Blue White Illustrated

Now that you're through this new recruiting calendar, what stands out to you? Do you have some likes, some dislikes, as you assess the process with the early signing period and the traditional signing period and how you had to handle those two new facets? We approached it like a lot of pro- grams across the country, and that was that the first signing period was going to be the signing period. If you look across the country, I think the number was pretty high, like 85 percent of the prospects signed in the first signing pe- riod. I think that's how it's going to be. The way most people were approach- ing it, if you didn't sign in the first sign- ing period then you weren't really committed and they were going to move on. So for us, we really didn't have a whole lot of question marks out there. We re- ally only were hoping and waiting for one signature today. That's what we were expecting, and it worked out that way. So feel really good about that. The area where I think there's a little bit of concern across the country – and I know specifically in Happy Valley – is with the early [official] visits. I get it and I understand why, and I think you can really make an argument being in Big Ten country that being able to bring guys here when the campus is warm and there are flowers and all those wonder- ful things [is beneficial]. I think you could make that argument. But I also want to make sure that we're able to spend enough time with our current players and develop them and then also spend time with our own fam- ilies. I get the early visits. I wish the window was a little bit smaller. I just worry about how that's all going to play out. What specifically do you like about Rasheed Walker's game? Well, you watch his tape, and he's got tremendous athleticism and length. But the thing that's amazing is that he watches tape and not only is he good in space, but he's physical. A lot of times you can find offensive tackles who are good pass protectors, but they aren't very physical in the run game. He plays with a nasty streak. I also make the comment that the guys we're recruiting should be the best player on either side of the ball. And you watch him in high school, and he's very similar to a Michal Menet. You watch his high school tape and you say to yourself, hey, this guy could possibly play defensive line for us. So he's got the length, he's got the athleticism, he's a great kid from a great family, is a gentleman off the field but plays with a nasty streak on the field. He has a finisher's mentality. I think you take Nana at one tackle, you take Rasheed at the other tackle, you put Juice at center and then you have a situation with Effner being a swing guy who could play either guard, possibly center or tackle, then I think we've put a helluva class together. F E B R U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 7 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 11

• Cover