Recruiting negligence leads to lack of cornerbacks
Collegiate recruiting is an inconsistent art that often relies more on luck than pragmatism.
“It’s kind of like looking into a crystal ball,” Nevada associate head coach Ken Wilson said.
The Wolf Pack’s 38-31 loss Saturday to Hawaii marked the second time this season the Wolf Pack has scored more than 30 points and lost.
Nevada has allowed an average of 32.6 points per game this season, but don’t blame the rush defense — the Wolf Pack is fourth in the nation in least amount of rush yards allowed per game (69.5).
The blame could be laid on Nevada’s inability to read its crystal ball.
The majority of the Wolf Pack’s talent this season came from its 2006 recruiting class, which Nevada coach Chris Ault called the best class in school history.
In 2006, Nevada committed its big three on offense — quarterback Colin Kaepernick, running back Vai Taua and wide receiver Marko Mitchell — along with starters on the defensive line and offensive line. With all its talent the class still lacked a strong stock of lockdown cornerbacks, which may explain why the Wolf Pack is ranked last in Division-I pass defense this season (328-pass yards per game).
Nevada recruited two defensive backs in 2006: Devon Walker and Adam Liranzo. Walker came to Nevada as a junior college transfer and has since run out of eligibility, while Liranzo became a linebacker last season.
“You have to pick and choose your classes,” Nevada recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Jim Mastro said.
The Wolf Pack was No. 52 in the nation against the pass (196.92 yards per game) in 2006. Nevada recruited cornerback Jonathon Amaya in 2005 and still had junior cornerback Paul Pratt. But Amaya was injured last season and moved to the safety position, while Pratt has since graduated.
“(In 2006) we had other needs that we had to fill,” Mastro said.
The Wolf Pack also neglected the impending cornerback problem in 2007 when it only recruited one player for the defensive backfield: 2008 backup Jonathon Ott.
The negligence to defensive backfield recruiting — just three players in two classes — has left the Wolf Pack vulnerable to pass attacks this season.
The discrepancy must have been revealed in Wilson’s crystal ball because Nevada reacted in 2008.
The Wolf Pack grabbed eight defensive backs in its 2008 class, which was more than it committed in the previous four years combined.
“That was by design,” Mastro said. “We had to address that last year.”
The young class forced the Wolf Pack to rely heavily on 2008 junior college transfers Mike Evans, Antoine Thompson and Mo Harvey.
“It’s been a unique challenge,” Nevada cornerbacks coach James Ward said. “It’s been week-to-week and continuing to get better in constant competition.
“I just wish they’d learn faster.”
Ward said Nevada fans would still have to wait to see much of the talent from 2008’s recruiting class.
Khalid Wooten, Ahmad Wood and Thaddeus Brown have spent extensive time on the defensive backfield’s scout team as redshirt freshmen.
“They are coming around good,” Ward said. “I think they are going to shock some people in the spring and continue to do that next year.”
The Wolf Pack can also look forward to freshman Isaiah Frey, who has spent limited playing time in the defensive backfield this season.
Mastro remains confident with the progress of 2008’s recruiting class, even with its struggles.
“This will be the best secondary recruiting class we’ve ever had,” he said. “There will be no issues. The future is bright. The foundation is there and the pieces are in place. Now we can just pick and choose the cream of the crop.”
Emerson Marcus can be reached at emarcus@nevadasagebrush.com
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