Rivals Jamie Newberg Breaks Down WKUs Class
It's a recruiting class unlike any WKU football has brought in.
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And it all happened in such a short time. Coach Willie Taggart was brought in as head coach just before Thanksgiving. It wasn't long before he set out recruiting.
But for nearly the first month, Taggart had only himself. The first members of his assistant coaching staff weren't hired on until the week before Christmas and New Year's Day.
Of course, one of those new additions was an old friend from Florida who has numerous connections throughout the Sunshine state, one of the biggest hotbeds in the country. Assistant coach Raymond Woodie used those connections to bring in seven of WKU's 11 signees from Florida.
Taggart also had just two prospects already when he became WKU's coach. One of those was Madison Southern (Ky.) two-star wide receiver Rico Brown, the earliest commit in the history of the program. Brown stayed on even with the coaching change and was more than excited on signing day.
"Thanks man its an honor rather a priviledge to be a part of the HILLTOPPER family," he said via text. "Speaking for myself and the class of 2010 we coming and we mean business."
There wasn't a member of the incoming class who wasn't pumped. Many cited Taggart's long-stated mantra of 'chasing greatness' as well as the chance to turn the program around as reasons they chose to become Toppers.
Even those who looked around, like three-star offensive lineman Cameron Clemmons, never really wavered. Clemmons was pumped as well on signing day, when asked if he was excited.
"You have no idea man," he said via text message. "I'm ready to wrap up this top recruiting class in the conference and shock the world next year."
Of course, even fans have reason to be excited just for the class itself. WKU ranks as the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference on Rivals.com.
But there's been some questioning to that ranking. Troy and Florida International for instance each have ten three-star signees, compared to WKU's five.
To help clear up the confusion InsideHilltopperSports.com asked Rivals.com recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg to give us his thoughts on who stood out in WKU's class, as well as what makes them the top class:
Xavius Boyd: Xavius Boyd is a steal from St. Pete. He is a tweener at this stage between safety and linebacker. So I see him as a strong safety or see him grow into a linebacker. He runs well and is tough against the run.
Brandon Doughty: Doughty is one of the better quarterback prospects from the state of FLorida. He has good size and a solid arm. He just needs to keep working on the fundamentals of the position. He makes good decisions with the ball.
Jerome Speights: Speights is a bigger corner with good skills. I thought he was one of the most underrated defensive players from the Tampa Bay area. He has good size and runs well.
Ty Scott: Scott is a good looking safety from the Sarasota area. Good size and range.
IHS: But the big question is what makes WKU's class the top 2010 recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference?:
Newberg: Overall, I thought they got some potentially big time players, especially from Florida. Not a large class on numbers but good in quality.
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