Grading A Class: 2017 Edition

[VOLINVONORE]

Look at the star average on Rivals and the average grade on 247. That's a better reflection of the quality of the class compared to other programs.

UT's average is current 20th in the country and 7th in the SEC. By Rivals stars, UT is 21st in the country and 7th in the SEC... just ahead of Muschamp and USCe.

You can also just look at it from the perspective of how it compares to other Jones classes. Currently his star average according to Rivals is 3.35. In his previous 4 classes: 3.18, 3.65, 3.69, 3.50.

As many of us predicted, his failure to win impressively in his first 3 and now 4 years is costing UT with recruits.

I was passing on information which was presented on The Sports Source, channel 6 this morning. If those data are incorrect, I guess John Pennington can be challenged, but I am not going to do it.

 

[chavisut]

I was passing on information which was presented on The Sports Source, channel 6 this morning. If those data are incorrect, I guess John Pennington can be challenged, but I am not going to do it.

Those are the current rankings. The class will most likely finish between 15-20.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

its not always how many its getting the right ones. There are alot of three star kids when i watch tape or see live I know they will never make it at SEC level. Example two. The only reason Page III is not a 4 star is his weight. He is a player and has all athletic tools and hips that can turn on a dime. If he weighed 20lbs he would be 4 Star. Lets see what Rock can do with him now that we will have old school weight coach back.

I agree that more 4-5 star recruits are more desirable, but I also know that many high grade 3 stars are pretty good football players. When I was watching the Pittsburg game today, I remembered that Antonio Brown Was not rated, 0 stars, when Butch recruited him out of high school.
we have a graduation all SEC CB who was a three star in high school. There are very good three star player who play in the NFL. It happens more than the star gazers want to admit.

 

[amazingGRACE]

I agree that more 4-5 star recruits are more desirable, but I also know that many high grade 3 stars are pretty good football players. When I was watching the Pittsburg game today, I remembered that Antonio Brown Was not rated, 0 stars, when Butch recruited him out of high school.
we have a graduation all SEC CB who was a three star in high school. There are very good three star player who play in the NFL. It happens more than the star gazers want to admit.

There will always be outliers & exceptions to the rule.

Honestly I don't care about stars, I care more about offer lists. I'd rather have a 3 star with a great offer list than a 4 star with a mediocre offer list.

Butch has said multiple times "recruiting is the lifeblood of a program"..and there's absolutely no denying that recruiting has taken a nosedive. He has nothing to sell anymore.

Injuries were definitely an issue this year but to not have any solid depth at LB & corner after 4 years is inexcusable.

I won't say anything about the DL depth because we were down to what, our 4th & 5th string DT's? That was just unbelievably bad luck.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I agree that more 4-5 star recruits are more desirable, but I also know that many high grade 3 stars are pretty good football players. When I was watching the Pittsburg game today, I remembered that Antonio Brown Was not rated, 0 stars, when Butch recruited him out of high school.
we have a graduation all SEC CB who was a three star in high school. There are very good three star player who play in the NFL. It happens more than the star gazers want to admit.

The problem is people hanging their hats on diamonds like Brown and Sutton. Guys that truly have bucked the trend. What happens in the NFL is irrelevant in CF. Yes there are many more 3*'players in the NFL because there are more 3* players period. If the recruiting services gave out mire 5* ratings, there would be more of them.

Outliers will always exist but the bottom line is the team with the best players wins the most championships.

 

[RPAV]

5 Star talent is just about right these are the truly Elite Athletically and already developed physically there are just not enough. Now there are those who develop because they have the raw skill just have not filled out physically and these are your 3 star kids. 1. Trey Smith is easy he is one of the best Ol prospects anywhere in the country easy 5 star pick. His All Star performance (practice& game) was outstanding. 2. K'Rojhn Calbert 3 star. I have watched him play and we have talked and his motor and heart are second to none. He has great skill and I will tell you now he is better than some of the OL at all these All Star games. He has tremendous upside and has 5 star heart and love for game. If he stays healthy he will have a shot at NFL.

 

[sjt18]

I was passing on information which was presented on The Sports Source, channel 6 this morning. If those data are incorrect, I guess John Pennington can be challenged, but I am not going to do it.

Talking two different things. He's talking about class rankings by the recruiting sites... I'm talking about the average quality of the classes as scored by the recruiting sites.

I was simply pointing out to you that to the extent that the number of signees skews the ranking... it gives a distorted picture of how well a coach is actually recruiting.

 

[sjt18]

There will always be outliers & exceptions to the rule.

Honestly I don't care about stars, I care more about offer lists. I'd rather have a 3 star with a great offer list than a 4 star with a mediocre offer list.

Butch has said multiple times "recruiting is the lifeblood of a program"..and there's absolutely no denying that recruiting has taken a nosedive. He has nothing to sell anymore.

Injuries were definitely an issue this year but to not have any solid depth at LB & corner after 4 years is inexcusable.

I won't say anything about the DL depth because we were down to what, our 4th & 5th string DT's? That was just unbelievably bad luck.

It might be "luck" for one year. When injuries are high for 3 straight years... then something isn't right and the HC should have seen and resolved it before any of us recognized a problem.

 

[secking]

Talking two different things. He's talking about class rankings by the recruiting sites... I'm talking about the average quality of the classes as scored by the recruiting sites.

I was simply pointing out to you that to the extent that the number of signees skews the ranking... it gives a distorted picture of how well a coach is actually recruiting.

To get a true sense of how good the class is, take into account two things. Filling needs and Quality. I agree that Avg is more important than class rank. For instance, look at Stanfords class (could say Clemson but don't want lynched). Met needs with quality players. Have to compare recruiting avg vs those teams you will be playing to measure if you closing the gap in overall talent.