Article - Pitt connecting with NJ linemen via ex-Rutgers OL

[Mr_Twister]

Perplexing article. Pitt football program connecting with NJ OL through PRO E.D.G.E., founded by two ex-Rutgers OL -- Sameeh McDonald and J'Vonne Parker.

http://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2017/01/25/drexel-completes-final-visit-pitt/

Is PRO E.D.G.E. a resource for Rutgers recruiters?

 

[StyleKnight]

We got the OL we wanted.

 

[jvgrad02]

We need to get over there and create our own pipeline. We need to get these RU alumni on our side and fix whatever is wrong in the relationship

 

[Leonard23]

We got the OL we wanted.

We got some of the OL we wanted. Pretty sure we wanted Warren, who's ranked 10th in the state. I would hope Ash has a relationship with Pro E.D.G.E. Does anyone know?

 

[cubuffsdoug]

We got some of the OL we wanted. Pretty sure we wanted Warren, who's ranked 10th in the state. I would hope Ash has a relationship with Pro E.D.G.E. Does anyone know?

Well, Ash first mistake was not placing someone with local ties on the coaching staff. Mantz is good, but he's not on the coaching staff and people see this. NJ HS coaches will openly say the right things about Ash, but they still see a midwest staff coaching on the eastcoast.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Do McDonald and Parker have ties to, and participate at, football clinics at Rutgers?

 

[RU#1fan]

We got the OL we wanted.

Can never have enough. Getting one 4 star is great. Need more high potential OL recruits.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

Do McDonald and Parker have ties to, and participate at, football clinics at Rutgers?

In the past they were, but not sure about now.

 

[RUMBA-JK]

explore their website http://theproedge.com/ - draw whatever conclusions make sense to you -

In the "Featured Athletes" part where they tout their past accomplishments - it appears out of date and they list a bunch of NJ guys who certainly may have had desire - but they don't seem to have anybody profiled who became a truly notable D1 player - maybe they have been so busy that they have not been able to post info on their super stars.

Keeping a website up to date when you are busy is challenging - but some people will judge the business based on how the internet presence is maintained -

Definitely wish these Rutgers Grads well - and hope that they speak highly of Rutgers to their clients.

 

[StyleKnight]

We got the OL we wanted.

We got some of the OL we wanted. Pretty sure we wanted Warren, who's ranked 10th in the state. I would hope Ash has a relationship with Pro E.D.G.E. Does anyone know?

We wanted Carter Warren early but he lost his spot as others committed.

 

[LSRF]

These facilities exist because they help sell the dream of a scholarship. There is no way they will ever shut the door on any coach - ever.

 

[Mr_Twister]

These facilities exist because they help sell the dream of a scholarship. There is no way they will ever shut the door on any coach - ever.

But they will open the door wider and promote better candidates to some programs. One of those programs needs to be Rutgers.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Well, Ash first mistake was not placing someone with local ties on the coaching staff. Mantz is good, but he's not on the coaching staff and people see this. NJ HS coaches will openly say the right things about Ash, but they still see a midwest staff coaching on the eastcoast.

You know we hired a Jersey guy yesterday, right? [thumb2]

 

[RUskoolie]

Once again lots of silly posts and crackpot theories posted on the free board. Sameeh and JVonne do a great job and are very Pro RU (they go to games). The two Pitt OL that are from NJ both wanted to come to RU. We passed on both because we have a very good OL class. IMO we could flip either guy if we wanted. They jumped on Pitt offers as options dried up. Happy for them but again, please stop acting like idiots without knowing facts.

 

[Ridge 22]

Well, Ash first mistake was not placing someone with local ties on the coaching staff. Mantz is good, but he's not on the coaching staff and people see this. NJ HS coaches will openly say the right things about Ash, but they still see a midwest staff coaching on the eastcoast.

I think this angle is way overblown. Even when we have had NJ coaches on staff, I am not sure the NJ high school coaches treated us much differently. On the whole, NJ high school coaches could do a lot more in my opinion to support Rutgers.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

You know we hired a Jersey guy yesterday, right? [thumb2]

I know the guy. Coached against him.

I think this angle is way overblown. Even when we have had NJ coaches on staff, I am not sure the NJ high school coaches treated us much differently. On the whole, NJ high school coaches could do a lot more in my opinion to support Rutgers.

I use to think the same thing, but after coaching in NJ for years and covering it through recruiting there is a lot of truth to that statement. Off the top of my head I can name dozen schools/coaches who are more receptive to NJ coaches on the Rutgers staff. Now it's up to Rutgers (HC) to be able to close the deal.

 

[Ridge 22]

I know the guy. Coached against him.


I use to think the same thing, but after coaching in NJ for years and covering it through recruiting there is a lot of truth to that statement. Off the top of my head I can name dozen schools/coaches who are more receptive to NJ coaches on the Rutgers staff. Now it's up to Rutgers (HC) to be able to close the deal.

OK, interesting perspective and I can respect that.

 

[BlockR]

Well, Ash first mistake was not placing someone with local ties on the coaching staff. Mantz is good, but he's not on the coaching staff and people see this. NJ HS coaches will openly say the right things about Ash, but they still see a midwest staff coaching on the eastcoast.

been saying the same thing for months..Mantz is great,but he sits in an office,on Campus. Acosta would have been my first choice,but at least Henry Baker is step,finaly ,in right direction in State relaationships,this staff dosent know what they were getting into with Jersey high school politics which is complex between public,prep and cliques.

 

[PaKnight]

We got some of the OL we wanted. Pretty sure we wanted Warren, who's ranked 10th in the state. I would hope Ash has a relationship with Pro E.D.G.E. Does anyone know?

I am not sure about how much we wanted Warren.

 

[Leonard23]

Well, Ash first mistake was not placing someone with local ties on the coaching staff. Mantz is good, but he's not on the coaching staff and people see this. NJ HS coaches will openly say the right things about Ash, but they still see a midwest staff coaching on the eastcoast.

Why hasn't this been corrected? Does Baker fix it? We seem to be making too many mistakes.

We wanted Carter Warren early but he lost his spot as others committed.

I am not sure about how much we wanted Warren.

We should've taken 5 OL with our past OL issues, depth & the fact that we have 8 or so schollies to give.

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

I know the guy. Coached against him.


I use to think the same thing, but after coaching in NJ for years and covering it through recruiting there is a lot of truth to that statement. Off the top of my head I can name dozen schools/coaches who are more receptive to NJ coaches on the Rutgers staff. Now it's up to Rutgers (HC) to be able to close the deal.

Just curious, but is that what you meant to say? If so, I find that really, really troubling. I could understand if NJ coaches connected better with NJ guys on staff elsewhere than they do with our staff (that is on them), but I would be really bothered if Rutgers was not highly receptive to NJ coaches.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Why hasn't this been corrected? Does Baker fix it? We seem to be making too many mistakes.



We should've taken 5 OL with our past OL issues, depth & the fact that we have 8 or so schollies to give.

I'm sure we'll be grabbing a couple of OL late. No reason not to, right?

 

[yesrutgers01]

Once again lots of silly posts and crackpot theories posted on the free board. Sameeh and JVonne do a great job and are very Pro RU (they go to games). The two Pitt OL that are from NJ both wanted to come to RU. We passed on both because we have a very good OL class. IMO we could flip either guy if we wanted. They jumped on Pitt offers as options dried up. Happy for them but again, please stop acting like idiots without knowing facts.

Thanks for the clarification skoolie. So many posters on here love to blast our local media on the way they find anything, with or without facts to slant a story against RU. But then those same posters eat up everything they say and make matters worse by posting the same crap as if it is now fact.

BTW- agree with needed some more NJ ties on staff and I love the new hire. Not only has he coached in NJ but he played in Md and coached in DE. That is all a lot of prime recruiting ground...

 

[KevH]

been saying the same thing for months..Mantz is great,but he sits in an office,on Campus. Acosta would have been my first choice,but at least Henry Baker is step,finaly ,in right direction in State relaationships,this staff dosent know what they were getting into with Jersey high school politics which is complex between public,prep and cliques.

Interesting that, with all the interaction Ash was supposed to have had with Schiano, he was not made aware of this. Or, was he?

 

[StyleKnight]

Why hasn't this been corrected? Does Baker fix it? We seem to be making too many mistakes.



We should've taken 5 OL with our past OL issues, depth & the fact that we have 8 or so schollies to give.

Agree especially with the depth at OL in NJ this year. But that was not the staff's plan.

 

[eyebugs]

Wouldn't really call anything a connection here. just a couple guys who ended up at Pitt... one lightly recruited and one more heavily recruited... Olineman are very hard to evaluate.. Who knows if either staff made the right decision.. I do like the Pickett kid from Jersey though... Lightly recruited but I think has some upside to him...

 

[IvyLeagueFootball]

Agree especially with the depth at OL in NJ this year. But that was not the staff's plan.

Rutgers will have 16 OL on scholarship next year with only 1 5th year senior and 3 4th year juniors. I'd rather see them add a Juco or grad transfer that can add depth to the 2 deep next year and take 3-4 OL in 2018.

 

[CNJKnight]

I'm for not being involved in anything Owen Drexel's blow hard dad is involved in. That guys is the worst. I'm sorry if I offend anyone but that guy will bash RU to anyone that will listen. We are sorry we didn't take Owen (who seems like a super nice kid and will do well at Pitt) but his dad is more trouble that he's worth.