Feb. 4, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Aggie head football coach Mike Sherman announced the signing of 28 student-athletes to national letters of intent in a press conference Wednesday on the Texas A&M campus. A transcript is posted below:
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Opening statement...
"Well I tell you, this process that we've just gone thru in recruiting...we actually started a year ago. Last time a year ago, when we were at this point, we'd just recruited the '08 class, to which we were able to add seven. But when came on board, I told our staff that not only do we need to add some players and keep the ones that are already committed, but let's get going on this junior class. We've been recruiting these kids for a long time. It's nice to get to this point. They come from great families. They come out of high school programs with wonderful tradition and outstanding coaching. Many of these kids have played playoff games, championship games, the state final game, and have won state. I feel very fortunate to add this group of young men to our current A&M football team. When we started this thing, on each coach's desk I have a medallion that says recruit talent, build character and develop fundamentals. That is part of what we aim to do here on a regular basis every single day. And when we go out look for recruits, obviously talent is what draws our interest. Once we find the talent, we investigate the character of these young men. Then the final point of the equation is the academically-motivated student. That is a big part of the question as well. I think all the guys we have coming into our program check off very favorably in all of those areas. I'm excited. We've met our criteria, we've addressed some needs we had on this team specifically, and I think we've added a good group to our current football team."
You went heavy with linebackers and defensive backs. The defensive backs and even the linebackers, did you recruit these guys with the intention that maybe they can switch positions within the defense?
"We recruited possibly seven defensive backs...of those seven, maybe at some point if they get to have size a linebacker could have, maybe one of them moves up into the linebacker spot. The model is much like the model that we had in the past when I was here. We really went after speed. I told our coaches on the onset, when we took off in recruiting and evaluating, that we're going to make some mistakes. But we can't make mistakes on their character, we can't make a mistake on their speed and we can't make a mistake on their desire to be at Texas A&M. So I think we were able to hit on those fronts. But the linebacker group, if you go back to that group, it will add a new dimension to our defense. It's a very aggressive group. They have instincts and they all can run very well. A number of those guys are track athletes, as three of those guys run the 100 meters on their track team, so I'm excited about that component that they'll bring to our defense."
You mentioned you addressed some needs that your team specifically had. Which of those needs were at the top of your priority list?
"The top priority was just to get good football players in our program, and I think we addressed that. But the most glaring needs at this current time were probably on the offensive line and also at the linebacker position, at which I feel we did good job of evaluating talent at those positions and answering those questions."
Talk about Christine Michael, the highest rated prospect, and what you expect from him...
"I expect no more from him than anybody else, but he is someone that has tremendous talent. The versatility he has as a running back--he's very quick, he can accelerate, he can make a big play, he can catch the ball very well out of the backfield--I think he's a player that we will, much like we did with Cyrus Gray last year, we'll accelerate the learning curve for him and get him on the field. As evident during last season, we need more explosive plays. I think that player can get those for us."
With the season you just had, did you have to go back and sell any of these guys, and how much easier was the process because of that, being able to tell guys that they can come in play right away?
"You know, I think these kids are coming to Texas A&M for all the right reasons. Yeah, we have a new football coach and a new program, and we didn't have great season last year, but this is a great university. These kids, I tell them that you come here because you want a great education, play on Kyle Field, and you want to run out of that tunnel and win championships. I don't think last season should play into it. I think a lot of factors shouldn't play into it. So if they answer those questions, which I think they did, they hung in there with us. We didn't really have a defection that I can recall throughout the course of the season. Obviously as a coach, you worry about everything, and that certainly crossed my mind a number of times. I would call these kids on Mondays or Tuesdays and they'd be picking me up. `Hey coach, we'll be okay. Just hang in there.' They were giving me a pep talk. That's what's neat about this group. I've never been around such a mature, high-character group of recruits, and I'm sure every coach has his little positive statements today. But I'm serious. This is a very unique group of men, and I can't wait to get them in here and put them with another good group of men that are currently here. I talked to our team last night about embracing these guys when they come here, and to not be afraid to be challenged, because we need competition at positions to be a better football team. If you asked me one thing we were lacking, other what you may think from watching the game, is strictly just competition at positions--where a guy has to go out every day to maintain his status as a starter. With the influx of this group of young men, there will be a lot of competition at a lot of positions I told the players last night that you're not competing against the guys in this room. You're competing against an incoming class and also you're competing against the guys in the Big 12, who you have to beat. We have to raise that level. We'll do that with freshmen, and we'll also do that internally, hopefully motivating guys to play at a higher level."
Talk about Kirby Ennis and Brandal Jackson, two area guys and what they'll bring to the team, and what it means to be able to recruit this area and keep them here...
"And Dustin Harris too, up there at Livingston. We have a great relationship with the high school coaches in this area, and I hope across the state as well, which I believe we do. Those three kids come out of great programs. They know how to play football and know what it's all about. I'm excited about those guys. I'm excited because I've had time to spend with them and their families, and sit in their homes and talk about A&M, and see the enthusiasm and the excitement that their family has, and the pride they have that their son or grandson is coming to Texas A&M. All three of those guys I see contributing at a very early time. And they're very unique kids in their own way. Every one of those kids is unique. I remember one time Kirby Ennis was out here, we had just lost to (Texas) Tech I think, and I'm the last one out of the building. He waited for me to see if I was okay after the game. These kids are very unique. Dustin Harris has a wonderful family. His little brother and sister, and mom and dad, they're just great people. Brandal Jackson comes out of a phenomenal program, he has a great mom and dad and I'm excited because he's an explosive player and explosive receiver that catches the ball just about every time it's thrown to him. These three guys are going to be a big part of our future, no question about it."
Talk about your plans for Ryan Swope...
"Ryan is a unique player. He has so many different areas where he can contribute. (A&M assistant) Randy (Jordan) was unaware of his ability to run the football. He saw him late in the season in a playoff game. We had looked at him primarily as a receiver, which is what he will be when he comes in here, but he also has the ability to go in the backfield and run the ball. He's a 10.5 100-meter guy that is just--and I hate to keep praising people this far ahead of when they have to do something--but in high school, this kid has just been a phenomenal athlete. I think he can be in a lot of different packages we have, whether it's motioning him out of the backfield, or putting him in space on a linebacker, or lining him up with five wide receivers in the game in the empty package, or just playing receiver. There's a variety of things that Ryan Swope can contribute to this football program...and as a special teams player as well. His speed is special and not just his speed but his consistency of effort is special. He's always going that fast."
You signed three guys that played for the 5A state championship, in (Colton) Valencia, (Steven) Terrell and Uzoma (Nwachukwu). Do they remind you at all, in terms of what they bring to the table in the locker room, of Trent HunterTerrence Frederick last year? And also, talk about the effort to go into Louisiana this year and what went into that thought process... and
"You have a tremendous advantage in the state of Texas. I remember we were out at New Mexico and I was talking to their coach before the game and I said `You have a bunch of Texas kids on your team.' He said, `Yeah coach, that's the only place you can get kids who know what it's all about, yes sir, no sir, and they do their job the right way, because of the high school coaches.' Now, you get a kid out of Hightower or Allen or Katy like we did last year, these kids come here with a lot of confidence. These kids come here with a desire. They know what it's like to win. They know what it takes to win. They've been leaders on their team. Trent (Hunter) as a freshman came in here and demonstrated that very well. (Terrence) Frederick did the same thing once he got the opportunity. Now they have to do it this year. I think this is their biggest year, their sophomore season. But I do like the idea and I do relish the idea. We grade schools and coaching staffs and we grade where guys are coming from. The guys that came out of those programs, and other programs that we signed, are coming from outstanding coaches and are well-schooled.
"In regard to Louisiana...I just felt because LSU has had great success obviously, and the possibility of them expanding their recruiting, that maybe we could make some inroads into Louisiana. When I was an assistant coach here, I recruited Brandon Mitchell and other kids out of Louisiana. I never got a whole bunch of them, because it was very different at that time and it still is. There are so many good players over there, and good coaches as well. But what I did was say I wanted to treat Louisiana like an in-state area. I feel like the character and the culture of people in Louisiana is much like Texas. From Shreveport it's the same distance to College Station as it is to Baton Rouge. We have to consider that there are talented players and well coached-players in those high schools. We were able to address that with the three players, two linebackers and an offensive lineman--Jonathan Stewart, obviously up there in Shreveport, Michael Lamothe, down there at New Iberia, and Patrick Lewis down at East Saint John and a high school coach that I've had a great relationship with, who's played in the all-star game over there--all of those guys have played extremely well. I consider Louisiana an area that we'll continue to invest in. We have a lot of Aggies over there. If you majored in petroleum engineering, there's a good chance you've spent some time in Lafayette or that neck of the woods. I spent a couple days over there recently just visiting with some people that are going to work with us over there."
Last year you had to take the redshirt off a couple of offensive linemen and play them. How does this class mix with it and when you're looking at offensive linemen in this class, what do you expect out of these four players?
Well, I'm not going to put handcuffs on anybody. I tell them all, every guy that we sign, to expect to play. By Friday they will have our offseason program. Every 10 days they will get something from us in regards to football. This how we call our formations. I'll send them a goal sheet, expectations. This how we call our defenses. This is our passing offense. We`ll send them bits and pieces throughout the shool year, never too much to overwhelm them but just enough to whet their appetite, so when they hear it when they come back here it's not new to them. We're going to continue to develop guys even with the long-distance relationship. I expect them all to participate and have a chance to play. Certainly I sold that to many of those kids in the recruiting process."
You didn't sign a quarterback. There are a lot of highly-rated quarterbacks...did you guys go after a few and not have success or is that something that will be a high priority next year?
"It is a high priority right now as we enter our junior recruiting. There are a number of good quarterbacks in this state coming out this year. We've identified the top 10 quarterbacks and have them listed as such right now, and are working through that. As far as getting one this year...we did go after a couple guys early in the recruiting process. Because of the success of Jerrod Johnson and the possibility of Ryan Tannehill, and their future and being as young as they were this season, I think some players felt they didn't want to stack themselves up in that situation. But there were some good quarterbacks this year. I also think there are very good ones next year as well."
We've heard a lot about the work these guys do in the film room to prepare...is that something that was very important to you?
"It's like I told the team yesterday, if you're not smart enough to realize the value of an education, you're not smart enough to play football here, either. If you don't put value on your education, and understand how important that is, then your intellect is not good enough to help us in football. We want a good football intellect. We want a guy that can understand things when we're talking to them at halftime, or on the sidelines, and can go out there and make the adjustments we need to make. You do want a good football IQ. Trent's a great example. You do want someone that's been coached up and developed the habits--I'm a big guy on demanding that they take notes on everything. You never stop learning. I take notes all the time on everything that I do, and I challenge them all the time to do that. Trent came in like that because with Coach Joseph he was taught that way. And that's good, a lot of these kids coming in were taught that way, that winning champs is so important that I'm going to do everything I can to get myself ready. You just don't show up in the game on Saturday. I think we have a number of kids fall into that category of doing what they have to do in preparation to win the football game. I think sometimes guys lose sight, not just enough to play the game or have a scholarship. You came here for a purpose and that's to win and win championships. Everything we do in this program, from recruiting, to our evaluations, to our teaching, to our offseason conditioning, to spring ball, is focused on winning championships, not just playing football."
There's only one junior college player on the list in Coryell Judie. What was the reason for targeting him and what are your expectations for him next season?
"I think junior colleges definitely serve their purpose, and there are great junior college programs across the country, including the state of Texas. I just feel, from my liking, that this university--and I may feel different somewhere else--but at this university, where there are so many things to experience off the field...there are so many things offered to a player that suck that player in with history and tradition and the value system we have here at A&M...it's hard for a junior college kid to come in here and get the full experience of Texas A&M. I'd rather work with high school kids, because I think I can work better in that environment. That's not disparaging to JC kids. We may recruit a JC player next year, but I'm not going to build our program on those kids. I'm going to build our program with kids that are high school players that want to come to A&M, and they have other options, but they want to come here. As far as Coryell Judie is concerned, from the tape we watched, I think he's the best defensive back in JUCOs this season. Hopefully he'll come in here and he will be challenged from day one to get on that field. Whoever is in front of him will be challenged to be better than him. That's a good situation. And he's from Marlin, right down the road, and that's nice to have someone from Marlin."
Other than Harold Turnage, are there any other scholarship guys that won't be back next year?
"I don't want to get into that right now. There's a couple of those guys, and I'll answer that question tomorrow, but today's about recruiting. If we could hold back on that I'd appreciate it."
Talk about Andrew Weaver and your plans for him...
"Andrew comes from a great high school coach and program. I just talked to his coach this morning. He is just a neat kid. His dad is a preacher up there at Good Samaritan Baptist Church in Waco. A week ago Sunday I had the opportunity to go up there for service. Instead of making a home visit, I made it at church where his dad was the preacher. It was a little longer home visit than I usually make, but it was very beneficial home visit. I tried to sneak in with Coach McMillian in the back of the church so I'm not noticed, but immediately we're ushered up to the front and are introduced...there's a lot of good Aggies in that church. But we went up there to share service with them, and to see that young man, he's over here playing in the church band, and then he goes up into the choir, and he also participates in the sermon, I'm just watching this young man and saying that he's really grown up in a unique environment that will serve him well and serve me well, as I will count on him to be a big part of our team. He's a great athlete. He can rush the quarterback. We really think he can be a guy like Kirby (Ennis) and come off the edge and turn his hips and chase all those great quarterbacks we play. We see a very specific role for him."
Talk about Ryan Epperson...
"We just lost a dynamic punter in Justin Brantly. That kid will be punting in the National Football League for a long time in my mind. Those are tough shoes to fill. It's hard to compare players where he is in his career now to them coming out of high school. Epperson is a soccer player. I was impressed. I watched him as a punter and kicker, his athleticism is something that attracted me to him as a punter as much as anything. He's a good athlete, and I want our punters to be good athletes. Those guys have to maneuver around a bit with the rush, have to keep their composure, and may have to make a tackle. He has a real strong leg. He's probably better at placekicking than punting today, but this kid will work at it. I was very impressed with his home and his parents. His brother punts at Baylor. In visiting with his family I just became very enamored with him and impressed with him and I thought that this was a situation that we had to address. I don't want to be stuck during the course of the season without a punter. Sometimes they can be a little bit of an afterthought, until you don't have one. I didn't want it to be an afterthought. He's deserving and we're excited to get him. We're also recruiting some other punters as well that will walk on and challenge. We're recruiting some kickers. We have about five punters and kickers that will be on our roster when we start off, and there will be great competition at those positions."
Talk about your pursuit of Rhontae Scales and some of the things you expect him to come out and do...
"Rhontae is a big, good-looking athlete. I really believe this--you build your team in many ways around the offensive line because they have to be the enforcers in the locker room. They're the ones that carry out the mission of the coach. I've never been on a good team that didn't have a really good offensive line. I think that is critical. If your offensive line is good, then your defensive line is good. Your defensive line, your linebackers, and so forth and so on. Getting the right offensive linemen in here was huge for me. It was this time last year where we sat down, (A&M assistant) Jim (Turner) and myself, and I had Jimmy identify the top 25 offensive linemen in the state, including Louisiana and Oklahoma. We offered scholarships to the top six or seven I believe, and we got four of the seven. So I felt good about that. I feel good in our evaluation of them. As far as Rhontae is concerned he's a big, physical athlete. He was here for junior day and I called him upstairs and said that I wanted to watch some of his tape with him. So we watched tape and I told him some of the things he needed to work on, that he wasn't doing right. That might have been a little risky at the time, trying to recruit a guy and telling him what he needs to work on, but he appreciated that, which in turn allowed us to have a relationship, which in fact allows him to be here today."
Hutson Prioleau is a guy you probably could have used last year. Talk about what he'll bring to the table...
"I have a little bit of a concern sometimes with small-school kids, but this kid has put himself in a lot of combines. He was up here in our camp and I watched him, and heck, they won their state championship. They do a great job of coaching there. So he is well-prepared to step into the role of tight end in the Big 12. Physically he is very imposing. Every time I see him, I don't know if he's wearing high heels under his boots, but he looks like he grows another inch. He's about 6-4, 255. He works out, can run, catch, and really was outstanding in our camp. He had a good camp and went to the combines, ran well, and did a good job competing against other people. We definitely had a need for a tight end, and I wish we could have signed two this year. But we have a couple walk-ons that I'm excited about, and we'll see what they can add to the mix. But he's a legitimate player. He has a great attitude. He loves to win and compete. He's a typical Texas kid, he loves to hunt and fish and all that stuff. He fits in well here."
Talk a little bit more about Brandal Jackson, and what you expect from him and how much he'll add to your wide receivers group...
"Brandle, he knows our situation pretty good because he's right up street. He's been to games and watched us and he's developed in his time down here a relationship. He's a pretty smart kid because every time I see him down here he's with Jerrod Johnson. He's trying to make sure he lathers up the quarterback who is going to be throwing that football. We weren't allowed to watch it, I read about it in the local paper, but he did an outstanding job in the 7-on-7 league and then down here when he was here. Obviously we've seen him play. He's a go-to, clutch-type receiver. He's someone who catches the ball effortlessly. I always refer to receivers, can they pluck the football. Kind of like the guys did in the Super Bowl the other day, both receivers, Holmes and Fitzgerald. He's like that. He needs to get bigger and stronger, and all that stuff, but he brings a dimension to the table where he knows how to run routes. He's very precise. He's tough, a tough kid. I like that about him."
Talk a little bit about Kalvin Gutyon and what you expect from him...
"Kalvin is a unique story. Before I came up to A&M, living in Houston, my youngest son went to Lamar High School. He was a freshman, and after practice he would watch the varsity. We always say my son Ben recruited Kalvin to some degree. He'd always say, `Dad, they've got a stud tailback over here. So we started watching him on tape the minute I got up here, and he really had great, great junior year. He was special. He's about 200, 205 pounds right now. I just got off the phone with him. He's a big back and he gives us a dimension we need. Our backs don't have the size that this young man has. He'll get bigger. He's fast, he's tough. We had him in our camp and he did an extremely good job. He's very coachable, a nice kid, he doesn't say much. He's got a great family, so I'm excited about him. Not a lot has been said about him because he got hurt during season and wasn't able to finish it out. Coach Nolan down there is a good friend of mine and he just does a phenomenal job of coaching those kids and winning football games. We're excited to get him in the program. He's going to do a great job for us."
Is there any way to measure or explain how much you improved your overall team speed today?
"I'm excited, there's no question. I think you can see I'm enthusiastic about the end of this recruiting process. We've been talking to these kids for a long time. I remember one time I got so screwed up last summer, I was thinking Hutson Prioleau was coming in with the freshmen. Is he a junior or a senior? Did we sign him or did we not sign him? I'm excited the process for this season is over. I get them mixed up. We've got this junior class we're recruiting right now, and I just got done writing personal letters to them about signing day, and what you're going to be doing this time next year...we need to get going on the next class. But to measure at this point with a crystal ball where we're going to be with this class, I don't know. I think it will be fun to watch. We're going to have to accept the fact that some of these kids are being thrown into the fire. We had I believe seven or eight freshmen starters last year. There's a good chance we'll have an equal number this year. If anything else, the thing that excites me is just competition at positions. You can only get better if someone is breathing down your neck and going to take your job. That's a fact of life. I love the fact that these guys will come in to our program and add that dimension to our practices and preparation. And we'll be so much better because of that."
So much has been said about 7-on-7 and the positives you get at quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back. On the down side is it harder to find linebackers?
"When you think about who we have to play in the Big 12 and what they run offensively, the 7-on-7 has helped in numerous ways. I was telling (Associate AD) Tim (Cassidy) the other day how, in the past, there's been a trickle-down effect, from the NFL, to college, to high school. Now it's a trickle-up effect, where these high school coaches, when they changed the rules a little bit and allowed the 7-on-7, have just gone crazy with throwing the football. As we've said before, Texas was never known to develop quarterbacks and receivers, now we know if you're looking for one and want to find a great player, you come to Texas. Because of what the high school coaches have been doing with the 7-on-7 and developing these talented players, and the college coaches are seeing it, I think it's brought it up to the college game. Now you see a little influx into the pro game in regard to that. But along the same lines, there are 7-on-7 linebackers being developed for the passing game. I would contend to say, if you come from the SEC, which is a more run-dominated conference, and you want a linebacker of that dimension that will step up and spill it to the outside, and take on that fullback on a regular basis, than that doesn't happen as often in Texas as it used to. But as far as us being able to match up in the Big 12, these linebackers who have been in the 7-on-7 are further ahead. Everyone watches the quarterbacks and receivers and the developmental skills they've acquired, but the defensive backs and corners and safeties and linebackers have also developed skills as well, that are second to none. I think they're very well-schooled in the passing game and definitely can come in and understand concepts better than they used to in the old days."
Talk about Uzoma Nwachukwu and how he may be the total package...
"He's a special kid and a great story. I went up there and watched him prepare for the state semifinals, and watched him practice. Obviously I was there, but this kid was just explosive, has big hands, and ran after the catch, and I loved the way he practiced. He really excited me, more so after he committed to us, in observing him in that time frame afterwards. To see him in person is to really appreciate his work ethic. He just comes from a great family. His brother goes to Washington State. He has a wonderful mother that has raised him, his dad has passed. He's just a great kid and is going to be a big contributor for us. He knows how to run routes as well. He is very powerful in his lower body, and is an extremely quick-footed athlete. I don't know how fast he is downfield, but he has the quickness and size to do special things. I didn't think we were a very good three-step team last year. And because of the problems we had in the offensive line, I thought we had to be. From a quarterback standpoint and wide receiver standpoint, that's an area we need to get better at. You need to shake defensive backs at the line of scrimmage and this kid can do that. I see this kid being a big-time player."
How did you see the recruiting landscape and how much has it changed?
"Obviously, having been out of it for a while, I was going to do anything 100 miles an hour. I just needed someone to show me the way, the direction. Fortunately I hired Tim Cassidy and I told him to tell me what he wanted me to do and I'd go off and do it. Tim has kind of bridged that gap for me in relationship to what college football and college recruiting is all about. He's helped in that way. As far as the differences between the present and the past, obviously there's a lot of differences. I've been to 50 high schools this recruiting year and many were for junior recruits for next season. It's like this day is not a drama day like it has been in the past, where you're waiting to see who is going where and who is going to end up with what. I've got to be honest with you, about 10 o'clock last night I thought, should I call those kids? It's not like it used to be. When kids are committed, for the most part they know what the word commitment means. Some kids get a little confused and you have to remind them. It is in the dictionary. Overall it's a lot less drama and turmoil. The nice thing is, you kind of know what you've got pretty early in the process. Most of these kids committed to us early, in September. I take my hat off to our assistant coaches, for the constant attention they gave these kids and talking to them about our season, because it's hard to call kids every week, which we did after you lose a tough ballgame. And we lost plenty of tough ballgames. That was a hard conversation. But the kids were great, they hung in there with us, and the credit goes to them as well."
Talk about Kenric McNeal and what's expected of him...
Last January, when Tim and I were out recruiting together and we didn't have a whole staff, we were down at his high school. And Sonny (Karas), his head coach, puts the tape on, and we were talking and we're watching this kid, and he had just cat-like quickness. I always look at receivers as guys who have great quickness off the ball. He's a guy that has great quickness off the ball. He's a tremendous offensive player with the ball in his hands. I can see us throwing jail-break screens to him and bubble screens because he has such great cat-like quickness. He'll bring something to us that maybe we haven't necessarily had. He's just a phenomenal athlete. He has tremendous speed. He had an injury this past season, which my understanding in talking to him and other people, he's doing fine. He's one of those explosive players on offense that we need to have. Our quarterbacks will be excited to get the ball in his hands."
Talk about a couple of San Antonio guys, Spencer Nealy and Sean Porter...
"That's an interesting story with Spence. He's a guy that we kind of got on a little bit late. He's not one we were recruiting this time last year. He just kind of got lost, with us having just come on board, and we missed him. He was being recruited by other Big 12 schools. Anyways, we watched him on tape and he ran very well, used his hands, and had toughness. They played him at nose guard some and sometimes they'd move him out and rush the quarterback. He's not a nose guard, because his coaches want him to make plays across the line of scrimmage. I sent (assistant coach Tom) Rossley down to watch him during the state semifinals I think in the Alamodome. Tom calls me and said that he just blocked a punt, and I told him to let me know when something else happens. He calls me back and tells me that he just sacked the quarterback. So I asked how is he on the sidelines and how is he with his teammates? He told me that he gets the crowd going and that this guy is an emotional, passionate player. So I said we've got to go get him. We were able to get in the mix right away. We called him, and he always had in a piece of his heart that A&M would call him and ask him to come to A&M. So we called him up, and he got in the car with a couple buddies and drove up to practice one day. We had chance to visit with him. He'll be an interview waiting to happen, because he's a very personable young man. I'm excited about him. Sean Porter is a linebacker. He's fast, and his highlight tape is phenomenal. When we watch his game tape he is hurdling people and has instincts. He can slink and slide and make the play. As all our linebackers need to, he needs to keep working to get bigger. We have speed but we need to get a little more size about him. He is a track guy, a 100-meter guy. We're excited about him as well. He comes from a great family, mom and dad and a bunch of kids--I think eight kids in the family. They're just neat people. Wonderful people.
"If there's a common theme, obviously we are not taking guys that aren't talented because they're good guys. But it is nice to find talented players who come from great families. It's so hard to instill character in a place where it's vacant. But if they come with character we can build on that. You can build character and put them in a room with people that have character. As I tell all these parents, my goal is put them in the locker room where the guy beside them on either side has the same goals and ambitions, and came out of the same value system that your son did. And we don't have anyone shooting off in different directions where he feels like he's all by himself. I think that brings that player down. I want to surround these kids with people who come from similar-type backgrounds, similar-type of value system, and they're just going to keep getting better and better. And who knows who's best, and who's here and who's there, but the ones that are here because of the type of character we have around them, they're going to get better. They will keep getting better and climbing that ladder of success. I think this is a class, I know different people rank these things, and I don't pay a whole lot of attention to it, but from a character standpoint this class would be ranked No. 1, I promise you. These kids are special, and they are talented. Take nothing away from their ability to play football. But character plays a part in their ability to play football. I think we're seeing different scenarios across the country where talent alone doesn't get it done. You have to have character too, and this group has."