For everyone throwing rocks at our recruiting class

[JasonB]

Nobody is saying that this is a great class. Just pointing out is about the same level we have been at for the past 5 years. Which is not quite where we want to be, but we aren't necessarily regressing.

Rivals certainly interviews candidates more frequently, but I'll let you guys decide out what is more informative... and what shows a bit more time put into evaluation...

Jordan Severt I think is a great example. In the past, he would have been a low-end three star guy on Rivals. But since Rivals has cut back over the past couple of years on the number of three star players, the players who are borderline BCS/non-BCS players all get lumped in as two star players, so there is no difference between an SMU recruit and a Rice recruit. This is the same type of recruit we have been pulling in for the last 5 years.

Rivals: 2 star, 5.3 rating. No other offers.

Espn: 3 star, 74 grade, no other offers. Ranked #54 at his position, #206 in the state, and #277 regionally. Plus the following assessment:

Size-Strength-Mobility

Severt has real good size, both in the height and weight departments. His strength is above average as he consistently breaks tackles. He will never be mistaken for a dual-threat QB, but his mobility is good enough to allow him to escape trouble and even gain yards on some occasions.

Mental-Makeup

Plays with a calm demeanor. Will settle in the pocket and move his eyes without getting jittery. When he does need to move, he does so with his eyes up and can reset and deliver. A very poised QB.

Accuracy

Throws the ball where it needs to be. A couple of his deep throws were almost short but overall he puts the ball where he has to. He throws the comeback down and away and will hit the dig route under the receiver's chin.

Release/Arm Strength

Possesses a compact, classic release. He can deliver the ball with a variety of touches and speeds and do so with ease. He does not struggle to throw it at all. He make it look easy. Arm strength is not a question. He has the arm to deliver the dig with velocity and or throw the deep ball without effort.

Bottom Line

Severt is a solid, pro-style QB. He should gain some lower end BCS attention but should be heavily recruited by non-BCS schools.

[JasonB]

There will be 65 teams in the power 5 conferences plus notre dame next year.

If each of those teams took 24 players, they would recruit a total of 1560.

If you add up the number of 5, 4, and 3 star athletes Rivals has in their system, they add up to 1515.

Rivals is essentially saying that any player they rate as 3 stars or above is expected to go to a P5 conference. In their opinion, USF, Temple, UCF, and Cincy have stolen players from the 5 conferences.

ESPN has about the same number, 1553, ranked 74 and above. ESPN is just saying that there is a significant difference in quality of player when you compare the ones ranked 70-74 with those below 70. As a school competing on the lower end of the BCS/upper end non-BCS, we get a lot of recruits from 70-74.

Again, that doesn't mean we don't want to be higher. It is just where we have been for the past several years.

[fifty]

Basing your football outlook on rivals and scout internet sites is like getting your medical advice from dr. oz or your nfl insider information from the guy at walmart or having jerry jones help with your draft board. Just because some team gets more 4 star players than someone else doesn't mean anything. This isnt madden '14 on playstation. Teams can have great recruiting classes based on some internet site and still suck and vice versa.
Give me vic viloria, an ipf, and more than 1 out of conference game we have a snowballs chance in hell if winning then we can have our super 9 win season and bowl games.
PS: it also helps if the 4/5 star guys you do have arent injured and/or don't fumble every other carry.

[couch 'em]

It has been shown statistically over and over again that 5 stars turn into good players at a higher rate than 4 stars, who are more likely than 3 stars, etc. Plus you are ignoring the number of offers from other programs, which you know are the true experts

[sbsmith]

Just because some team gets more 4 star players than someone else doesn't mean anything. This isnt madden '14 on playstation. Teams can have great recruiting classes based on some internet site and still suck and vice versa.
Give me vic viloria, an ipf, and more than 1 out of conference game we have a snowballs chance in hell if winning then we can have our super 9 win season and bowl games.
PS: it also helps if the 4/5 star guys you do have arent injured and/or don't fumble every other carry.

Ever hear of a team winning a NC without great recruiting classes? They're not the end all but your team certainly won't win it all without them. We can have our super 9 win seasons once we start making recruiting a priority (which June will never do). No IPF and a tough OOC slate are just excuses June and his apologists use to cover for his disinterest in recruiting.

[max the wonder dog]

A few years ago I ran a simple regression analysis using Rivals Stars and early round draft picks. The correlation was so obvious I didn't complete the project. Some low-rated players excel and some high-rated players flop, but, in the words of Damon Runyon, "The race is not always to the swift and the battle not always to the strong, but that's the way to bet."

[SMU2007]

A few years ago I ran a simple regression analysis using Rivals Stars and early round draft picks. The correlation was so obvious I didn't complete the project. Some low-rated players excel and some high-rated players flop, but, in the words of Damon Runyon, "The race is not always to the swift and the battle not always to the strong, but that's the way to bet."

of course. anyone with a brain should know that. too often around here though, people point to the exception instead of the rule.