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As we inch ever closer to the start of the college football season, the heavy lifting on the recruiting done and the focus turns to retaining those commitments until the recruits sign their Letters of Intent. Which of these commitments are pivotal for the MAC to thrive in the coming years? Let’s find out!
5. Rahmon Hart, Ball State
What’s college football without a top-flight WR? Hart looks to be exactly that for the Cardinals as he’s a big-bodied target that can win jump balls and is a tough runner after the catch. We’ll have to see how he handles more physical college corners, but getting Hart can be a huge steal for BSU.
4. Adrian Woliver, Toledo
A league needs a handful of great defenders, and Toledo may have a future sack artist on their hands in Woliver. He plays seemingly every position on the defensive line and makes plays at each due to his quick first step, block-shedding ability, and physicality. If he gets bigger and stronger at UT, he is going to be a valuable asset for the Rockets.
3. Lew Nichols III, Central Michigan
A playmaking RB can be a great attention-getter for a conference, and CMU hopes to have one of those in Nichols III. While he doesn’t have blazing speed, he makes up for it by having good vision, being a tough inside runner, and by finishing his runs. The openings in a college defense will be much smaller, but these qualities make him a viable candidate to be one of the great runners in this league.
2. Brett Gabbert, Miami
Any conference needs a flagship QB, and the RedHawks think they have their future in Gabbert. The brother of the accomplished Mizzou QB Blaine, Brett has a skill set that makes him a perfect fit for Chuck Martin’s offense. He’s highly efficient (70% completions, 33/5 TD/INT ratio), can be a threat in the ground game, and has a pretty good, not great, arm. However, a lot can happen during in-season recruiting so the staff needs to do their due diligence in making sure Gabbert and Miami are on the same page.
1. Jacob Wahlberg, Western Michigan
The Broncos think they have the next great LB in the MAC, and who can blame them? At 6’4” and 220+ lbs., he has the perfect frame to develop into a run-stopping ILB. On his Hudl tape, he shows discipline as he makes his reads and shows burst once he diagnoses the play. If he can get bigger and faster at WMU, we’ll have a First Team All-MAC selection on our hands.
Do you agree or disagree with the recruits on this list, or do you think other recruits were snubbed? Let us know your opinions in the comments below.