SMU Recruiting Classes

[Dwan]

What year was our best class post DP?

[RGV Pony]

What year was our best class post DP?

would have to be the class that got away. Where we signed 10 3-star recruits and most of them left.

Ricky Joe Meeks
Chris Phillips
Josh Boren
Avery Cleveland
those guys...

[StallionsModelT]

That was Phil Bennett's first full class. I can remember that was my freshman year and how everyone was so excited that we were recruiting at such a high level. Turns out damn near every one of those guys left school or was marginal at best during his time here.

[Cadillac]

That was Phil Bennett's first full class. I can remember that was my freshman year and how everyone was so excited that we were recruiting at such a high level. Turns out damn near every one of those guys left school or was marginal at best during his time here.

I looked into it a Year and a half ago. It was an interesting project for a Summer afternoon.

http://www.ponyfans.com/phpBB2/viewtopi ... ht=#210532

I tried to track down all of the 3 star players to figure out WTF went wrong.

-CoS

[ponyboy]

What year was our best class post DP?

It was Mike Cavan's 1997 or 1998 class. One of those two. Last time we competed on an even basis with TCU for recruits. Biggest name out of that time was linebacker Marcus Mosley, a big time national recruit.

[jtstang]

What year was our best class post DP?

It was Mike Cavan's 1997 or 1998 class. One of those two. Last time we competed on an even basis with TCU for recruits. Biggest name out of that time was linebacker Marcus Mosley, a big time national recruit.

Who as I recall never played a down at linebacker?

[George S. Patton]

What year was our best class post DP?

It was Mike Cavan's 1997 or 1998 class. One of those two. Last time we competed on an even basis with TCU for recruits. Biggest name out of that time was linebacker Marcus Mosley, a big time national recruit.

Who as I recall never played a down at linebacker?

That's because he had a little trouble waking up in the morning to go to class. Details.

[jkflamebo]

Turns out damn near every one of those guys left school or was marginal at best during his time here.

cory muse and sturdivant were the only ones that did anything here out of those guys. liked watching muse play a lot, he killed people on the field

[Dwan]

Massey was in that class and he was a great prospect

[StallionsModelT]

Sturdivant was also a productive player for us.

[ponyboy]

Here's a note from DMN writer Rick Alonzo on how Cavan's great 1998 recruiting class turned out:

SMU


Hits: LB Vic Viloria picked SMU over Auburn, among other schools, and went on to have one of the best careers of any Mustang in the last 20 years. The hard-nosed player was first-team All-Western Athletic Conference as a junior and senior. Linebacker-turned-defensive end Kevin Aldridge went on to become the team's best defensive lineman in 2001. CB Kevin Garrett had a disappointing senior season, but his speed makes him a prospect in the upcoming NFL draft. Offensive lineman Judson Davis started two years. DT Lute Croy was a four-year starter.

Misses: SMU's biggest recruit since the mid-1980s, LB Marcus Mosely, was a huge steal for the Mustangs. Mosley, a South Oak Cliff product, was a member of The News' National Top 100 list. Mosely was recruited by Miami, among other schools. But he struggled in the classroom and transferred after playing just two games. QB Josh McCown also transferred, in part because he never felt comfortable with former coach Mike Cavan. McCown went to Sam Houston State and is now an Arizona Cardinal.

Epilogue: Cavan landed four state top 100 picks on signing day for his second recruiting class. That was the most for SMU in the post death-penalty era. That class focused heavily on defense, including top LB recruits Aldridge of Jacksonville, Texas, David Ellen of Flower Mound and Mosely. Another state top 100 pick, defensive back Corlin Donaldson, signed late. It ranks as an outstanding class, but its talent never translated into wins.

— Rick Alonzo

[ponyboy]

I also found in an internet search that our 2003 class was ranked #47 (just behind #46 Texas Tech).

[PerunaPunch]

I also found in an internet search that our 2003 class was ranked #47 (just behind #46 Texas Tech).

Yep. That class looked really great on paper. But in the final analysis, Rivals was clearly delusional.

[ponyboy]

Well, the argument is it takes several good classes to see sustained results. And coaching.