AJS

Looks like Student Orientation week just took place. Anyone hear how the preliminary numbers are looking?

Lots of good information. 3 FM NTDP guys. Harvard entering the equation for one of them definitely throws a wrench into it. Like you said @stoneySIOUX, can't blame him if that person goes that route. Lindberg doing a late visit to Minnesota isn't ideal Mooney / Hensler. This might seem like moving the goal posts a bit. The last time I was genuinely shocked with a commitment was Boeser. These two would be into that category. Although I wasn't shocked about Emery, it did give me the "maybe it can happen" feeling with Hensler. IF Mooney would commit to UND over Minnesota, that's almost more than I could process. Frank @siouxforce19 nailed it, Colin Frank. I would say one of the highest sought after uncommitted '06's. This one is a complete shot in the dark from me.

Less than a week away, let's get some predictions. How many players that are eligible to commit August 1st does UND land over the next year (Late '06 / '07 guys)? They got 5 last year that was in that group. Here's my guess. I think they get 7. I'm feeling a bit bullish with the Emery commit. Hensler Laurila Lindberg O'Neill Spehar Murphy Frank

This team does have a lot of “knowns”, still some questions, but a higher level of comfort than most years. With that in mind, this season to me boils down to as always staying healthy in key spots, but also have 3 or 4 guys completely exceed (from a fan standpoint) expectations / take their game to the next level. That could be a guy like Pedigo playing at an All-Conference level. Fort / Buckner solidifying a Safety position and raising that up to a much higher level than last year. One of the transfers being a true starter level talent on the D-Line. A RS Freshman jumping up the depth chart. I think they are that close to taking that next step.

I'm sure he did, but he also signed a FA deal with Dallas.

He is going to Michigan State, not Mankato.

Huge commitment. For multiple reasons. Most importantly from a talent standpoint, potential Top 2 round pick in next years draft. Winning a recruiting battle with two BIG Ten teams, for an NTDP guy, right before the "new" recruiting season kicks off. This one feels very important. Is this the start of a wave that we've seen at MN, BU, MI, BC the last couple years? We'll see. I'm with the group where this wouldn't change the Hensler conversation. Like @siouxforce19 said, you make room. Two things would happen, first, mid-season everything would be reevaluated. There is precedent set that says if need be, they'll bring in 9 D (Sanderson's FR year). If the Coaching staff thinks a player is valuable and needs to come in, they'll come in. The other direction, which is harsher is someone might get the conversation that they can still come in, but their $ might be minimal, PT will be hard to come by. That would be either a current recruit (1 really sticks out) or 2, at the end of the season, with a current player. Right now, you have the big $ locks for next years defensive class being Strathmann and Emery. McInnis being wait and see (injury plagued first year) but could take off. Jubenvil being low $ but maxed out of Junior years. Ausmus going to the BCHL would seem to be a guy who would be playing another year of Juniors past this next year.

All three have visited, all three will get offers. Unless you know something, i can’t follow the logic that someone whose start date is at the earliest two years away would be looking at the current roster when deciding on the school. Or are you saying UND won’t offer any Dman from this class? @brianvf I think they go 3-3 on the FM guys

Is the Alston payments a game changer? That’s yet to be seen, I believe this potentially is. My question is when could the Coaches discuss this with recruits? Not until basically last weekend? A month ago? Really interested in the recruiting landscape for Football this second half of the summer. Up until this point I believe UND has been 0-3 for recruits with competing offers that have chosen NDSU. All before the news broke of the Alston payment. My question being were they able to discuss before it went public.

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/bison-have-no-immediate-plans-to-follow-unds-nearly-1-million-alston-payments?auth0Authentication=true

I'm also more interested in the 2nd Dakota team that will / wants to move up. What does SDSU have? (1) Proved in on the Field / Court. (2) Moved up / connected at the hip with NDSU. I know @The Sicatoka has done a great job of showing different financials. SDSU seems to be a distant 3rd in readiness when it comes to that. One thing we can all agree on is UND cannot be left behind this time. I'm looking at the campus / facility updates that are being / have been made. From a "hope" standpoint, the 701 Award. That's a big deal. That gave me a big boost of confidence that UND is doing things in the background to position itself. Now, it's time for the Football / Basketball teams to take that next step.

Updated the initial list. August 1st is now right around the corner. These are all high caliber players that have either been reported, rumored or you'd imagine UND is interested in. Please feel free to add. Laurila (NTDP) / D Schools follows: None Rumors / Notes: UND is in his Top 3. Hometown: Moorhead, MN Hensler (NTDP) / D Schools follows: None Rumor / Notes: UND is finalist alongside Michigan / MN Hometown: Woodbury, MN Mooney (NTDP) / F Schools follows: UND / MN Rumor / Notes: Logan Cooley's cousin, UND is a finalist with MN Hometown: West Mifflin, PA Lindberg (NTDP) / D Schools follows: UND, CC, SCSU Rumors / Notes: Brother CC recruit. UND is in his Top 3. Hometown: Moorhead, MN O'Neill (NTDP) / F Schools follows: UND, WI, SCSU Rumors / Notes: UND is in his Top 3. Hometown: Fargo, ND Spehar (Sioux Falls AAA) / F Schools follows: UND Rumors / Notes: Dad played for Minnesota. High Muskegon draft pick. Playing in 5 Nations Tournament. Hometown: Chaska, MN Morin (Youngstown) / F Schools follows: None Hometown: Lachenaie, QC, CAN Kor (Fargo Force) / F Schools follows: UND + Other power schools Hometown: Rochester, MN Fleece (Fargo Force) / F Schools follows: UND + Other power schools Rumors / Notes: Playing in 5 Nations Tournament Hometown: Rolling Hills, CA Grimes (Sioux Falls) / D Schools follows: UND + Other power schools Rumors / Notes: Playing in 5 Nations Tournament Hometown: Locust Valley, NY

This is a huge deal. Great work by Chaves and Co! The $ amount per year is so much more than I anticipated.

You're absolutely correct. They fix one hole and another appears the following year. Why do I feel this season could be different? I cannot remember a positional group that was as effective the year previously, that brings back so much as the Offense does this year. The offense just needs to stay the course, which there's no reason to believe they won't.

I go back and forth with my defensive concern. This might seem obvious, but let's give the coaching staff enough credit and self-awareness that following the year they know their strengths and weaknesses. After Spring Ball, from 360 to this board, the talker has been (1) RB Depth (2) OLB (3) Safety play. Since then, what we witnessed was offers trying to secure a RB and one Safety offer. What I've concluded is the Coaching staff based on moves we've seen, is potentially the D-Line play was the biggest concern. They hit that position hard for transfers. D-Line play, simplifying the defensive scheme (which has been talked about) and they must feel they have the talent to greatly improve. *I did talk about this in my previous post, but during Bubba's tenure, they have been good at fixing the holes from the previous year

Completely agree. This season for me comes down to two things (1) Schuster staying healthy. (2) Defensive improvement. I believe UND would finish 6-5 if we don't see any improvement defensively. Good news is it's hard for me to believe they could be any worse. Also, UND does have a track record of fixing what has been broken the previous year. Fix the defense and this team has an incredibly high ceiling.

Thanks for updating! A lot more current offers out than I was aware. Hoping a bunch of them are on campus next Saturday. Have a repeat of a few years back when Jamal Dixon and co all committed that night.

He does have a prediction. From what non-members can see. NCAA 80% / CHL 20% Harvard - 40% Back to their Top 20 2007 ranked players. You can search for any player, but if you use filters, you'll see their Top 20 rankings. 2007 / USA Defenseman. Two of the Top 20 have predictions. 2007 / USA Forwards. One of the Top 20 has a prediction.

Just went to the website and in regard to your question specifically, you can find a lot of that information without being a member. You can just search by player and you'll be able to know if there's a prediction associated with them. I listed a handful of potential 2007 recruits at the beginning of June, none of them have predictions. The two big names for 2006 (Emery / Hensler) do not have predictions.

Not sure the right place to put this, but Fantilli was on the most recent episode of Spittin' Chiclets. Said his decision came down to UND and Michigan. Been a familiar place for these incredibly high-end guys these last few years. UND being in the final 2 or 3 and not being able to actually win the recruiting battle. Being in the mix is very important, one of these years you just feel like the tide could turn. That being said, Hensler and Mooney. Finalists again, let's see if this is the year they finally come out on top for one of these guys.