Super Mega Recruiting Recap

guys signed back on the early signing day. Now we've got the more traditional version of recruiting's National Signing Day again, coverage on ESPN, ESPN two all throughout the day. We're going to talk with Brandon Hoffman. We're going to talk with but Elliott I believe in studio. Is that correct?

good signing day. I think there's good stories. I think there's teams that perhaps out recruited what they've been doing lately, which is always cool to see the talent level coming up at places where it hasn't necessarily been the highest. So I'm excited not just to hear about how the Powers did, but certainly how teams across this vast land have done.

We talked to Brandon, we talked to Bud, We talked to some other friends in and around the world of college football and college football media. We've got parents that are coming on the program to talk about the recruiting process. So not ours, not ours, no no, no, gonna do a deep dive on recruiting, all the players involved, and I don't know, try to peel back the curtain and describe the process.

wearing a Georgia's shirt. And even though he had the hats and the shirts in front of him, the niece was wearing the Georgia shirt and that was his announcement, and then she started crying. I don't know if she didn't want him to go to Georgia or if she just was trying to figure out why everybody was looking

at her. I'm in Merlin Robertson, a four star linebacker out of Southern California, who he announced for Arizona State by also revealing he's going to be a sun devil by a baby at his announcement, unzipping their sweashirt and rebellion Arizona State sweasher. So that's kind of the new thing. Animals are a scene of the past, hats are a little bit of thing of the past, and now we've got babies announcing where guys will be taking their talents for the next three or four years.

He reclassified to be a part of the twenty eighteen class, signed a day with USC, but he joins a group of guys that includes Trevor Lawrence, who was the number one player in the country in the twenty eighteen class and ended up being the composite number one player. I'm in Justin Fields and he's the number two player in the country. So Trevor Lawrence is the number one overall pro style quarterback, a number one overall player, Justin Fields right behind them, and then you have JT.

So great quarterback class, a outstanding defensive line class. I talk about Lawrence and fields one and two and then three, four and five are all defensive ends. Eo Biaoma, who's going to Alabama, was the number three overall player. Zager Thomas is the number four overall player from IMG going to Clemson, and then Michael Parsons, who's a weak side defensive end but could play some linebacker, could play at

number of positions, is the number five overall players. So pass rushers and quarterbacks are the two kind of standards in this class offensive line outside of the select few, not a great class, not a deep class.

two thousand and four USC, the Whitney Lewis year. You know, there have been some extraordinary classes. Florida has had great individual classes. How does this compare to the top of the top of the top?

running back into mere White. You've got the best tackle, the best player in the state of Tennessee, and kid Maye. You've got Bren Cox from in State. You've got Trey Hill, who he and Jamari Sawyer are probably six hundred and fifty pounds of just absolute nastiness at the guard position.

Tyson Campbell, who was probably second best corner on his own team, and he's the number two corner in the country playing with Patrick's certain Adam Anderson, who will probably be the guy that we're not gonna hear from right off the bat, but in three years from now, people are gonna be like, wait a second, this guy was on their roster all these years because he's only about six four, two hundred and fifteen and twenty pounds as an

outside linebacker. But that's the guy that ends up being that two hundred and fifty pass rusher when he gets to Georgia.

what they signed in December. And then alas Kirby Smart ends up pulling in an even better signing day just because of how few spots are left in the caliber of the players he's bringing in that signed today.

even be done. I don't even know what to make of this USC class. How does it compare not just to previous USC classes, but just in terms of talent? What is the context that we should be looking at this USC close in?

a starter. Then they go into Nevada and they get pala Ea Gaiotot and he's been committed for almost a year, probably the best defensive player in the West the last two years when the pads are on on Friday nights. And that doesn't even include some of the other guys that make this class such a strong group. Cut in that second level, guys like Devon Williams, who was a top one hundred player. Oregon really wanted him and then

he announced for USC. Today they get one of the top JUCO players in the nation in Caleb Trembley, who committed just shortly after the December signing period. So USC's closed really it started when JT. Daniels decided he was going to reclassify it. Then they get Almon Ross Saint Brown at the Army Bawl, and then today Leyland Williams ISAA, Taylor Stewart and Elijah Griffin. We thought USC's closed last year was pretty impressive, but yes year it might have even been more.

appear that they had to focus much more nationally. But I think the biggest threat to USC right now in terms of the overall staff and the overall recruiting actors plus the results in the field, is the University of Washington, and that's because Washington is now really established themselves and probably given Stanford they've had great classes with, Stanford has to recruit so much differently. They only have two sigees

from the state of California. Washington comes into southern California and gets a lot of guys that USC wanted, slips to the two that got Sanoah, who was from conquerd Daala South committed to USC back in April, then flip to Washington this week. But the bigger one was going to getting Brandon Caho out of Reno.

just in the state of Washington. He's still getting the top players from Washington, but now he's going into northern California. He's coming into southern California. He's going toe to toe with USC for key guys, and he's winning those battles.

And as long as the Huskies continue to contend in the Pac twelve North and continue to put guys out early in the draft, I think that's going to help them really give USC a run for their money when it comes to recruiting, because they also have that Northwest base that they can recruit from, and they also have a lot of good success in Northern California, largely because Chris Peterson's from there and a couple of key recruiters

are also Northern California native. So I think Washington and UCLA probably give USC the most threat right now and in Oregon is going to eventually. I think, you know, continue to recruit southern California more rather than focusing nationally that they did a little bit under WILLI Taggert and then Arizona. This class is not a great classifyer Arizona standards, but partly because the majority of it signed when rich

Rodriguez is still the coach in December. But we know what kind of recruiter Kevin Solan is and you give him a full year worth of recruiting. I think Arizona's going to see their class as send in the future.

but it's a strong class. Obviously, Tanner McKee is the crown jewel in that class, if you that's my opinion. The problem is they're not going to even get him on campus until twenty twenty because he's immediately planned to serve his LDS mission. They got Michael Wilson from Shawman out of high school and he's the only other in state player that Stanford got in this class. So they did a lot more national recruiting and really didn't recruit the West as hard as they have in the years past.

But it also, you know, they have to recruit from a different pool of candidates than the rest of the pack twelve.

he was going to perhaps end up in Eugene. Spin things positively for me and Oregon fans on a day that wasn't necessarily the best.

to commit there. He took all his official visits in time for the early December signing period, decided not to announce, and then here we are on signing day, and really the last announcement of the day out west was today. He's the number one offense alignment in the West. He can play tackle, he can play guards, He's a fantastic

offensive lineman. And I think that that is definitely the way they needed to end this day because it was going down the road and it kind of started with Miles Battle committing to Ole Miss and then losing other guys, But it was looking like it was going to be a very depressing end of the road for Oregon. But then they ended by getting the best offensive lineman in

the West. And that's the team that the guy that they beat Alabama for that they beat USC four and then Utah obviously was trying to keep him close to home.

But again I mentioned this sarily with Washington. When you can beat Alabama and USC for recruit that's huge, and Oregon ends the day by getting Finay Sewel And I think that that it is one way to spin it to say, you know what, considering they lost an entire recruiting weekend before the early signing period, and they lost a lot of key commit down to Willie Tagger or to other schools in the South.

Utah all pulling blue chip quarterbacks. I'm sure I'm forgetting somebody, But is the level of quarterback entering the PAC twelve really that high?

to take over for Justin Herbert at Oregon. And then you have the transfer that Jacob Eeson, he could be the next guy Jake Browning, or it's one of the two freshmen you have Jack Coletto at Oregon State, who is going to be expected to come in a play right away. So I think Yogi is definitely onto something by saying that this is one of the best classes because of the depth of the talent, the quarterback position.

that was really smart. One of the things that Edwards did that was smart was he went and hired some assistant coaches who understood recruiting. One of those was Tony White, who'd probably been the best recruiter in the Mountain West over the last decade. A couple of times he was a mount and West recruiter of the Year. Really helped build the San Diego State program from a recruiting standpoint,

they hire him and then Antonio Pears. Now he's never been a college coach before, but he'd been the head coach at Lombach probably for the last couple of years. He'd been a part of the Nike Opening Tour, so he was traveling to the Nike Openings around the country. He'd worked at the Nike Opening Finals, but he coached at the school that's produced more NFL players than any other school in the country. And then to top it off, his own son was recruited two years ago. He's playing

at Boise State now he's a starter there. So Antonio Pierce understands it as a high school coach, he unders understands it as a father, and understands it as a guy who went through the recruiting process as a JUCO player. And so they kind of turned into Pierce loose in southern California. He's a big reason they got Merlin Robinson and then the two Long Beach Quality four sad they got the Shari Crosswell and Jermaine Lolay. Those were all

because of Antonio Pierce. So if Firm Edwards doesn't quite understand what recruiting entails. He at least has hired some assistants that completely understand it. And that's going to be the surprise when people look at these final rankings, and you know, with all the jokes and the chuckles that Firm Edwards has produced over these last couple of months, they got a class that I don't think other people are going to be laughing at because there's some talent in this class.

the state of Texas, the Holmer's kind of lost their way. Well, Herman realized, if you have an entire year to recruit these guys as opposed to four or five weeks, which he did when he came over from Houston, you're going to have that much more success. And so Texas signed six of the top seven players from the composite rankings. But more importantly, they're at positions where those are guys

that can come on and make a difference early. You've got great defensive backs from Jalen Green, plus the three headed safety monster with the Marvin Overshawn, Kayden Sterns, bj Foster, Foster was fantastic in the under Armour game, Cayden Sterns with the MVP of the Army ball. And then you got Brendan Eagle, the big physical receiver from Texas as well. Then you got a couple other corners, DeShawn Jamison and

Anthony Cooks. So when you're in the Big twelve and in a conference that can light up the scoreboard, and sometimes people question do they even play defense in the Big twelve When you can go and sign six premier defensive backs from your own backyard, That's one way.

came open, those relationships had already been established. This wasn't like Charlie Strong coming from Florida and then Louisville and now being thrown into the pit of Texas and trying to recruit against you know, at that time in Art Briles, at that time at Cliff Kingsbury, you know who's at Texas Tech. Guys who have had experience that understood what Texas football recruiting was like. And even when Kevin Fumblin, when Charlie Strong got there, Kevin Summan has things really

going strong at that point. Well, now Herman has those two years to kind of lay in the weeds, getting to know the local coaches, getting to know the local talent. So when he made the move to the Flaship University, he already had those relationships established and he understood what it meant to recruit the state of Texas. So I think that those two years very much an underrated aspect of why he has has had the quick success to success as a recruiter in state.

had a phenomenal season. They win the conference, They have a terrific Rose Bowl that comes up just short for the for the Sooners, but this is an excellent class. They addressed defensive line issues. If anybody saw that game, they that you know there was some work to be done up front. They get a blue chip quarterback, they get a great corner, they get an unbelievable offensive tackle. This Oklahoma class looks to be as good as recent Sooner classes, and they didn't seem to rely like on

recent years going into California as much. What is it about this Oklahoma class that stands out?

of school's making a late charge. Bookie Radley Hiles has originally committed in Nebraska and then when that program kind of imploded under Mike Riley, he came back on the market. Oklahoma got him, They went over to Missouri, they got Ronnie Perkins from over there. They went down into Texas,

they got some key guys. But really, to me, what was the most impressive part was keeping the two best players in the state of Oklahoma, offensive lineman bray Walker, who I watched him both at the US Armel American Bowl and then at the Polynesian Bowl, and he will remind Oklahoma fans this is comparisons that made a bunch, But he reminds me of Orlando Browanns, who I saw

at the Central Fidelis game his senior year. Big massive guy, great walker for the six seven, three hundred and twenty pounds, moves like he's so light on his steed and he's just a monster. He's a big kid, and he's not even the biggest off at the tackle. They got in this class because they went down to Texas and got Darryl Simpson who's six seven, three hundred and forty pounds.

So they did a good job of recruiting that kind of that Midlands part of the country, both in Oklahoma and down to Texas, going over to Missouri to get some tey guys, and then just kind of being very selective with the players they got outside of the Midland regions, a couple of kids from Florida, a couple of kids from California, and really making that focus being kind of that middle part of the country where they really have pass of success in the years past with Missouri.

athleticism that they're able to attract. Is there a class in the Big twelve that you know might not be top fifteen or top twenty, but you look at overall what they were able to attract and in your mind you think, man, a lot of these guys are going to succeed because they made great decisions about where their talent matches up with what coach, school system, et cetera.

true duel threat. His mom was a former American gladiator. He's already on campus. And then they got rock Furry, who was kind of under recruited to a lappable sense up until mid December. Only offer was Northern Arizona and then Boise stayed offer. Well, he doesn't sign in in December. The next tho, rock Furry is choosing between Alabama, Texas, A and M and Iowa State, but he ended up picking Iowa State because he felt that comfort level there.

So they got a couple of pretty good quarterbacks there. But you know, Matt Campbell did a good job. He went into Ohio, He's got some roots, got Joseph Skate, a four star receiver from up there. He got some good juco guys that could come in and play right away. And so Iowa State's not necessarily a school you think is going to be able to recruit nationally, but they

actually did a good job of recruiting nationally. And then the one that has become everybody's favorite, punching bag for the last few years, and that's Kansas.

guys doubled down on their commitment to Kansas. Anthony Williams and Curry and Harris, both the New Orleans area.

go to school together. Ben Wilson, a four star linebacker from Sumner, Washington who had a bunch of tacked roll boxers that went down, fell in love with what Gary Patterson does as a coach, home in love with what

CAC is doing as a program. TCU doesn't really need to recruit the West Coast all that much, but that's two years in a row that TCU has gone into Washington and grabbed the kid and grabbed the Pac twelve commit So you know, Gary Patterson decides that he wants to expand kind of his recruiting at a little bit.

I think that could give some problems to the Texas and Oklahoma's because he's starting to really show that longevity and he's not going or no matter how many times like Mark Few, no matter how many times he's mentioned with every other head coaching job, he just continues to plug the way down there at TCU. And I think that that success that hadn't the Big twelve in the last few years is allowing him to recruit a little bit more nationally if he so chooses.

find him now at twenty four seven Sports. Just to round out your composite top ten here before we let you go, talked a lot about Georgia, but Ohio State, Texas, USC Penn State rounds out the top five, followed by Clemson, Alabama, Miami, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame branded Throughout the entire recruiting cycle, was there any one story, anyone recruit something that you looked at and you said, Wow, that's that's an exciting story to follow, You know, I.

they end up signing him. The guy's never played football and now a Pac twelve school, a Power five program is bringing him in, not as a specialist, not as a kicker, or a punter, but to be an outside linebacker slash defensive end. And so you kind of had some boring storylines. And then boom, Utah goes and hires one of the Signs, one of the best young rugby players in the world who'd never played football. And now

you just know how it works in Utah. This is yeah, being like or four year starter and end up being an NFL draftic. It's all gonna be because Kyle Willingham is smart enough to know, Hey, let's go down to Australia and find some of these rugby players.

Every one of their shirts goes through extensive quality control testing, so you're only going to get the absolute best quality and craftsmanship. Best of all, they guarantee a perfect fit. So if you get it, if for whatever reason it doesn't fit, let them know. They'll remake it for free. It's the future of shirts, Dan, because again, everything completely custom for you. It all starts at just eighty bucks.

Catch the wave. He got Valentine's Day coming up. Our friends over at MBMT, they've been very proactive about this and I admire it because thoughtful. I'm always looking like, what can I get the solid wife for Valentine's Day. They've got an interactive gift guide now that can help make Valentine's Day shopping as painless as possible. And it doesn't matter whether you're shopping for him or for her. Find everything for watches to fashion forward bracelets to the sunglasses.

MVMT has it all. They'll give you it all in a really cool limited edition gift box.

a little bit less hectic. I think in general, our audience on Inspianation I always think about it is a little bit more of a casual recruiting audience because from my perspective, if you're a crazy recruiting die hard, you're probably paying a subscription to one of the sites, right, so you use us to supplement maybe, you know, you get your ten thousand foot view of things. So a lot of I think our fans, some of them probably didn't know there was an early signing period, but in

the future years, I think they probably will. It's been an interesting day, a little bit less hectic than previous signing days. But the early signing period also creates this dynamic where you know, instead of being at like an eleven on National Signing Day, you're kind of at like an eight for six weeks, you know, starting write poor Christmas with the early period and then rolling up into this.

And it's also shifted the recruiting calendar. You know, I've had to look at twenty nineteens and twenty twenties earlier than I normally think I will, right fair, So diving into twenty eighteen, which is now old. Is there a story beyond Georgia's class is filthy and borderline unprecedented. I think the main takeaways are, like you said, George's class, and when I say filthy, I mean that in a

good way. Just to be clear, I mean Georgia signed I think they signed more five stars in the rest of the SEC put together.

In talking to coaches, what you hear is, you know a lot of our best targets are still out there after the early signing period, but there's not that like just you know, high quality player, we can go get the drop off like so many of these, like let's just call them good players they signed early. You know, look at a Minnesota or a Toledo or a suttern miss or a TCU. They signed a lot of kids that I feel like a lot of programs really wanted to wait right and just hey man, look we don't

overgra space for you. But like so you know in talking like three star with four star flashes, yeah, exactly it. Plan a's were still there, but like there weren't enough Plan b's and Plan c's and Plan d's. A lot of this is like Plan A and Plan F. It really is kind of the Stars and Scrubs approach. You know, the pay in seventy five bucks for Mike trout of auction and fill out the rest of your your auster

with one dollar players. That's been a big time difference, and I think we are seeing and as recruiting media, we have to be watched this, like the profiles of these kids being elevated because they didn't sign right, Like, there's no question on these three stars are getting more

attention than otherwise would. Okay, so let's talk about Georgia, because Georgia has a class that if we're going to be specific, and it's very hard to be specific with so much talent, this looks to be the best offensive line class in the country, especially inside. They've got a pair of guards I believe who are outstanding. They may have the best quarterback in the country. They may have what the best running back in the country. They may

have the best outside linebacker in the country. Where is this class particularly strong? Who are the names that people listening to the show, even if they're not a Georgia fan, will know sooner rather than later. Okay, justin Fields, who I've compared to a taller, bigger Russell Wilson in terms of playing style and ability. He's also a baseball guy, so I think the comp fits, sir. In terms of style.

I'm not saying he's quite as talented. He may be more talented physically, but Russell Wilson's pretty good.

ford is a baller AND i love his competitive. SPIRIT i mean he just. Goes he CAN i cuss on, here, yeah go for. It he just talks. Shit it gets up in everybody's, face immediately love it and backs it up. Great they Flipped Quay, walker another outside line linebacker From. Alabama Nadad joseph is a really, nice like developmental long corner they got out Of. Miami Norland Azizo jaalai is a really like nice, long developmental defensive end who can give him a pass. Rush Tommy bush is one of

my favorite receivers in the. CLASS i feel like you have your guys that you kind of, Like, HEY i see this, kid and he doesn't have big time offers yet or not rated highly. Yet i've been tweeting about him for over a. Year ever SINCE i saw him back at The nike camp In houston on a cold day on The Super bowl last. Year THAT i can't. Beat he stood out, There. Ty you can't, see But bud is. Sweating he is getting. Charge it's. Tired you

want to know About you want to know About Justin? Fields, though, right we talked about him.

there In. Atlanta and there's a good chance That georgia will put up a lot of points on teams and backups will come in And Justin fields will get time to prove himself in action even if he's not. Starting let's go through some other classes near the. Top tie is. There you don't spend thirty minutes On. GEORGIA i just don't think we have the. Time we only have the studio for a little bit ty elsewhere in THE. Sec

what fascinates. You we've got just an outstanding resource and butt. Here, YEAH i, Mean i'm always interested in how new coaches. Fare and we've seen a fair amount of turnover in THE sec places Like, florida not just this, year but in the last couple of. Years, Right So, florida there's been recent turnover AT. LSU i know there was some disappointment there with their recruiting. Class But TEXAS a AND.

he was already on the. STAFF i, mean these guys who come in that didn't have any existing. Relationships they were scrambling and early. SIGNING i mean some of these guys were having to sign kids like fifteen days after they got. Hired Jeremy pruit got hired what Like december, tenth, issue it was pretty late in the.

make a big time difference for The. Gator SO i know the fans are really disappointed, today BUT i don't think that class is as big of a disappointment as as Some ofator fans. Thinking and the real KEY i think if you are a new coach is you have to strike a balance between meeting your numerical needs so that you don't get in a situation where your death is totally, screwed and also going after enough talented players to where you can't just take a bunch of. Filler

that balance is not easy to. Achieve you as a, Coach i've got to get in here and, Say, okay we're pretty good at this, spot this, spot this butt in this. Spot so we're only going to take like our level of player at these positions and in this, spot this, pot in this. Spot, man our depth is not, good and we have got to just make sure we take a body who if we had to put on a, field he wouldn't be a total, disaster regardless of how

far down we have to go on our. Board pretty much, SO i think most of the teams did a good job with. That tennessee had a disappointing, day but, again that's a really hard. Situation ole miss is coming off a really difficult situation as. Well Mississippi state kind of recruited on part or where they normally. DO i, mean you, know six four, stars twenty three, kids that's not too. Bad jimbo did the best job as far as closing

things out. TODAY i Think mullen did a pretty good job from the time he was hired fair enough and let's go to the leg as literal elephant in the. Room alabama wins The National. Championship they lose both, Coordinators Brian able to THE, Nfl Jeremy pruitz To. Tennessee there's more attrition year over Yere they're losing two to three coaches and they still managed to recruit at least this year on a top ten. Level usually it's a top three. Level is what is what stands? OUT i guess About

alabama's class this? Year what impressed you beyond the fact, that, like, oh they have a ton of talented. Kids what direction did they?

guys come in off last. Years they lost a lot of a lot of coaches off that runner up, team and they Lost lane and they, lost uh who was THE dc? There, well they Lost, LANE i mean had been and they lost somebody else to Although Mario cristobaul right To, Oregon Billy napier To Arizona. States they you, know obviously this Year Brian, dable like there is year over, year they thought they were going to Promote sark to offensive.

Coordinator that like their, connections guys familiar With tuscaloosa and their recruiting cycle. Gone the back to back coaches leading Like pruitt carried that recruiting class a lot this year and then he takes. OFF i think that that Hurt alabama. Some and these kids didn't know The obama coaches like they normally. Would And nick's a tremendous, recruiter but it's hard for head coach to have personal relationships with, like you, know sixty top, targets, right and SO i think the

turnover there hurt. Them that they really got some good players though in this. CLASS i mean a nomah of the defensive end out Of, baltimore out Of Saint Francis. IS i mean, legit if we didn't have the crazy quarterbacks this, year he would be a legitimate argument for the number one player in the.

just kind of plug. Him in he's that, you know will COACH, At img he'll. Play early and the secret sort of Thing about alabama specifically is they pull in these blue chip. Defensive backs they don't have to play. Right away they get time to sort of season in the system with let's, be clear probably the best defensive backs coach in the Country And. Nick saban so it's one of those things where they have time to learn

and to grow and they're not counted on. Right away and when they are in when they do need to get, into games whether it's as a nickelback, or whatever. They're ready. They're twenty they're twenty, one ridiculous and the kids they did get ARE really i will say that that. Is true they also like the kids they got. Are polished you're getting pats or. TANS kid i mean that dude was what a Three Time all pro and has been. DRILLED forever i think that's what makes a, special prospect

that he is that polished and he is. THAT big i mean he's six one and a half two hundred and an elite. Level athlete josh job a kid they Flipped from miami like a, month ago kind of the. Same way just, you, know, big polished ready. To GO and i got some good developmental guys. As WELL but i feel like this Is a it's a strong class. For them it's not on par with they, normally sign but a lot of that is due to. The, size sure they didn't take them. Any kids nineteen is.

number one Player In Ohio. Jackson Carmen ohio state wasn't too happy about. Losing him that was the early. Signing, period yeah You Know, darien kendrick who's a really special playmaker. At receiver they also got a Kid Named, justin ross the number one Player in, alabama Arguably who i'm really

high on, six'. Four two hundred he's, a basketball guy hadn't played a whole, lot of football but the catches he makes on his highlight tape just show a natural ability to body control and the ability to pluck the ball. With his hands if you can teach that guy in the, run some routes then that's going to. Be really scary

and they just did. A great job they're just kind of there are a, lot on numbers but that'll happen, when you convinced like several first round picks to return to school instead.

experience combined is. A big advantage as far as that their recruiting class against the rest of the, LEAGUE this year i think at the top end it's, really really strong and if they can build on that, next year too then they're going to be set up to be

like A favorite of cora in the league for. A long time MIAMI is Steadily I think willie tagert probably did the best job out of any first year coach as far as salvaging what they had because they were in The Sixties with jima fisher left and then sort of that like high to. MID level range I Like what nc. State's doing it that's a staff with the number of young interject cruiter to identifying guys early. Getting

Them on justin foente is doing. A nice Job vigen tech u and c had a very strong bounce back class after kind of a horrible year. On the Field they signed Barnes out of florida who was a four. OR five star i forgot what his. Final ranking was. Big time off it's a tackle that they took his. TEAMMATE as well i believe so that the top half OF the a sec has done done. A good job

the bottom half they're just not winning BATTLES against. Their sec counterparts just, on that topic there are schools that are really good at identifying not, high level talent but talent that, fits really well that looks like they will. Develop into something is there anybody in the bottom HALF of the acc or is that what they need? To do better they need to be. MORE self Aware I think wake forrest is a really good job of that in a year, in year basis and then we call

it the sweet. Spot right right if you, aim too low you won't have enough talent. On your roster if you aim too, high and miss then what's? Your backup plan the drop off there is. PROBABLY too significant i think that was something that will Must Champ at south carolina not to go BACK, to THE sec but i think year one they aimed a little. Bit, Too high okay, IN recent years i Feel Like like south carolina has

done a really good job finding. Your, sweet spot hey we want to get in on a couple, high level kids and at the same time we realize we're not going to sign a billion high level Kids Because, it's south carolina so we need to find other kids who can. FIT our program i think SOME of, THE see teams i don't say they, aim too low but they're just not bringing in enough elite talent to really. Make a difference that that's where. The depth is that the teams at the TOP of the acc are just as talented

as the teams in the Top Of. The inner league some, of, these teams though are not bringing in enough four and five starter Guys or any, in, SOME cases sure i will give, you, A name though i want to see if. This guy signed i'm not sure how, to pronounce this but this kid's. Film is Ridiculous, He's. From italy okay he Played Ball, at clearwater academy which is about an hour and a half. From My House clear Wire International. Habout kook, baldonado oh. GOD oh yeah i know about

THIS case because i think He looked at oregon. A little bit i was sort of catching up with. All recruiting stuff he's a he's very, slim for, RIGHT yeah yeah i mean they got him listed, at six.' five two thirty i don't know if, he's actually two thirty but That's a guy that pitt did a great job getting in on and it would not surprise me if he is like an early round draft pick in. A, couple of, Years, Interesting All.

killed receiver i Mean Just they got Treyshon. Harrison out Of Seattle, they got Jordan Young, they got Warren Thompson, they got keyshon Heldon They. Got to marcus adams they're switching to a spread or, more of a spread. You know type thing. They needed a receiver they went out and they just signed a bunch, of studs at receiver like.

That's a huge win they kept a lot of really important pieces in the class Who were, waivering once, jimbo Left You, know linebacker Mary Gaynor, DEFENSIVE Tackle Robert Cooper. dB santae, SAMUEL jr and god i feel PRETTY old SAYING that i don't i don't know. If you guys.

told my reader tomahawk they weren't doing anything for. A, couple of months wow they really were just, asleep at the wheel which is how you end. Up in the Sixties In recruiting at florida state obviously because probably. Should never Be There and now florida state two of their most talented players in this Class Are. From The, West, coast west coast Yeah in that small now these kids Are Tweeting like, hashtag WEST coast knowles and i don't

think that's going. To last long term but it'd be an idiot not to use their relationships you built over the last. Year if you're taggered so he did a. Good job with that they. Didn't get A Quarterback jimbo. Got james FOSTER today that was i think A Surprise to both FLORIDA state and to lsu, at least you know. OVER the past week i think last night they had a decent idea that he. Might not be coming but it's. A PRETTY deep class but i feel like they didn't.

Reach too much either. They took twenty one there were a couple of KIDS on the board i know they could have extended offers to and they elected. TO pocket those scholarship i think next year they want to take like a twenty six or. Twenty seven man class so one of the things that you know has been very apparent in talking About these Top Classes, alabama NOW florida state, great dB class overall it seems like nationally and another

school that did really well with defensive backs is. In that same conference miami did really well with defensive backs, and aside from that in terms of offensive, skill with, running back. WIDE receiver tight end i know they bring in. A Blue Chip quarterback It's. Jaron williams or williams this is a class that even as of, a few weeks ago people were saying this could, be, a top one

two three class and ultimately didn't finish. Probably one or two but this is an Incredibly impressive Haul, from mark rex All his best class. Miami's, HAD in years okay i. MEAN it Really Is i like. Lorenzo lingard a lot now he's six, foot of buck ninety. But he runs track once he knocks, that track stuff off he's probably. Gonna, Be two ten now i'm not saying He's as talented, AS darren McFadden stylistically i would. Comp him to that he's,

really a violent. SLASHER good Burst Downfield i like. Jared williams a lot that's A Great get from. Mark Rick to quarterback delane scaife is a big time Guard who They, signed brian high tower REALLY nice PLAYER at img who i think compliments the other. Receivers, in his, class well you know they got some Size With. Him and dak wiggins They Got tied end Breben Jordan Out, Of bishop gorman nestville severa was the best. Et in the. State

they got him now THEY Did. With, on d lineman overall that's the second year in a row they've they've had some issues at that And this coming year miami has got to GET To get on d lineman and they got a lot of, playing time to offer and they, did this Year too so maybe i'll have to change up their. APPROACH some with That I. LOVE receiver mark pope. I mean this guy if, you haven't seen This go. On our Facebook Page. Check out mark Pope they call

him noodles and he just. He Just Destroys people al Blades junior. Obviously A. Miami legacy nice dB, some people were like? Is he a corner?

A pretty good class seems to me like it's. Built around the essentials, They strengthened their line they've got a lot of, defensive players in there both at the second level with wine up good, linebacker class tie yeah and at the third level back. In the defensive backfield When You look, at notre dames class what? Stands? OUT to You.

Asset as. A blocker good hands i mean he's not the most athletic, kid in the world but if he's six seven to two forty, NOW as he's listed i think he can be two seventy wow and, be a really nice. Nice blocker for y'all that's a big time avenge. In The Run game love kevin. AUSTIN as a receiver i feel like He Was very. UNDERRATED michigan state legacy i believe tough guy sixty three two. HUNDRED dish big time i. REALLY like Like Him, i like shane simon the,

Another Linebacker. Y'ALL sign lawrence keys i think it's kind of a. Specialty, kid you got yeah THEY picked him up i think today or last.

this year were underrated. Because of the hurricanes so you had a lot of a lot of games that were canceled so people didn't. Get to see him, sure you had games you Had games, moved to tuesday nights and so like some of these kids Were playing Games. On, tuesday and friday interesting so they really. It limited The exposure, like where wilkins lives they didn't have power for like fourteen days and it. Kind of disrupted Stuff So nice job notre dame going down. THERE to get him i

Also Like the Safety. PAUL maloe, at indianapolis i mean he's rated nine and twenty. Eight In the nation that's i'm not gonna tell you he's like. A TOP hundred kid, that's i don't know a. Couple hundred spots low if you like that. Sticks, out to me oh And Then, they GOT noah Boykin who I knew florida in virginia were really hoping to get a, corner, that was today right that. Was a late signee Let's, stay in the midwest which IS not a phrase i like to say,

All that often personally. But Here we are ohio state. Has an amazing class this is something. We Say every year, urban meyer amasses talent did a lot, of this early on but he LANDED the number one i believe offensive. Tackle IN the country and i still think they ended, up, WITH a quarterback right I think He's From texas after emery jones ended Up. Not going to columbus but this is it looks to be a great defensive Line Class.

Defense overall ohio state it's just it's a. MACHINE at, this point i, mean is there like are there three players that stand out from this class or is it just like A top, to bottom. They're ridiculous All right nicholas tite frere to moorn offensive tackle in the? Nation who you? MENTIONED what separates him i think just athleticism and size and, yet, he's so raw okay like he's going to be so much better. Than he already is but he's a legit like he's like a skinny two eighty,

Five at six six he's got a lot. Of room to Grow He's, built like tyron smith the guy that plays Left. Tackle FOR the cowboys WAS i like the d tackles they signed in a year that IS not a. Good, D tackle year okay so like position scarcity, is a real thing and not every year has the same amount of good players at. Exactly every single position some years are good years for one position and in the. Following year is not this WAS not a. GOOD d tackle

year i don't actually think there was a true five. Stard, Tackle this, year wow, We've Seen you Know Christian wilkins And Dexter lawrence and rashaun gary and guys like. THAT in previous years i didn't see anybody. Like that this year SO if, you needed d tackles the number of really good. Ones was very small they went out inside the best. Two In The, country damn tarn vincent who is the son the giant like gigantic, son by The Way A former, All Pro nfl corner troy Vincent sure

for the eagles about one hundred pounds. Bigger than the dad and then they also got The kid OUT of idaho's.

i like. CAMERON babb a lot i know we, got hurt this year but when he has the, ball in his hands he's Like A running back ohio state able to. Get him in space And There's A Linebacker dallas caan't dallas gant rated outside. THE top one FIFTY i know there's i guess there's ten outside. Linebackers better than him i'm not entirely, you, DON'T say it sure i just give ONE of the kids i really.

they have a ton of momentum. On the recruiting side they obviously got A Guy like a micah parsons who folks. Are really excited about in. The early signing period they. Added some other names today when you, look at the class where do you think the Strength Is of What Penn state and james franklin went out? And, did this time well.

basketball player but he looks. Like one, of those, guys it's like, oh man if he develops that's a first round looking kid because he has the length in. The frame to do that and, speaking Of Length and frame receiver Justin Shorter is like, at terrell, owens clung. Style BODY size speed Ridiculous what. I like was shorter though, he's got the long speed but he also has the quickness and a lot of times you don't see that with.

The guys who are tall are a lot of, the dudes, who, are tall they're builders right it takes a little time. To get up top speed he's got the instant go and the extra gear to get deep so that that's going to. Be really nice for THEM and then a guy i. Think he's gonna play early one of the highest floor players in THIS. Class, for me is pj mustafer a d tackle who's. Clearly been schooled really well not.

The most freakish of athletes he's, a top one hundred kid but he's, not like a You Know he's not a dexter lawrence, type dude, at the, tackle great. HANDS really quick good technique i think he's a guy who could be. An excellent college football player you know what it seems like to me with When You look, at this penn state class they have three positions that are filled by allegedly the best player in the country At That Position Is in mike parson's ricky slade as an

all Purpose back and. Just for shorter at receiver it seems to me when you when you look at, where these guys are from there's a, lot Of Like, that coast the, Atlantic Coast. There's you know new Jersey These guys seem like urban meyer would have been recruiting them and Getting, commitments from Them at storta and like maryland Guys. Would be going, to, alabama Whatever It is right and james franklin has done an amazing job of not, just keeping pa kids home but that whole region. Within two

or three states he is he is. Building, a multi state Fence Well think about who ohio state did, try, TO recruit These Kids right i mean michael parsons that. THEY were on really Aggressively I, Know They, wanted justin shorter Rashid Walker the kid. At ohio state signed. TODAY they wanted him bad i mean they were one of the. Top two finalists for him there's a lot of These Kids that do Have Ohio, state offers. In ohio state

absolutely one it's act. Serves a lot, of credit by the way Preliminary Calculations here looks like penn state is the newest member. Of, the Blue Chip, ratio hey so, penn state there you go.

It's perfect or it's infallible that are heavy broken organ, Almost snap, The streak twice yeah exactly but there's sort of like a it's almost like a necessary but not sufficient condition, if you hit the ratio you're not going. To win a national championship but, if you don't hit it. It's, really tough to do so like you probably need a team of like super veteran guys who are really, close to be in there, maybe like a you know, forty five percent type team and then you also have like.

A transcendent quarterback type thing so there's usually between like ten and fifteen teams in a given year who have done so. Over The Previous, Four, cycles So. PENN state OKLAHOMA and texas i think i got, to RUN the numbers finally but i think they're all going to be back in the. Club this year fair enough and we'd

be remiss if we didn't talk. About ANOTHER big ten power and i badly want To, just START talking about wisconsin but i Will be kind and say michigan actually did not sign a class that was necessarily on par with what they've done the Past Couple. Of years under jim harbaugh Is the? Panic reasonable from michigan fans is it just an average down year and you still, like guys in, this class or you know is their reason to actually say we have to? Write THE ship recruiting

Wise so i don't think michigan has like fallen. OFF recruiting wise a ton i think they had. An, unfortunate combination of, timing OKAY we all knew or i think most people knew that twenty seventeen was going to be a, down yere on the field given. All that they had lost combine That with the fact that michigan did not have. That many spots to give. They only took nineteen kids

now MAYBE they could, have taken i don't. Know twenty or Twenty one i'm sure our michigan side, will correct me on this But under no circumstances with michigan are going to be able to fit like twenty seven. Kids and load this thing they capitalized last year on a strong year in Which They. Went to the orange bowl they had to weather the storm this year on the field and on the recruiting tree because they knew they weren't, going to be that. Good And, indeed they weren't for

michigan twenty eighteen is, kind. Of, make A break right sure if michigan goes out and kicks ass, On the field this Year i'm pretty sure in michigan will go back and dominate. On, the recruiting trail, again sure if they don't then that's back to back years on the field where They're not very impressive and harborough's. Program is not making, progress and then guess what elite kids from out of state probably aren't going. To sign up for that so this has really sort of been a, like, a,

Instead of buy sell hold. I'm just kind of holding i'm waiting to see what twenty eighteen, will be on

the field and that'll strongly reflect in. The twenty nineteen recruiting class let's look At The rest, of THE big ten quickly because i know you have at least a couple of classes where you know they're not top, heavy with blue chip recruits but in terms of what these teams have done, recently and how they've improved either with new, coaches or just recent success Who Are teams in the big ten that you see as infusing with a. LOT more talent than usual, I, got to tell you dan

in the days, after The early signing period, When, i'm talking to coaches hey? What's your, board look like you know is there a kid or two you really? Didn't want? To sign earlier who did the name that KEPT coming up Was was i can't believe minnesota got this kid to sign wow over and over again from Like, major powers In The southeast like receiver rashad baite rated the number sixty. One receiver in, a country. There's no way

no way he's a Stud. GOT him Out of Georgia I think georgia and florida, state wanted him to wait. Interesting he didn't do, it minnesota got that kid a, kid who if he waited they would have absolutely signed him one of those, schools Or like you know a florida. OR or Somebody Like. That i like terrelle smith He's. Another kid out of georgia they went And Got down out of. SOUTH gwinnette BIG time cornerback i think i. Think He's An underrated player REMEMBER, benny sap in the

Nfl played for Like. The vikings and the, dolphins they got his son who happens to be. A lot taller THAN him he's a corner i like a Lot of. KID out of minnesota TOO O, Lineman from the img academy curtis Dun Nappen, or dunlapp and DANIEL fallele Two kids who i think minnesota's, a Good fit for them right they need to work on. Their Bodies a, little bit in falle's case he just needs to work On. Learning the game foot paul He's Only been in the.

United States, for, a year, HE'S australian right huge guy i, Mean six eight FOUR hundred, like, we're not i mean Legit we're. TALKING TY hildon. BRAND size i i Was I was at the orange bowl a Couple Of Years ago when the BIG show was there and i was in. The press elevator with? Him how was that scary balle is Literally The like. Like the big show size that's

like there's very few. Humans in life you'll see it's like whoa and and those those two are probably LIKE the two utter like i guess shack like like two of the largest humans. You'll ever see, in person he's that big but he. Needs to. Learn THE game Mm hmm and I Think maryland whereas like jonathan, ogden coming into college football. He, was a football player yeah he was ready, to, Dominate At that size right so minnesota

had a really. A heck Of a class i think nebraska Had A. Nice close under scott fast wisconsin kind of does what they do. To get guys that fit although we talked earlier On A periscope on my twitter spn Recruiting that We did with dan in wisconsin for next year. LOOKING really strong right, now i like their, Quarterback they have a lot they've got a number of kids committed who are just Quite frankly better players in wisconsin normally gets so that they might finally be turning

these wins gradually into. A slightly better caliber recruits. They're, getting guys drafted highly yeah you Know we're talking, about the watt brothers, absolutely and even around Elsewhere Even. Outside of, the big ten You know, You, like the toledo class like there are, a group of five Classes not Necessarily just in texas and florida that have done a really good job this year. And the early signing period this Is, Who It's Made For. TOLEDO southern miss. COASTAL carolina I

Like setting. I, like south carolina's class okay, not a group, of, five let's be clear sure RIGHT but within within the sec they. Might as well be h i'm. Probably, go some, Hate mill, wow that's okay. Now listen it's ABOUT honesty You know Those I mean, toledo GOT gus bradley's kid who i think is going to, fit that offense really well and he not gotten. HURT in his senior year

i feel like He would be. A. Surefire POWER five kid wow so i. Like that signing, a lot there's, ANOTHER kid by the way i want to point out early signing period kid, Who if he had waited and this might be like a sort of a cautionary. Tale For kids in futures and i'm not saying don't sign, at, these mid level schools right but There Is no doubt That devon matthews out of jacksonville would have had like a ton better options or not. To, say better bigger

options yeah and He waited. For the traditional sunday instead, You. Know, where he went indiana okay this Kid's. Gonna Kill It for indiana and tom Allen. Has, the connection to florida yeah HE'S Probably the most. Talented. dB indiana's ever signed wow and they Also Signed a guy that florida state was on, for, A Long. Time, too right James. Miller

yes he, liked indiana he he. Well not a long time apparently that that might, Have, Been An issue there okay florida state didn't Offer, him until real late okay and then it looked like maybe he was under some pressure to sign with schools who. Were, on him for longer okay, He, was sort of like hey are you really going to, play here, as opposed.

to auburn and he. Was LISTENING to the schools and i never want to get, involved IN the. Kids recruitment so i. Didn't you don't, Say anything, in, my head i'm thinking man you were. Just, Picking the biggest name yeah like that is not a good. Fit for your skill set they run the heck out of the quarterback when they Got, a kid when heel yeah and you have a lot of options that, are less like you

know famous names of schools that. Probably. Fix your skill set better so maybe the early signing paper will help some of these kids because if you're signed early, with us with the place that school probably really wants you because. They're, committed to, You early Right You, Know minnesota or shot babey mike or might go in.

and meanwhile george is. In a talent RICH state it, does, not, I mean Obviously well yeah i mean jordan starts starting to TREAT their State. Like like, usc treats california that's incredible kind of like like the. Writer first refusal type thing is there a story now when you look back at this signing class? That stands out to you is there,

anybody's recruitment, where you say you know It's Not. Like crazy like terrell Pryor We had the big jacob copeland today with his mom initially walking off set because it looked like she didn't Want. Him to go to florida, but then they they reconciled so it seemed like it. Ended in a happy way but in terms of is there a, Story that you say this this recruitment Was the most interesting and i'm excited to see. How Things go for, HIM the patzertan thing. Was i mean really

interesting and, for Those who don't Know. Obviously cirtancy is From, Louisiana. HE played, it, SUTURN miss i think okay lsu was the leader. For, him like forever years yeah and for saving to go AND, get him away from Lsu and. FOR how well jimbo closed i think THERE'S A dynamic in the sec west now where the PRESSURE it's just totally, On lsu for twenty nineteen like they have got, to do a good job because. Otherwise what are you doing

the reasoning behind hiring that. Coaching staff was what recruiting, We Got. A baller recruiter edward ron we're gonna surround. Him with Some Awesome coordinators it's the dabo SWINNING. Model come to the sec except. THE recruiting is not there i mean they're, not doing a Bad job but they're not they're Not making up ground, IN alabama RIGHT and NOW a and M with I Guarantee you Jimbo And, tim,

brusher and damian craignose. Guys they're not messing around if you give a guy seventy five million dollars, guaranteed as a head coach they're going to Sign, some kids out of houston which IS a major. Stronghold for lsu as well so that's sort of, a thing when that, happened and, it was like oh man THAT the pressure's on at, lsu and quickly that's incredible and the pressure is on for twenty nineteen and. We're barely, into twenty eighteen, That's recruiting.

Ty Feel, good feel good but elliott thank you. Very MUCH for your time and i think it's everything sort of. Wrapping down now for. You it's onto twenty nineteen you've got a lot of sixteen Year olds, to follow on twitter now, so good luck, with everything and once AGAIN Be sure To follow espn recruiting on twitter and of course On, espanation dot com and, facebook and it's you know the recruiting. World if you're into it espianation does

the best job of contextualizing. Everything IN a human way and i can say that with honesty because going into message, boards is not. My thing, but it is you know you have. To pay attention to it if, you're a, College. Football fan, thank you. Bud all, Right, thanks man all?

The iceberg look, at recruiting we have well we're going to, start recapping and looking forward. Because it's Never Too early our friend bill connolly has already started twenty eighteen. PREVIEWS on spnation Dot Com i just. Saw texas STATE go up we have i, think a scheme theme. Month. Sooner rather than.

when it comes to all things recruiting. And HOW this process, works as i said before you will hear more from them next week In Our much. Awaited how recruiting work show we've been working on this, one For over a year so i'm excited to get, it out of the lab take, the bubble wrap off it and, release it into the wild maybe a, little bit later next week okay. To get that one release but the plan is to have that one out in the wild. At Some point. Next week so i'm excited. Let love, what you think

as always give us an email at. Soliverble at gmail dot com look us up On, The, Social, media via twitter facebook. Instagram all the usual hotspots we will be there in the Meantime For my good friend Dan Rubenstein Over, there in, New York city bar myself ty Hildebrand. Here a good old allentown we'll catch. You all, in a, week, in meantime stay solid peace