Honest question- Is this the best post-DP recruiting class?

[PonyDoh]

Stallion, the noseguard was Chris Pahula or something like that. Kid was a mini Chris Zorich. Personally, I think Cavan's '97 class was better then this class, although I don't follow like I once did. Almost hit on Tellis Redmon as well

[Stallion]

yeah I added Alex Pahulu in and the second WR was named Newsome from Oklahoma who I think transferred too-It all fell apart. Probably because they were cheating to get kids in under SMU's more stringent admission standards rather than just NCAA standards.

[RGV Pony]

Pahulu wound up at Texas St I think

[ponyscott]

For whats its worth, Scout currently has SMU at #59:

FOOTBALL RECRUITING RANKINGS
Rk. School Commits Conf. Points
1 Florida 26 SEC 5275
2 Oklahoma 29 Big 12 4961
3 Texas 22 Big 12 4513
4 Alabama 24 SEC 4360
5 Auburn 28 SEC 3937
6 LSU 25 SEC 3791
7 Penn State 18 Big Ten 3741
8 Washington 29 Pac-10 3536
9 Michigan 26 Big Ten 3442
10 Georgia 19 SEC 3283
59 SMU 22 Conf USA 1227

[Stallion]

Scout by the way has SMU with just 6 Three Star Recruits-some I think they have totally missed-I just don't think they go deep enough in their evaluation of non-BCS schools to be of much use. I think they have missed on Jeremy Johnson, Rickey Collins, Bordano, O'Guin and probably Beard or Thornton who I think are probably 3 stars.Don't really think Swope is a Three Star. On the other hand Rivals screwed the hooch on their ratings too. 75% of the Texas Class don't deserve 3 Stars and above-that's ridiculous. Scout has about 170 Three Star and above Texas High School recruits-about the Top 45% but Scout does little to differentiate or distinguish the bottom 55% -so most non-BCS recruits are treated the same which I don't buy at all

[Alaric]

JaGared Davis and Taylor Reed were Rivals 2 stars last year. While I think Rivals does a great job with ratings, this is an art, not a science. We'll see if JJ can evaluate better than the crowd. Only time will tell. He's going to have to if he seriously wants to compete with the "high majors".

I liked Cavan's and Bennett's BEST classes but they were one and done..fortunately for us, JJ's classes are going to get better every year.

[Mexmustang]

Your right about "art" and "science". At least this time we have a real head coach with plenty of experience grading out "potential", instead of coaches deserately trying fill out a class.

On Scout's list, I was surprised to see Auburn and Michigan so high. Especially Michigan with all the "complaints" and "rumors" surrounding their head coach. Looks like Auburn will not give Alabama a clear path to the championship for long.

[ponyboy]

Add Vic Viloria's class of 1998 to that list of strong post DP classes. It was the last class before Malin killed it for us and probably a stronger one than '97 when you subtract Mosley.

The key to this class is good athletes that fit very well with what Jones is trying to do.

[Stallion]

yeah I admitted I think I may have been mixing and matching some of Cavan's first two classes. The more I thought about it Brewer, Newsome and a few of the others were in the 1997 class which Cavan only had a few weeks to assemble. The higher rated class was probably the 1998 Class. Suffice to say Cavan recruited well until the day the Malin story broke.

[NickSMU17]

Pretty sure Mosely was 1998 recruit, I remmeber him never leaving Boaz hall my freshman year...Mccown, marcus Pratt, ect. all lived there and played Madden constantly..

[ponyboy]

You're right. Point is, as Stallion points out '97 and '98 were solid classes.

[ponyinNC]

IMHO, this class will bear out to produce the best 4-5 year players we've had since DP. Thanks for all the comments on Cavan's classes...seems that due to Malin, or grades, or just not gaining enough momentum, those classes never materialized. I think this class will produce results immediately (e.g. Fields) as well as in the long run.

[az1]

As a whole from top to bottom (not just looking at 2 or 3 players in a class) this class is the best since the DP.

[PerunaPunch]

As Stallion pointed out, 2003 was our highest rated recruiting class -- not the best, but the highest rated -- (prior to this one) post-DP. It had ten 3-star recruits.

I also frequently refer to that class as an example of how inexact the science of recruiting is. Of those ten 3-star athletes, I think most would consider at least 6 to 8 of them to be a bust. Out of all of them, Cory Muse was solid, Joe Sturdivant had a great career here and Desmond Jones could have been great (but he got into trouble).

Many of the most significant contributors were made by the 2-stars. Guys like Kennard Burley, Brandon Bonds, Charlie Berry, Jay'Mond Cleveland and Rey Pellerin, Caleb Peveto, Cedrick Dorsey and even Ryan Wolcott -- all of whom made significant contributions.

[PerunaPunch]

You never know how these kids will pan out, but when you compare this class to the 2003 class....

Well, there is no comparison.