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Mexmustang wrote:35 years is not "a few years"...

Obviously, he meant that in the context of Dykes building a program. But yeah, we all (if we've been around that long) think about the longer timeframe.

Yep - its been a long haul since 1989. Last year was good, I thought this year might be better.

I think most of us thought (hoped?) this year would be better.

Top 3 rated DE recruits:
- Paul - So, Mastrov - Fr, Walls - Fr. Young linemen with no offseason.
- Ndukwe is a Jr decent rated recruit that is a good piece but not a starter
- Coxe and Wily are DITR.

Top DT recruits:
- Williams - sat for 3 months, isn't ready for games
- Dotson - So, not ready yet
- Aho - So - better than expected, will be better with an offseason
- Levelston - So - not ready to play, needs the offseason
- Chatman - So - flashes, will improve consistency
- The rest are all DITR

Top OL recruits:
- Ike - RS FR, give him time
- Ali - JR - underperforming at the end of the season, must be hurt.
- Brooks - Fr - needs time
- Howerton - Sr - has been ok this season
- Smith - Fr - needs time
- Shelmire - So - not ready yet
- Sparks - Fr - not ready yet
- Perdue - Fr - not ready yet
- Hickman - Fr - not ready yet
- Jordan - Jr - disappointing that he isn't in the mix at guard.
- Smith - Fr - not ready yet
- Bryant - Fr - not ready yet
- Osborne - Fr - playing but not ready yet
- Bryant, Morris, and Thomas were all DITR and are still starting because the young guys aren't ready yet.

We needed to have Cox and Wiley step up at DE and let the young guys mature as part of a rotation. They haven't.
We needed Williams and Levelston to step in at DT and let the young guys rotate in. They haven't.
We needed Bryant, Thomas, Howerton, and Ali to step forward while Jordan stepped in at RG to give our young studs a chance to mature. It hasn't happened.

We are very, very young on the lines with our top players. Having no offseason hasn't helped us be ready to play this year. They need a minute.

Look at WR also. We have 6 absolute stud recruits.
- Roberson - hurt
- Gray - Hurt and no offseason with the team
- Johnson - Fr - not ready yet
- Burns - Fr - not ready yet
- Wiggins - Fr - not ready yet
- TQ - Fr - not ready yet
- Rice - So - ahead of schedule

Offseason would have helped them a ton.

Our depth is very, very young.

If you want to look at problem areas it is at LB. Lots of DITR and nothing great in the wings.

Jason - Good analysis. It looks like a lot of Fr and So. Just curious, how many are on scholarship? Does next year look better? I don't know what a DITR is. I have lowered my expectations for this year.

Insane_Pony_Posse wrote:

SMUstang wrote:I don't know what a DITR is.

Maybe "Division 1 Transfer"?

I dunno

Diamond in the rough; not highly recruited

Yep - and even before Cavan we had Gregg and Rossely with their share of DITR.

Yes, DITR, not highly recruited. All the players I listed as frosh and soph were 3 stars by most services and had offers from multiple P5 schools.

Bottom line is that recruiting appears to be on an uptick under Sonny & his staff but it will take 4-5 years for that to show...so as far as the title of this thread suggests, maybe we will see improvement next year but I would not hold my breath knowing we are likely going to turn the keys over to a true FR QB. Without a dominant defense, that's a lot to ask. I would look to the 2022 season as a far more likely time frame where we might see this program ready to compete for an AAC title

I think Sonny needs to make some bold moves and get a better OC and DC before next season. Don’t know if I’ll still be here by 2022, but we should be on top of the AAC at least by then. There is no reason why SMU can’t recruit the best talent in the AAC. DITR will not get it and will not be necessary.

The problem SMU football has dealt since the JJ and Chad eras is that while both of those coaches improved on what they inherited and at least fielded teams with winning records and earned bowl bids, both of those guys left the program in pretty bad shape so Sonny practically had to completely rebuild this team. He's tried to beef up both the OL and DL but that doesn't happen overnight and as Jason pointed out, most of our more highly rated recruits are only FR & Sophs so that's why the 4-5 years (for those guys to mature). With Stone and some more highly recruited guys at the skill positions and more quality depth, SMU football might finally be ready to compete for an AAC Championship. When you look at how this team has fared against some of the more physical teams in our league, it's obvious we aren't there yet.

True, but the transfer portal has changed things. And more athletes see an opportunity to stay home and play before family and friends.