Look for heavy influx of JC's and kids who have graduated from big time schools with eligibility left. Kugler's son is one. Not gonna try to go all in on HS kids. Gotta get production quick.
Recruiting Philosophy
- Thread starter utep*miner
- Start date
Well the signing day for JUCO players has already passed and we signed 3. A linebacker, tight end, and safety.
Actually the signing period for mid-year JC transfers runs thru the middle of January. Assuming we don't sign anymore mid-year JC's, Kugler can still sign JC's during the regular signing period starting Feb 1st. Mid-year transfers are great because they get the advantage of spring training.
The offense is boring compared to spread offenses and many times it's too predictable. Similar in concept to Stanford and Wisconsin offense but you need a much better defense to go with it than UTEP currently has to be successful.
Ah, yes, from the "desperate coaches do desperate things" department...
One of my biggest criticisms of Kugler has been his lack of strategic planning - on both sides of the ball.
Exhibit A: Stoker fired after year three, tried to run that cluster 4-2-5 without requisite personnel for the system. The next season, 2016, Kugler knew he would be installing (actually re-installing) a 3-4 base defense and he knew that there were huge differences in personnel requirements between the two systems. Cowboy arithmetic shows that if you go from a 4-2-5 to a 3-4, you automatically double your roster requirement for linebackers and hybrid safeties. So, prior to spring training and the '16 season, was there any sense of urgency to sign LBs and safeties (JC, transfer, or HS) for the new scheme? Uh, no. And with totally predictable defensive results last season.
Bottom line, personnel-wise, Kugler's defense last season was no more equipped to run a 3-4 than it was to run a 4-2-5 his first season. So in two of his four seasons, Kugler has run defensive schemes totally unfit for his personnel, with totally predictable results. But going into year five, it's nice to know Kugler will make LBs and safeties recruiting priorities. Sheesh...
Yeah, hindsight is golden, but sometimes you can see a lot just by looking. Folks, there are reasons why some programs are perennially competitive and others, well, are not. If you're the head football coach, strategic planning is what you do. Or are supposed to do.
Kugler took a big leap backwards after the NM bowl season and according to unsubstantiated reports, he was very upset at Stoker's blitzing that left the young db's on island most of the game. But, it happened again this year but there was some improvement in the secondary so you can say "there was improvement" as far as that goes. What was shocking was the front d line just got shoved around against equal caliber opponents. JUCO route is not surprising at all, UTEP has a meat grinder schedule because UTEP now will play the top conference contenders as well as @OU, @Army, Arizona and @NMSU. After blowing one of easiest schedules in UTEP history, he now has a legit knife fight type schedule and even tougher as compared to two years ago. He has to bring in JUCO's and he has to be aware his vanilla flavored offense needs more cappuccino or nutmeg to keep the chains moving. Plinke's and Jones were high caliber type players but they are not easily reloadable, not even for many p5 schools, they only come once every few years and for UTEP, once every twenty or so. His JUCO recruits looks intimidating in photos and video and apparently can lower the boom on opponents. Don't expect anything new on offense. More depth at O line, no rb's. Dawn will be the starter come August; he just gives more punch to the offense. Maybe he will bring in a stud receiver but Kug has done this before because those receivers never panned out.
Dawn will be the starter come August; he just gives more punch to the offense.
Curious why you think Dawn will be the starter over Wadley or Dove? I think Wadley is most likely but if Hughes comes back healthy, he is a contender too. Maybe Fields if he picks UTEP but he sounds pretty high on TT.
Curious why you think Dawn will be the starter over Wadley or Dove? I think Wadley is most likely but if Hughes comes back healthy, he is a contender too. Maybe Fields if he picks UTEP but he sounds pretty high on TT.
You're both wrong. Our starting RB will be Ronald Awatt who grey-shirted this year. At 6'0", 210 he'll give us explosive speed with good open-field vision.http://www.hudl.com/profile/2773499/ronald-awatt
Don't forget Kugs also has RB Antonio Dupree who signed in 2016 but grayshirted and was on campus this past semester taking classes. One of Kugler's highest rated high school prospects on the offensive side, real interested to see how he fits.
I think the early pecking RB order goes: Wadley, Hughes, Dove, Dupree. TK Powell, Ronald Awatt (another RB grayshirt)
Dawn could be used more at WR with Plinke departure, not sure if David Lucero or Josh Weeks can replace a Plinke right away, need to get lucky with a grad transfer wideout or two.
Kugler has done a good job of building high school kids for his foundation as far as having bodies, but some haven't developed into impact players as quick as first thought, so now you see Kugs wide open to JUCO's and the grad transfer market.
Offense and the passing game needs some BIG TIME help with the 2017 schedule set up the way it is imo...
I think the early pecking RB order goes: Wadley, Hughes, Dove, Dupree. TK Powell, Ronald Awatt (another RB grayshirt)
Dawn could be used more at WR with Plinke departure, not sure if David Lucero or Josh Weeks can replace a Plinke right away, need to get lucky with a grad transfer wideout or two.
Kugler has done a good job of building high school kids for his foundation as far as having bodies, but some haven't developed into impact players as quick as first thought, so now you see Kugs wide open to JUCO's and the grad transfer market.
Offense and the passing game needs some BIG TIME help with the 2017 schedule set up the way it is imo...
Kugler mentioned him specifically in a post season interview so I would assume Awatt is ready. He is concentrating on recruiting guys that are ready to play (JUCO) because he only has 13 scholie's to give. I have posted before that upwards of 90% of Kugs recruits stay, are retained. It's an amazing stat considering the state of basketball.
I thought Wadley showed some potential last year with the few reps that he did see in relief of Jones. He needs to gain weight and strength to be a viable option at tailback. With Dupree and Awatt waiting in the wings, next year may be a good time to redshirt Wadley.
I was encouraged with the two JC guys that Kugler signed to help on defense. I would have liked to see the staff sign one or two JC defensive lineman as well; this is also a huge area of need IMO. As mentioned by various other posters, it would have been nice to pickup a receiver or two that have some ability to get open. You simply have to have some guys who can stretch the defense.
I was encouraged with the two JC guys that Kugler signed to help on defense. I would have liked to see the staff sign one or two JC defensive lineman as well; this is also a huge area of need IMO. As mentioned by various other posters, it would have been nice to pickup a receiver or two that have some ability to get open. You simply have to have some guys who can stretch the defense.
