Recruiting 2019 NSD: 4* DE Khris Bogle and 4* CB Elam signs

[gatormandan]

So even if they do buy him out, it could make things worse.

Worse than it is now? That would be epic.

 

[lizardbreath]

In general terms this is as good of a class as we could have hoped for during the football season. Most thought we would finish ranked 12-15 at best and many feared worse. Without context one might say this class 'isn't good enough,' but with the context of recent coaches and knowing how the recruiting class played out, this is as good as could be imagined.

We seem to have done very well in many positions and well in all positions except DL. We have one position that wasn't substantially improved.



I think this line of thinking is wrong - not because we don't need to be leading recruiting rankings to be the best on the field - but because it buys into a discrete, descending value of the classes. Even if these rankings took 'needs met' into account (which they don't), they still wouldn't accurately show this kind of 6 is better than 7, 7 is better than 8, etc. reality. In reality, this is more of a tiered situation.
Tier 1 - Bammer, UGA
Tier 2 - aTm, LSU, UF, Barn, 11esee,
Tier 3 - USCe, Miss, Ark, Miss State
Tier 4 - UK, MO
Tear 5 - Vandy

Realistically, I don't think we will know how this class stacks up against others in our tier (or outside of it for that matter) until they've played a few years. As of now, we could have the 3rd or 7th best class in the SEC. With the balance in the class and the Orange & Blue glasses upon my nose, I'm excited about the class.

tl;dr - You've got to look at these rankings in a tiered arrangement, not strictly discrete, descending value of the classes.

Very astute. Thanks you for that refreshingly lucid take on things.

 

[GatorTruth133]

I made a big deal in December about the lack of 5 stars, and I still think it’s an issue. However, this finish is something to be proud of. We know our D should be taken care of for a few years (in theory).

The biggest win? I even more doubt CJ McWilliams sees the field now that we have Steele, Jaydon, and Elam. I think Dean can move to safety and we can go from there.

Good finish, now to build on it next year.

 

[alcoholica]

Worse than it is now? That would be epic.

It happened to us. We thought it couldn't get any worse than Muschamp, and then.....

 

[lizardbreath]

Donkey is wise.

A wise ass if ever there were one.

 

[JDW]

I made a big deal in December about the lack of 5 stars, and I still think it’s an issue. However, this finish is something to be proud of. We know our D should be taken care of for a few years (in theory).

The biggest win? I even more doubt CJ McWilliams sees the field now that we have Steele, Jaydon, and Elam. I think Dean can move to safety and we can go from there.

Good finish, now to build on it next year.

Dean is playing star per Mullen’s press conference and it’ll be Burney with whoever wins the second spot probably Taylor and fingers crossed hopper or black til they get their weight up

 

[lizardbreath]

On a more somber note, I think the Taggert ride will be over way too soon, much like the Butters era ended too soon for our rivals. This recruiting cycle continues the opposite trend as our trending under Mullen. No QB, guys splitting on their commitments, no real plan in place and a terrible product on the field. It has all come unraveled way too quickly.

We might need them to pull out some miracles next season (except for our game) to keep WT on board another season, but given his complete incompetence, a third year, from this vantage point with their games AND recruiting in the burning fire, seems very unlikely.

Alas, I will enjoy watching them flail about for one more year.

Two solid posts back to back. New blood is a wonderful thing.

 

[Gulfstream]

On the other hand



Lol.

He'll fit right in.

 

[lizardbreath]

Do not despair. It is very, very difficult to find a great coach who is actually available and able to reverse the bad trends.

We've certainly proved that unhappy fact to ourselves - repeatedly.

 

[GR8 2B]

Do not despair. It is very, very difficult to find a great coach who is actually available and able to reverse the bad trends.

Even more difficult to find a coach that meets those two criteria, and will work cheap. Taggart may end up taking all their money.

 

[lizardbreath]

Exactly.

This class had been the one lagging piece in an otherwise stellar first 15 months. He pulled his D at midterms last August up to a B+ with a solid final at ESD and class project at NSD.

What we don’t see yet are those transformational players/leaders as obvious recruits or emerging on the field. Even after a top 10 finish and huge rise in production, no one on offense is an obvious star, All-American type. And Henderson is the only healthy one on defense returning. I love that the team is playing so well and together, though.

In Meyer’s year 2 (2006) it was Tebow, Harvin & Spikes - 3 5-star anchors that would be supplemented with a handful of others in that class plus the 2007 class. It will be fun/interesting to see who might emerge this spring & fall. The seeds are being shown right now in the weight and film rooms.

Stay the course and they will come (although we me have 1 or 2 who just haven't revealed themselves yet)..

 

[Gator Fever]

Why aren't they both top 10 by Rivals, the SD gold standard? Now perhaps you mean you trust the new staff to develop the class more.

They were both top 10 by Rivals. Just saying under Mullen this class will get a year of development that the 2017 class didn't get.

 

[T REX]

RE: All the comparisons to Clemson

Don't forget they pull in 5 star QBs like Watson and Lawrence. They get gamechangers all the time. You have to look beyond the number.

 

[leogator]

There are 5*s and then there are 5*. If your 5* is like Clayton and Ron Powell, no thanks. If your 5*s are like Tebow and Harvin (without the migraines and the ankle problems) then yes. What I am looking forward to is contributions from the 3*s like Dionte Marks, Trent Whittemore and Jamarkis Weston. How much will they contribute their first year and throughtout their career? Will they justify this staff's evaluation of them or did they deserve their lowly ranking?

 

[leogator]

RE: All the comparisons to Clemson

Don't forget they pull in 5 star QBs like Watson and Lawrence. They get gamechangers all the time. You have to look beyond the number.

You do need those 5* at QB. Maybe at receiver as well.

 

[SaltyGator]

Even if Mac would've somehow pulled off the #1 recruiting class it still wouldn't have done any good. The man was proven to be inept at developing players. I have no doubt Mullen could do better developing and getting the most out of any player than Mac could ever dream. Mac's idea of developing a player was teaching them the correct way to make a PB&J. For clarification, the correct way to make a PBJ is to put peanut butter on both piece of bread with the jelly in the middle, just saying.

 

[GatorFL]

Thank god we didn't hire Ox's dream coach, Chip Kelly. He just scored the 43rd best class in football. Really puts into perspective what a good hire Mullen has been.

UCLA 2019 Football Commits

Can UCLA succeed with Chip Kelly’s recruiting strategy? – Daily News

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Instispectrum: Why aren't they both top 10 by Rivals, the SD gold standard? Now perhaps you mean you trust the new staff to develop the class more.


Rivals is the gold standard, but top 10 isn't. Top 3-5 is.

 

[williston_gator]

Meanwhile at Chip Kelly land....

@slmandel: How rough was Signing Day for UCLA? One guy they were waiting on opted to walk-on at Washington instead. I mean, ouch.

 

[Gator Fever]

There are 5*s and then there are 5*. If your 5* is like Clayton and Ron Powell, no thanks. If your 5*s are like Tebow and Harvin (without the migraines and the ankle problems) then yes. What I am looking forward to is contributions from the 3*s like Dionte Marks, Trent Whittemore and Jamarkis Weston. How much will they contribute their first year and throughtout their career? Will they justify this staff's evaluation of them or did they deserve their lowly ranking?

Yep and it wouldn't surprise me if Elam ended up being the best DB over Steele. Despite the 5 stars on Rivals it seemed most of the top teams were higher on Elam than Steele. I think it was Law that said always subtract one star from CA defensive recruits.

As far as 3 stars a few will probably break out like is usually the case.