Is recruiting that much better?

[heitclone]

A big reason I'm optimistic about the way recruiting has been going under this staff is the timing of kids committing. I know it doesn't matter until NSD but this staff is identifying recruits and getting commitments months (years in some cases) earlier than we saw the last staff land kids. That at least gives the impression that there is some method to their madness, like they are getting the kids they want. The last staff was seemingly always scrambling to fill classes up in the weeks leading up to NSD.

 

[cytown]

The rankings got an uptick, so on paper, they seem stronger. But I honestly think outside of the top 20 or so classes, it begins to be a crapshoot. What will matter is if he can develop them into nfl players.

 

[The_Gent]

He's clearly a great recruiter. He had the #1 class in the MAC at Toledo in his first 3 years there. If you want something to complain about then look at what he's done with those recruits...

 

[ExCyment]

IMO, we might have a very similar ranked class as another 20-30 or so other P5 programs in the country (for example, KU, TT, KSU, WV, etc) on paper, but the difference will be not on how they are on paper, but how they end up playing on the field and developing.

I think Rhoads was right when he said something to the affect of "It's not the recruits we don't get, it's the recruits we get that don't end up staying or panning out".

We could bring in a class of 20 players, and TT could bring in an identically ranked class of 20 players, but the difference will end up being on how well we scouted and judged our 20 guys and therefore on how many end up panning out, staying, and developing into contributing players.

I know this is all obvious stuff, I'm just trying to say, better recruiting classes on paper do not always equal better results on the field. It's being able to find the 3 star kids that end up playing like 4 or 5 star players, and not that end up playing like 2 star kids or end up leaving the program.

My advice would be to never take recruiting advice from CPR. The recruits you don't get absolutely hurt. I think this philosophy partially caused him to be a poor recruiter. IT seemed he was perfectly happy to not get guys and then fill in with what he could, and those guys all too often did not pan out or stay.

 

[Cyclonetbone]

I think Rhoads was right when he said something to the affect of "It's not the recruits we don't get, it's the recruits we get that don't end up staying or panning out".

If anything Rhoads got this "don't end up staying or panning out" thing down perfectly as he kept having it happen to him. That led him down the road of constantly searching for diamonds in the rough which made it so the flame outs happened more often. Toward the end he wasn't even making an attempt at appearing like offering 3 and 4 star players were part of his plan. Like he assumed it just wouldnt work out anyway. Remember the commentary about how the existence of Jake Knott and AJ Klein was the reason why we had no LB depth? Stupid excuses after stupid excuses for YEARS.

 

[tolfbfan]

This NFL draft Toledo had three drafted. They have a current de, rotates in, for Dallas and starting center for Houston, both [2015 / 2016] grads I believe. There are many others on practice squads for other teams. Add in Canada, indoor league and there are quite a few Rockets who graduated in last 3-4 years making money playing football. I am pretty confident they see talent and develop it. As an example, the Dallas Cowboy player when a freshman didn't look like a good college d 1 player to me and I watched many practices close up. Now making millions. I will not speak to past ISU staff, but this staff knows what they are doing.

 

[bozclone]

It is pretty obvious that recruiting is better. This staff is really good at connecting with kids and it has shown in their first two recruiting classes. For us to be competitive in the Big 12, we need this staff to be just as good at developing kids and coaching on game day as it is in recruiting. The progress last year was obvious start to finish. The key for this year will be to start the season where we left off and not take a step back before we move forward.

 

[RustShack]

He's had two recruiting classes, and they were both the best in school history. Are you really asking if recruiting has gotten better?

 

[ISUKyro]

It has gotten better for ISU standards - much better. But when you look at the Big 12 we are sitting at what, the 8th position for recruiting?! (someone correct that if I'm off, please)

So in terms of conference recruiting, we have a damn long way to go. But 2 of the best ISU classes yet could be the start.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

The recruits we are getting now are not similar to recruits of the past. The recruits now have way more power 5 offers and much better offers than before. They are still mostly 3 star guys but they are the upper tier 3 star guys.

 

[SpokaneCY]

It has gotten better for ISU standards - much better. But when you look at the Big 12 we are sitting at what, the 8th position for recruiting?! (someone correct that if I'm off, please)

So in terms of conference recruiting, we have a damn long way to go. But 2 of the best ISU classes yet could be the start.

If you look at the ratings, other than 1-2 of the top programs, we're right in there with the remaining programs in terms of rankings.

We don't need the best players, we need the best players for CMC's program.

 

[clonedude]

It has gotten better for ISU standards - much better. But when you look at the Big 12 we are sitting at what, the 8th position for recruiting?! (someone correct that if I'm off, please)

So in terms of conference recruiting, we have a damn long way to go. But 2 of the best ISU classes yet could be the start.

I guess this is where I was headed with this thread from the start. Everyone says we're doing so much better with recruiting, yet even the last 2 years, our classes are like 8th still, and only better than KU usually. I understand they are ranked higher overall, just not better than anyone else in the conference still.

IMO, the only way we climb higher in the conference is if our 8th ranked classes end up playing like the 5th best classes 3 or 4 years from now. I see this staff doing a good job so far in the skill positions, but still lacking in the trenches, just like Rhoads. I see some hopeful signs at the DE position with Bailey and Uwazurike, but the OL still looks like it needs a talent infusion one of these years.

 

[ripvdub]

Player... development... that's what matters. But yes, the kids we get now actually have other P5 offers, mostly have multiple. We're not just beating out the Mac or Swac.

 

[rholtgraves]

Last year it was different and the year before. But this year might be a little more difficult. The key now is to win

 

[RustShack]

Look at how well he's recruiting now. It will likely get easier for him when the wins start coming, that's when we can climb up within the conference for recruiting.

 

[dualthreat]

I think his first two classes were good. They were a handful of decommits/"almosts" from being very good.

Beaty down at Kansas has put together a class to be envious about. Not sure what he's telling those kids.

 

[clonedude]

I think his first two classes were good. They were a handful of decommits/"almosts" from being very good.

Beaty down at Kansas has put together a class to be envious about. Not sure what he's telling those kids.

That's a bit scary IMO. We don't want KU to start ramping up and improving too much. They are putting 300 million into their stadium too. Their recruiting for 2018 is off the charts.

 

[CyFy]

I hope I'm wrong, but he looked more like a UNI type player to me.

Just curious what makes you say that? His film is as impressive as about anyone in the last 2 recruiting classes. And UNI is not getting top 60 players at any position. He had decent rankings even without doing any of the camps in the summer. He committed in April of last year and shut down recruiting if I recall....

 

[CyCloned]

I would say that the class have been better. Not amazingly better, but definitely better. The one thing that stick out is that CPR would alway have 6-7 project/settle for guys he would take in the last few weeks of the recruiting period. The worst part is most of these guys would also be from some far away state like TX, which means they have an extra adjustment to deal with. Don't have any verification of this, but I would suspect that the attrition rate for guys outside of CMCs 500 mile target recruiting circle tends to be high.

 

[Rabbuk]

Couldn't get much worse than Rhoads.