'23 Recruits

[Billyboy78]

Anybody know who we have coming in for next season? We lose a lot of seniors. How do you guys think we look in 2023?

[Brian Forster]

Billy,respectfully-the assumption that experience matters usually does not apply to URI football.
How many of the those leaving played at a ALL CAA /playoff level? 5-6
Main point is whoever takes a good amount of their places will have to play better.
Too many regressed this season. It was unforeseen. Others have mentioned same. Passing % was under 54. 5 teams that made playoffs were 60+%.

[RhowdyRam02]

Running back from Catholic Memorial in MA. Also had an offer from Bowling Green

[ramster]

Case Mankins is the son of former NE Patriot Logan Mankins

December 19, 2022: Commitment
Case Mankins commits to Rhode Island Rams

July 28, 2022: Offer New Hampshire Wildcats offer Case Mankins
July 20, 2022: Offer Stonehill College Skyhawks offer Case Mankins
July 05, 2022: Offer Fordham Rams offer Case Mankins
June 27, 2022: Offer Bryant Bulldogs offer Case Mankins
June 24, 2022: Offer Rhode Island Rams offer Case Mankins
June 24, 2022: Offer Maine Black Bears offer Case Mankins

[Billyboy78]

Nice. We'll get to see Logan at games now like we saw Andre Tippett.

[Billyboy78]

[Brian Forster]

This years class is looking strong.

[Bos8]

Today is the start of National Early Signing Day. Will be following the twitter account to keep up with the guys who may sign today.

[Bos8]

Deon Silas, a running back from Iowa State signs with the Rams. As a sophomore he had 271 yards with 3 touchdowns on 60 attempts. Had 13 carries for 75 yards and 2 touchdowns as a freshman. He was a 3 star recruit out of high school.
Also officially announced Kevin Pyne from BC

[Bos8]

Add Desmond Mamudi a 6'3 290lbs DL transfer from Virginia Tech. He was a 3 star recruit coming out of Florida. Will have 3 years of eligibility and should help at least partially fill the void of the DLine transfers like Makszin and Brown.

[Bos8]

Add two incoming freshman. Dontay Bishop a 6'5 OL out of CT and the previously discussed Case Mankins, a 6'3 DL out of Mass.

[Bos8]

As previously reported, Carson Harwood a running back out of CM.

[Bos8]

Another incoming FR DL in Pharrell Adams out of Jersey City.

[bigappleram]

The RB from Iowa State seems promising. Was playing last year and contributing at a P5. He’s smallish so I assume he is fast AF.

[Bos8]

Incoming FR Linebacker from NJ Emmanuel Dankwa. Had an offer over the summer from Syracuse.

[Bos8]

Brock Bethea, a 6'4 OL transfer from UT Chattanooga. He started a game for them last year as a redshirt freshman.

[Rhodymob05]

[Bos8]

Harrison Crim an incoming freshman DL out of VA.

[Bos8]

Ja'den Mckenzie, a transfer from D2 West Chester. He is a 6'3 230 lbs running back who started 10 of 11 games for WCU totaling just under 1000 yards and lead the conference with 12 touchdowns. Started 5 games in 2019 again totaling nearly 1000 yards.

[Bos8]

The RB from Iowa State seems promising. Was playing last year and contributing at a P5. He’s smallish so I assume he is fast AF.

I would assume the same thing... Between him and Jayden Smith, those are two burners in the backfield. Add in the bruiser from WCU, Gabe Sloat, the freshman last year from Florida etc and the backfield would appear to be solid on paper.

[R.Kelly150]

With Lee and Warren gone it would be nice to see them bring in some WR/TE’s.

[bigappleram]

Ja'den Mckenzie, a transfer from D2 West Chester. He is a 6'3 230 lbs running back who started 10 of 11 games for WCU totaling just under 1000 yards and lead the conference with 12 touchdowns. Started 5 games in 2019 again totaling nearly 1000 yards.

I don't know how big the leap is from West Chester to CAA but that kid looked huge for a RB in the tape I watched. You just don't see RBs that height very often and it stood out.

[Bos8]

Ja'den Mckenzie, a transfer from D2 West Chester. He is a 6'3 230 lbs running back who started 10 of 11 games for WCU totaling just under 1000 yards and lead the conference with 12 touchdowns. Started 5 games in 2019 again totaling nearly 1000 yards.

I don't know how big the leap is from West Chester to CAA but that kid looked huge for a RB in the tape I watched. You just don't see RBs that height very often and it stood out.

Agreed. Don't know a ton about D2 football, but I will say that when it comes to basketball, the PSAC is usually right at the top of Division 2 conferences. I know its a completely different sport, but I don't think PSAC football would be awful. At the very least he is an older guy coming in with some college experience.

[Billyboy78]

The RB from Iowa State seems promising. Was playing last year and contributing at a P5. He’s smallish so I assume he is fast AF.

Easy kid to root for.

[bigappleram]

I don’t know but this seems like it would translate to CAA

[Rhodymob05]

Does URI typically get this many FBS P5 transfers?

[Brian Forster]

Does URI typically get this many FBS P5 transfers?
No-this is an outlier class. Since the 80's Rhody has gotten almost no FBS transfers.

[Rhody15]

Does URI typically get this many FBS P5 transfers?
No-this is an outlier class. Since the 80's Rhody has gotten almost no FBS transfers.

Our starting QB and RB (2020) the last two seasons are both from the FBS.

I can recall quite a few from UConn, BC, Rutgers and others.

[Bos8]

Mitchell Garner from MD. 3 star in coming freshman safety. Fairly impressive list of FBS offers.

[Brian Forster]

Our starting QB and RB (2020) the last two seasons are both from the FBS.
and about 1000 others.

[Rhody Blue]

Local kid Patrick Conserve from Cumberland HS. I like seeing local talent at URI!

[Brian Forster]

there may be another major announcement from a RI player soon

[R.Kelly150]

Local kid Patrick Conserve from Cumberland HS. I like seeing local talent at URI!

Love seeing URI keep local talent instate. RI is not a hotbed of talent, we all know that, clearly not enough to sustain a FCS program, but there are RI HS players who can play at this level and I love it when they and URI FB recognize there is a mutual benefit to bring these players into the family and continues to build on what Fleming and his staff have started here in RI.

[jcru]

Ja'den Mckenzie looks like a wide receiver coming out of the backfield. It's not something you typically see. It's really cool though, not to mention he can catch balls out of the backfield on play action very well like a receiver. Very interesting player.

[RhowdyRam02]

Does URI typically get this many FBS P5 transfers?
No-this is an outlier class. Since the 80's Rhody has gotten almost no FBS transfers.

Our starting QB and RB (2020) the last two seasons are both from the FBS.

I can recall quite a few from UConn, BC, Rutgers and others.

Yes, we've really been hitting the FBS transfers since Fleming took over and as we're becoming a better program the volume has just been increasing

[RhowdyRam02]

https://gorhody.com/news/2022/12/21/foo ... g-day.aspx

Some information on the eight freshmen and five transfers that signed today

[Iggy1979]

The 3 RBs are exciting additions. Still QBs in the portal. Is URI talking to some or are they happy with what they have? Unusual not to add a QB every class.

[Brian Forster]

Still QBs in the portal. Is URI talking to some or are they happy with what they have? Unusual not to add a QB every class.

Think they are talking to some. Hill is coming back possibly.

[LIRAM]

Still QBs in the portal. Is URI talking to some or are they happy with what they have? Unusual not to add a QB every class.

Think they are talking to some. Hill is coming back possibly.

The Staff (Flanagan) has offered a kid from Tampa- TY "TD" Washington class of 2024. He will receive many more offers but we are the first one's in. He has a relationship with a few current players and guys we just brought in. Check out his twitter and video's! Would be a game changer. We can dream right???

[Billyboy78]

[jcru]

Ty "TD" Robinson, Tampa, Class of 2024...

[Rhody Blue]

Another Local player heading to Kingston !

St Raphael Academy's Moses Meus. Looks like a great athlete

[ramster]

Another Local player heagin to Kingston !

St Raphael Academy's Moses Meus

Great news. He was scheduled to announce this afternoon and had narrowed to a Final 3 of URI, Army and Wake Forest.
He was Gatorade Rhode Island Player of the Year

[bigappleram]

Ramster, any intel on him? Is this a good get? Wake Forest offer would seem to indicate that.

[ramster]

BAR,
Here are highlights from a bunch of games, plenty to watch. I liked the punt he blocked vs Pilgrim
I take away that he puts forth a lot of effort and extra effort.
He is a smart kid
I think we got a kid who narrowed down to 3 schools with 2 of the 3 being FBS in Army and Wake Forest. Seems he wanted to stay close to home and play for URI.
I’ll be interested to hear what Jim Fleming has to say

https://www.hudl.com/profile/10281634/Moses-Meus

[ramster]

BAR,
Gatorade POY

https://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/wi ... meus/39385

[ramster]

From Eric Reub in ProJo. Great article.


HIGH-SCHOOL
What did Moses Meus do to earn Gatorade Player of the Year? More like what didn't he do
Eric Rueb
The Providence Journal
Moses Meus has been one of Rhode Island's top defensive players each of the last three years. The St. Raphael star took his game to new heights this fall, helped the Saints win the Division II Super Bowl and Friday was named Gatorade Rhode Island High School Football Player of the Year.
Moses Meus was the best defensive player in Rhode Island high school football, a threat to score every time he touched the ball and might have been the best punter and kickoff specialist as well. He ended his career with a Division II Super Bowl win, MVP honors from the game and is a lock to earn a third straight first team All-State spot.
Now he’s got to make room for one more trophy.
Friday morning – just a few hours before a scheduled ceremony where he’s set to make his college decision – Meus was announced as the 2022-23 Gatorade Rhode Island Football Player of the Year.
The Class of 2023 was one of Rhode Island’s deepest as far as football talent goes but there was an argument to be made that Meus was the best player in the state at several positions.
Defense has been where Meus has been most dominant and this season was no different. This season he finished with 94 tackles, six for lost, three forced fumbles and two sacks. His play on the defensive side of the ball the Division II Super Bowl – where he recorded 16 tackles – was a big reason why St. Raphael came away with the 7-3 win over Portsmouth and earned himself MVP honors.
St. Raphael kept believing, and the 3rd time was the charm in D-II Super Bowl
Meus was also a dynamic offensive player. He was used at tailback, fullback, receiver and tight end in the Saints’ run-first offense. Meus had 69 carries this season for 531 yards and four touchdowns and also caught 14 passes for 273 yards and five scores.
On special teams Meus may have been the state’s top punter and his kickoffs routinely led to touchbacks. He also came up with two blocked punts – one that helped St. Raphael beat Westerly in the Division II semifinals – and one blocked field goal.
Winning Gatorade Player of the Year comes down to more than just play on the field and Meus had no problem excelling away from it. He’s volunteers during St. Raphael’s Special Olympics fundraising week, collects food items for the Pawtucket Food Kitchen and hygiene supplies for the Ronald McDonald House. Meus has also spent time over the years as a volunteer youth flag football coach.
He’s equally strong in the classroom and has maintained an A-minus average while at St. Raphael. Meus has made his college decision but hasn’t announced it publicly. He’s named the Army, the University of Rhode Island and Wake Forest as his final three and is taking part in a ceremony at St. Raphael on Friday at 2:30 to announce where he’s headed.

Meus is the third St. Raphael football player to win the award and the first since Alfred Dobor in 2014-15. He’s the first primary defensive player to be honored since North Kingstown defensive end Dylan Poirier in 2018-19. It’s the second straight year a Division II player has earned the honor, following Classical wide receiver Marquis Buchanan last season. A Division I player hasn’t won the award since North Kingstown quarterback James Osmanski in 2019-20.
It’s the 27th time a St. Raphael athlete has been honored by Gatorade. If Devan Kipyego is honored for Boys Cross Country or Boys Track and Field – or both – it would mark the second time two different Saint boys were named Gatorade Player of the Year in a single school year. The last time it happened came in 1988-89 when Neil Butler was honored for track and field and Dave Desjardins was honored for baseball. Kipyego was honored twice last school year, winning for both cross country and track and field.

[bigappleram]

Thx Ramster!

[Billyboy78]

I assume he'll be a defensive player here?

[Brian Forster]

Yes to defense Billy.
He is a stud.
Great get.