IUP Football 2021

[Fightingscot82]

I thought it was odd they signed a kicker on signing day. I don't love the prospects of a true freshman kicker.

At least IUP has a great track record in developing kickers. Could also be guys who took the spring off from school. If they're not enrolled they're not supposed to be listed on the roster. Totally conjecture there but common at D2.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Some player names missing from the IUP Spring Roster:

Ken Roman - I thought I read that he would be back.

P/K Jordan Washington and Nate Clair. Does this mean the Kicker role is open?

TE Jacob Watts - he had made a good impression in a backup role.

QB Joe Hauser

DB Javonte Haynes - he had seen a lot of action as a true frosh

Other DB's:

Obi Anyatonwu
Donte Terry
Darrell Holloway

Otherwise, the roster looks really solid. They should be able to fill Shockley's spot. Maybe another LB and OL. That's about it, though.

I thought it was odd they signed a kicker on signing day. I don't love the prospects of a true freshman kicker.

[iupgroundhog]

Some player names missing from the IUP Spring Roster:

Ken Roman - I thought I read that he would be back.

P/K Jordan Washington and Nate Clair. Does this mean the Kicker role is open?

TE Jacob Watts - he had made a good impression in a backup role.

QB Joe Hauser

DB Javonte Haynes - he had seen a lot of action as a true frosh

Other DB's:

Obi Anyatonwu
Donte Terry
Darrell Holloway

Otherwise, the roster looks really solid. They should be able to fill Shockley's spot. Maybe another LB and OL. That's about it, though.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I wish I could tell you about the scholarship situation there, but I know people who wanted to play there (and had there choice of other surrounding D2 programs to play at) and the coaching staff wouldn't even blink at them. The "we don't recruit local players" line was spoken to more than one person I know who would be considered "locals."

Believe it or not, I've know several D2 coaches personally (in varying sports) who had the same philosophy. The reasoning: they don't want the parents around yapping all the time. Some also feel locals have too many distractions. Locally to IUP, the Heritage Conference just gets a bad wrap. It produces a lot of athletes. Most end up playing against IUP down the road.

Trust me, I get it that IUP looks at the baseball program as the step child in the house. They have for decades and I don't see it changing anytime soon. And, believe me, I'm not saying take any coin away from Joe or Tort just so they can win a couple more games a year.

Other side of the coin, I can see Seton Hill pumping big coin in to baseball. They are never going to compete in football or men's basketball in the PSAC. Pick your spots.

[Fightingscot82]

I wish I could tell you about the scholarship situation there, but I know people who wanted to play there (and had there choice of other surrounding D2 programs to play at) and the coaching staff wouldn't even blink at them. The "we don't recruit local players" line was spoken to more than one person I know who would be considered "locals."

I get it though. When you've got Seton Hill, Slippery Rock, and Mercyhurst heavily recruiting your area you're just going to get caught in a bidding war that you can't win. Between Rock and Cal you're also in a losing battle on facilities (even though its gotta be a 45 minute drive from Cal's campus to Wild Things Park). I guess you can deal with it or look for work elsewhere.

[IUP24]

Maybe it's long overdue to change the old philosophy ... or continue being basically a dumpster fire.

I wish I could tell you about the scholarship situation there, but I know people who wanted to play there (and had there choice of other surrounding D2 programs to play at) and the coaching staff wouldn't even blink at them. The "we don't recruit local players" line was spoken to more than one person I know who would be considered "locals."

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Anything more would require BIG money (unlikely) or shifting resources from FB/MBB (extremely unlikely). Its my understanding that IUP puts nearly all of its unallocated men's athletic scholarship dollars into FB and MBB. The remaining scraps are given to the remaining sports to placate coaches. Anything above scraps are raised by the program or are already designated by alumni gifts. This allows IUP to maintain an above average profile in the only D2 sports that have any regional profile but they're also struggling to increase that capacity beyond what it is now.

Well, Joe's office is a Ritz Carlton inside the KCAC. The baseball office is the equivalent to a broom closet in the Field House. That probably sums it up pretty well.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Three interesting names on the Spring roster.

Devin Carney (WR/DB). Formerly of D3 Thaddeus Stevens. This guy is a really good athlete with nice size. Curious to see which side of the ball he lands on ... maybe both. He's a guy they can do a lot with at several positions.

Nolan Labuda (WR). He's small (5'8") but had an outstanding career at Belle Vernon. Spent a year as a walk-on at Akron.

Prosper Saydee (DB). Had a stellar high school career and ended up at Valley Forge Military Academy. Nice speed and size at 6'1" and 200 lbs.


Labuda probably won't be in the mix in 2021 but the other two should challenge for some serious time.

[Fightingscot82]

Maybe it's long overdue to change the old philosophy ... or continue being basically a dumpster fire.

Anything more would require BIG money (unlikely) or shifting resources from FB/MBB (extremely unlikely). Its my understanding that IUP puts nearly all of its unallocated men's athletic scholarship dollars into FB and MBB. The remaining scraps are given to the remaining sports to placate coaches. Anything above scraps are raised by the program or are already designated by alumni gifts. This allows IUP to maintain an above average profile in the only D2 sports that have any regional profile but they're also struggling to increase that capacity beyond what it is now.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I have it on pretty good accord that they have a rather interesting recruiting philosophy in terms of who they are looking for, where they are getting particular players from, etc. The guy coaching now was a longtime assistant and former player to Jeff Ditch, so it seems as though he must have picked up the mantle there and continued the same philosophy. They have more players from Western PA now than when I was in school, but I heard from some pretty reliable people that Ditch didn't like recruiting Western PA. Was also told that Ditch essentially wouldn't offer a player a scholarship if he was from Indiana County. Would make that player walk-on. I'm not a local by any stretch, but I was friends in college with many who were. I know individuals that were recruited (and some who played) for other PSAC schools that were Heritage Conference players. Ditch wouldn't even look at them. Guys with offers from SRU, Cal, UPJ, etc. Refused to even go see them play in high school.

He was very focused on getting players from Central and Eastern PA. Again, more guys from the Western half of the state now, so I don't know.

I was recruited to play college baseball by mostly D3s and a few D2 schools. My mind was essentially made up I was going to IUP to just be a student because they had my major and I liked the campus. I had an initial conversation with Jeff Ditch about walking on, but it never went much further. Pretty much told me I had no chance to make his team because I didn't have the measurables he was looking for at the positions I played. Hey, I was fine with that. My decision was made to attend IUP regardless; playing baseball would have simply been an added bonus if I could. I appreciated the guy being up front. But when you're a struggling D2 program only looking for pitchers that are 6'3"+ and sitting 86-89 mph, you're limiting your pool.

Having been through the D2 baseball recruiting process, I can assure you it's very unique. The top programs (Seton Hill and Mercyhurst are in that conversation) want essentially the same guys that D1 schools do. Pure speed, great defender, and competent hitter at the SS, 2B, and CF positions. They want the corner spots to be big players (6'+) who have gap to gap power. Pitchers almost have to all be 6'3" or taller. They want somebody who has a projectable frame that they feel they can help add 4-5 mph to their fastball over time. 5'9" pitcher doesn't offer that.

To give you an idea of the philosophy (and I'm sure this is not unique to just IUP), I'll share this story... The best player I ever played baseball against was Dan Altavilla. I grew up playing against the guy and played against him in high school. He's currently pitching for the San Diego Padres. Our senior year he had Major League scouts there to see him pitch. He was sitting 89-92 with his fastball. Best player I ever played against; filthy stuff. Not one major D1 program offered him because he was 5'10". Nearly the entire PSAC offered and some D1 mid-majors. He landed at Mercyhurst, had an incredible college career, and wound up getting drafted in the 4th round after his junior year. You know which PSAC school didn't offer? IUP.

Recruiting in any sport is filled with those stories of "misses." He likely wouldn't have chosen IUP anyways. Hurst is a D2 power in baseball. But it's the fact that they didn't offer because he didn't fit the profile. Sometimes you have to get uncomfortable and step outside of your philosophy to simply find guys who can play. I admittedly don't follow IUP baseball, but that's my two cents to add to the conversation.

Maybe it's long overdue to change the old philosophy ... or continue being basically a dumpster fire.

[IUP24]

As usual their pitchers don't throw strikes and they only have about 4 legit hitters like every year. Makes no sense that they get out recruited that bad!

I have it on pretty good accord that they have a rather interesting recruiting philosophy in terms of who they are looking for, where they are getting particular players from, etc. The guy coaching now was a longtime assistant and former player to Jeff Ditch, so it seems as though he must have picked up the mantle there and continued the same philosophy. They have more players from Western PA now than when I was in school, but I heard from some pretty reliable people that Ditch didn't like recruiting Western PA. Was also told that Ditch essentially wouldn't offer a player a scholarship if he was from Indiana County. Would make that player walk-on. I'm not a local by any stretch, but I was friends in college with many who were. I know individuals that were recruited (and some who played) for other PSAC schools that were Heritage Conference players. Ditch wouldn't even look at them. Guys with offers from SRU, Cal, UPJ, etc. Refused to even go see them play in high school.

He was very focused on getting players from Central and Eastern PA. Again, more guys from the Western half of the state now, so I don't know.

I was recruited to play college baseball by mostly D3s and a few D2 schools. My mind was essentially made up I was going to IUP to just be a student because they had my major and I liked the campus. I had an initial conversation with Jeff Ditch about walking on, but it never went much further. Pretty much told me I had no chance to make his team because I didn't have the measurables he was looking for at the positions I played. Hey, I was fine with that. My decision was made to attend IUP regardless; playing baseball would have simply been an added bonus if I could. I appreciated the guy being up front. But when you're a struggling D2 program only looking for pitchers that are 6'3"+ and sitting 86-89 mph, you're limiting your pool.

Having been through the D2 baseball recruiting process, I can assure you it's very unique. The top programs (Seton Hill and Mercyhurst are in that conversation) want essentially the same guys that brand-name D1 schools do. Pure speed, great defender, and competent hitter at the SS, 2B, and CF positions. They want the corner spots to be big players (6'+) who have gap to gap power. Pitchers almost have to all be 6'3" or taller. They want somebody who has a projectable frame that they feel they can help add 4-5 mph to their fastball over time. 5'9" pitcher doesn't offer that. The D1 school gets the complete player, the D2 gets the player with all the tools and measurables that is "projectable."

To give you an idea of the philosophy (and I'm sure this is not unique to just IUP), I'll share this story... The best player I ever played baseball against was Dan Altavilla. I grew up playing against the guy and played against him in high school. He's currently pitching for the San Diego Padres. Our senior year he had Major League scouts there to see him pitch. He was sitting 89-92 with his fastball. Best player I ever played against; filthy stuff. Not one major D1 program offered him because he was 5'10". Nearly the entire PSAC offered and some D1 mid-majors. He landed at Mercyhurst, had an incredible college career, and wound up getting drafted in the 4th round after his junior year. You know which PSAC school didn't offer? IUP.

Recruiting in any sport is filled with those stories of "misses." He likely wouldn't have chosen IUP anyways. Hurst is a D2 power in baseball. But it's the fact that they didn't offer because he didn't fit the profile. Sometimes you have to get uncomfortable and step outside of your philosophy to simply find guys who can play. I admittedly don't follow IUP baseball, but that's my two cents to add to the conversation.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I could throw to those two! I'd be an older and grayer version of Mac Jones. At least 'til I got hit.

The offense is going to be insane. Add to those two a slew of other WRs, a star TE and numerous RBs. Of course, none of that skill matters if you aren't ready up front. I like what they have coming back but I think that is an area they add a transfer in the coming months.

I'd like to see Tort work the wire a bit for some immediate help on the other side. They are pretty good but I think they could use some imports to beef up a couple spots. Shockley leaving to join the Terps is a hole that needs addressed.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

Nice to see Irv Charles officially on the roster.

Him and Duane Brown at WR. Saddle up.

I could throw to those two! I'd be an older and grayer version of Mac Jones. At least 'til I got hit.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Nice to see Irv Charles officially on the roster.

Him and Duane Brown at WR. Saddle up.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Spring roster is up!

Duane Brown is back on there. Thank goodness.