Hello!
It's been awhile, huh? I should have dropped back in ages ago to say what's up so please forgive me for disappearing. I've been back in Pittsburgh for several months now and am settled at the Tribune-Review, where I primarily cover the Penguins and college hoops/football.
But enough about me. I trust you all have been doing well. It would be an understatement to say that the site appears to be in very good hands. I've enjoyed watching/reading Nikki, Craig and Matt's stuff from afar so suffice to say, I'm thrilled how the transition wound up going.
Aside from saying hello, I wanted to drop in and provide a note on Dylan Edwards, the 4-star Kansas (Derby) tailback who recently dropped his pledge to Notre Dame.
That, I'm sure you all knew of. I also saw Matt post about it, so by no means to I aim to come off as a Nostradamus-type figure here.
But even though I'm not in Colorado anymore, the occasional whisper still reaches my ear here and there, and one that I have heard of late is that Deion Sanders is going to pull off the poach with Edwards.
As Matt stated in a separate thread, for a kid of his caliber to jump ship this late is as noteworthy as it is rare. Backing off a commitment (to a blue blood like Notre Dame, of all programs) just two days after Sanders offered is definitely key here, too.
In the time between me getting some intel this afternoon and typing this out, two Rivals FutureCasts have been submitted for Edwards to join the Buffs on the first day of the early singing period (Edwards tweeted he's be committing/signing on Dec. 21).
Were I still with Rivals, I'd add my own FutureCast pick in.
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Nothing is ever certain in the world of recruiting, as you all know, but this one looks pretty good for CU. It's surreal -- during my time with you guys we'd almost certainly be on the opposite end of this, watching a pledge get poached as opposed to being the poachers.
Times are changing.
Not to go off on a tangent here, but I certainly was critical of ADRG in the aftermath of the Karl Dorrell firing. I think that was warranted, as was pointing out the brutal nature of the contract George signed Dorrell to.
But hiring Deion Sanders is about as absolving of a move as there is. That was a bold, swing-for-the-fences hire, and one that I personally believe has the potential to be the catalyst for the quickest possible turnaround in Boulder.
I truly do not think it would be hyperbole to suggest Sanders is in the same conversation as Nick Saban when it comes to clout and credibility with elite young football players. Saban obviously is far more accomplished with respect to coaching achievements, but Sanders' resume speaks for itself. Young men want to play for him.
If Edwards does indeed commit to CU, it would validate that Sanders' own image is carrying enough weight to routinely pry blue chips away from top-dog programs.
I'll definitely check back in on this thread repeatedly tonight and in the near future and will be back on Dec. 21 to bask in the glory (or absorb the verbal onslaught if I'm wrong!) if I get this one right on Edwards, haha.
There is time between now and the 21st, so I guess we'll see. But from my vantage point -- and I think many others across the greater recruiting beat are feeling the same -- things look very much in the bag for the Buffs.
Hope everyone is doing well!
--Justin
rivals.rivals.com
