MWC Recruiting Roundup: 9-10-18

The MWC Recruiting Roundup is alive and well for another week. After a few low info/update weeks, we are jammed packed today. This week features our September recruiting rankings, talks with new commits and some weekend visitors (some got back late, will get them later this week or for next Monday). Get all caught up below.

Recruiting Rankings

(Previous month in parentheses)

1. Nevada (1)

2. San Diego State (4)

3. Boise State (2)

4. UNLV (3)

5. San Jose State (7)

6. Fresno State (5)

7. Air Force (6)

8. Hawaii (8)

9. Utah State (9)

10. Colorado State (10)

11. New Mexico (11)

12. Wyoming (12)

As you may know by now, I’m also a fan of the tier system when it comes to rankings. This tells the same story from a different angle and sometimes gives a clearer picture of the gap, or lack of, between teams. If people had teams in the same tier, but disagreed on the rankings, I wouldn’t put up too much of a fight.

Tier 1: Nevada, SDSU, Boise State

Tier 2: UNLV, SJSU, Fresno State

Tier 3: Air Force, Hawaii, Utah State

Tier 4: Colorado State, New Mexico, Wyoming

Notes:

• The tiers have shrunk this month from 5 to 4. I think the gaps have closed between some teams. There is a clear top 3 and a clear bottom 3 right now. For me, the gap between the 2nd and 3rd tiers are pretty small.
• San Diego State jumps into the #2 spot with a slow and steady climb securing commitments. Looking at this list, it’s full of classic Aztecs recruits, versatile athletes who can play above their rankings.
• Boise State falls to #3. They lost and gained an OL commit but it’s more of other schools gaining commits than anything they’ve done. It’s a case of no progress is lack of progress in this case.
• UNLV and SJSU have very quietly been putting together very solid classes. I want to dive deeper into them at some point this year. But so far they’ve both done a great job. Hawaii isn’t too far out of that conversation as well.
• Air Force remains the hardest school to really place. But they have snagged some good players.
• Colorado State is not as far ahead as they usually are. I still expect that to change, but each month they stay in the bottom half isn’t a good look. Bobo has always been able to recruit.
• Are New Mexico and Wyoming even doing recruiting this year? Though I like the player they each have so far, it’s safe to say they aren’t keeping pace with the rest of the conference at this point.

Commitment Spotlight

DE Ethan Smith (Air Force)

“I committed because just the way all the coaches treated us and the area is just amazing and it’s a place that my family will be able to drive and come to most of my games. They just treated me like family already and spent a lot of 1 on 1 time with us on my visit we got to talk to Coach Calhoun and Coach Knorr in his office for awhile and we just felt like they really wanted me and cared about me. They talked to me about what it’s like to go to school there because they both went there what all I will be doing and they want me to play DE.

Visit Recaps

LB JC Sparks (Colorado State)

“Coaches are all amazing, stadium is brand new and really nice, Fort Collins is a town I grew up in so it feels like home. I spoke with talked with Applewhite and Jancek. They are optimistic on me and waiting on a few guys to make a decision. I have also had some contact with CU, Wyo, and Montana State. Hoping in the next couple weeks something will become official.”

LB Aidan Cullen (Colorado State)

“I was just on an unofficial. I invited a few freshman to come with me as well. That game was incredible! I enjoyed every second! I’m not sure where to start. The whole game was great. I was able to go into the locker room after the game and hear Coach Bobo address the team, I saw the team celebrating. That was a really cool experience. I couldn’t stop smiling. CSU is building something special and I’m really looking forward to being a part of it. Yea, I spoke with Coach Gilmore and Bobo a good amount. I think most, if not all, of the coaches came up to me and said hello. Asked me how my game went the night before.”

Recruiting Tidbits

Offers:

• JUCO TE Austin Griffin was offered by Boise State
• ATH Jalen Graham was offered by Colorado State
• DB/WR Ramon Henderson was offered by San Jose State
• 2022 ATH Raleek Brown was offered by San Jose State
• ATH Akili Arnold was offered by Utah State

Visits:

• DB JL Skinner visited Boise State
• DE Dylan Hall visited Boise State
• QB Hank Bachmeier visited Boise State (unofficial)
• RB Keegan Duncan visited Boise State (unofficial)
• DE Aidan Cullen visited Colorado State (unofficial)
• LB JC Sparks visited Colorado State (unofficial)
• 2022 OL Connor Jones visited Colorado State (unofficial)
• DB Cam Gardner visited UNLV (unofficial)
• LB Sivi Nomura visited Utah State

Commits:

• DE Ethan Smith committed to Air Force
• TE Jackson Canaan committed to SJSU

Decommits:

• DB Trey Edwards decommitting from Colorado State

Be sure to follow @Mike_SBN for all the latest MWC recruiting news and updates.