FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[formerd3db]

Do all the OAC teams start today? Or all D3 teams for that matter?

The start date determined by a formula which is based in part on each institution's first game and first day of classes. It will vary. I've talked to more than 30 coaches in the course of reporting for Kickoff and get a variety of dates from Aug. 8 to Aug. 13 for reporting.

Pat:
That is most interesting.  On the surface, it sounds slightly complicated, although most likely, as you have described the process, it is probably not so much complicated. I find it interesting since wasn't it just in recent years that the basic rule was the NCAA did not allow DIII and DII schools to start football practice more than 3 weeks before the date of their first regular season game?  Of course, the DI schools have always started the week before the other divisions.  You must have had fun time talking to all those coaches on a variety of subjects involved in your annual Kickoff!  Thanks again for the insight info.

[hsbsballcoach7]

FWIW the 2017 roster is live and Choat is not on it currently.  Davis, Poorman, Fulford and Reid are on it as soph QB's, but Taitt is not currently on the roster.

Choat is now on the roster. I'm concerned about Dline depth. Tre Reid (played a lot as a freshman) is not on roster. Keshawn Wynn also isn't listed and he got PT at receiver last year.

I'm glad to see Skyler Scott back after a year off from injury. If he's in shape, he will factor in at TE or big receiver.

I will say that I do expect 1 freshman DL to be playing important minutes by mid season. Time for upperclassmen to step up.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Check out this assistant coach's picture:  Isaiah Smith

Looking at the QBs on the roster.  All are Sophomores except Senior Robert Powell.  He played the last three years at NAIA Kentucky Christian and is originally from Michigan.  Here is his HUDL link that has HS and College Highlights:  http://www.hudl.com/profile/1469502/robert-powell/videos

[rscl70]

Check out this assistant coach's picture:  Isaiah Smith

Looking at the QBs on the roster.  All are Sophomores except Senior Robert Powell.  He played the last three years at NAIA Kentucky Christian and is originally from Michigan.  Here is his HUDL link that has HS and College Highlights:  http://www.hudl.com/profile/1469502/robert-powell/videos

One has to wonder why he would leave KCU his Senior year?

[Dr. Acula]

FWIW the 2017 roster is live and Choat is not on it currently.  Davis, Poorman, Fulford and Reid are on it as soph QB's, but Taitt is not currently on the roster.

Choat is now on the roster. I'm concerned about Dline depth. Tre Reid (played a lot as a freshman) is not on roster. Keshawn Wynn also isn't listed and he got PT at receiver last year.

I'm glad to see Skyler Scott back after a year off from injury. If he's in shape, he will factor in at TE or big receiver.

I will say that I do expect 1 freshman DL to be playing important minutes by mid season. Time for upperclassmen to step up.

I was impressed with Reid as a freshman at DT.  He was quick.  Also missing who played some DE as a freshman is Jared Dostal. 

[HScoach]

Check out this assistant coach's picture:  Isaiah Smith

Looks like the prototypical D-lineman.  Not sure what the problem is

[Dr. Acula]

I went on YouTube and watched the semis and Stagg Bowl from 2015 again last night.  What a fun team.  Taurice Scott was quietly so good at QB.  I think history will lump him with Rocco as one of those guys who gets overlooked until you look at the numbers and say "Whoa."  Furda developed into a beast at DE.  And of course Nemeth racking up 200 yd games down the stretch.  I love watching the defense struggle early against UST and then just turn it on up front.  I'm officially ready for football season!

[E.115]

Nice article on Mount Union's Kevin Burke returning to Northeast Ohio via the Case Western Reserve coaching staff.

http://www.news-herald.com/sports/20170809/case-western-reserve-kevin-burke-two-time-gagliardi-trophy-winner-joins-coaching-staff

[Dr. Acula]

Breakdown of the Mount freshmen roster.  88 players total.

OH:  33
MI:  18
PA:  10
IL:  6
VA:  4
NC:  3
LA, NJ, SC, TX:  2
AR, CO, MD, NV, TN, WV:  1

DL:  12
LB:  9
DB:  24
OL:  12
QB:  4
RB:  7
WR:  21
TE:  2
K:  2

A couple thoughts...first, I'm completely shocked that there isn't a single FL kid in this class.  I wonder when was the last time that happened?  It's been years.  Second, the MI emphasis is very real.  The hiring of Jerry Van Havel (retired MI HS coach) as an assistant whose only job is recruiting seemed to suggest it and the numbers confirm it.  The 6 kids from IL caught my eye as well.  Mount has had kids from IL in the past pretty regularly, but I don't recall any one year with quite that many kids.  Finally, I think these are the first two kids from the Bayou that I recall.

As for positions, I'm surprised they were able to convince 4 QB's to come with that soph. class ahead of them.  As always I think we all pine for more linemen on both sides of the ball.  Never can have enough big guys.   

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I don't think Mount had as much of a presence at the Small County Recruiting Fairs held last February in FL.

[hsbsballcoach7]

Breakdown of the Mount freshmen roster.  88 players total.

OH:  33
MI:  18
PA:  10
IL:  6
VA:  4
NC:  3
LA, NJ, SC, TX:  2
AR, CO, MD, NV, TN, WV:  1

DL:  12
LB:  9
DB:  24
OL:  12
QB:  4
RB:  7
WR:  21
TE:  2
K:  2

A couple thoughts...first, I'm completely shocked that there isn't a single FL kid in this class.  I wonder when was the last time that happened?  It's been years.  Second, the MI emphasis is very real.  The hiring of Jerry Van Havel (retired MI HS coach) as an assistant whose only job is recruiting seemed to suggest it and the numbers confirm it.  The 6 kids from IL caught my eye as well.  Mount has had kids from IL in the past pretty regularly, but I don't recall any one year with quite that many kids.  Finally, I think these are the first two kids from the Bayou that I recall.

As for positions, I'm surprised they were able to convince 4 QB's to come with that soph. class ahead of them.  As always I think we all pine for more linemen on both sides of the ball.  Never can have enough big guys.

I was talking with a friend of mine last night and he brought up that he heard the staff was making less of an emphasis there because they've had much higher percentage of off the field issues with players from certain areas of the country. They will still take guys from those areas, but they must be determined and well rounded. After looking through the freshmen Dline, they have some boys with size, quickness and strength....call me optimistic.

[Pat Coleman]

One of the 31 coaches I have talked to so far for Kickoff said his team lost all 11 Florida players off last year's roster. While that's probably an extreme, it sounds like they aren't the only ones, huh?

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I coach HS football in Pasco county FL, just North of Tampa.

A majority of the kids who go play up North (not including full ride D1 players) return home after a semester or year.  They don't like the winter and I hear a lot of "the coach didn't give me a chance."

Many of them think they deserve to start right away and aren't willing to put in the time/work to earn playing time.

[gizzmo13]

Check out this assistant coach's picture:  Isaiah Smith

Looking at the QBs on the roster.  All are Sophomores except Senior Robert Powell.  He played the last three years at NAIA Kentucky Christian and is originally from Michigan.  Here is his HUDL link that has HS and College Highlights:  http://www.hudl.com/profile/1469502/robert-powell/videos

One has to wonder why he would leave KCU his Senior year?

he basically will have 4 qbs in front of him.  maybe switch positions? seems like he was at least  playing at last school . 

[Captain_Joe08]

One of the 31 coaches I have talked to so far for Kickoff said his team lost all 11 Florida players off last year's roster. While that's probably an extreme, it sounds like they aren't the only ones, huh?

One of them is now on the Concordia Chicago Roster

http://www.cucougars.com/news/2017/8/11/footballs-new-faces-look-to-factor-in-for-2017-season.aspx