Bob Diaco National Signing Day Press Conference
- Thread starter aman kidwai
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Bob: Just overall, talking personnel, which is what today's about. We're so excited about the class that we put together today.
The first thing I'm going to talk about is our team, and the work that they did to really vet out everyone we brought on campus. That's how we do it. Our coaches and players are charged with making sure that the people that we're bringing in are RKG's right kind of guys- guys that fit.
The first thing I'm going to talk about is our team, and the work that they did to really vet out everyone we brought on campus. That's how we do it. Our coaches and players are charged with making sure that the people that we're bringing in are RKG's right kind of guys- guys that fit.
To a man they were able to articulate our mission, and know what we're about.
If a prospect didn't get along, we would just send them along. Because our culture has been built with so much care.
If a prospect didn't get along, we would just send them along. Because our culture has been built with so much care.
16 young men added to our football family are great people,c ompetitive people, high achievers in the classroom, in their positions on their teams and teams of achievers. So we're pleased with that.
Total wins: 140 wins - 40 losses, 7 state titles, 8 all-american, all-state players, 2 of the top five or seven players in the state of Mass.
Total wins: 140 wins - 40 losses, 7 state titles, 8 all-american, all-state players, 2 of the top five or seven players in the state of Mass.
And we put a wall around the state, 4 of the top 10 in CT. We'd like to have them all.
100% played in postseason play.
We've got some real producers.
100% played in postseason play.
We've got some real producers.
Offense:
Nino Leone - OL
Big physical rugged player, interior offensive lineman. Mature, tough, active on the field, aggressive player. A lot of time and care in vetting outt he process, had a lot of opportunities.
Nate Hopkins from Dallas metro
An opportunity to get an RKG from the Greater Dallas Metro area. It's American Conference cache. It's not like you're talking to people who don't understand based on the local teams from our league. A top-rated player is a great thing, at running back.
Cam DeGeorge - #3 rated player in MA
Big aggressive guy, offensive lineman, could play defensive line. Massive amount of opportunities with all these local eastern seabord teams. You know who they are. Largest dog I've ever seen in my life.
Keyion Dixon - WR
athlete at Glastonbury, did a lot of things for the team. One thing he did as the best player on the team is play quarterback. He knows he's not a college QB. He's gonna be a great WR. He can really fly. Wherever he went he'd be rated as the top player.
Nino Leone - OL
Big physical rugged player, interior offensive lineman. Mature, tough, active on the field, aggressive player. A lot of time and care in vetting outt he process, had a lot of opportunities.
Nate Hopkins from Dallas metro
An opportunity to get an RKG from the Greater Dallas Metro area. It's American Conference cache. It's not like you're talking to people who don't understand based on the local teams from our league. A top-rated player is a great thing, at running back.
Cam DeGeorge - #3 rated player in MA
Big aggressive guy, offensive lineman, could play defensive line. Massive amount of opportunities with all these local eastern seabord teams. You know who they are. Largest dog I've ever seen in my life.
Keyion Dixon - WR
athlete at Glastonbury, did a lot of things for the team. One thing he did as the best player on the team is play quarterback. He knows he's not a college QB. He's gonna be a great WR. He can really fly. Wherever he went he'd be rated as the top player.
Jay Rose - F Southington
When you thnk about Jay, you have your flagship guy. This guy in the state was one of the highest players in the state, could have gone anywhere he wanted to go in our area and beyond and he chose the university of Connecticut. Distinctly made the choice to serve the state the university.
I can't say we're going to build it on his back... He's a huge piece to that Bleed Blue mentality. For the future Huskies around the state, when they see Jay Rose make this decision. We go into the seaosn and handle our business, it just compounds from there.
When you thnk about Jay, you have your flagship guy. This guy in the state was one of the highest players in the state, could have gone anywhere he wanted to go in our area and beyond and he chose the university of Connecticut. Distinctly made the choice to serve the state the university.
I can't say we're going to build it on his back... He's a huge piece to that Bleed Blue mentality. For the future Huskies around the state, when they see Jay Rose make this decision. We go into the seaosn and handle our business, it just compounds from there.
RB Ja'Kevious Vickers
A place where football is king. Nationally premier football programs. An exceptional player in that league, with that team. A high level and understanding of competition. We're excited about him.
QB Donovan Williams
There's other guys that have played quarterback, maybe others who could, but Donovan is our quarterback. Could be argued if he was a national recruit, but it was pretty close. Spectacular young man, a high achiever in all areas.
Can make all the throws, athletic fast.
A place where football is king. Nationally premier football programs. An exceptional player in that league, with that team. A high level and understanding of competition. We're excited about him.
QB Donovan Williams
There's other guys that have played quarterback, maybe others who could, but Donovan is our quarterback. Could be argued if he was a national recruit, but it was pretty close. Spectacular young man, a high achiever in all areas.
Can make all the throws, athletic fast.
Tyler Coyle is the last one on offense.
Tyler is an athlete. He can play wide receiver for us, but he can play safety. We're almost flipping a coin...
He's a dynamic track athlete. He's got a chance to go over 7-feet on the high jump. Great attitude, great demeanor, local guy and we're excited to see where he's going to fit. These multi-position guys we let them play where they want to play.
Tyler is an athlete. He can play wide receiver for us, but he can play safety. We're almost flipping a coin...
He's a dynamic track athlete. He's got a chance to go over 7-feet on the high jump. Great attitude, great demeanor, local guy and we're excited to see where he's going to fit. These multi-position guys we let them play where they want to play.
Defense
Eddie Hahn ATH S New Jersey
Just thinking of the last RBC guy, if he could just pick up the baton where Donnie left it off and here we go. RBC has had a great relationship with UConn in the past. Eddie's a winner, quarterbacked his team to a state title a year ago, back int he playoffs this year, multi-position player. He's a point guard of the basketball team. he's a highly competitive guy.
Between the two of us we almost spontaneously combust.
LB Ryan Gilmartin NC
It's good to get a real, non-projected inside linebacker in the class. Ryan is a trained, quintessential inside linebacker. He's a driver, intangible pieces, sees the game in pictures, it makes sense to him. High achiever in the classroom and community. Loves football.
Tahj Herring, CB Suffield Academy
Great results with Brice, who's a high-performer on our team. Getting ready to see a big time role. At 6-1, 190 pounds, to be a corner, that's really something. Tough guys that love football and they're big, it's hard to be bad. You're going to be good.
Eddie Hahn ATH S New Jersey
Just thinking of the last RBC guy, if he could just pick up the baton where Donnie left it off and here we go. RBC has had a great relationship with UConn in the past. Eddie's a winner, quarterbacked his team to a state title a year ago, back int he playoffs this year, multi-position player. He's a point guard of the basketball team. he's a highly competitive guy.
Between the two of us we almost spontaneously combust.
LB Ryan Gilmartin NC
It's good to get a real, non-projected inside linebacker in the class. Ryan is a trained, quintessential inside linebacker. He's a driver, intangible pieces, sees the game in pictures, it makes sense to him. High achiever in the classroom and community. Loves football.
Tahj Herring, CB Suffield Academy
Great results with Brice, who's a high-performer on our team. Getting ready to see a big time role. At 6-1, 190 pounds, to be a corner, that's really something. Tough guys that love football and they're big, it's hard to be bad. You're going to be good.
Noel Brouse - DL
Fits right in the line with Alec Bloom and Luke Carrezola. Just a great guy, same guy, worker, grinder, football achiever in other areas. He'll play DE, he's 6-5, 270 pounds, athletic plays basketball, great program guy
Quayvon Skanes - ATH (Def?)
He's a toolbox guy. Not outside what we normally do. He's our inside slot punt/kick returner. Difference making hard to tackle jet. He'll be an impact player for our program if nothing else doing some special teams jobs initially. Continue the Chicago trend. Vontae, Garland, and now Q
AJ Garson - OLB Florida
When we have our OLB exit the tunnel we know what we want him to look like. He's 6-5, 235 pounds, athletic. He'll be able to be a guy that can grow into a Luke Carrezola kind of guy, or do the field jobs like Vontae. A lot of productivity with our team in that area, which pre-dates me.
Fits right in the line with Alec Bloom and Luke Carrezola. Just a great guy, same guy, worker, grinder, football achiever in other areas. He'll play DE, he's 6-5, 270 pounds, athletic plays basketball, great program guy
Quayvon Skanes - ATH (Def?)
He's a toolbox guy. Not outside what we normally do. He's our inside slot punt/kick returner. Difference making hard to tackle jet. He'll be an impact player for our program if nothing else doing some special teams jobs initially. Continue the Chicago trend. Vontae, Garland, and now Q
AJ Garson - OLB Florida
When we have our OLB exit the tunnel we know what we want him to look like. He's 6-5, 235 pounds, athletic. He'll be able to be a guy that can grow into a Luke Carrezola kind of guy, or do the field jobs like Vontae. A lot of productivity with our team in that area, which pre-dates me.
Two specialists, but they can do other things too. We're leary of a guy that goes to a kicking camp... they live in a petri dish... that is not the case.
Brett Graham was an all-area performer at tight end. Plays multiple positions and excels at them. He'll be a punter in the future. I like the alignment. If you want to have a great team, you don't want to count on a true freshman punter.
Nick Zecchino is coming here to be the long snapper, he is a multi-spot athlete, letter-winner, conference performer. He's been great. All he's ever done is won. Quarterbacked a team to state title. QB, S, specialist, never comes off the field, tough guy. Understands the brotherhood. If there's a guy that's gotta be ready to go right out of the chute, it's probably him. He's got the mindset to do that.
His dad is a great guy. He was a long snapper at Tennessee.
Brett Graham was an all-area performer at tight end. Plays multiple positions and excels at them. He'll be a punter in the future. I like the alignment. If you want to have a great team, you don't want to count on a true freshman punter.
Nick Zecchino is coming here to be the long snapper, he is a multi-spot athlete, letter-winner, conference performer. He's been great. All he's ever done is won. Quarterbacked a team to state title. QB, S, specialist, never comes off the field, tough guy. Understands the brotherhood. If there's a guy that's gotta be ready to go right out of the chute, it's probably him. He's got the mindset to do that.
His dad is a great guy. He was a long snapper at Tennessee.
On Jay Rose position "F"
What he is, if you watch the colts Dallas Clark, the guy does jobs that at times are detatched and they're receiver jobs, attaches, moves around in the backfield and blocks, and can also move the ball.
F is the inside eligible receiver. Will be in a lot of positions. A lot of teams have a Y and an H, not going to be a LOS blocker. He'll be in the backfield. He'll be moving, might even carry the ball a bit.
What he is, if you watch the colts Dallas Clark, the guy does jobs that at times are detatched and they're receiver jobs, attaches, moves around in the backfield and blocks, and can also move the ball.
F is the inside eligible receiver. Will be in a lot of positions. A lot of teams have a Y and an H, not going to be a LOS blocker. He'll be in the backfield. He'll be moving, might even carry the ball a bit.
Diaco on CT: I do feel like I've made good relationships in CT. We're trying. Some of the schools, it predates many coaches... we're winning over schools, slowly but surely through care and honesty and transparent behavior.
You can't take everybody's guys...
You can't take everybody's guys...
We don't necessarily recruit positions, we do 3 categories: Skill, big skill and power. Board is built on those tangible traits. They don't have to fit in a specific position.
On Rose position switch from QB to F: He's got a rare combination of size, speed, contact balance. When you get a guy like that with the ball in his hand... becomes a hard thing for the defense to deal with. That's why this position really suits him. Our conversation wasn't the first time he heard that. Most schools were recruiting him for a job like this.
It's hard to find offense, in any sport.
It's hard to find offense, in any sport.
On state of recruiting: I don't know if it's getting worse. Maybe it's more information. Now it's all inspected and instantaneous...
Ethic-wise, I'd like it to be tighter. I don't want the manual to be bigger... No sleepovers.
I'm interested in less legislation, a little bit more professionalism. I thought Urban Meyer's comments were great today. For him to say this is serious business...
I'm interested in less legislation, a little bit more professionalism. I thought Urban Meyer's comments were great today. For him to say this is serious business...
