BOWLING GREEN — From the moment Scot Loeffler signed his contract at Bowling Green, the race to the recruiting finish line was well under way.
Upon signing his contract on Nov. 28, Loeffler had exactly three weeks before the beginning of the early signing period, which opens Wednesday, to fill out a recruiting class that has been hit hard by turnover.
To boot, Loeffler had to hire his entire first coaching staff at Bowling Green, although he will continue as the offensive coordinator for Boston College through its bowl game. The Eagles will play No. 25 Boise State in the First Responder Bowl on Dec. 26.
The Falcons have hit the home stretch before players can sign their national letters of intent, although their work in this class is far from finished.
Bowling Green’s 2019 recruiting class — at least through the early signing period — is likely to be small and local. As of Monday evening, 11 players were known verbal commits to Bowling Green, seven of whom play at an Ohio high school.
Loeffler said upon being hired that recruiting in the region was among his biggest tasks at Bowling Green.
“It’s going to be my job,” he said then. “I’ve got great relationships with all the coaches from this area. We’ll get into those schools and we’ll do a great job of bringing local kids here.”
The Falcons’ class includes two players from local high schools.
St. Francis de Sales tight end Joey Carroll — a former Toledo commit — and Genoa defensive end Andrew Bench both are committed to Bowling Green ahead of signing day.
BG added a commitment to its ranks on Monday evening when three-star Michigan linebacker Brock Horne picked the Falcons against offers from Iowa State and Toledo, among others.
As is the case in almost every coaching change, Bowling Green saw several players look elsewhere after the program fired Mike Jinks in October.
Logan Holgorsen, the West Virginia quarterback and son of WVU coach Dana, was committed to BG under Jinks but is no longer committed to the Falcons. The same is true for junior college wide receiver Josh Moore, who, like Holgorsen, is still uncommitted as of Monday.
Several other former BG pledges have found their new destinations, including Illinois defensive end Jaylen Pate (Wyoming), Bedford, Ohio, linebacker Decarleon Townsend (Air Force), and Florida wide receiver Jaden Gragg (Coastal Carolina).
However, BG was able to retain its highest-rated player, three-star Detroit safety Jordan Anderson. The Falcons also added to the class in November under interim coach Carl Pelini, who will stay on staff as a defensive coordinator.
Among the November commits were Hubbard, Ohio, quarterback Davion Daniels and Jake Rogers, a wide receiver from Highland High School.
The Falcons also retained Ohio prospects Darren Anders, a running back from North Olmstead, and Grant Abbott, an offensive guard from Cleveland St. Ignatius.
The recruiting calendar hit a dead period as of Monday that will last through the rest of the year. Recruits who do not sign with a school this week have another opportunity to do so in February.
First Published December 18, 2018, 2:27 a.m.
