Osei Switches to Temple

Posted by Brian Ewart on September 28, 2011 · Under Football · 16 Comments 

Normally Villanova can expect one or two football recruits to change their minds, and this year will clearly be no different. Bryan Osei, a defensive end from Abington High School in Pennsylvania, has now decided to change his commitment to Temple.

Bryan Osei

The 6-2 and 230-lb Osei is rated three-stars (a 76) by ESPN,  and unranked by Rivals and Scout. He had offers from Kent State, Old Dominion and Stony Brook in addition to Villanova and Temple and had initially cited Villanova’s proposed move to the Big East conference and academics as the reasons for his commitment.

Now, he tells the Philadelphia Inquirer, “I like that Temple’s football program is on the rise and on the verge of doing big things. Also, it turns out that the school has a higher educational ranking for psychology [his intended major].”

Temple’s psychology graduate program is ranked 50th in the nation by US News and World Report, but undergraduate programs are not ranked by subject in the liberal arts and sciences. Villanova does not offer a Ph.D. program in psychology and is therefore not included in US News’ assessment.

Osei had been the 10th recruit in Villanova’s 2012 class (which would have likely capped off at 11 members). He informed the Villanova coaching staff of his change of heart over the weekend. Stacey Bedell, a speedy running back from Long Island also de-committed recently after citing academics and Big East potential as reasons he liked Villanova.

That common thread might be the real reason why the Villanova class is shedding recruits faster than a Concorde jet crosses the Atlantic. The Wildcats initially received many of these commitments when there was a much higher level of confidence that the football program would be moving to the Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Big East conference. Without that, the Wildcats are just an FCS school that had some recent success but is struggling to get through the 2011 season.

Villanova now has 8 known verbal commitments for the 2012 class, with no word yet on whether or not linebacker Corey Majors will be joining the program after his prep school year is over. The recruits still committed to Villanova football are:

  1. Jake Prus (OL, Woodstown HS)
  2. Nico D’Angelo (OL, Holy Spirit – 2 stars)
  3. Austin Calitro (ILB, Danbury – 3 stars)
  4. Mark Clements (DB, Oakcrest HS)
  5. Javon White (RB, Souderton HS)
  6. Aaron Wells (RB, River Hill HS)
  7. Tanoh Kpassagnon (DE, Wissahickon HS)
  8. Michael Burke IV (WR, Columbia HS– 1 star)
  • G_Dizzle

    These verbal commitments are bogus. There should be paperwork signed MUCH earlier in the process across all sports.  Hold these kids accountable for once in their life!

  • http://twitter.com/Brian_Ewart Brian Ewart

    They ARE held accountable, when they sign in February. Nova gambled and let these kids think the Big East was going to happen and now that looks in question.

  • Sandy

    People will start to wake up when this also  begins to happen with the basketball recruits.

  • Rand137

    Calling Fr Peter and the Board Chairman – do you see what your indecision and worrying and hand wringing is starting to cost – make the bold moves and then make everything work! Sitting back and waiting to see what happens cannot work fir Villanova – take charge here or get out of the way for someone else who can! If I ran my businesses like this I would have been out of business long ago. Stop waiting for everyone else and make some bold moves.

  • mprams

    Has he visited Temple’s campus yet? 

  • ILL.

    It already has started! Scary stuff

  • ILL.

    With all the construction, our campus isn’t putting its best foot forward. And I’ve never been a college football recruit but if I was, I’d probably put a higher emphasis on athletic facilities than the campus appearance as a whole. I suspect we’ll lose to any big state school in that department

  • mprams

    I’d probably put a higher emphasis on not getting shot walking to class.

  • Cord

    Notice how all the uppity areas where the only minorities are the help and everyone has a locked gate to keep out everything are where the republican supporters live?

  • http://vuhoops.com MIKE

    Kish19043- your comment has been removed.

  • Cord

    Then please remove mine also Mike. Thank you

  • Cord

    please remove mine also Mike- Thank you

  • Kish19043

    I do notice that but it is not just where Republicans live.   If you open your eyes the afflent Dems  also want to keep out the low end Dems.   

  • Sandy

    Not true, Main Line is solid for Democrates ove the last two decades.

  • Greatgoldengod

    We are fucked … no way around it.

  • Guest

    you sound like a lazy asshole to me, go earn something for yourself and stop hating.

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