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Broncos sign third straight elite recruit class

KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan University Football Broncos changed its best in a big way on National Signing Day, getting deeper, stronger, faster and smarter according to head football coach P.J Fleck. The Broncos signed the highest rated recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference for the third consecutive year according to Rivals.

"We got all 25 commits on our wish list, with the last letter coming in at 8:22 a.m.​,​ so we changed our best by two minutes from last year's best ever MAC recruiting class," Fleck said. "We not only have some great athletes that will spend the next four o​r​ five years in Kalamazoo, but they are all good students and high character kids that will represent the University well."

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Fleck and his staff stuck to its​ stated​ plan of recruiting student athletes from the region​, with 92 percent coming from within a six-hour drive of Kalamazoo and 13 being from the state of Michigan. Fleck proudly pointed out that the cumulative grade point average of the incoming class was 3.21.

Part PT Barnum, part John Gruden, and all passionate​ Energizer Bunny, Fleck talked enthusiastically about every single recruit and what they will bring to the Bronco mix. He shared anecdotes about each kid and their recruiting story. Those stories tell the​ bigger​ story of Fleck and his staff's success. Most of them related some connection with the family​,​ whether it be Eric Roger's twin sisters Regan and Serena "who were all 'Row the Boat' from the start" or Jordan Asbury's dad who passed away during the recruiting process passed the torch to PJ ​and his staff.​

A highlight of the recruiting process was the food. Fleck described eating Portillo's while recruiting tight end Brett Borske. (PJ's old stompin grounds) or eating the best cheeseburger ever at Station Grill in Muskegon, Mich. while going back to "the well" to snag another recruit out of Mona Shores, Hunter Broersma. Fleck talked about recruiting Wisconsin native Mike Caliendo while breaking bread at Lambeau Field.

​The most interesting story about Fleck's first experience with chocolate gravy in Piedmont, Oklahoma​,​ where he snagged kicker Butch Hampton​, ranked in the top five in the nation. He told the story of how he met the family for breakfast and ​how they poured "chocolate gravy" over everything​. Fleck then found time to mention Hampton's Grade A, first rate mullet haircut.​

Fleck pointed out that of all the players on the Detroit Free Press 2015 Dream Team only four of them signed with non power 5 schools and all four were WMU signees. He talked about four-star prospect Matt Falcon, who is the 12th ranked running back in the country by Rivals. Falcon de-committed from the University of Michigan, finding a home at Western Michigan.

Fleck went through the entire list of 25, sounding at times more like he was announcing the starting lineups for an all-star team, which is in fact what he has assembled.​ In all the Broncos signed three defensive lineman, four linebackers, five defensive backs, four offensive lineman, two tight ends, three wide receivers, two running backs, one quarterback and one kicker ​


"It is my job to out recruit the student athletes that are already here," Fleck said "It's the​ir​ job​ (​current Broncos​)​​ to keep their job and continue to change their best."


What will the 2016 edition of Bronco football look like? Last year it was about "targets" and "nevers". They had a target on their back after the biggest turnaround in MAC history between the 2013 and 2014 seasons. They accomplished a number of "never" in program history, including the first win over a top 25 team, back to back eight win seasons and a first ever bowl victory.

This year, look for the Chemis-tree to gROW higher. At the very root of the program, right there with "Row the Boat" and "F.A.M.I.L.Y" is "Change your best". By definition, this means that the bar is constantly being moved higher. It will be interesting to see how this group of Broncos fits in and they continue to make that a reality.

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