Raising the Barr: An observation
Just my opinion on UCLA landing Loyola's Anthony Barr...
More than Malcolm Jones or Jordan James or even the potential commitments of a Ricky Heimuli or a Hayes Pullard, Anthony Barr's verbal commitment to UCLA on Thursday was the biggest get of the year for Rick Neuheisel and Co.
It's one thing to get an elite player in a position of need. Signing a Heimuli or a Cassius Marsh is tempered, at least in terms of the value of the commitment, by the immediate need at the position. Less complicated: It's a heck of a lot easier to sell a kid on immediate playing time. If Marsh or Heimuli were to commit, you could pretty much credit the playing time situation for getting the kid.
With Barr, though, Neuheisel and Co. sealed the deal on the program. On themselves. On the team. Barr said he doesn't even know what position he'll compete for next season. For the Bruins to land an athlete such as Barr is momentous. The major programs across the country don't just fill positions of need with top talent, they get the best pure athletes to come as well. So many fantastic college - and eventual pro - football players entered college without a position tag.
Damien Thigpen and Dalton Hilliard came to UCLA as "athletes," without set positions but massive potential, but neither are as high-profile as Barr. Winning the Barr battle over Notre Dame means Neuheisel has sold the kid on what the future can hold, rather than what the present has in store.
And that means a lot - for now as well as later.
Preach on!
nice wright up
Excellent comments, Jon. I appreciate all you do.
I assumed that CRN promised him a legitimate shot at RB, while other programs really didn't.
Wow. Jon woke up early today and posted before Noon. Must have stayed home last night and went to bed early.
Excellent points in this era of immediate gratification and celebrity!
Probably didn't hurt that Rick's son attends Loyola HS
Jon, That was your best written statement yet.
I wonder what Thigpen thinks about Kiffen to USC? I believe is was Lane that yanked his offer at Tenn, no?
I think going after pure athletes that understand the game and are willing to keep an open mind is the way to go. Way to CRN and welcome to Westwood Barr!!!
To Anonymous @ 10:39:
Remember, Barr missed most of his senior season. His 4 star rank is based on his JUNIOR year mostly. He is a super fast 6'4, 220lbs ATHLETE that is a good all around player.
It's hard to move up on the ESPN 150 when you aren't playing. I'm not saying he is a crown jewel either, but maybe we will find out in 2 years that he is. As we all know, ratings are not that great of a determinant in how a player will turn out at a D1 school. He obviously has a ton of talent to garner so much attention during his Junior year.
Agreed... and excited... Though we all hope he plays LB over RB...
But does he have a preference regarding the position he plays??? Did UCLA indicate one position would be looked into over another???
In response to the poster who had a question about Barr's star rating...
Without much fanfare he was the 5th or 6th rated RB by Scout. a 5-star. He fractured his fibula(non-weight bearing) bone. So no senior year. His visibility and star ranking both declined. However, UCLA and those in recruiting circles know what UCLA is getting.
Can't rain on the Bruin parade, but nice try.
I love how everybody compliments Jon's opinion when they agree with it but back when he gave an opposing view to the end of the UCLA/USC game a majority of people told him he should only be reporting facts and not giving opinion.
jon
you make a really good point here. We will see what happens as far as his position. He is awfully big for a RB, but he can really move for 235 and 6'4". He is a beast and would have been ranked higher but for the fracture. I hope his injury is doing well.
It's amazing how everybody talks about this star/ranking system.
Jon,
I would love to see a study done on the starting Boise State players to see what their star ranking was when they were recruited.
I would be very surprised if more than a couple of players had higher than 3 stars.
So maybe coaching and development of players is really more important than how many stars they had in highschool. Anybody remember Darrell Scott!
awash,
Since 2006, Boise State has had two scout.com four star recruits. A majority of their players are two stars with some three and one star kids thrown in.
So that means their coaches.
a. Are better judges of talent than scout
b. Are better at developing talent than just about everyone in NCAA football.
c. Are better play callers.
d. A combination
Whatever it is, the best thing that happened to UCLA this off-season is USC not going after and getting Chris Petersen.
Pete Carroll couldn't call plays to save his life and still finished with 9 wins.
Barr is a great athlete. Hope his leg holds up. You never know until that first hit.