Spoke with director of player personnel Brian Bennett today and here are some of the highlights.
--Bennett felt that signing day turned out well but he agrees with Neal Brown that nobody is ever going to say they’ve had a bad signing day. They got 18 quality players that are good football players and are fits with the program. He told me that through the process the biggest thing he learned is that how creative they have to be and can be here at West Virginia with where and how they recruit. It isn’t all that much different but it doesn’t matter what logo you’re wearing as long as you are willing to work hard and build relationships.
--Bennett said that the reception has been good but they want to continue to develop relationships in areas such as the DMV, Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. Things have already started to improve but in the coming years those relationships will be even better and they’re already seeing reception improve.
--Bennett said that Zach Frazier and Akheem Mesidor are physically impressive but when it comes to picking guys that could make an impact that will depend on how they adjust when they get here. Still, there are avenues for guys to see the field in year one if things go right.
--When it comes to international recruiting, it will be an area that West Virginia is open to but it won’t necessarily be a focus, focus type deal. The Mountaineers will send people over there to see kids but it’ll be on a coach-by-coach basis and they hope to have more camp with them like they did this past summer. Bennett believes this aspect is getting ready to take off.
--When it comes to official visits, they will do some early ones but it’s not what they prefer. They like getting kids on campus multiple times unofficially and then bringing them in late for officials because there is an established relationship. They’ll have to do a few because it’s hard for some kids to get to campus but those are likely going to be directed more toward the summer than the spring. Because the earlier they officially visit it makes it hard when they go other places.
--West Virginia likes for prospects to build relationships with multiple people when they visit. That means getting to know six people when they come to campus instead of just one or two. The friendlier faces players see, the more bonds and connections they make which makes the relationships stronger with recruits. In the end, the more of those relationships that are established the harder it is for prospects to want to look at different options.
--West Virginia evaluates a ton of prospects and are already putting in the 2022 players in the system. Bennett estimates that around 1,000 are already in there for 2021 and there will be around 1,500 by the time the 2021 class closes. What they do is interns put the players in the system and then they are evaluated by the recruiting department (Bennett, Casey Smithson, Scott Gasper and Matt Jansen) and each prospect is given a base overall grade that has an R attached to it when signifies that they have evaluated them. From there, it goes to the graduate assistants and they also do a great and put a G in front of it. From there, the area coach gets it and evaluates and then it goes to the position coach who does the same. Finally, it is sent to back to Bennett and head coach Neal Brown who makes the final calls on whether a prospect receives a scholarship offer. So essentially each kid will receive 4-5 evaluations. The graduate assistant deal is something they’ve added of late in order to help them develop as coaches.
--When it comes to positions in the late 2020 period, West Virginia will be targeting a running back and the offensive line. Any other scholarships will likely go to the best player available. They always plan to hold a few back heading into the late period every year in order to evaluate the roster and needs.
--The December junior day idea was something that arose with February becoming a dead period on the recruiting calendar, head coach Neal Brown suggested it. Anytime you have a before or after in recruiting, this staff will default to the before and wants to be ahead in these things. The focus again goes back to they will win in recruiting because they are going to out-relationship people.
--Bennett said that he doesn’t necessarily buy into the whole ‘it’s hard to recruit to West Virginia’ line of thinking. He recognizes there are places it’s easier to recruit to but this is a great place and a national brand. He said that everybody knows what the flying WV is and nobody has any illusions on what state, what logo or what team that is so it’s a national brand.
--Bennett spends a lot of his time doing full-game watch evaluations and that is part of the process.
--Obviously finishing with wide receiver Sam Brown and defensive end Akheem Mesidor were huge finishes especially with both officially visiting another program the weekend before signing day. That was a major win for them and a lot of excitement once they go their letters of intent.
--When it comes to 2021 numbers, right now it’s fluid. They have lists but it changes all the time and there is still needs at every position so they will look to address everything.
I'll be rolling out some articles with all of this coming soon but wanted to highlight some stuff.
--Bennett felt that signing day turned out well but he agrees with Neal Brown that nobody is ever going to say they’ve had a bad signing day. They got 18 quality players that are good football players and are fits with the program. He told me that through the process the biggest thing he learned is that how creative they have to be and can be here at West Virginia with where and how they recruit. It isn’t all that much different but it doesn’t matter what logo you’re wearing as long as you are willing to work hard and build relationships.
--Bennett said that the reception has been good but they want to continue to develop relationships in areas such as the DMV, Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. Things have already started to improve but in the coming years those relationships will be even better and they’re already seeing reception improve.
--Bennett said that Zach Frazier and Akheem Mesidor are physically impressive but when it comes to picking guys that could make an impact that will depend on how they adjust when they get here. Still, there are avenues for guys to see the field in year one if things go right.
--When it comes to international recruiting, it will be an area that West Virginia is open to but it won’t necessarily be a focus, focus type deal. The Mountaineers will send people over there to see kids but it’ll be on a coach-by-coach basis and they hope to have more camp with them like they did this past summer. Bennett believes this aspect is getting ready to take off.
--When it comes to official visits, they will do some early ones but it’s not what they prefer. They like getting kids on campus multiple times unofficially and then bringing them in late for officials because there is an established relationship. They’ll have to do a few because it’s hard for some kids to get to campus but those are likely going to be directed more toward the summer than the spring. Because the earlier they officially visit it makes it hard when they go other places.
--West Virginia likes for prospects to build relationships with multiple people when they visit. That means getting to know six people when they come to campus instead of just one or two. The friendlier faces players see, the more bonds and connections they make which makes the relationships stronger with recruits. In the end, the more of those relationships that are established the harder it is for prospects to want to look at different options.
--West Virginia evaluates a ton of prospects and are already putting in the 2022 players in the system. Bennett estimates that around 1,000 are already in there for 2021 and there will be around 1,500 by the time the 2021 class closes. What they do is interns put the players in the system and then they are evaluated by the recruiting department (Bennett, Casey Smithson, Scott Gasper and Matt Jansen) and each prospect is given a base overall grade that has an R attached to it when signifies that they have evaluated them. From there, it goes to the graduate assistants and they also do a great and put a G in front of it. From there, the area coach gets it and evaluates and then it goes to the position coach who does the same. Finally, it is sent to back to Bennett and head coach Neal Brown who makes the final calls on whether a prospect receives a scholarship offer. So essentially each kid will receive 4-5 evaluations. The graduate assistant deal is something they’ve added of late in order to help them develop as coaches.
--When it comes to positions in the late 2020 period, West Virginia will be targeting a running back and the offensive line. Any other scholarships will likely go to the best player available. They always plan to hold a few back heading into the late period every year in order to evaluate the roster and needs.
--The December junior day idea was something that arose with February becoming a dead period on the recruiting calendar, head coach Neal Brown suggested it. Anytime you have a before or after in recruiting, this staff will default to the before and wants to be ahead in these things. The focus again goes back to they will win in recruiting because they are going to out-relationship people.
--Bennett said that he doesn’t necessarily buy into the whole ‘it’s hard to recruit to West Virginia’ line of thinking. He recognizes there are places it’s easier to recruit to but this is a great place and a national brand. He said that everybody knows what the flying WV is and nobody has any illusions on what state, what logo or what team that is so it’s a national brand.
--Bennett spends a lot of his time doing full-game watch evaluations and that is part of the process.
--Obviously finishing with wide receiver Sam Brown and defensive end Akheem Mesidor were huge finishes especially with both officially visiting another program the weekend before signing day. That was a major win for them and a lot of excitement once they go their letters of intent.
--When it comes to 2021 numbers, right now it’s fluid. They have lists but it changes all the time and there is still needs at every position so they will look to address everything.
I'll be rolling out some articles with all of this coming soon but wanted to highlight some stuff.
