Feb. 2, 2005

NEW ORLEANS, La. - "This class right here, I think is one that fits into what we're looking for. It addresses several needs for us. Receiver was a big time need for us, and you can read about the receivers we've got signed today. These guys are going to come in and fit into our system. We've needed some linebackers; we got some that are going to come in and are going to have to play. Those are two positions where I think we are going to need immediate help, and we went out and got guys that are going to come in and contribute there. Overall this is a class that's very athletic, fast. We didn't sign as many big kids this year as we did last year, and the role was reversed. We needed more speed to supplement our team. This is probably the deepest our team has been since I've been here. Due to a couple of positions, wide receiver and linebacker, the numbers [we have at] those two positions, there will be some freshmen playing, but you're going to really have to come in here in great condition and pick up the system really fast to be able to help us this fall because of what we have coming back."

Did you look for receivers who could contribute right away?
"We had to. Physically, the receiver was something we went after, the bigger kids, the kids who had obviously played in a system that put up good numbers; kids that can physically adapt to the college game right now. And I think that if you look at the size of some of these receivers, you can see where we've met that need. Brian King is one of the best receivers in the state of Louisiana. Chris Dunn is one of the best receivers in the state of Texas. Those two guys, right now, have the size and experience, not to say that they are ahead of the other guys, but that's just the examples that I give you that they can come in, that they are going to have to come in and contribute."

Do you recruit character as well as athletic ability?
"As far as the class that just came in; this class is academically the highest ranked class that we've brought in from top to bottom. Nowadays recruiting is a deal where character is very important to us, and you see it going on across the country where character is not always portrayed by young men coming out, and I think this group of young men have it, and I'm proud of it."

Did you recruit linebackers for more speed than size?
"I think in the middle you've got to have pretty good size, but you look at our leading tackler over the past few years, Anthony Cannon, he's 5'10 on a good day, and 230 pounds on a real good day, but he can run and make tackles. And Antonio Mason's a 215-pound linebacker, and he's been a good player for us. Some of the best linebackers we've played against haven't necessarily been big guys. They're guys that can run, and I think this group of linebackers can run."

Did you look for outside linebackers in this group?
"Well, if you can play outside, you can play inside, but we wanted guys that could play outside. With the exception of Jordan Ellis, we needed a mike, and he's a big, big guy that we think could play inside at Mike [middle linebacker] right now, and the other guys were all outside guys."

Did you focus on recruiting Texas this year?
"Last year we had six out of there. But as far as Houston and Dallas, yes. This is the first time that we've gotten that many out of Dallas, so we really put an emphasis on it. With the new league, and the way it's structured now, our conference office is in Dallas now, and we feel like that's going to be a good area for us."

Were there any disappointments?
"No. It's too early for me to have any disappointments. If these men come in and can't play, and they can't contribute, then they'll be disappointing to me, but right now I don't feel that way about any of these guys."

Which guys do you think may contribute immediately?
"I think Brian [King], because of shear numbers, him coming in at that position [wide receiver], and his proximity to our campus to work out this summer; that should be big in his favor. Christian [Ducre] is a young man who, if he works hard with his close proximity to campus, it's going to be hard to keep him off the field this fall from the standpoint of: he catches the ball, he's very elusive, and he's a big back; he's going to get an opportunity."

You think Ducre could see time even with Matt Forte and Jovon Jackson returning?
"I don't think there have been many times that one back, with the exception of Mewelde Moore, makes it through a whole year. We have Forte, Jovon, Ray Boudreaux, and we've got a couple of kids we red-shirted. He's going to be in the mix, because he can do so much. How they pick up the system is going to depend a lot on where they fall into the rotation after camp."

Is this the first year that you did not need to find players who could step in immediately?
"As I said earlier, I really think with the exception of receiver and linebacker, for depth purposes, I feel really good where our team is. We have to finish strong academically this spring. We have to do a good job about making sure that the guys are here, but depth wise, at offensive line, defensive line, secondary, running back, this is the deepest we've been, and now we've just got to hold it."

How does this class compare with your other classes?
"Fast. As fast as any class we've brought in from top to bottom. Size-wise not near as big as last year but there wasn't a need for it. The last two or three years it'd be hard to separate any of those classes if you look at it."