Can JJ win big with SMU level recruits?

[max the wonder dog]

From 2003 through 2006, core years for building this year's Sugar Bowl team, SMU out recruited Hawaii, based on Rivals rankings:

2003: SMU #62 - HI # 83
2004: SMU #76 - HI # 96
2005: SMU #81 - HI # 85
2006: SMU #107 - HI # 108

Avg: SMU #81.5 - HI # 93

Discuss among yourselves.

[Garret]

To be fair about the comparison, Hawaii had many key players that were transfers so they do not show up in the Rivals rankings. Colt Brennan, Josh Leonard, Francis Maka, Hawthorne, the entire secondary that was from Texas JCs, etc. That is a big flaw in the Rivals ratings. SMU got Odiary in that category, but Hawaii 9+ players in the playing rotation in that category.

[smu diamond m]

Here we go again...


I love it though.

[expony18]

To be fair about the comparison, Hawaii had many key players that were transfers so they do not show up in the Rivals rankings. Colt Brennan, Josh Leonard, Francis Maka, Hawthorne, the entire secondary that was from Texas JCs, etc. That is a big flaw in the Rivals ratings. SMU got Odiary in that category, but Hawaii 9+ players in the playing rotation in that category.

The transfers is a big part of the flaw, but another huge part was JJ's ability to recruit quality players out of high school. With limited finances for recruiting and no real base (i.e., DFW) to recruit from really hurt him. I think JJ was quoted on how great this area has some of the best recruits he's ever seen... I realize he will still have to recruit against the big boys (OU, UT, A&M, TT, OSU), but I think his offense alone will spark the interest of a lot of talented skills players... if we have even a remotely good season, look for our ratings to jump in recruiting

[AusTxPony]

At the Austin event JJ indicated that his first recruiting class here at SMU was better than he had ever been able to get in Hawaii. He projected several to play on Sundays, and many to be competitive for starting positions next year. Somehow to my ears this did not sound like the usual coaches "spin". So perhaps Rivals is correct when they show SMU recruiting better than Hawaii. Maybe it is all about coaching after all.

[Stallion]

They DON'T Show SMU's class as better than Hawaii. On signing date Rivals didn't have all of Hawaii's signees listed. Hawaii's class is rated significantly higher now that the entire list is in. As for previous years Hawaii would have been your average to good WAC team w/o those kids Rivals doesn't track. Javon Bess is another Garrett didn't list.

[White Helmet]

Who is Javon Bess?

[Stallion]

an All-American who originally signed with Oregon St-got into some legal problems and ended up at Hawaii. Rivals does award points for those types of signees.

[White Helmet]

Do you have a link, I dont see a Javon Bess on the All American team. There is a Davon Bess, any relation? You wouldnt like him anyway he is only 5' 10" 180

[Grider]

an All-American who originally signed with Oregon St-got into some legal problems and ended up at Hawaii. Rivals does award points for those types of signees.

Stallion, I brought this up before but I don't think it was ever addressed. You've pointed out that the transfers aren't included in the rankings, but IF guys like Brennan and Bess committed to Hawaii out of High School it looks like it wouldn't have helped Hawaii's ratings anyway.

Looking back I see Brennan was a two star recruit by rivals
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=2703&sport=1
and Bess was a one star by Scout (couldn't find him in rivals)
http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=274827

Just an observation mainly because I was under the impression that these guys were 4 and 5 star players coming out high school.

[White Helmet]

Not to mention Scout has Bess as having a 4.79 in the 40 and 2 reps in the Bench Press at a Nike event.

[Stallion]

Scouting services have a tendency to not rate players heading to jail as highly as they might have been;


http://starbulletin.com/2005/04/15/sports/story1.html

[White Helmet]

But he was rated 1 Star long before Signing day in February and didnt et arrested until July 9th 2003

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/30/SP9QU5VCP.DTL

[Stallion]

a 1 star is a non-rating not a rating.

[White Helmet]

1 star or not rated, whichever, the fact of the matter still is that he was not arrested until 5 months after signing day.