Recruiting Time Machine: The 2004 Class

I've been seeing in a lot of articles that NIU is in a complete rebuilding mode. I, however, don't think this is the case at all. In fact, I think that NIU currently has more raw talent than any team has had before us.

The problem is that the talent we currently have hasn't lived up to their previous hype. This, to me, is a problem of motivation. That problem either had to do with coaching or recruiting the wrong players. Or both.

Former Huskie HC Joe Novak said before the WMU game that "I'm not sure this program is as hungry as it was then, I hope that's not the case," and that "Players came to NIU expecting to win without hard work day in and out."

Every current player on this team wasn't around to experience the success that we had in 2003 being nationally ranked with a 10-2 record. In 2004 we were 9-3 with a bowl win, but it has been downhill since then.

The players of the class of 2004 were recruited during the magical dream season of 2003 and I'm sure all of them have dreams of capturing the same success that the team acheived while they were being recruited. They have seen what this team can become and have struggled through numerous attritions of recent years. Now, the class of 2004:


Class Rankings

Phil Steele - #5 in the MAC
Rivals - #2 in the MAC, #73 Overall
Scout - #9 in the MAC, #99 Overall

Class Size - 15 of 23 remain

Location: 8 - IL, 6 - WI, 3 - FL, 2 - MN, 2 - IN, 1 - MO, 1 - MI


Top of the Class (in alphabetical order)

60 RT Jon Brost
Rivals rating: 2-stars, 5.1
Scout rating: 2-stars
Phil Steele ranking: #284 OL

Was 3rd team All-MAC LY and leads the team with 35 career starts.

51 DE Larry English
Rivals rating: 2-stars, 5.2
Scout rating: 2-stars
PS ranking: #477 DL
Other offers: Ball St, BGSU, CMU

Earned the Vern Smith MAC Leadership award (MAC MVP) LY. DNP in the spring.

69 DT Alex Krutsch
WALK-ON

Started 11 of 12 games LY and managed to stay healthy game in and game out.

53 LB Tim McCarthy
Rivals rating: 2-stars
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: #205 LB

Was the leader of our defense until he hurt his knee in the first game of the season LY. DNP in the spring.

99 DT Craig Rusch
Rivals rating: 2-stars
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: #225 DL

Craig is an absolute monster until he injured his kneed in the 3rd game LY. Can't wait to have him back. DNP in the spring. My favorite player.

85 WR Matt Simon
Rivals rating: 2-stars, 5.1
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: #243 WR
Other offers: Northwestern, Wyoming

The most consistent offensive star for the Huskies in 2007. Snub from the All-MAC team. DNP in the spring (shoulder surgery).


Under-acheivers

20 TB Montell Clanton
Rivals rating: 2-stars, 5.1
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: #258 RB

I am cautiously optimistic about Montell this upcoming season. He is coming off season-ending injuries to both his knees these past 2 seasons. If he can even just give Justin Anderson some breathing time, I would be amazed. DNP in the spring.

7 WR Britt Davis
Rivals rating: 3-stars, 5.5, #22 dual-threat QB, #18 player in IL
Scout rating: 2-stars
PS ranking: #85 QB
Other offers: Indiana

Britt Davis is a WR converted from a QB and has been unproductive with the amount of talent that he posesses. Also has notoriously bad hands. DNP in the spring (shoulder surgery)

19 QB Dan Nicholson
Rivals rating: 2-stars, 5.4
Scout rating: 2-stars
PS ranking: #68 QB

Once a revered QB that led us to a MACC game, Dan has fell off a little and has some trouble with health and throwing the ball to the opposition. DNP in the spring (shoulder surgery)

5 WR Marcus Perez
LATE SIGNEE

MPZ is always hurt no matter what. Also has a lot of talent and not much production.


The Backups

13 WR Evans Adonis
Rivals rating: 2-stars
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: #182 WR

Is buried on the depth chart for WR, but could find a place with kickoff returns.

88 TE Brandon Beal
Rivals rating: 2-stars
Scout rating: 2-stars
PS ranking: #102 TE
Other offers: Ball St

Buried on the TE depth chart.

23 LB TJ Griffin
Rivals rating: 2-stars, 5.0
Scout rating: 2-stars
PS ranking: #287 RB
Other offers: Cincinnati

Has always had a ton of potential, but has had some trouble in the past with injuries and academics. Can step in right away for Tim McCarthy without missing a beat at MLB.

78 OG Dan Keller
Rivals rating: 2-stars
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: N/A

Dan did a nice job filling in at DT last year when we were decimated by injuries, and this year he returns to a backup RG spot.

91 TE Dave Koronkiewicz
Rivals rating: 2-stars
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: #91 TE

Koronkiewicz has the talent to start, but it seems like he is always injured. Dislocated elbows have to hurt. DNP in the spring.


Who are these guys?

QB Chris Carr
Rivals rating: 2-stars
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: #281 QB

Grayshirted and then transferred to UCF. Played there from 2006-07.

DL Bryan Holicek
Rivals rating: 2-stars
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: #253 DL

Career ending knee injuries, DNP 2006 season

SS Bill Ikegwuonu
Rivals rating: 2-stars
Scout rating: 2-stars
PS ranking: #384 DB
Other offers: Ball St, WMU

X-Box Incident during 2006 season

DB Justin Johnson
Rivals rating: 2-stars, 4.9
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: #197 DB

Quit before 2006 season

DL Mike Matar
Rivals rating: 2-stars
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: #223 DL

Quit before 2005 season

6 CB Vincent Matthew
Rivals rating: 2-stars
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: #275 WR

Not on the team this season to focus on his academics

DE Zach Osburn
Rivals rating: 2-stars, 5.1
Scout rating: 1-star
PS ranking: #164 LB

D-III Hope College Basketball Forward since 2007

OL Ryan Tuggle
Rivals rating: 2-stars, 5.2
Scout rating: 2-stars
PS ranking: #250 DL
Other offers: Northwestern

Career ending injury, DNP 2006 season