Success in rebuilding the team
Football coaches and admissions accept 24 freshmen recruits for next season, one short of targeted 25 recruits
Juliana D'Amico
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Sports
This May, 11 football players graduate from Otter's army. They leave behind 24 recruits - fresh faces committed to rebuilding the squad.
"For our objective every year in recruiting, we set 25 as our target," said Keith Otterbein, head football coach. "We've been pretty successful at attaining that goal and surpassing that goal."
Otterbein said because the squad size has grown, and therefore depth has grown, he is not in the situation to call upon freshmen into games as much next season as he was in the 2002 season.
"I wouldn't anticipate too many of [the freshman recruits] playing in the game Saturday with an exception of the punter," Otterbein said.
Among the graduating football seniors is Matt Vanover from Adrian, Mich., the team's punter. Recruit Andy Wilburn from Rockford, Mich., will take on this position.
Joining Wilburn among the recruits is Anthony Mifsud a Charger legacy from Dearborn, Mich., who will be a quarterback. Mifsud's father, Dave, played with the Hillsdale National Championship Team in 1985.
"When I was at Hillsdale, I had a great athletic, academic and social experience," Dave said. "With Anthony choosing to go [to Hillsdale], [my wife and I are] really excited because we think that he's going to have some of those same experiences."
Dave said he loves what Otterbein has done with the team and believes they are playing at a high competitive level.
"There's nothing like high school football 'cause you've played with the same guys since 3rd or 4th grade, but the family at Hillsdale that's been developed will always be missed," said Mark Nicolet, a senior and co-captain of the team. "Knowing that guys have come before you and guys will come after you - that you're just a small part of that history - is what's special."
Anthony said he's excited for next year at Hillsdale.
"I've meet some of the guys on the team, and they seem like really great guys," Anthony said. "I've talked to some other recruits that are coming in, and I'm really excited to get to know everyone and play some good football.
Otterbein said it is hard to know what kind of players the incoming recruits are until they join the team in the fall, but there are certainly some tangible facets he looks at.
"We've done a good job at quantity and quality in the big guys," Otterbein said
Director of Admissions Jeff Lantis said Otterbein incorporates admissions into his recruitment strategy and admissions shares at large group recruiting events.
"In admissions, we do individual interviews of his football recruits, and we follow up with those recruits who apply for admission just as we would for any other candidate," Lantis said.
Otterbein said he is excited just looking at the names of all 24 recruits.
"I definitely think they'll be ready," Nicolet said. "Every football team across the country looses players every year and new guys have to step up and play at the same level if not higher every year."
"For our objective every year in recruiting, we set 25 as our target," said Keith Otterbein, head football coach. "We've been pretty successful at attaining that goal and surpassing that goal."
Otterbein said because the squad size has grown, and therefore depth has grown, he is not in the situation to call upon freshmen into games as much next season as he was in the 2002 season.
"I wouldn't anticipate too many of [the freshman recruits] playing in the game Saturday with an exception of the punter," Otterbein said.
Among the graduating football seniors is Matt Vanover from Adrian, Mich., the team's punter. Recruit Andy Wilburn from Rockford, Mich., will take on this position.
Joining Wilburn among the recruits is Anthony Mifsud a Charger legacy from Dearborn, Mich., who will be a quarterback. Mifsud's father, Dave, played with the Hillsdale National Championship Team in 1985.
"When I was at Hillsdale, I had a great athletic, academic and social experience," Dave said. "With Anthony choosing to go [to Hillsdale], [my wife and I are] really excited because we think that he's going to have some of those same experiences."
Dave said he loves what Otterbein has done with the team and believes they are playing at a high competitive level.
"There's nothing like high school football 'cause you've played with the same guys since 3rd or 4th grade, but the family at Hillsdale that's been developed will always be missed," said Mark Nicolet, a senior and co-captain of the team. "Knowing that guys have come before you and guys will come after you - that you're just a small part of that history - is what's special."
Anthony said he's excited for next year at Hillsdale.
"I've meet some of the guys on the team, and they seem like really great guys," Anthony said. "I've talked to some other recruits that are coming in, and I'm really excited to get to know everyone and play some good football.
Otterbein said it is hard to know what kind of players the incoming recruits are until they join the team in the fall, but there are certainly some tangible facets he looks at.
"We've done a good job at quantity and quality in the big guys," Otterbein said
Director of Admissions Jeff Lantis said Otterbein incorporates admissions into his recruitment strategy and admissions shares at large group recruiting events.
"In admissions, we do individual interviews of his football recruits, and we follow up with those recruits who apply for admission just as we would for any other candidate," Lantis said.
Otterbein said he is excited just looking at the names of all 24 recruits.
"I definitely think they'll be ready," Nicolet said. "Every football team across the country looses players every year and new guys have to step up and play at the same level if not higher every year."
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