Something to consider...

[Aavoxx]

Nick Saban, an established name, finished with the 10th best recruiting class in 2007 (per Rivals), his first at Alabama.

He was hired on the 4th of January, giving him only around a month to recruit. However for a proven name like Saban that's far more than a few weeks longer than Dooley had at UT for the 2010 class. This class included 10 four star and 12 three star recruits. In 2008 he had the number one class with 3 fives, 19 fours, and 8 three star recruits.

The point to all this? Derek Dooley isn't Nick Saban (at least, not yet), and you can't really consider the 2010 class purely his class. He did, without a shadow of a doubt, bring in some guys that would of been here with Kiffin, however you can turn that around and point out all the guys we missed out on because Kiffin left. If you consider 2011 Dooley's first true class, and it shakes out like many anticipate (top 10-15) and adjust on a curve, he'll be on track to matching what Saban did with his first class. He will also build a solid foundation.

Will his 2012 class be ranked #1 in the country like Saban's 2008 class? Who knows. Does any of this mean anything? Perhaps not. However we might not be as bad off in recruiting as some think.

 

[Escape Goat]

Consider it considered.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[Volst53]

The state of Alabama was really loaded with top talent in 2008 that Coach Saban cherry picked.

 

[JMBIGORANGE]

No way we finish top 10 this year. I'll be happy just being top 20.

 

[TideWarrior]

The state of Alabama was really loaded with top talent in 2008 that Coach Saban cherry picked.

Actually the state of AL is even more loaded for 2012 with most of those looking to be UA bound. Even with the Barns success those recruits still have UA way in the lead and should end up at UA.

 

[Volst53]

Bama and getting talent will never be a problem no matter who the coach is there.

 

[TideWarrior]

Bama and getting talent will never be a problem no matter who the coach is there.

I think UT has enough tradition to do the same. The only difference for UA is the instate talent runs deeper so it easier when starting from scratch, but I think UT will get there just may take a year or 2 longer.

 

[Volst53]

UT will recruit well. I think we are getting good players, but three coaches in three years makes it a hard sell at the moment.

 

[volroadwarrior]

Growing pains guys. Pure and simple.

 

[VolfromKingsport]

Agree with Volst53. Too much transition in a short timespan, combined with lack of proven head coaching success, is making recruiting difficult and a #1 Class out of reach this year. However Dooley and staff are getting the type of player to lay the foundation for a winning program (done the right way), and higher ranked classes in the future.

 

[Shadowboxer]

Nick Saban had to overcome the fact he lied about being the Alabama coach like a week before he was named Alabama coach also right before that recruiting period. He is a recruiting beast though, so once he got in those people's living room's there was a lot of damage control done.