, Porras; Fr. - Baker.
Comment: Jones is a prime candidate for a senior rush coming off a disappointing junior campaign. Bradshaw will fill the leadership void left by the graduation of Andrew Sendejo, and Corey Frazier has vast potential. The three safeties who redshirted last season physically look the part, and you've seen tape of Gabe Baker. This remains the strongest unit on the team.
During one discussion Bailiff pulled out a chart and outlined where his scholarships were distributed. At some positions he had too many scholarships allocated, and at others too few. His argument provided food for thought, for while some demanded that he signed players at certain positions, Bailiff was working two fronts. Not only was he attempting to fill immediate needs (defensive tackle!!!), he was seeking functional balance regarding his 85 scholarships.
With his signing of 16 recruits for the Class of 2010, Bailiff moved a significant step closer toward balancing his roster. Of the 14 seniors on scholarship for the 2010 season, only six are Graham holdovers from 2006: WRs Pierre Beasley, Patrick Randolph and Corbin Smiter; DBs Max Anyiam and Willie Garley; DS Brandon Long. Smiter might be the lone potential starter from that sextet, so Bailiff will not only field a team almost completely comprised of players he signed, he is just one season away from producing a roster that fits the same description.
I've taken the liberty of breaking down scholarship distribution at each position save the specialists. I am going to include the Class of 2010 and WR Klein Kubiak, who signed last February but was grayshirted, and will operate under the assumption that Jr. DB David Falgout and Jr. LB Justin Allen have not received scholarships until informed otherwise. Even with that manipulation the total stands at 87. Bailiff discussed the possibility of grayshirting a few members of his incoming class, so keep that in mind when pondering the plus-2 number.
QB (4): Sr. - 0; Jr. - Fanuzzi; So. - Cook; RS Fr. - McHargue; Fr. - Taylor.
Comment: With Ryan Lewis relinquishing his scholarship to focus exclusively on baseball, Fr. Jordan Taylor becomes the fourth scholarship quarterback on the roster when he arrives this summer. The battle for the starting job will be fierce come the spring. Get your popcorn ready!
RB (5): Sr. - 0; Jr. - T. Smith; So. - McGuffie, Ross, Turner; RS Fr. - 0; Fr. - Eddington.
Comment: No immediate or distant concerns here, at least for everyone besides OC David Beaty, who is charged with the chore of creating playing time for several capable tailbacks.
WR (16): Sr. - Beasley, Dupree, Randolph; Smiter; Jr. - Hotard, Kitchens, Maginot; So. - Clark, Patterson, Wells; RS Fr. - Gautreaux, Moore, Petersen; FR. - Erickson, Hull, Kubiak.
Comment: The distribution by classifications is sound, with three receivers apiece in the underclassmen groupings. Now if only someone would emerge as a legitimate deep threat ...
TE (3): Sr. - 0; Jr. - 0; So. - McDonald, Willson; RS Fr. - 0; Fr. - Gillette.
Comment: It's easy to see why all were willing to wait it out as Gillete pondered life in Norman. The Owls are young here, but another player at this position wouldn't hurt matters in the least.
OL (15): Sr. - Mitchell; Jr. - Allen, Carrington, Emmert, Hicks, Parish; So. - Ball, Hebert, Navar; RS Fr. - Hodde, Janisch, Shaw; Fr. - Carroll, Gray, Warren.
Comment: It's clear that Bailiff will go heavy on O-linemen next season, for he'll have five seniors at that position in 2011. Given the makeup of the sophomore, redshirt freshmen and freshmen classes, expect Bailiff to sign at least three O-linemen next February, possibly four.
DL (13): Sr. - Lucio, Ozougwu, Solomon; Jr. - Gioffre, M. Smith, Stacey; So. - Bauer, Lowry; RS Fr. - Shahin, Skinner; Fr. - Carlson, Klare, Patt.
Comment: If things go particularly well, Bailiff will sign at least four D-linemen next winter. Solomon and Ozougwu have been mainstays, and Bailiff needs a serious talent upgrade just in case their successors aren't ready for the responsibility of carrying the pass-rushing burden.
LB (10): Sr. - Hill, A. Williams; Jr. - Lillard, Nordstrom, Shuck; So. - Briggs, J. Williams; RS Fr. - Hammett; Fr. - Nwosu, Radcliffe.
Comment: OK, so I'm going against my earlier pledge by assuming that Nordstrom has been given a scholarship, and I am doing so because he earned it with his play last season. In the 4-2-5 the Owls don't need a ton of linebackers, but they'll sign at least two next year to replace the two they are losing. Hard not to get excited over the two freshmen coming in this summer.
CB (8): Sr. - 0; Jr. - Ben, Jammer, Leary; So. - Gaddis, Gaines; RS Fr. - Francis; Fr. - Callahan, Jackson.
Comment: I don't know about you, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Leary. If his hamstring issues are a problem of the past, he will provide the Owls a huge boost on the field. Gaddis and Gaines proved their value last season, but there was no reason to turn down a talented recruit like Bryce Callahan. He might not have to play early, but he certainly could.
S (10): Sr. - Anyiam, Garley, Jones; Jr. - Bradshaw, Webb; So. - Frazier; RS Fr. - Akinwumi, Brackens, Porras; Fr. - Baker.
Comment: Jones is a prime candidate for a senior rush coming off a disappointing junior campaign. Bradshaw will fill the leadership void left by the graduation of Andrew Sendejo, and Corey Frazier has vast potential. The three safeties who redshirted last season physically look the part, and you've seen tape of Gabe Baker. This remains the strongest unit on the team.
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