Answers, Part II

How would you rate the football recruiting class so far on a scale from 1-10? Also, how does it compare to last years?
I would give it an incomplete, because it isn't even halfway done and much more work on the offensive and defensive lines needs to be done.

Brian, do you know what position the coaching staff intends Jayson Allmound to play? I hear rumblings around the internet that he could be a factor on the defensive line.
Right now it is fullback, but there is the quiet talk he could wind up at defensive tackle. However, from what I understand the first choice is fullback.

Out of the talent that you see from our football team, what players (if any) do you think will get drafted in the NFL? Are you surprised that Maurice Jones Drew is doing as well as he is?
If you are looking at the program as a whole, there are a fair number because you are talking about the next five drafts. So let us just go with next year's draft. If TE Logan Paulsen returns from a fifth season, I don't see anyone getting drafted.
As for Jones-Drew, I thought he would be a good pro, but not to the level he is playing. I am surprised he can handle all the hits and the carries he is getting.

Do the coaches see Kendall Williams as a point guard or a shooting guard recruit?
I believe they see him as a point guard, but that is a few years done the road.

What player that Howland missed on does he regret not getting most?
The list is probably long since he has gone after some big-time players, but the one guy I always thought would be perfect for Howland is Washington's Jon Brockman.

What, in your opinion, is the main reason Collison came back?
He wasn't going to be drafted high enough, and coming back for another season gives him the opportunity to raise his draft status.

Does the coaching staff wish they had Ryan Wright this year?
I don't think so. Wright couldn't play Howland's style.

Is it normal to do what Howland does and close practices? Who else does that?
Many coaches do that. It's probably as normal as it is abnormal, if that makes sense.

What coach is most similar in style to Howland that has won a national championship? Izzo?
That is too tough of a question for me to answer because I know Howland and UConn's Jim Calhoun much differently than I know any other coach. That said, I see a ton of similarities between Calhoun and Howland, although I'm sure neither would like to hear that.

You don't seem to be much of a fan of recruiting rankings. We can point to low-ranked guys that blew up and high-ranked guys that disappointed. But don't you think it's true that the rankings are pretty accurate in general and these are exceptions?
No, I don't think the rankings are pretty accurate, in general. There's been stories done on the rankings. I believe the San Diego Union-Tribune did one recently that talked about it. The biggest problem I have is there is no way to tell which 5-star will flop and which three-star will be an all-American.