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Printer-Friendly ModeA new start
February 11, 2008 —
Jim Collins had one word for his first recruiting class as SVSU's head football coach: "Explosive."
"We got playmakers across the board," Collins said. "We were looking for guys with bona fide speed, and we got it.
"In terms of what our goal of a type of a person and player, we were looking to attract, I think we were extremely successful."
Not bad for having just over five weeks to work before National Signing Day last Tuesday.
The class is highlighted by 10 All-State athletes, including Grand Rapids West Catholic quarterback Kirk Deering (5-feet-11, 180 pounds) Dewitt wideout Jason Fleet (6-feet, 160 pounds), and Milan running back Ronald Spears (5-feet-6, 165 pounds), who Collins said is one of the most dynamic player's he's seen.
"That guy's on a different level," Collins said of Spears, who ran for 2,501 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior and was named Ann Arbor News Player of the Year. "He's as fast as anyone I've seen. He can run away from anyone."
Deering, a multi-sport athlete in high school, who on top of playing quarterback pitched for the baseball team and played guard for the basketball team, had a successful senior campaign, passing for 2500 yards, rushing for 1050, and accounting for 40 touchdowns (27 pass, 13 rush), all of which were school records.
"He's a winner," Collins said. "He put his team on his back. He's flat out, one of the best playmakers I've seen."
Fleet, whom Collins said was aptly named because of his speed, set Dewitt High School records for most touchdowns in a season with 19, most receiving yards in a season with 1,302, most receptions in a season with 66 and most receiving yards in a game with 217.
"Fleet can fly," Collins said. "He made big plays all year long, and is a threat to catch the long ball."
Collins likened the approach his program took toward recruiting to that of a well-known school in Southern California.
"We worked to secure playmakers who were good enough athletes to help," Collins said. "The approach we took was to go out and get the best athletes who could step in and make plays."
The class, totalling 19 in all, is rounded out with running back Jaren Bolen from Fort Atkinson, Wisc., Western Ottawa High School's all time leading tackler, linebacker Grant Casserta, tight end Zach Cecich from Crown Point, Indiana, linebacker Shelton Gaines from Detroit, Troy High School wideout Nick Gallina, wideout Michael Hanchett from Canton, Mt. Pleasent tight end Nathan Hoyle, Grand Rapids West Catholic High School linebacker Anthony Iacovoni, Lindin offensive lineman Brent Kryder, Detroit offensive linemen Donald Mathis, Macomb offensive linemen Jack Raymond, Mulliken defensive back Travis Smith, Portland running back/linebacker Thomas Stalter, and Kalamazoo running back Jezrel White.
The only area recruits signed by SVSU were Midland High kicker Alexander Faust and linebacker Chad Archer, who was signed as a preffered walk-on after a senior year plauged by a knee injury. As a junior, he was named Dow Football Defensive Player of the Year.
While he knows not all his recruits will make an immediate impact for the Cardinals, Collins is confident they all will contribute significantly in the coming seasons.
"Some guys are going to be able to compete [immediately]," Collins said. "Some will have to mature. But, I don't think there is a single guy in that group that won't help us in the next five years."
With the football season six months away, Collins knows the danger in anointing a recruiting class prematurely. However, he remains confident in the ability of the group he's added to the Cardinals this year.
"What you say in February you hope comes true in September October and November. If that's the case, then we can say they all helped us to win a national title."
