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Lehigh Football Prospect Friday: Offense Galore


A new year, and a new feature to get everyone to "Signing Day" 2010.  I'll cherry-pick five recruits that have listed Lehigh as "schools of interest" and recount what I've been able to find out about them. 

I can think of no better place to start than in Lehigh's backyard. (more)


  • WR/RS Danny Wilk was recently interviewed by Andre Williams of the Morning Call, where he lists Lehigh as among his choices.  At Nazaerth, Wilkes caught 43 passes for 439 yards and added a 32.6 yard average returning kickoffs, including 2 for touchdowns.  "I want to play football. I'm looking at Penn, Lehigh, Dartmouth, Colgate and Bucknell," he said in the interview.  It certainly sounds like he could get in the mix after senior DB/RS John "Prez" Kennedy graduates next year.
  • QB/ATH Raphael Ortiz, recent Hudson County Player of the Year, threw for 1,620 yards and 18 touchdowns in his senior campaign at St. Peter's prep.  His junior year, he tore the meniscus in his knee, which may have scared some FBS schools off his scent.  He lists Lehigh and Lafayette as possible destinations, as well as "talking to" William & Mary, FBS Virginia and FBS Duke.
  • Speaking of "Players of the Year", West Jersey Player of the Year RB Ian Gaines is also on Lehigh's radar screen - a surprise, since Gaines only played RB for the first time this season.  "It was the first time I've played running back," Gaines said. "I had run sweeps as a wideout, but this was different. I had to learn to trust the blocks and not try to do it all myself."  It was still good enough for 887 yards and 8 TDs, as well as 17 passes out of the backfield for 276 yards.  In the article, is states that Penn, Princeton, FBS Duke and FBS Vanderbilt are also on the trail.
  • Out of the Pennsylvania/New Jersey area, RB Earl Hunt out of Traveler's Rest, SC is listed on ESPN's recruiting site as having interest in the Mountain Hawks.  A 5'7 back right out of the Ron Jean mold, while ESPN criticizes him for not having the "speed" for the "major level of competition" (sorry, I'd gladly take a RB that runs a 4.7 40), he was a productive runner in the Palmetto State with 1,220 yards rushing and 10 TDs his junior year.  Furman is also listed as interested.
  • Another local product, QB/ATH Drew Loughery, has also listed Lehigh as being interested (as well as UMass).  Listed at Southeast Pennsylvania's Player of the Year, the Plymouth Meeting, PA native Loughery led his team to a 23-4 record in a two-year span, including a Catholic League championship last year. For his career, the two-time captain passed 355-for-618 (57.4 percent) for 5,355 yards and 50 TDs.  While listed at 6'1 205, he's not the prototypical QB height but has a "strong arm" and seems to relish the QB role on the team.  " When 'Lock' gets under center, you know you're going to get the points you need to get to win," teammate LB Ryan Sarceni said of Loughery.
  • Finally, a confirmed commit from Florida: WR/DB Ryan Burke, who reportedly went to Lehigh over Princeton and others.  He's a tough kid, who played his senior year for Cardinal Newman on a broken foot but still managed 263 yards and 2 TDs.  At 6'2, 187 lbs, Lehigh continues to stockpile tall wideouts/defensive backs - looks promising.

Comments

Anonymous said…
The fact that Lehigh is done nothing about their nitwit coach tempers any enthusiasm I might have had. Sounds like all that matters is winning that last game of the year. If the administration doesn't give a damn why should I? I'll be staying home watching serious college ball on TV until Lehigh's athletic department finally wakes up. I expect sub 8,000 body games for every game next year.
Anonymous said…
Interesting, I was wondering why this Board has gone so quite. I think you hit the nail on the head. Get rid of the moron, who they call a head coach before he ruins this program entirely!

Does anyone know how long they signed this guy for?
Anonymous said…
The Coen record:

2006- 6 and 5
2007- 5 and 6
2008- 5 and 6
2009- 4 and 7

Anyone spot a "trend"?

I'm not professing to be brilliant...just looking at the facts. Is the University pleased with mediocrity? If they are, they will ignore the record above and continue along with "Aimless" Andy. If they recognize the decline, which by the way is only Bucknell and Georgetown wins away from true disaster, they would have made a head coaching change following the fourth year.

I am all for giving a college coach (especially this level) at least four years before judging the body of work, but how else does anyone judge the body of work of this guy? Fact is, based upon wins and losses, he is the worst football coach at LU since Mike Cooley.

Look it up Chuck.

I have no confidence that even IF Andy can lure first rate talent to South Mountain, that he and his coaches can turn them into winners. So far, he has turned a talented QB (Threatt) into a so-so QB. He has taken a QB with talent and promise (Clark) into a QB who seems to have stagnated. The offensive "guru" has managed to show a decline in scoring, including a pathetic shutout loss at home against an also ran program. He has demystified Lehigh's dominance over the Ivy League. He finds creative ways to lose close, winnable games. I could go on and on.

Count me as a very frustrated longtime season ticket holder. It's because I care so much that I rant. This is a program that has been among the winningest in Division 1, II, and 1-AA for fifty years. We won a II championship and played for 1-AA championships. Yes, those of us who know these things are having trouble accepting mediocrity. It does not have to be this way!

VOR
Anonymous said…
You need to learn about the kids who are already on the team and what they can do...Matt Fitz out of CB West runs a 4.5 40...he ran a 4.47 and a 4.50 at two different Division I football camps his senior year, so you already have a RB on the roster who can run a sub 4.7 40...

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