Mildly better. There's 7 FIVE star kids this year in FL and we're not getting a single one. Notta one. That's still unacceptable. Parks is shopping around. We lose him and that's a huge indictment of this staff. If you think we're outta the woods on recruiting you are nuts. This staff needs to close and close huge. Especially on defense.
I'd agree 'mildly better' and certainly not 'wildly better'. A kid (Parks) shopping around is on the kid as much as our staff, or any other program's staff who is trying to land him.
Last year we would have given our kingdom for a QB after watching TH tank the team. We would have given our collective left nut for anyone who could kick decently - open tryouts scream a source of need. We were concerned about an OL that could barely fill out their jerseys. None of those gaping holes of misery are a current complaint. Instead, we have 4 QBs on the roster with a succession plan and even if all 4 break a leg we don't have TH to fall back on (a good thing!); we stole the top kicker in the nation from Saban; and while OL recruits are a need every cycle we aren't wringing our hands about starting freshman or dealing with a transfer that can't bench press his age in reps. Mildly better, ok.
This year there are the holes at LB, the need for those every-cycle-OL; and there is in-state talent that is escaping our grasp. I won't echo again the pumper theme of trusting coaching decisions (who to recruit, or not). I will say the staff has addressed the things that made us unwatchable last year. Disagree? I will say they have a good WR class in '16, something we didn't complain about too much last year despite relying on 2 guys to catch all the balls (we had roster depth, but no quality.....word is we now have quality roster depth). Disagree? Some, like yourself, see recruiting the top talent in the state as a need. I see it as a want, but I can't guess the staff's view. I suppose if they saw it as a need they'd be harder after those FL 5* kids.
I understand every year brings a different mix of issues, of fires to put out. As such, there is always a need, something to complain about. But I'll admit I'll feel better knowing I don't have to worry about a QB for the foreseeable future (looking at those coming in after '16 as well), or about our WR, or our RB, or our kicking game for the next few years. I'm a little nervous about the defensive side of the ball - maintaining DB and DL quality depth and fixing the thinness/holes of the LB corp. I can't argue confidence on that side right now as I look to the next few seasons.
