Grading the classes: San Jose State

This week, OBNUG will be grading the recruiting classes for each WAC team. Our research may be spotty, but as you can see from the final result, there is no questioning our loyalty.


San Jose State

The Spartans incoming class features only 17 new players, due to the fact that seven scholarships were revoked due to low test scores (and by "low test scores," we mean "nearly losing to Idaho"). Head coach Dick Tomey's connection to the vacant Hawaii job this offseason did not cost the team any players, probably because those players didn't have scholarship offers elsewhere.

The best recruit might be Ina Liaina whose name may or may not be spelled correctly here. As a linebacker/running back hybrid, Liaina has a good shot of making the team at both positions, considering this is San Jose State and all. Seriously, though, he'll be a linebacker.

"It's a good group," Tomey said. "Where we needed help right away we're going to get help, and where we needed young guys to come in and learn, we got that."

Translation: "I have nothing particularly interesting to say about these guys, and I'm not even sure I've seen them all before."

You have to love playing in the WAC.

Scout.com rank: 116
Rivals.com rank: 115
OBNUG grade: F

San Jose State weathered recruiting storm [San Jose Mercury News]

Statesman recruiting coverage: A+

The Idaho Statesman did a tremendous job of covering the new BSU recruits last week. It is nice to see an Idaho media outlet understand technology and the way it improves communication.

We at OBNUG would like to particularly point out the contributions of Brian Murphy, who spent all day Wednesday blogging the recruits. You are okay in our book, Mr. Murphy.

In addition, the Statesman has video clips from all of the new Bronco players.

BSU football videos [Idaho Statesman]
Murph's Turf recruiting blog [Idaho Statesman]

Tester arrested last week

Former Treasure Valley sports reporter Dave Tester was arrested on domestic violence charges in an incident at his home on Thursday night. Tester is CEO of a local radio company, and he used to do play-by-play on Boise State and Idaho football telecasts. His wife is Claudia Weathermon, a former local TV news anchor.

I will be seeing this mugshot in my nightmares.

Local broadcast exec arrested [KTVB.com]

Welcome to the family, grayshirts

Having grayshirts join the team is like finding five bucks in your pocket you didn't know you had. Although, I think these grayshirts are at least a 10 spot. There were some good recruits from last year that the Broncos just didn't have room for, so we should get to see them contribute to the team in 2008. Here's the list:

Chase Baker, DT
Mitch Burroughs, WR
Matt Kaiserman, RB
Shea McClellin, DL
Dan Paul, LB
Dominique Vinson, WR

Bold predictions for the coming week

Happy Valentine’s week, Bronco fans. You significant others here at OBNUG are still sorting through an exciting LOI day, so we’ll have lots of good info for you this week. Here’s what else we think will be happening:

• Fresno State and Boise State, seeing the less-than-stellar recruiting classes of fellow WAC members, will secede from the conference and form the Super WAC. The BCS will fail to recognize it as a major conference.
• With so many talented linebackers on the team, Bronco coaches will switch to a 1-5 defense, becoming the first team to deploy only one defensive lineman on a majority of defensive snaps. That defensive lineman will be Ryan Winterswyk in a fat suit.
• Sean Renfree will arrive at Duke and, like Ron Burgundy in the bear pit, immediately regret his decision.