How many 4/5*s do we need to compete?

[Msubulldogfan1]

As HD6 and other have pointed out, auburn, UGA and bama...and I would imagine UT and UF and LSU are up there too, have 40/50+ 4 and 5*s on their roster and we have 16 or 17.

If we somehow managed 30, would that be enough with the coaching staff we have? Could we even get 30?

 

[HD6]

We can be a consistent 7-8 win team recruiting the way we are. We would have been a 7-8 win team last year with a competent DC.

If we want to win the SEC, we need to double up at least.

 

[tatedog]

UT is the most baffling out of this group, although LSU is catching up quickly. They recruit at an elite level year in and year out, yet the product on the field is mysteriously mediocre.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Not enough scholarships open for that many 4 stars

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

UT is the most baffling out of this group, although LSU is catching up quickly. They recruit at an elite level year in and year out, yet the product on the field is mysteriously mediocre.

It shows you still have to have a competent coaching staff and recruit to your system. I think LSUs main problem is they're super young, along with a suspect coaching staff.

I doubt MS produces 30 4*s over a 4 year period, probably right at it. We have to find a way to beat out LSU for a couple in their state, and bama and Auburn for a couple in their state. Definitely need to hit the Dallas area hard with what dak is doing over there.

 

[thf24]

UT is the most baffling out of this group, although LSU is catching up quickly. They recruit at an elite level year in and year out, yet the product on the field is mysteriously mediocre.

Good coaching still counts for at least something, and Tennessee is practically a black hole in that regard right now.

 

[00Dawg]

Survey says...

Using 247 rankings (not composite)
2018: 4 4*s
2017: 1 5*, 5 4*s
2016: 1 5*, 9 4*s
2015: 1 5*, 10 4*s

Total of:
3 5*s, 28 4*s

For info, 2019 has 10 4*s at the moment, and 2014 had 1 5*, 10 4*s, so 2018 is bringing down the average.

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

We definitely need to ride Dak's coattails on the recruiting trail in Texas.

I'm curious to see how having a few 4* QBs on the roster will work going forward and see what level Mullen can get them to. However, we will still need WRs to catch the damn ball.

 

[engie]

https://247sports.com/Season/2017-Football/CollegeTeamTalentComposite

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

Using 247 rankings (not composite)
2018: 4 4*s
2017: 1 5*, 5 4*s
2016: 1 5*, 9 4*s
2015: 1 5*, 10 4*s

Total of:
3 5*s, 28 4*s

For info, 2019 has 10 4*s at the moment, and 2014 had 1 5*, 10 4*s, so 2018 is bringing down the average.

2019 is a rare occurrence in MS, 2018 is as well. But we split with OM typically anyway. With OM in the position they're in, it's definitely an opportunity for us.

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

It's not rocket surgery*

As HD6 and other have pointed out, auburn, UGA and bama...and I would imagine UT and UF and LSU are up there too, have 40/50+ 4 and 5*s on their roster and we have 16 or 17.

If we somehow managed 30, would that be enough with the coaching staff we have? Could we even get 30?

It's the OL. Dan wants to run the ball. Power spread. Great. Well you have to be able to get push against good defenses if you want to compete for anything in this league doing that. We can't succeed without better recruiting and development at the OL.

 

[00Dawg]

Continuing the train of thought with 30 as the goal...

That means signing about 6 4*s out of high school per year that make it to campus immediately, adding a couple of JuCo 4*s, allowing for one to attrit, and hoping you get to redshirt a couple every year.
Using 247's ratings and that standard, we got:
2013: None remaining on the roster
2014: 4 4*s
2015: 7 4*s (2 JuCo)
2016: 3 4*s
2017: 5 4*s (2 JuCo)

For 2018, we have committed: 5 4*s (1 JuCo)
There's only one more 4* on the 2018 target board at this moment, although rankings can change.

At first glance, we're within shouting distance of what we need. I like to think the demise of UM will put us over that hump.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

We do not need any more 4 or 5* recruits than we currently get in a single recruiting season as we compete quite nicely for the Birmingham bowl.

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

It's the OL. Dan wants to run the ball. Power spread. Great. Well you have to be able to get push against good defenses if you want to compete for anything in this league doing that. We can't succeed without better recruiting and development at the OL.

The OL didn't allow 42 points (pick 6) Saturday. The OL didn't drop pass after pass. The OL wasn't the unit not getting any pressure on stidham whatsoever. The OL was a problem, but not THE problem.

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

That means signing about 6 4*s out of high school per year that make it to campus immediately, adding a couple of JuCo 4*s, allowing for one to attrit, and hoping you get to redshirt a couple every year.
Using 247's ratings and that standard, we got:
2013: None remaining on the roster
2014: 4 4*s
2015: 7 4*s (2 JuCo)
2016: 3 4*s
2017: 5 4*s (2 JuCo)

For 2018, we have committed: 5 4*s (1 JuCo)
There's only one more 4* on the 2018 target board at this moment, although rankings can change.

At first glance, we're within shouting distance of what we need. I like to think the demise of UM will put us over that hump.

Accounting for attrition, we have to sign 8 a year minimum. In reality, would probably need to sign 9 or 10. That seems impossible.

 

[johnson86-1]

As HD6 and other have pointed out, auburn, UGA and bama...and I would imagine UT and UF and LSU are up there too, have 40/50+ 4 and 5*s on their roster and we have 16 or 17.

If we somehow managed 30, would that be enough with the coaching staff we have? Could we even get 30?

Not that many more. We just need a few more elite players. Give us either a good RT to replace Reese (or really let him wait until he's ready) or a good C (to allow Jenkins to move to RT) and then an elite WR and we are good enough on offense. We're not going to be better necessarily, but that'd be enough for us to compete with anybody. But the WR has to be elite to open things up for us.

On defense, we probably need to be a little better consistently across the board, but give us an elite CB and a good safety and maybe one more elite LB or DL and I think we're there.

I know the scores on the field make it look like that wouldn't be enough, but that's really it. Replace a couple of weak links with good players, and we are a second tier team. Still not bama and maybe not even UGA, but at least Auburn with a chance to knock off anybody.

 

[josebrown]

We definitely need to ride Dak's coattails on the recruiting trail in Texas.

I'm curious to see how having a few 4* QBs on the roster will work going forward and see what level Mullen can get them to. However, we will still need WRs to catch the damn ball.

And OL’s to block!

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

Not that many more. We just need a few more elite players. Give us either a good RT to replace Reese (or really let him wait until he's ready) or a good C (to allow Jenkins to move to RT) and then an elite WR and we are good enough on offense. We're not going to be better necessarily, but that'd be enough for us to compete with anybody. But the WR has to be elite to open things up for us.

On defense, we probably need to be a little better consistently across the board, but give us an elite CB and a good safety and maybe one more elite LB or DL and I think we're there.

I know the scores on the field make it look like that wouldn't be enough, but that's really it. Replace a couple of weak links with good players, and we are a second tier team. Still not bama and maybe not even UGA, but at least Auburn with a chance to knock off anybody.

This is an inaccurate way of thinking. It's where depth comes into play. Look at how the DL has performed since Thomas got hurt.

Injuries are inevitable, you can't just have a good to great starting 22 then average to below average back ups.

 

[skb124]

I was just looking at this earlier today. From our 2014 team, we have had 9 guys drafted. Sure, we will probably have a few more drafted that were on the team that year that are seniors or redshirt juniors this year. However, Ohio State who won the national championship that year, had 15 players drafted that started in the national championship game. That does not include backups who have gotten drafted since or will get drafted this year or next. The year before that, Florida State has had 17 of their starters from that team drafted. That doesn't even include Dalvin Cook, as Devontae Freeman was the starter. Bama has been around the 15/16 starter mark as well in their teams.

That shows how far away we are from being in the elite level.

Since the 2015 draft (2014 season), Bama has had 24 to our 9, including 10 last year. Ohio State has had 24, including 10 in 2016. FSU has had 17 since that year, and 7 the year before. Clemson has had 10, including 9 in 2016. Heck Florida has had 23.

 

[boatsandhoes]

Here's our pain (in no particular order)
Fitz isn't able to pass as well as we hoped. Improved but not there.
Can't throw into tight spaces, and when he does we drop it.
We have no deep ball receivers to stretch the field, or create space. They jam the box and jump all over the run and short-intermediate routes.
TE's aren't helping like we hoped, basically useless in the above without match up issues for the defense.
O line is below average for SEC and gets exposed against other elite DL's.
Can't move people off the line for run game if dl is elite.
if Simmons is doubled no one else has created big problems for the oline.
DB's are suspect and can't handle big time wr's threats man up.

the thing that gets under my skin the most is oline. no reason we shouldn't be able to get guys who can play at a high level in the sec. we're always patchwork. injuries take us down one more notch.

 

[Coast Dawg]

To really compete (SEC Title or more), State must hit on a superstar at QB or RB

The Cam Newton type situation must actually unfold here

 

[GloryDawg]

What ever the number Tenn has we need to add 20.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

It depends on where you look. Scout has us closer to the number you said. ESPN has us at a much higher number in terms of 4stars.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

If you want perspective, when Dak was Junior, look who he was throwing to.

Fitz is a junior and look at who he's throwing to....ouch