Looks like FSU is the #1 team in recruiting this year when averaging the three recruiting service rankings: http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20110202/ARTICLES/110209835?Title=National-rankings-roundup UF averages #15 and I'm pretty good with Muschamp's efforts in a coaching transition for UF. I think the Gators landed some gems in this class and Muschamp did a great job of keeping most of the committed kids in the fold.
Bama is definitely top 5.....took some studs out of Florida that I am sure Meyer would have had a shot at and Muschamp may next year. Another ranking has ND at #1: http://www.maxpreps.com/news/Ty6c1y8sEeCkhgAcxJSkrA/the-top-10-recruiting-classes-on-national-signing-day.htm Of note on the Scout ranking which has UF at #21......UF is #11 in player rating at 3.5: http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&yr=2011
KP, Averaging the three sites, Alabama is ranked at #3.3. Scout has you at #7, Rivals at #1, and ESPN at #2. Tennessee averages #12. ESPN has us at #13. Rivals has us at #12. Scout has us at #11. ESPN 2011 Class Rankings Rivals 2011 Class Rankings Scout 2011 Class Rankings
And then there is Max Emfinger who has UF at #10: http://www.maxemfingerrecruiting.com/ Take out the Scout #21 ranking....which has UF quality of recruit at #11 anyway.....and UF comes in at around a #12 or 13 average as well. You are pretty happy with that Tenn effort.... am I right Tom? Likewise I feel UF did as well as could be expected with the mass departure of almost all of the coaches and especially the recruiting coordinator 2 weeks prior to NSD.
Sorry MCG. I would rather look at the actual sites. The Gator site stops as soon as it gets to Florida.
I understand UF needed more OL and maybe an extra stud on the DL. Could pose some depth issues on the OL but the DL class last year was super strong. Tom....the Gator site had all three but you're right each individual site has more teams listed. Looks like Kelly at Notre Dame is making ND very relevant in recruiting once again.
I think overall we did pretty well....great LB class, a couple high profile QB's, but not enough numbers on the OL. We lost a couple good ones, one to Kiffin and his Trojans and one who decided to measure a number of his female schoolmates for ROTC uniforms.....in the dark.....without their tops on.....perhaps against their wishes. Still not sure what the whole story is on that one, but it doesn't sound good.....don't get me wrong, I understand that it is a right of passage for all teenage young men to spend a fair amount of their waking time each and every day scheming to "cop a feel".....but 8 of 'em?
The Buckeyes finished fairly consistently in all rankings somewhere between 7th and 9th. That's a pretty good haul in all years in reality because no one knows for sure until they play just how good these kids are going to be. I am always hoping that UF finishes at least in the top 15 and anything after that is gravy. A lot of great football teams come from classes ranked no higher than #15....or #12 etc. and not every top 5 class equals on the field greatness.
Kelly himself seems to have it all to be a top recruiting HC. He has drive, personality, and strong belief in himselt and the program. But he also has put together a strong recruiting staff, which is essential esp at ND. He said it all when he said how hard it is to go to other regions of the country and take away top players. He has to really work and stay on top of the situation. I hope this staff is able to stay together for at least 3-5 years, but if he is successful he is going to have staff offered other jobs. He doesn't like guys looking for lateral moves and I thought it was interesting that he commented that if they go interview for that type of move they better get the job. He said he would never stand in the way of a guy taking a "leadership" position which I took to mean a HC or Coordinator. Charlie sort of grab bagged his staff, his offense had trouble with Tenuta's defense so he hired him...bad move. Other guys were lazy recruiters. Corwin Brown was a dynamic recruiter but he was completely inexperienced at DCoord he hired him. I believe that Kelly will be much more deliberate and discerning in replacing staff members going forward. That said I hope he doesn't have to do it very often.
A continuous problem for Meyer the last 2 or 3 years especially. I hope Muschamp has the same problems because of the same successes! :wink: 8)
MCG I think it can be a problem for most HC's. I think one of Ohio States pluses is that they have had a lot of stability with their staff. But if you are successful guys will get offers and it's how well you can replace them that is the critical component to a run of success. Lou had a great staff in 1988 but he lost Barry Alavarez to Wisconsin and he was never able to get a good DCoord again, even Bob Davie who was well thought of at A&M really wasn't able to duplicate that "Wrecking Crew" at Notre Dame.
I have always been a little dubious of the rankings. What happens if all your recruits are not in by the first day, there are enough wannabe drama queens who wait a day or two before the big announcement but nobody is looking at rankings after the first day. Then Miami just finished up the season where the seniors were part of the #1 class and we see where that got us. And to top it off Jimmy Johnson as coach of the Canes never cracked the top 25 in recruiting rankings but evidently thought cracking the top 5 at the end of the season was more important... Just my thoughts...
No doubt, it's more about getting the right kids for your program. No sense in recruiting a Pro Style QB who is #1 when you run a Service Academy triple option. I think Wisconsin football is a classic example, they seem to go out and get kids who fit their offensive and defensive systems and most years have an excellent team. Not that they never get highly rated kids, but just seems like they never "out recruit" Ohio State or Michigan. Va.Tech is another school that does very well getting a mix of top kids and kids who just fit their systems. Of course if you can get kids who are not only highly rated, but also fit your system...that's ok as well.
Good examples... Ralph...I'll bet Miami did in fact get classes that in today's data filled....internet filled and probably more objective recruiting world would have been more highly rated than maybe they were during JJ's tenure as coach.