Overview:The Broncos welcome a class of 22 players from seven different states,
focusing on the Midwest.WMU did a tremendous job at signing top talent from Michigan,
where the Detroit Free Press listed six of the nine players who committed from
that state as top-50 recruits.Two
JUCOs, one transfer, and 19 incoming freshmen made for a very well balanced
class.Twelve players were singed
for offense, five of which are WRs, and nine players on defense, with five of
those being DBs.Speed as also
addressed as one-third of this class runs a 4.5/40 or better within this
incoming class.
Highlights:
Coach
Darnell continues to go after big WRs with speed.This year’s class has Brian
Jackson (6-4), Kelly Martin (6-4), Antwain Allen (6-2), Derek Szafranski
(6-2), and the little guy, Jermaine Copeland (6-1).
DT
James Blair was listed as a top-100 prospect in the Midwest by most
recruiting services.At 6-4, 320, he can play either OG or DT and already can
bench-press over 400 pounds.He
is initially coming in as a DT.
Darnell
mined the Detroit area for some excellent talent.DT Dezmond Gray had offers from Iowa & Maryland; LB/SS James
Ellison has 4.4 speed turned down Big 10 offers, while Nic Saad is a rugged
RB who can also play LB.
All
three offensive linemen come from Illinois.
QB
Ryan Cubit is included in this class after transferring from Rutgers to WMU.His father was the offensive coordinator for the Scarlet Knights
after previously being an assistant coach for WMU in the late 1990s.
Final
Thoughts:
I was not fond of WMU
class last year as they hit the junior college circuit hard for marginal
players.This year’s
class is probably Coach Darnell’s best
and it’s good to see the Broncos take
over Midwest recruiting, especially the Detroit area, so well.Western Michigan has the best overall football facilities in the MAC and
Darnell certainly used this to his advantage.This class rates as EXCELLENT
compared to the other MAC classes this year.Needs were met, depth was established, and quality players with speed and
strength were added.
Antwain
Allen
WR/DB
6-2
205
Chicago,
IL-Kenwood Academy
All-City; 4.55 speed
DeRae
Allen
CB
5-11
181
Lovejoy,
GA-Lovejoy
2nd Team All-State; Top 100 CB by
Insiders.com
Chris
Bartula
OT
6-6
276
Carol Stream,
IL-Glenbard North
All-Conference; All-Area
James
Blair
DT
6-4
320
Detroit,
MI-Pershing
All-State Dream Team; #11 player in MI
Darrell
Copeland
S
6-1
198
Jonesboro,
GA-Jonesboro
All-Area; All-Conference
Jermaine
Copeland
WR
6-1
174
Lovejoy,
GA-Lovejoy
All-State H.M.; 4.3 speed
Ryan
Cubit
QB
6-3
215
Columbia,
MO-Rutgers transfer
Started as a Frosh at Rutgers; 2 years elg.
Remain
