Recruiting Recap - Abilene Christian

What they lost - 

RB Darryl Richardson - twice 2nd All-LSC, once HM All-LSC, 825 yards 11 TDs rushing last year, 2,296 yards 34 TDs in 3 seasons

RB Reggie Brown - 1,289 yards and 10 TDs rushing in 2 seasons

FB Justin Andrews - twice 1st All-LSC, career 51 receptions 598 yards 8 TDs

TE Ben Gibbs - twice 1st All-LSC, 57 receptions 777 yards 9 TDs

OL Matt Webber - twice 1st All-LSC, once 2nd All-LSC

OL Neal Tivis - once 1st All-LSC, once 2nd All-LSC

OL Jerod Harrell - HM All-LSC

DE Aston Whiteside - 4-time 1st All-LSC, numerous All American honors, career 31.5 sacks, 57.5 TFL

DT Donald Moore - twice 2nd All-LSC, 26 tackles, 5 TFL

LB Nathan Baggs - 1st All-LSC, 37 tackles, 5.5 TFL

LB DerekOdelusi - 59 tackles, 6 TFL, 4.5 sacks

DB Darien Williams - once 1st All-LSC, once 2nd All-LSC, 67 tackles, 1 Int, 7 passes broken up

DB Nate Bailey - HM All-LSC, 43 tackles, 2 Ints, 4 passes broken up

DB Richard Havins - HM All-LSC in 2010, 49 tackles in 2011, 158 in career

Who's coming back - 

QB Mitchell Gale - 2nd All-LSC in 2011, 1st All-LSC in 2012, fourth All-time on LSC record books with 9,127 yards and 76 TDs coming into season.  Needs 2,886 yards to pass ACU's Billy Malone for top spot. The top spot for touchdown passes will tougher, as Gale is 38 behind Malone for that spot.

RB Charcandrick West - HM All-LSC, 380 yards rushing, 200 receiving

WRs Taylor Gabriel (2nd All-LSC), Darian Hogg and Darrell Cantu-Harkless - combined for 137 catches, 2,134 yards and 16 TDs. Cantu-Harkless might be moving back to running back

OLs Josh Perez (2nd All-LSC), Blake Spears (HM All-LSC) and Reid Ware (4 starts)

DLs Ryan Smith and Rob Boyd - 52 combined tackles, 14 TFL, 9 sacks

LBs starters Thor Woerner (HM All-LSC), Nick Richardson, reserves Chris Summers, Lynn Grady and Chris Jones - combined 161 tackles, 21 TFL, 8 sacks

DBs LB Suggs (HM All-LSC), reserves Mike Wallace, Angel Lopez, Justin Stewart, Caleb Withrow - combined 130 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 Ints, 4 passes broken up

P Spencer Covey - HM All-LSC, 39.6 yards per punt, 66 yard kickoff average with 19 touchbacks

K Morgan Lineberry - 1st All-LSC, 47-51 on PATs, 13-16 on FGs with season long 54 yarder, 64.5 kickoff average with 12 touchbacks

Deep Snapper Brent Schroeder - 1st All-LSC in probably the most overlooked spot on a team (until there is a bad snap)

Who they brought in -

With just 13 February signings, this class is short on numbers, but not talent.  Expect immediate help from Melvin Shead Jr. and Nick Finney on the defensive line, Eric Frain in the secondary and Garrett Langthorp on the offensive line.  At QB, Cade Stone (2nd All-State TAPPS) and Parker McKenzie (2nd All San Antonio Area) look to help ACU in the post-Gale era.  TE Chad Quisenberry had 22 catches for 457 yards at Wolfforth Frenship.  Christian Rodriguez was a second team All-Valley selection out of Los Fresnos HS.  For the defense, DT Josh Bloom, LB Chuck Oputa and DB Tyler Chapa (1st All San Antonio Area) are young players to watch in the future.

Overall Grade C+

While the Wildcats did bring in some players with solid potential, they lost 11 All-LSC performers from last year, including 7 first team selections, and did not bring in much in the way of immediate help.  Of course, that could change in the next couple of weeks if additional transfers are announced, but as of now this class looks much more promising for the long-term vs. this fall.