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I know the first rule of the “Fight Club” movie starring Brad Pitt was you were never to talk about Fight Club. But when it comes to #F19HTCLUB, the official social media moniker for North Texas Football’s 2019 signing class, I feel compelled to break the rule. Not only is this class off to great start with fourteen 3-star ranked commitments in just early July, but potentially looking like it could be one of the best in program history. Perhaps it could even be in the running for one of the top G5 classes in the country. This is new territory for a North Texas program who has struggled at times to land higher ranked players, despite being in a hot bed of Texas high school talent in past years. The 2019 class not only has high rankings, but also many hold quality offers from G5 and, yes even *gasp* P5 programs with significant more funding and resources. One of the only knocks on Seth Littrell in his tenure thus far at North Texas is the perception he has not recruited at a high enough level, certainly in the eyes of the recruiting services. One argument was Littrell’s signing classes did not have enough 3 star ranked players. Another would be that his recruits did not have enough P5 school offers. Here’s the real story, in just over two years Littrell and company has done a remarkable job completely rebuilding the roster and culture of a program that had been decimated after a string of bad hires. You don’t take a 1-win team to a C-USA conference championship game in 2 seasons without upgrading the talent on the roster. Over 50% of the starting line up in the 2017 C-USA conference championship were brought in after Seth Littrell took over. The good news is that the proportion of Littrell recruits will only increase in the 2018 season and there were some good players who redshirted last season making their debut in 2018. And no one has ever questioned Littrell and his staff’s ability to identify and develop talent. One need only look to starting junior quarterback Mason Fine who most every division I program thought was too small to play. Fine passed for 4,052 yards in 2017 with 31 touchdowns making him the #6 ranked passing leader in the entire NCAA. In fact, he sat just one chair behind #5 ranked Sam Darnold of USC (4,143) who just signed with the NY Jets as the 3rd pick in the draft. As North Texas has improved in the win column (9-5 in 2017; 2 consecutive bowls) there are also encouraging signs the recruiting efforts have trended upward each cycle since Littrell’s hiring. That said, the 2019 class – thus far – appears to be the cycle where everything seems to be falling into place. Winning helps for sure, as top players want to join a program that is winning consistently and going to bowl games. In retrospect, the key difference may well be Littrell’s hiring director of recruiting, Luke Walerius. Walerius’ most recent stop was at Kentucky in the SEC and is primarily responsible for North Texas’ recruiting program including organization and talent evaluation. The social media efforts and communication have taken took huge steps since his arrival. When talking to both prospect and commits a common theme is that North Texas is the team showing the most love and the best family culture to them. Another key impact that Walerius has made has been to take the natural resources North Texas has, in terms of staff, location, facilities, academics and communicate it effectively in language that the prospects and their respective coaches understand. Twitter has become the king of football recruiting and North Texas has embraced communicating it’s strengths in that medium under Walerius’ lead. Two positions they may be set in terms of numbers in this class are WR and LB. Littrell and his staff have had great success at the wide receiver position since coming on board. They are returning Jalen Guyton, Rico Bussey, Michael Lawrence and Jaelon Darden, all guys brought in by current staff. They also have some exciting freshman and transfers that could contribute this fall including redshirt Greg White from Georgia and Kansas transfer Keegan Brewer. There are currently 3 receivers committed to North Texas this cycle including Damon Ward and Deonte Simpson both from West Brook as well as Kealon “Action” Jackson from Shadow Creek. All three have two things in common, speed and versatility. All three will contribute and be exciting in this spread offense. North Texas has had great success at LB in recent history including sending Craig Robertson (Saints) and Zach Orr (Ravens/Retired) to the NFL. In 2018 North Texas will have a very veteran LB Squad led by seniors EJ Ejiya and Brandon Garner. The quartet of 2019 LB recruits could be the most talented group of commits as whole by position. Twins Gabriel and Grayson Murphy (Bishop Lynch) and Taylor Jacobs (South Grand Prairie) all listed at 6-2, 215 and have versatility to play both linebacker positions and the potential to move down to defensive end. The fourth linebacker commit Kevin Wood (Judson) is listed at 6-0 200, and on film is a tackling machine with a nose for the ball. Watching his highlight film is exciting. He also has versatility and speed to not only play linebacker but also slide back to a safety position in the 3-3-5. The quarterback commit position is in good hands as well. North Texas went back to familiar territory and went back to Oklahoma landing the commitment of State Champion Owasso QB Will Kuehne. Kuehne is a very good QB prospect with a very bright future and a ton of potential. He held offers from Maryland, Arkansas State and several Ivy League schools. Defensive back is one of the most important position groups in the 3-3-5 defense. Mean Green added 4 safeties in the last class. I project they will add close to the same number this class. Currently they just have one committed but that one is a BIG one. Jevin Murray (Shadow Creek) is one of the top defensive backs in the state. He can be an instant contributor for defensive coordinator Troy Reffett’s defense. He held 13 offers including multiple P5 offers. Jevin’s main recruiter is special teams coach Marty Biagi who is having a great recruiting season so far. Marty’s covers the critical Houston-area region which many believe has more prospects than any other region in Texas and possibly the nation. North Texas is having great success in Houston this year. including two of the top-rated recruits running back Garrison Johnson (Manvel) and tight end Asher Alberding (Clear Lake). Garrison choose to commit to North Texas over P5 offers including Syracuse and Nebraska. He has the talent to fall right in North Texas run of talented running backs. Asher (6-4, 235) is an intriguing combination of old school blocking and new age receiving tight end. Coach Littrell success with Rob Gronkowski at Arizona played a big part in Asher decision. It will be fun to watch him develop. The hardest position groups for G5 and even P5 teams to recruit consistently on both sides of the ball is the offensive and defensive lines. In the 2019 cycle, North Texas has done a great job finding big athletic guys that you can develop. They currently have two offensive linemen in John Brunner (6-5, 300 / Brock) and Chris Cassidy (6-4, 280 /Angleton). Both fit the build of athletic/people movers that can develop for offensive line coach Chuck Langston. Look for UNT to try and add at least one more offensive lineman this class. On the defensive side of the ball they have one defensive lineman committed in Demeco Roland (6-3, 275 / Broken Arrow, OK). He comes from the same school as Derrick Shaw a defensive tackle signee from last year class that the staff is very excited about. Demeco is another guy with a lot of potential. Look for him to have big senior season. With 14 commits so far, I figure the staff has around 9 to 10 more scholarships to fill out. I would expect 2 to 3 more commits before the season starts. Don’t be surprised if North Texas doesn’t save the rest of the scholarships for the frenzy that happens as signing day nears and prospects realize they can’t all go to Texas and A&M. With coaching changes and stuff, it is a mad dash as national signing day gets near. And in Seth’s time at North Texas they have really capitalized on some of these later commitments. There is also the opportunity to add some junior college transfers at positions of need. Of course, when you sign the best, you better be prepared when bigger schools lose their commits and decide to start poaching. In prior regimes, North Texas seemed ill prepared for this annual ritual. With Walerius managing the process, it appears that the program is doing everything you have to do to circle the wagons, maintain strong relationships and keep these committed players in place. Time will tell. This is an exciting time to be a North Texas fan. There can be no doubt that North Texas is trending upward in the college football ranks. Back to back bowl games and a trip to the conference championship is potentially just the tip of the iceberg. Between the talent added last class and the talent currently committed this could be the boost needed to push North Texas to the top of G5 rankings and beyond. For a long time UNT has been referred to as the “sleeping giant” due to great location, and school size. But now all the necessary pieces seem to finally be in place to take that next step. North Texas is benefiting from great leadership starting with university president Neal Smatresk and athletic director Wren Baker. North Texas made a phenomenal coaching hire in Seth Littrell and with the aid of director of recruiting Luke Waleruis. #F19HTCLUB could be the signing class that finally woke the sleeping giant.

“I’m sorry son. You must have me confused with someone else. I’m Roger Murdock. I’m the co-pilot.”

It's going to be interesting to see how this team (and staff) deal with a season full of expectations, instead of a ton of people just happy we don't suck. I think they respond well, just another interesting facet.

A couple of nice articles about Kenny as he was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame recently: https://www.wacotrib.com/sports/texas_sports_hall_of_fame/hall-of-fame-profile-ken-washington-never-felt-overshadowed-by/article_78ad79b4-e8ea-598e-b5fe-0100a1cac186.html https://www.panews.com/2018/05/05/football-and-family-ken-washington-joins-brother-in-texas-hs-football-hall/

I know @Evan was looking for a copy of this for a while. Not sure if he ever found it. If not, enjoy if you can fight through the media quality opportunities. A good watch as we slowly lead up to the game against SMUt. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1040494/m1/#track/1

How Seth Littrell brought a winning brand of football to North Texas

Thought about this before, but since Mason played as a true Freshman not sure if he is on schedule to graduate in 3 years

#46 is better than #128. Things are looking up!

This game may be looked back on, as not the "most embarrassing loss ever", but the most important game in our history!!!!! This was the game that got RV to fire Mac, and in doing so made himself look even worse than he already did, resulting in his "retirement" later down the line. This may be the game that started it all.

DRC: Alcindor, a native of the U.S. Virgin Islands, spent last season in a Missouri Prep school https://www.dentonrc.com/sports/unt-lands-prep-school-forward/article_0623724a-80ba-5747-b6eb-62cd3745123b.html

CAN THE ADMINS OF THIS GROUP PLEASE DO A BETTER JOB OF MONITORING WHO IS ALLOWED IN HERE? WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER. AN ELDERLY LADY, WHO HAS BEEN PRIVATELY MESSAGING MEN. SENDING THEM NAKED PICTURES OF HERSELF IN GROTESQUE POSES ALONG WITH CLOSE UPS OF HER LADY GARDEN. SHE IS OFFERING AN IPHONE X IN EXCHANGE FOR SEXUAL FAVORS. I AM ESPECIALLY BOTHERED BECAUSE IT TURNED OUT TO BE AN IPHONE 5S AND OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH IT CAUSE IT'S SUPER SLOW AND THE CAPS LOCK IS STUCK ON.

Beautiful, Absolutely Beautiful

Two years ago--TWO YEARS AGO---we were generally rated anywhere from 126 to 128 (out of 128). The biggest improvement you make is going from being awful to average. We have obviously done that. The hard part is making your way to being great from just being good, so that challenge lies in front of SL and Company. If we get 9 wins again this year, the opportunities in front of us will be unlike anything we have seen around here in the last 40 years. Even if SL leaves, the chances of keeping the momentum going will be there if we can hire from within--looking at you, Graham Harrell... As I have said, enjoy the ride--as UNT fans, we don't have many times like this to look back on with great fondness. This is just amazing!!

-- How can you trust anyone that lies constantly...?? -- So much for the Christian/Jewish commandment of " not bearing false witness". --- Being in education, it also bothers me that he constantly calls people "bully names" (Little Rubio etc.) like some immature kid. If the President can do it , does that mean every kid in school has permission to do it also without getting in trouble. ??? -- If you think so, then me calling him "Dishonest Donald" will not offend you. .This has nothing to do with which political party he is supposedly a member of ... just HIS character.

Leave my mother alone. She is just lonely. Let her send her romantic pics and talk UNT football.

you know what else is a major drain on our natural resources? far, far more than illegal-immigrant children? not-illegal-immigrant children. if we're really concerned for our natural resources, I'm assuming those are also advocating strongly for pro-choice legislation, or at the least funding for strong contraception education and distribution.

You mean the "Green Light to Greatness"?

I want to see your browser history

How about something a little more hardcore?

I am confident this picture was in your gallery and not just taken.

I don't know that the team quit during that Rice game so much as that team was so profoundly under coached that it was just that much worse than Rice. I remember the Rice coach apologizing for the score because he couldn't even stop his seventeenth string from scoring in that game. As to the Portland St. game, I stuck around for the duration. Went down to the front with @TheTastyGreek where we started making hypothetical wagers on over/unders on the number of plays Portland would need on any given possession to score. The players were indeed just screwing around, laughing on the sidelines, not a care in the world as to what was going on in the game. Somewhat reliable sources say they may have sabotaged their own ship to get Mac out the door. My bitter memories of that game and year are more related to a certain wide receiver who thought himself above it all and took to twitter to bite the fan hands who fed him.

We need him to be good. He already is good. I think we can count on him to be a solid DT. The real key here is the depth behind him. If English plays and is at least average and the new transfer can hold for a few downs each game, Young can stay outside to kick ass and take Qb names.

I agree. But still giving you this:

I remember going to the library to view "Coach." Made me a bigger Mean Green fan than I already was. GMG

Bryan’s not running the reboot but he is managing the music side of things there.

Portland State is certainly our most embarrassing game every. I knew we were going to get beat badly, and stayed home that night. But, I wouldn't label it the most embarrassing ever. I think that dubious honor goes to the 2003 Texas A&M@Oklahoma game. Oklahoma was up 77-0 in the 3rd quarter when they called off the dogs. It was terrible. I remember OU driving down inside A&M's 10 on every possession in the 4th quarter, and then handing the ball to their back and him just standing there until a defender tackled him. It was truly embarrassing. I hate A&M, and I was embarrassed for them. I think in the Pantheon of college football that game tops the list.

We haven't even had time for helmet sticker and uniform talk threads!

I was looking on Dave Cambell's Texas Football site and came across the stadiums tab. Just some fun facts There are 3,724 High School Football fields in TX Average seating per stadium is 4,293.86 Total Seats available 5,320,101 Available on any given Friday night 2,660,051 https://www.texasfootball.com/stadiums/?ref=subnav

I think on an individual basis, starts can be be very misleading. There are plenty of multiple star players being both good and bad, as well as were star players as well. Stars matter much more when you're talking about a class as a whole. The more kids, with more stars, that you can get into your program, the general theory is the better you will be. This is due to the ability to miss on a kid or two and not have it hinder your program.

Certainly agree, but want to add that the BOR must be the unseen force behind this push. They are selecting or approving the right people and must be behind the increased investment in athletics.

This is exactly it. Every time an outsider (or insider for that matter) would say "It can't be done at North Texas," I would think "It can't be done when everything isn't pulling in the same direction." There was never one magic solution. Apogee wasn't going to get us there with a sub-standard Athletic Director. Bringing in a P5 wasn't going to matter if you have a football coach who wouldn't recruit or is over his head. We were always lacking in multiple areas. Even so, that doesn't mean we've arrived. It takes a few years of all cylinders going (a little good luck doesn't hurt either) to build a great foundation. However, in my twenty five years of fandom we've never had it like this. Not even close.

It definitely feels like the engine is running on all cylinders for once. Rick

We don't do that kind of thing anymore :)

I told @Cougar King‘s mom to stop PM’ing folks

Yes, that’s long been one of my beefs. Glad they’re putting more UNT alumni on our BOR and evening the playing field ratio wise with our in state peers.

I would ask him whether he's writing for the casual Mean Green fan or the GMG.com board. The board talks about nearly every vein of the program in detail, day after day, and we have hours of college football reading under our belts. it's hard to read the normal stuff after a while. It's probably even harder for an author to come up with something we haven't already seen/heard. Not saying you're wrong, just consider who he's writing for.

We come in at 99. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/best-in-college-sports-ohio-state-beats-out-alabama-to-take-home-the-2017-18-award/

Seems a little raw but we have the time and depth to wait.

He ain’t playing this year so wtf is all the arguing about?

God we were terrible that year

The only time I've ever seen UNT quit on the field.

We can also have a discussion we probably have never had before in July... 'How many scholarships do we have left for next year?'

This could be solved if Congress would do their job and come up with 'acceptable, compassionate legislation'. But they do not want to do this because it would inflame their voter base, and they would rather the Executive branch have to "DO SOMETHING" so he can take the brunt of the outrage and twist in the wind. Our Congress as it stands--and has stood for years--is utterly worthless.

I think President Smatresk is the real reason for the success. When he arrived at UNT he wanted to raise the level of athletics. He gave RV a chance and when he didn't perform, he replaced him. Although Littrell was hired under RV I am convinced that it was more Smatresk's choice than RV. Before him, I do not believe any of the Presidents cared anything about athletics. I think they probably viewed it as something you need to have just to keep students here who would choose to go somewhere else if you didn't have sports. The faculty and student body never bought in because the past Presidents didn't make it a priority. Smatresk made it a priority and it is starting to show in the faculty and student body. He excused students from class the Friday before the UTSA game just to convince them to go. They had to take a picture of themselves inside the stadium with the scoreboard in the background or both teams on the field in the background and submit it to their instructors for the excuse to be legitimate. That may seem trivial, but it is small things like that, that will get the apathetic students to buy in.

LaMelo?

Football related, but didn't we hire Todd Dodge as football coach, then gave a scholarship to his son riley to play football? BTW I don't agree with what WKU did.

Y'all are crazy.