I'm Rethinking UF's Recruiting

[Concrete Helmet]

Can you name 2 UF DTs that have been early entrants? With DTs, it is great when they can enter at all.

Sometimes the big fellas aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer....

 

[TLB]

You are completely wrong. Just look at our past numbers and where the stars break down. Perfection? Hardly. Do you think it is ok to have the most 3 stars ever over the last two seasons? You don't think something is very wrong? You do realize that it is possible hiring Mac was a mistake, right? Yes, it is too early but he should have cleaned up this cycle. 14th is below avg for us. Are you ok with below avg?

Have you seen the past numbers on the break down of each - 3 stars, 4 stars and 5 stars? We've NEVER taken this many ever. The trend is alarming. The bulk of our classes has always been 4 star kids, always. This isn;t something new or me asking for perfection. It goes back to the Zooker days. You can look it up.

If we've always had the majority of our kids as 4 stars and now we are taking mostly 3 star kids - honestly - do you think that will affect our overall talent level for the better or for the worse? Honest opinion. It's not just one year but now THREE in a row.

From a post I did in another thread (looking at 2011-2016):

Average star rating of class for top 10 recruiting class was 3.67 (UF was 3.50) Minimum was 3.34 (UF was Macs 2015 class at 3.29)
Average signees in a class for top 10 recruiting class was 24.4 (UF was 24.4)
Avg number of 5-4-3 star kids was 2.3-12.2-9.0 (UF was 1.8-10.2-11.0)

That last one highlights the argument that "star pumpers" (for lack of a better term) like T REX have been complaining about. Namely, we aren't recruiting well enough to be a top 10 recruiting class, and data shows even getting that provides only a 33% chance of being in t10 for the season. We have been averaging short a 5 star every other year and a pair of 4 stars every year. And we live in one of the most talent rich areas of the nation. Fwiw, Mac's classes were averaged 3.29 (2015) and 3.36 (2016) stars, pulling in 1.5 five stars and 7 four stars on average.

So yeah, I have been looking at the numbers. Mac has averaged short half a 5 star and a pair of 4 stars, and made up for them by going over our average by a pair of 3 stars. It's what you do when you can't get the 4-5 star kids. To you're point - "Just f ing recruit better" and we should not only get back to (possibly surpass) the UF averages in recruiting, but start moving us into the t10.

I still don't think Mac has had the time he needs, and believe he'll show signs of improvement for 2017 and 2018, but it's on him going forward. It's my right to be hopeful instead of shouting people down with negativity. A choice in perspective to save wasted energy, but the heart of the matter is Mac isn't 'there' yet.

 

[I Have No Friends :(]

Grier set us back a year. We need our offense to produce and make us exciting again. Unless that happens, get used to becoming an also-ran.

 

[Yankeetown]

Can you name 2 UF DTs that have been early entrants? With DTs, it is great when they can enter at all.

Excellent point. I can't name a DT who's been an EE anywhere. It would be a surprise, for sure. I'm okay with breaking stereotypes though, if Mac and crew can find some candidates.

There have been some guys in the past who had the brains to do it ... Ian Scott, Brad Culpepper, Ed Chester and Kevin Carter come to mind. Although I think Carter maybe didn't really start playing DT until later in his pro career.

 

[T REX]

From a post I did in another thread (looking at 2011-2016):



So yeah, I have been looking at the numbers. Mac has averaged short half a 5 star and a pair of 4 stars, and made up for them by going over our average by a pair of 3 stars. It's what you do when you can't get the 4-5 star kids. To you're point - "Just f ing recruit better" and we should not only get back to (possibly surpass) the UF averages in recruiting, but start moving us into the t10.

I still don't think Mac has had the time he needs, and believe he'll show signs of improvement for 2017 and 2018, but it's on him going forward. It's my right to be hopeful instead of shouting people down with negativity. A choice in perspective to save wasted energy, but the heart of the matter is Mac isn't 'there' yet.

I can't go back that far into my posting history but maybe somebody else can. I broke down all the recruiting numbers for Bama, FSU and UF since 2010. I think I went further than that for us. The bottom line is that a large portion of our recruits were 4 star and not by a small % either. I use rivals and they are the best. You can easily pull us up and go back year by year and see that over 50% of our classes EVERY year were 4&5 stars. Like clockwork. Foley hired an unknown and that has affected us. Is it Mac's fault that he's not very charismatic? No. But his staff should be able to handle the bulk of our recruiting. They have done a below average job. This is the last I am saying on the topic. I really don;t give a **** anymore. You pumpers have pumped it out of me.

 

[aka]

To me, it's not a matter of pumping or not pumping. We understand. It just requires too much energy to stay that negative about something I can't change. I have better things to do with my energy.

 

[Alagator]

This is the last I am saying on the topic.

Doubtful

 

[Alagator]

I can't go back that far into my posting history but maybe somebody else can. I broke...

That would be hard to do in one sitting without a bottle of sleeping pills and a fifth of scotch on the bedside table...

 

[Ancient Reptile]

Grier set us back a year. We need our offense to produce and make us exciting again. Unless that happens, get used to becoming an also-ran.

Exactly! This is why this year's recruits are a "good" class,even though we could have used some better defensive guys.

 

[T REX]

That would be hard to do in one sitting without a bottle of sleeping pills and a fifth of scotch on the bedside table...

Seriously, crazy dude. Get help.

 

[Alagator]

Pot meet keetle. I've seen people asking you to get back on your medz all day.

Things are slow around here with football season closing out and you are a source of amusement. Can't help but to laugh at your angry tirades. Thanks for the laughs.

 

[MJMGator]

I can't go back that far into my posting history but maybe somebody else can. I broke down all the recruiting numbers for Bama, FSU and UF since 2010. I think I went further than that for us. The bottom line is that a large portion of our recruits were 4 star and not by a small % either. I use rivals and they are the best. You can easily pull us up and go back year by year and see that over 50% of our classes EVERY year were 4&5 stars. Like clockwork. Foley hired an unknown and that has affected us. Is it Mac's fault that he's not very charismatic? No. But his staff should be able to handle the bulk of our recruiting. They have done a below average job. This is the last I am saying on the topic. I really don;t give a **** anymore. You pumpers have pumped it out of me.

 

[TN G8tr]

I think we'll be fine with this class. It did answer a lot of needs on the offensive side of the ball. But it will be more crucial next year that we land a class a bit more defensive heavy in '17.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

That's the problem with this class. Yes we needed to beef up the offense, but we still need to recruit well on defense. If the offense improves but the defense gets worse, then the team still doesn't get better. Meyer's best year on offense was 2007. Yeah it got us a Heisman but it also left a 9-4 record and allowed UT to back their way in to Atlanta.

I agree with everything said here, however I believe overall team success will draw upper end talent on both sides of the ball as long as the people recruiting are selling that to the kids. I am somewhat shocked at the effort/results of 2 of our biggest names on defense staff, Rumph and Shannon, how the hell did a guy who got fired out recruit these 2 ??? I'm also not sold on Collins. I think our defense was on auto pilot last year and that's not going to work with a dropoff in talent....

 

[klgator]

That's the problem with this class. Yes we needed to beef up the offense, but we still need to recruit well on defense. If the offense improves but the defense gets worse, then the team still doesn't get better. Meyer's best year on offense was 2007. Yeah it got us a Heisman but it also left a 9-4 record and allowed UT to back their way in to Atlanta.

Plus he had studs on defense that needed a year of experience.

 

[TheDouglas78]

The class was solid for what McElwain's staff came into. The only issue I have with this class is that I wished he picked up a few more down linemen. There should be 8-10 in every class. But this is a rebuild, and 2017 should be a great class, because the relationships should be established and the product on the field should look better after a year of growth on OL and consistent (hopefully) quarterback play.

 

[BMF]

We filled some needs. But I'd argue that ANY coach at UF can land a top 20 class.....but not top 5. You have to work hard to cracked the top 10.

Bottom line, McElwain got his ass kicked on the recruiting trail. He practically admitted it on signing day.

 

[GatorRaz]

I went on 247sports.com and i compared Nick Sabans recruiting classes in years 1 and 2. Our numbers are very similar to Bamas. If we have an improved offense our defense will be fine. Our D played 3 qtrs in the last 3 games. We will be ok as long as the QB play is competent. This class filled some big holes that needed addressing. Yes I would love to have had a DL, OL and a LB but hey Im not jumping off the edge. I'm very excited about Coach Mac and Go Gators!

 

[NavetG8r]

I went on 247sports.com and i compared Nick Sabans recruiting classes in years 1 and 2. Our numbers are very similar to Bamas. If we have an improved offense our defense will be fine. Our D played 3 qtrs in the last 3 games. We will be ok as long as the QB play is competent. This class filled some big holes that needed addressing. Yes I would love to have had a DL, OL and a LB but hey Im not jumping off the edge. I'm very excited about Coach Mac and Go Gators!

Post more please. We're a bit over crowded with the doom and gloom posters these days and could use a little more sunshine around here.

 

[ATXGator]

Post more please. We're a bit over crowded with the doom and gloom posters these days and could use a little more sunshine around here.

I think we have more sunshine posters... it is just the small number of doom and gloom guys post a lot more... they are constant and always saying the same thing in every thread...