Class of 2019 - Football Recruits

[Blue42]

I know he played for a good CF team, but I would assume his future in D1 football is at a position other than RB. Where would that be? Also, the other posts about Marcus Weymiller are correct. If you want to be NC relevant, then he’s not your feature back. Tough kid and good player, but not the playmaking RB you need.

My prediction is he stays at RB. Not sure he's the feature back...but I don't think he'll change positions.
​​​​​​

[Mudrafan]

Have you seen an NDSU playoff game in the last 4 years?

Yes. And none of them were “running” qbs. Me thinks you aren’t following the train of thought here. He threw for almost 9000 yards in his career. He ran when the opportunity presented, but make no mistake, he was a passing qb. Farley has wanted the reverse in the past and that was an awful fail that won’t be accepted again

[Blue42]

Yes. And none of them were “running” qbs. Me thinks you aren’t following the train of thought here. He threw for almost 9000 yards in his career. He ran when the opportunity presented, but make no mistake, he was a passing qb. Farley has wanted the reverse in the past and that was an awful fail that won’t be accepted again

I'm not sure what comment you're imagining I made.

I said McElvain can make plays throwing and running.

Stick could do both. Wentz could do both. JMUs QB who won them a title a couple years ago could do both. I'd like to see us play a QB who can do both.

[Mudrafan]

I'm not sure what comment you're imagining I made.

I said McElvain can make plays throwing and running.

Stick could do both. Wentz could do both. JMUs QB who won them a title a couple years ago could do both. I'd like to see us play a QB who can do both.

But we want a qb that primarily is a passer. And evidently ndsu did too as that’s what theirs did

[clenz]

Tavius Sykora-Matthess, a PWO from CR Washington has accepted a scholarship to Missouri Southern State in Joplin, MO

Courtney Messingham visited Kendall Robinson Jr at Waterloo East this AM.

[clenz]

All I will say regarding the QBs is this


Martens - a 3 star with a number of FBS - INCLUDING A P5 OFFER - and Fomby - a 3 star that held a Mizzou offer and many FBS offers - aren't picking UNI with the idea that they are redshirting and spending 3 years as a back up to someone on campus to maybe get the job for 1 year, or in the event of an injury.

Keller has the most D1 experience which is about 8 total snaps in the 4th quarter of blow outs.

If Fomby and Martens are coming here with the idea that they are redshirting this year and someone else is starting it means someone has decided that Howell is the starter this year.

If they were sold on having a QB on campus already that was "the future" they wouldn't have made a push for the guys they did - guys that will be the top two QBs signed in the MVFC and one of whom that more than a few people are convinced would have been a 4* P5 guy if he started for more than 1 year that played on a team full of P5 and FBS kids. If McElvain and Keller are the guys there isn't a push for a kid from Georgia - an area UNI has never recruited - with FBS offers.

As for why people assumed the comment was about wanting a running QB, it's because it read that way. There was more emphasis, through the wording, placed on the running/making plays with the feet than we'd see for the others listed.

No one confused Wentz, Stick, Christion, Grace, Sanders, etc. as running QBs. They are all pocket guys first, second and third. Grace is the closest thing to a running QB at UNI and he was a 62% passer that went for about 5,000 yards, nearly 40 TDs to like 15 TDs in 2 years while running for less than 1,000 in his two years - including less than 300 as a senior

In 2 years as a starter Wentz had almost identical stats to Grace. A couple hundred more yards, only a couple more TD, same INTs, same rating, about 100 more yards rushing with less than 300 yards as a senior.

Sanders was one of the most prolific passers in conference history. Most accurate in NCAA history. Running stats weren't even a thought with him.

Stick was definitely the most run heavy QB but he averaged just 7 rushes per game for his career. He also threw for well over 8,000 yards and 88 TDs to just 28 INT

[Mudrafan]

All I will say regarding the QBs is this


Martens - a 3 star with a number of FBS - INCLUDING A P5 OFFER - and Fomby - a 3 star that held a Mizzou offer and many FBS offers - aren't picking UNI with the idea that they are redshirting and spending 3 years as a back up to someone on campus to maybe get the job for 1 year, or in the event of an injury.

Keller has the most D1 experience which is about 8 total snaps in the 4th quarter of blow outs.

If Fomby and Martens are coming here with the idea that they are redshirting this year and someone else is starting it means someone has decided that Howell is the starter this year.

If they were sold on having a QB on campus already that was "the future" they wouldn't have made a push for the guys they did - guys that will be the top two QBs signed in the MVFC and one of whom that more than a few people are convinced would have been a 4* P5 guy if he started for more than 1 year that played on a team full of P5 and FBS kids. If McElvain and Keller are the guys there isn't a push for a kid from Georgia - an area UNI has never recruited - with FBS offers.

As for why people assumed the comment was about wanting a running QB, it's because it read that way. There was more emphasis, through the wording, placed on the running/making plays with the feet than we'd see for the others listed.

No one confused Wentz, Stick, Christion, Grace, Sanders, etc. as running QBs. They are all pocket guys first, second and third. Grace is the closest thing to a running QB at UNI and he was a 62% passer that went for about 5,000 yards, nearly 40 TDs to like 15 TDs in 2 years while running for less than 1,000 in his two years - including less than 300 as a senior

In 2 years as a starter Wentz had almost identical stats to Grace. A couple hundred more yards, only a couple more TD, same INTs, same rating, about 100 more yards rushing with less than 300 yards as a senior.

Sanders was one of the most prolific passers in conference history. Most accurate in NCAA history. Running stats weren't even a thought with him.

Stick was definitely the most run heavy QB but he averaged just 7 rushes per game for his career. He also threw for well over 8,000 yards and 88 TDs to just 28 INT

The world is ending. We are on the same page here. We are not going back to a running qb (keller). If a frosh doesn’t start, it will be one yr of howell. How can keller help us outside of a single package qb set?

[Blue42]

All I will say regarding the QBs is this


Martens - a 3 star with a number of FBS - INCLUDING A P5 OFFER - and Fomby - a 3 star that held a Mizzou offer and many FBS offers - aren't picking UNI with the idea that they are redshirting and spending 3 years as a back up to someone on campus to maybe get the job for 1 year, or in the event of an injury.

Keller has the most D1 experience which is about 8 total snaps in the 4th quarter of blow outs.

If Fomby and Martens are coming here with the idea that they are redshirting this year and someone else is starting it means someone has decided that Howell is the starter this year.

If they were sold on having a QB on campus already that was "the future" they wouldn't have made a push for the guys they did - guys that will be the top two QBs signed in the MVFC and one of whom that more than a few people are convinced would have been a 4* P5 guy if he started for more than 1 year that played on a team full of P5 and FBS kids. If McElvain and Keller are the guys there isn't a push for a kid from Georgia - an area UNI has never recruited - with FBS offers.

As for why people assumed the comment was about wanting a running QB, it's because it read that way. There was more emphasis, through the wording, placed on the running/making plays with the feet than we'd see for the others listed.

No one confused Wentz, Stick, Christion, Grace, Sanders, etc. as running QBs. They are all pocket guys first, second and third. Grace is the closest thing to a running QB at UNI and he was a 62% passer that went for about 5,000 yards, nearly 40 TDs to like 15 TDs in 2 years while running for less than 1,000 in his two years - including less than 300 as a senior

In 2 years as a starter Wentz had almost identical stats to Grace. A couple hundred more yards, only a couple more TD, same INTs, same rating, about 100 more yards rushing with less than 300 yards as a senior.

Sanders was one of the most prolific passers in conference history. Most accurate in NCAA history. Running stats weren't even a thought with him.

Stick was definitely the most run heavy QB but he averaged just 7 rushes per game for his career. He also threw for well over 8,000 yards and 88 TDs to just 28 INT

If you interpreted my comment that I wanted a running QB then you suffer from overt paranoia or some other issue.

What I said...exactly...was McElvain looks to be a dynamic playmaker who can make plays throwing or running.

Please don't lecture me on what I said or meant. I just don't need it. And you just don't know.

[achrist70]

A couple of things:

First off it seems to me that we have picked up a bunch of commitments from local athletes over the last week or so, I am hoping that most of these are PWOs. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Secondly with all of the talk about QB, does anyone feel that UNI has possibly used too many scholarships at quarterback the last 8 or so years. I completely understand that QB is the most important position on the field, but to me it seems like we have given scholarships to quite a few kids who never saw the field or transferred. It seems like we sign 2 or 3 a year. I am wondering if some of these scholarships would be better served in other areas, and yes I do know that not all of these kids received a scholarship but it still seems high to me.

[Yupster]

In regards to the QB situation, I think it's fair to say that the two freshman wouldn't have come to UNI if they didn't believe they'd have an opportunity to compete for the position immediately. The fact that they took two is a strong indication that that is what this staff is looking for, a competition.

In regards to whether that amounts to using too many scholarships on QB, I think it's a product of the position and the times. For one, we noticed QBs being "wasted" because it's about the only position where really only one guy plays. We don't say that about WRs or LBs because even the guys low on the depth chart get some time. Also, when that guy doesn't play, more and more often, they leave.

If one of the Freshman get the spot, would anybody be surprised to see McElvain and/or Keller leave? Sullivan left. Howell will be done. So, despite all the offers that have gone out to QBs you could still find yourself with only two or three scholarship QBs in the QB room.

[ronfitch]

The running of qbs at UNI has to be over

Let's hope so.

[clenz]

I think it's the correct thing to do to bring in at least one QB every year on scholarship and another as a walk-on.

I wouldn't say we've wasted scholarships on QBs lately. We brought some guys in at the end of Bailey/under Dunne but Dunne was going to be the guy until he graduated. Thus guys like Ellsworth, Howell, McElvain (TBD), Keller (TBD) seem to be wastes of rides. Remember, everyone outside of those lately has been a walk-on.

I think the reality is having 6 QBs on roster isn't a bad thing - especially in a year like last year where your starter is going to be gone and you need guys on campus already prepped to step into that role.

I'd be mildly shocked to see McElvain or Keller leave, but not totally, after this year if it isn't their job. Go somewhere where you can still get a decent to good education and get playing time. I will never fault a kid for that. Just as I wouldn't fault Fomby (if he doesn't get the job and whomever does becomes entrenched) for heading back closer to home. Georgia is a long way to be away from home and be a potential career back up.

It's not always just about competition for the starting job, it's about having guys push each other for the second spot. When you can have 105 guys on roster, compared to 53 in the NFL, you can afford to carry an extra 2 QBs each year.

This year UNI will have 5 - Martens, Fomby, McElvain, Howell, Keller. Maybe that's one too many, but that could easily be "fixed" if Howell didn't use last year as a RS year, which I have no problem with.


What will be intersting to watch is the kid from West Sioux in the 2020 class. UNI has offered him and so has just about every other FCS school in the UMW at this point. He's a kid that would be a great grab, but I just don't see it happening if one of the younger 4 takes the starting job this year. I can't see him committing to a place to sit for 3 or 4 years before he gets a "real" chance.

[clenz]

Dalton Schmidt from Fort Dodge appears to have had his offered pulled. He deleted all references to UNI on his social media and committed to Wayne State.

LJ Early from Bakersfield CC hasn't committed anywhere but did retweet some Fresno State stuff today. I won't be shocked to see him end up there.

[clenz]

Could mean a lot of nothing but...

Omar Brown Jr. from Minneapolis North, 3* WR with offers from Indiana, NDSU, USD, Arkansas St. announced he will be announcing his decision Wednesday morning when he signs his LOI at 9AM.

Going through the likes, thus far, on that tweet, every single person that has "liked it" is another student athlete or generic friend/fan/family except one.....Pat McCann


Also, as a bit more proof that stars don't mean much for the majority of recruits outside of the P5 - even at the P5 level in this case.

Nate Martens - a 3 star from 247 and Rivals for months and months and months - has been moved to a 2 star by Rivals in the last week or so now that the heavy hitting time for updating profiles is upon them. They've also dropped him from being a "ranked" prospect Nationally or even in the state of Missouri. His "Rivals rank" is equal to almost every single 3* prospect out there that signed with an FBS school and is one tenth of a point behind Fomby. I won't be shocked to see Fomby drop to a 2 after he puts his signature on the LOI to UNI. Then again, they may just ignore his profile moving forward and never update it. I've seen that many times with FCS players who had FBS offers. The recruiting sites just stop dealing with those profiles.

[BCPanther]

I'm beginning to think we need to make sure Pat McCann is being well compensated. He's been awesome on the recruiting trail and really seems to have a future.