Southeastern Oklahoma - Recruiting Snapshot

Needs - DL, RB (lose top 2 DL, and RB Sean Cooper)

Depth - OL, LB, DB (lose 3 OL)

Okay - WR, QB (Top 5 receivers return + maybe some ineligilble from last year, QB moves to needs if Pitrucha isn't back)

SEO's recruiting class will be a success if Justin Pitrucha is eligible in the fall. Defense needs to get better, esepcially against the run.

The Savage Storm need to shore up a defense that allowed 100 more yards and 11 more points per game than the prior year. The most pressing need is on the defensive line, where the top two linemen were lost to graduation. A couple of DI transfers, Phillip Jones (Texas Tech) and Jesse Hernandez (Missouri) should provid immediate help, while Rodney Payne and Justin Cordova provide depth for the future. The linebacker position and defensive backfield didn't suffer the same losses, but Michael Anguiano at LB and Mike Scott at CB could help out right away. Offensively, needs to improve a running game that was 11th in the LSC, and averaged only 3.0 per carry and lost long-time contributor Sean Cooper. Cordney Smith, from Baylor, and Baylen Lauren, from Northern Iowa, shoud be ready to step right in. The Storm have to replace 3 linemen as well and Bryan Bethea and Jesse Renschler lead a group of 7 signees to try and do just that. QB should be in good hands if two time All-Conference Justin Pitrucha regains his eligibility, if not look for Logan Parker to be in the mix. Whoever the QB is, there will be plenty of targets returning with Keon Rucker and Jeremy Witherspoon leading a talented group of 8 newcomers.

Overall Grade A-

The Savage Storm filled their most pressing needs at DL and RB with players who should be ready right away, while adding depth everywhere else. If Pitrucha doesn't return, uncertainty at the QB position would drop the grade down to a B.