2008 Woodie Awards
Jones recruits 10 from Florida
By: Robbie Sgro
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Sports
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Of its 22 signees, 10 come from the Sunshine State. In comparison, CMU had 13 on its 2007 roster.
But adjusting from playing in sunny Florida to a cold climate in Michigan should not be a problem, coach Butch Jones said Wednesday at the signing day press conference.
Jones talked about running back Paris Cotton's visit to Mount Pleasant, which was unlike any weather Cotton play in at Hialeah High School in Miami.
"He came up on a visit, and the weather is like it is now. He must have had 13 layers of clothing on," Jones said. "I walked up to him and said, 'Don't tell me you're soft. We don't recruit soft running backs around here.' That poor kid walked around with a T-shirt the rest of the day. He wouldn't even put his coat on. He said, 'Coach, this is the toughest running back you've got."
Jones said the class is one of the best in school history. It includes 11 offensive players and 11 defensive players.
There are five defensive backs, four defensive ends, three offensive lineman, three receivers, three running backs and one each at quarterback, linebacker, defensive line and tight end. CMU also has added six players as walk-ons.
Dave Ruthenberg, publisher of macreportonline.com, said Central improved its secondary with players such as John Carr and Lorenzo White, son of former Michigan State standout and Pro Bowl running back Lorenzo White.
"It's a nice class. I noticed it was evenly balanced," Ruthenberg said. "The thing that struck me was that (Jones) went pretty hard after Florida and gained some defensive backs, which I think was the key that he really needed to focus on."
Three of the five defensive backs are listed at 6 feet or taller.
Jones also signed Ohio quarterback Ryan Radcliff, who went 22-5 as a three-year starter and had 11,038 career yards and 139 career touchdowns. As a senior he completed 329-of-500 passes for 4,738 yards and 64 touchdowns.
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