under whelming recruiting class so far?

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

Not sure that is what I said. Follow along, in order to compete titles for and play in the CFP you have to have more, better players. Trying to be the exception to the rule hasn’t panned out for teams in the past decade or so. As I’ve said before, if being Wisconsin is the goal, then cool. I just didn’t think that was the ceiling.

If titles and CFP is the goal then each class you have that doesn’t get you closer to that 50% number is getting you further away.

So in order to progress toward that number, so that you get there eventually, you have to at least get close with each class. It has been said that we simply can’t get classfuls of 4 and 5 stars because of location. So in order to get closer to the 50% we have to get there with each class.

Lastly, my point about recruiting and this class in particular, is that we are taking commitments early and locking kids up that aren’t “heavily recruited”. I am not sure that some of those kids are in danger of being snatched up by someone else.

So how do you interpret why Frost and staff are locking these less than heavily recruited guys in early?
Does it mean they are being stupid recruiters, not understanding that we could wait on these guys? Not likely. Does it mean they are panicking because they have been told by the better guys they are recruiting "no thanks"? Again... not likely. Or does it mean that they see something in these recruits that they really like, despite their average star rankings and lack of big offers? I think that is likely. So it would seem then that at this stage of the game that we, as fans, can either say "I trust this staff and their eye for talent, given what they accomplished at UCF with lower ranked guys", or we can say "I am worried that our recruiting is subpar and I think our coaches are making a mistake here". I choose the former.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

Aren't you the same guy who always says you can't rely on being the exception to the rule. But now it's the key to success?

You say we can't rely on being as good at coaching and developing players as Wisconsin is, but under Osborne we were far better at developing players than Wisconsin ever was.

Coaching and development is more important for reaching the playoffs than recruiting is. There have been plenty of teams who've averaged top 10-15 recruiting rankings that haven't come close to sniffing a nationel title.

Both recruiting and player development are important. Coaching only goes so far. If Osborne hadn't landed Frazier we would not have won those titles.

 

[inWV]

I’ll take all of the 4&5 star kids who will sign on the dotted line. I’m sure NU would pick up the phone for any blue chip guy who shows his interest. But NU will need to show success on the field first.

 

[bshirt73]

Aren't you the same guy who always says you can't rely on being the exception to the rule. But now it's the key to success?

You say we can't rely on being as good at coaching and developing players as Wisconsin is, but under Osborne we were far better at developing players than Wisconsin ever was.

Coaching and development is more important for reaching the playoffs than recruiting is. There have been plenty of teams who've averaged top 10-15 recruiting rankings that haven't come close to sniffing a nationel title.

Absolutely. There's boatloads of teams (Texas, TAM, UCLA, etc, etc) that get the star gazers dream of top 5/10 recruiting ratings and don't win diddly squat.

"Coaching and development is more important for reaching the playoffs than recruiting is".

I couldn't possibly agree more. Give me a Devaney, TO or SF any day of the week. Those three HCs will win way, wayyyyy more games with great coaching & development than recruiting gurus Clownahan or Smiling Mike could ever dream of.

 

[oldjar07]

Both recruiting and player development are important. Coaching only goes so far. If Osborne hadn't landed Frazier we would not have won those titles.

I don't agree. We had a good enough team in '95 that we win without him. In '94 probably a little iffy but I still think we pull it out.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Aren't you the same guy who always says you can't rely on being the exception to the rule. But now it's the key to success?

You say we can't rely on being as good at coaching and developing players as Wisconsin is, but under Osborne we were far better at developing players than Wisconsin ever was.

Coaching and development is more important for reaching the playoffs than recruiting is. There have been plenty of teams who've averaged top 10-15 recruiting rankings that haven't come close to sniffing a nationel title.

Sorry I forgot my sarcasm font

 

[bshirt73]

Both recruiting and player development are important. Coaching only goes so far. If Osborne hadn't landed Frazier we would not have won those titles.

With FULL respect sir I disagree. Maybe the 94 Huskers....but the 95 team with its superb OLine, blackshirts, rbs, etc....with a competent qb we would have steam-rolled anybody.

 

[TruHusker]

So how do you interpret why Frost and staff are locking these less than heavily recruited guys in early?
Does it mean they are being stupid recruiters, not understanding that we could wait on these guys? Not likely. Does it mean they are panicking because they have been told by the better guys they are recruiting "no thanks"? Again... not likely. Or does it mean that they see something in these recruits that they really like, despite their average star rankings and lack of big offers? I think that is likely. So it would seem then that at this stage of the game that we, as fans, can either say "I trust this staff and their eye for talent, given what they accomplished at UCF with lower ranked guys", or we can say "I am worried that our recruiting is subpar and I think our coaches are making a mistake here". I choose the former.

Not really part of this particular discussion but....

Classes fill very quickly these days. Right now, for 2020, Miami as 12, bama and OSU have 6 commits. They are much more spread out among teams these days with kids committing early. If you read the two articles on recruiting that I linked they talked about kids committing earlier, like as soon as allowed in HS and they are being followed from JH. I don't have numbers to back this up but it seems reasonable that with the onslaught of players committing early, the better ones will have their pick and are making the decision earlier. That would leave the slightly less rated ones for everyone else. I also learned that reading those articles, that offer lists can be pretty bogus. So as the top teams fill up, who would be left for the second tier of teams?

I too trust the staff to take the best available, but who really knows what that is? I find it hard to believe that the "eye for talent" only belongs to the kids we have got to commit. That would mean some of these others schools are missing out. Also, no one can tell me that among the higher rated kids that we have no interest in them.

I don't buy this recruit to fit your scheme thing. What the heck is that all about? You mean this coaching staff that is so highly valued can't take a 4-5 * and make them better? WR's still catch, RB's still run, linemen still block so while there are some fits in all this to use that as a sole reason is bogus. I can hear a coach right now - well ya, that kid is an awesome athlete, consensus 5* but he just doesn't fit our O or D? hmmm

The advantages that TO had years ago are gone and comparing today to then is difficult. TO was doing things no one had even imagined. Now everyone does it. His big thing as far as I am concerned was his ability to see everything including the great athletes that others didn't see but at the same time he had a team of coaches behind him to help them and great talent around them. As has been pointed out, this formula worked for many years but guess what, we couldn't beat the Miami's, Florida States, and a few others because although better coached, we didn't have the horses. Get the horses and the coaching and you have the combination and that is what he did.

There also were no star ratings in TO's day. So people have to quit that comparison. the original stats presented by Tuco were the correlation between highly rated classes and the NC. Are there exceptions? Sure, but when was the last one in this era? I also agree that comparing to Wisconsin is a fools game eventually. We have to set our sights on them for now because they are the kings of our division and that is where it starts. But eventually we have to do much much better than that.

It will take a while for this to all happen, not over night. that's why I don't participate in the game of predicting how many wins we will have. to be accurate you have to know your team and the opponent.

Now that should be enough ammo for someone to come back and disagree with!

 

[z28craz]

I understand and completely agree. However, it better not take 5 to 10 years to do it. All I am saying is that times have changed. Look at the National Champs from the previous 20 years. Look at their recruiting. There is something to that. A team like Wisconsin will compete year in and year out. Will they win it all? I highly doubt it. Good coaching and instruction can only take you so far. I do see the positives and think that Frost will succeed to a point. I just think his recruiting class has been somewhat disappointing so far even though it is early.

I understand, and I highly doubt it will take 5-10 years. Personally I think more like 2-3, but you never know and I think giving Frost time and the benefit of the doubt is justifiable to hedge my 2-3 years with 5-10. However I do think it’s a bit premature, and perhaps unfair, to call a coach who’s only 9 months on the job and is in his first full recruiting cycle (that’s really only at the halfway point) “underwhelming.” As Penny stated, we were 4-8 last year. Haven’t won a conference title in 20 years, and haven’t even played in a CCG in 8 years. The last time we were relevant was 2001, and even that is a stretch. NU is in the middle of the Union, surrounded by a bunch of similar low population states. To expect much more than a Top 20 team in year one is a bit inflated. I think Top 25, and even Top 20 is realistic and should happen, and we’re on pace to break into the Top 20 by signing day.

Let’s also not forget that recruiting isn’t the full story. Back filling with guys like Trey Neal and Breon Dixon augments recruiting and it’s not reflected in the overall ranking or the overall talent level on the roster. Also let’s not forget that only one guy from the 2018 class isn’t currently on campus. If you look just at overall team rankings, the 2018 class probably ranks 4th or 5th overall for NU over the past 10 years. But if you start comparing it with previous classes (especially under Bo) against what the initial rank was and what it would be if you took out guys that never made it to campus, I’m guessing the 2018 class is top 2 or 3 in the past 10 years.

As I said, if you win, they will come. I think we’re going to be better than advertised this year. Pull a Top 20 class this year. Win 10 games and the division in 2019. Pull a top 15 class in the 2020 class, then we’re in position to get another Top 15 class or better and now we can talk about Championships and playoff runs. I think Frost is the guy that can and will make it happen, but I also think even if he doesn’t patience with him and his staff is justifiable.

 

[Spectrumalaska]

I wouldn't have taken it quite this far, but I learned a new verb, rue means to regret, so thanks for the Vocab lesson.

Really, learned rue now?? Not something I would admit in public......

 

[bigbadjim990]

Not a troll. A slow-down-with-the-Frost hard-on realist. I love Frost. There is no better coach to lead the program. However, people need to slow down and see how it plays out over the next 3 years. I remember a bearded, tattooed muscleman from the West coast that was going to get the players in shape as well. Everyone was praising him. That didn't work out so well. All I am saying is let the guys coach and see how it goes. And yes, the recruiting needs to pick up or we will never compete, regardless of the coach. Plain and simple. New day and age. If anyone says they are not a little disappointed with this years recruiting class ( although early), is jaded.

Scott has a track record of success. Husker fans can be reasonably optimistic about all aspects of Husker football. I will be satisfied with a bowl appearance this year, and I'm not expecting a breakout year. I just want to see steady improvement through out the season. I think this years team can be pretty good if we can avoid injuries on the OL. GBR.... We rebuild the "Pipe Line" the rest of the pieces will fall into place.

 

[NikkiSixx_rivals269993]

Really, learned rue now?? Not something I would admit in public......

Serious.. I've never heard the word before today.

 

[TruHusker]

And one more thing to add to all of this discussion. Teams at pretty all levels of competition find the same facts. Even though you get better, it doesn't always mean your record will be better. The other constant is it is comparatively easier to get near the top (think league, division, etc) than to get to the next level of state and national championships. The higher you go, the ceiling gets closer and you start bumping up against it. TO did that for many years, he maxed out the coaching and athletes he had with techniques no one else was doing. Then things changed coincidentally with better athletes - Frazier, Gill, Fryar, Phillips, etc.

Given all that, the "normal" process would be to get better with what you have. Coach to your maximum, use every advantage you can find whether weight, nutrition, scheme, etc. Then the wins will start to come, soon some consistency in wins and some frustration that we can't "win the big one" and then if they haven't run the coach off, you get over that last hurdle. Again, as I always say, I could very well be wrong but I have watched a bunch of coaches at various levels in various sports go down this same route. Nebraska of old did it in the past.

 

[jolley]

This.

$5M to coach at Nebraska /= $5M to coach at a place with inherent demographic advantages, especially after the damage the program has taken for a decade and a half of not being in the NC conversation and occasionally contending for a conference title. Nebraska's disadvantages are a reason why NU would need to pay more for a coach than at other places. Nebraska's advantages (aka brand recognition, intimidation) have eroded since the glory days.

As others have said, it starts with winning your conference, and the NC talk will follow. This team finished 5th out of 7 in what is considered the weaker division in the conference last season.

It actually starts with a polished appearing product and a winning season. Fans are amateurs and a lot are clueless and unrealistic as to, not only the effort it takes, but also, to a great extent, even the luck it takes to win a nc. This is obvious to knowledgeable fans. It takes 2 to 4 years, alone, to build the strongest relationships with the most sought after recruits unless you have a reputation of winning multiple nc's at a previous school like um and ns had before osu and ua.

To a certain extent, TO had to build his own reputation at NU after BD retired. It took him more than a few years to even get close to a nc. In 76, NU was pre-season # 1, but tied LSU, I think, and then lost a couple more, if I remember right. After that, ou usually did the job on NU, (except 78), until nu came very close to nc's in the early 80's.

So, I guess I am saying, Frost is a good coach, not a magician or miracle worker. Give him a break and let him do the coaching, and I, for one, am tempering my expectations and am reading the media, (which have, historically, always baited NU fans it seems), with realistic skepticism.

I think SF will, eventually, do well, and, hopefully sooner than later. But if he doesn't, I, among others, don't honestly know who could.

 

[tpmcg_rivals137159]

not saying we should settle, but i wonder if the brutal schedule means ‘all hands on deck’ during the season and lets get a strong handle on recruiting before the onslaught...just a thought. it’d be daunting with just a new qb.

 

[artguy68]

Without reading this thread, let me guess the arguments:
1. Stars don't mean anything, dammit. Let me give you stats.
2. Stars mean everything, dammit. Let me give you stats.
3. Frost is too (fill in blank) and it worries me.
4. Frost knows what he is doing so shut up.

 

[huskerfan1414]

Every guy that saw us together wondered the same thing I'm sure. It's fun watching other guys sneak creeps at the girl who was with me, instead of the other way around.

RULES

 

[c2o]

Serious.. I've never heard the word before today.

You don't rue day that we hired Mike Riley?

 

[c2o]

I rue the hell out of that day.

 

[Solana Beach Husker]

See the first sentence in my post: underwhelming compared to last year's class, where the staff was able to put together a class with nine 4-star recruits in only 2 months.

This year, with an entire year to recruit, we only have three 4-stars so far, and not many left on our board. I expected about a 15th-ranked class after how well the staff recruited last winter.

Callahan pulled a Top 5 class in his first full class, and he didn't come in with half the hype that Frost did.

Frosty he isn't going to promise stuff...that is the best way to flip high rated recruits...guarantee playing time, NFL, or cars, girls and money. Frosty has no relationship to the NFL, he obviously isn't going to promise playing time, and the cars, girls, and money isn't flowing yet. Cally had John Blake, who was breaking NCAA rules while he was here, but Blake could recruit, and Cally could promise NFL to offensive players because they would be in a pure NFL system, a system that was in the super bowl just two years prior. And cally promised playing time as he had no respect for the previous system. Frosty runs a pure college offense, no translation to the NFL, even if he has coached a good nfl qb, and he is a hard *** who will not bend to the less savory wishes of kids. He will have to build this thing the hard way. I think he will but it won't be conventional.

 

[jolley]

See the first sentence in my post: underwhelming compared to last year's class, where the staff was able to put together a class with nine 4-star recruits in only 2 months.

This year, with an entire year to recruit, we only have three 4-stars so far, and not many left on our board. I expected about a 15th-ranked class after how well the staff recruited last winter.

Callahan pulled a Top 5 class in his first full class, and he didn't come in with half the hype that Frost did.

How do you figure an entire year to recruit? It' not even mid August, yet.

 

[jolley]

Not sure that is what I said. Follow along, in order to compete titles for and play in the CFP you have to have more, better players. Trying to be the exception to the rule hasn’t panned out for teams in the past decade or so. As I’ve said before, if being Wisconsin is the goal, then cool. I just didn’t think that was the ceiling.

If titles and CFP is the goal then each class you have that doesn’t get you closer to that 50% number is getting you further away.

So in order to progress toward that number, so that you get there eventually, you have to at least get close with each class. It has been said that we simply can’t get classfuls of 4 and 5 stars because of location. So in order to get closer to the 50% we have to get there with each class.

Lastly, my point about recruiting and this class in particular, is that we are taking commitments early and locking kids up that aren’t “heavily recruited”. I am not sure that some of those kids are in danger of being snatched up by someone else.

Yeah, I see your concern. Why take lightly recruited guys early when there isn't much pressure to do so, (Unless, behind the scenes they really aren't confident of being in on more highly regarded players)?

 

[inWV]

Yeah, I see your concern. Why take lightly recruited guys early when there isn't much pressure to do so, (Unless, behind the scenes they really aren't confident of being in on more highly regarded players)?

I'm pretty sure the staff has a plan as to how they want to execute their recruiting. Some may be skeptical about what they are seeing, but none of us are familiar with the process of NU's recruiting operation. But yes, Frost surely has a strong take on recruiting. Take an example of Oline recruiting this year. Lynn has a decent offer list, Bland is the top JUCO OG prospect and Piper is an instate kid. But Anderson might be the best of the bunch, but has an underwhelming offer list. The kid is 6-7/250 and plays tennis in the offseason. The kid is a Duval dream recruit. Tall, no bad weight and very nimble for his size. Frost is going to follow the template that TO developed. Work at recruiting blue chip players, especially at the skill positions and augment that with doing the homework to find value players who are under the radar.

 

[HuskerBruce81]

Wisconsin has owned this division with far less talent. Once recruits see results on the field our recruiting will tick up even more. First the division, then the conference THEN the NC. There is no other way. Be patient grasshopper and go have another 12 pack or two.

 

[phoenix4nu]

You don't rue day that we hired Mike Riley?

Same with the day we hired Callahan. Same as the day we hired Pelini.

 

[HuskerDana_rivals188993]

Underwhelming post.

Randy, ftw.

 

[F5Tornado]

So how do you interpret why Frost and staff are locking these less than heavily recruited guys in early?
Does it mean they are being stupid recruiters, not understanding that we could wait on these guys? Not likely. Does it mean they are panicking because they have been told by the better guys they are recruiting "no thanks"? Again... not likely. Or does it mean that they see something in these recruits that they really like, despite their average star rankings and lack of big offers? I think that is likely. So it would seem then that at this stage of the game that we, as fans, can either say "I trust this staff and their eye for talent, given what they accomplished at UCF with lower ranked guys", or we can say "I am worried that our recruiting is subpar and I think our coaches are making a mistake here". I choose the former.

The reality train never gets ridden by some people! Good post, Pennsy!

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

So how do you interpret why Frost and staff are locking these less than heavily recruited guys in early?
Does it mean they are being stupid recruiters, not understanding that we could wait on these guys? Not likely. Does it mean they are panicking because they have been told by the better guys they are recruiting "no thanks"? Again... not likely. Or does it mean that they see something in these recruits that they really like, despite their average star rankings and lack of big offers? I think that is likely. So it would seem then that at this stage of the game that we, as fans, can either say "I trust this staff and their eye for talent, given what they accomplished at UCF with lower ranked guys", or we can say "I am worried that our recruiting is subpar and I think our coaches are making a mistake here". I choose the former.

I don’t know why they are doing what they are doing. I am just speaking my opinion of recruiting and tracking results based on historical data.

This isn’t about trust, or anyone else necessarily knowing better. This is Frost’s gig, I am just a fan with an opinion. I am not trying to convince Frost to change his plan. I just want someone to show me where a team that is recruiting 3 stars and below at a 65ish % level has every played for and/or won a P5 title and was a legitimate contender to win a national title.

Don’t tell me UCF, not power 5. Not Wisconsin, never played in a title game, or even a bowl game that had they won they would have claimed even a share of the title.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

The reality train never gets ridden by some people! Good post, Pennsy!

Here is reality for you! Over the past 10 seasons, teams that won the national title had a bunch more 4/5 star kids than Nebraska does.

More reality, Nebraska is no longer running an offense that is designed to slow the game down and melt clock. When you run an offense that puts a premium on speed and athleticism, you can’t have average speed and athleticism and expect to win the requisite number of games to compete for and win titles. Please provide me a list of teams that ran an offense even similar to what Frost runs, that recruited 3 star talent and won division and conference titles. I’ll hang up and listen.

I am just asking questions, but so far the only real answers I get is “trust Frost”, “he hasn’t coached a game yet” and “I think the better players will come once he starts winning”. I’ve been trusting Nebraska coaches since 1998. I am pretty sure they all had a plan with regards to recruiting and had a plan to win the number of games necessary to compete in and win championships. The one thing they all have in common, lack of consistent results in recruiting.

How is that for a little ride on the reality train?

 

[oldjar07]

I don’t know why they are doing what they are doing. I am just speaking my opinion of recruiting and tracking results based on historical data.

This isn’t about trust, or anyone else necessarily knowing better. This is Frost’s gig, I am just a fan with an opinion. I am not trying to convince Frost to change his plan. I just want someone to show me where a team that is recruiting 3 stars and below at a 65ish % level has every played for and/or won a P5 title and was a legitimate contender to win a national title.

Don’t tell me UCF, not power 5. Not Wisconsin, never played in a title game, or even a bowl game that had they won they would have claimed even a share of the title.

Michigan State, Oregon, Washington.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Michigan State, Oregon, Washington.

Michigan St was beaten by 5 1/2 TDs by Alabama, and lost to 5-7 Nebraska and Mike Riley.

Oregon had around 45% 4/5 stars in 2014-2015

I’ll double check Washington’s recruiting #s, but even counting them, just like when Michigan St played Alabama, the were out athleted and looked out of place in the CFP. Washington has 64 yards are their first drive and 86 the rest of the game.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

I don’t know why they are doing what they are doing. I am just speaking my opinion of recruiting and tracking results based on historical data.

This isn’t about trust, or anyone else necessarily knowing better. This is Frost’s gig, I am just a fan with an opinion. I am not trying to convince Frost to change his plan. I just want someone to show me where a team that is recruiting 3 stars and below at a 65ish % level has every played for and/or won a P5 title and was a legitimate contender to win a national title.

Don’t tell me UCF, not power 5. Not Wisconsin, never played in a title game, or even a bowl game that had they won they would have claimed even a share of the title.

Ok. No issues with anything you say here and I actually agree with you about the importance of recruiting high end guys if we want to play for titles ( see my post earlier in the thread). And I also agree that this should not be a referendum on who trusts Frost and who doesn't. We have heard the same things about every coach since 98 as you correctly point out (trust them, they are recruiting to their system etc...). I have high hopes for Frost. I think he will get us there. In that regard I "trust" him and I am willing to give him time to build here. As I am sure you are too. But in the end winning is what matters. So we will see.

But I also think there are a couple of different conversations going on here in this thread. On the one hand is the issue of winning titles - - both conference and national. And on the other hand there is the issue of recruiting to build a foundation which we can then build on for the future. I am really talking about the latter. In the short term I just want to focus on winning the West, being competitive again, and not getting blown out by the big boys. If we do that, we can build for the future. In that regard, I think our recruiting so far is good enough to get us in that direction. Win the West.... then let the dominoes fall. If we do that our recruiting will pick up and we will eventually win the conference.

As for National titles.... meh. Of course we all want to win those. It is glorious when you do. But come on.... it is a damn hard thing to do. Paterno only won 2 in all his years. Same with Bowden and Switzer. Osborne only won three. Stoops only won one.

My point... focus on winning your conference and the national title chances will fall into place eventually. But I will never judge our coach or our overall program by the standards of 94-97. That was the greatest run in the history of college football. That is an unrealistic standard. If we win national titles then great. If we don't I am cool with that too so long as we are competing well against the big boys and playing for our conference title on a regular basis, and winning it occasionally.

 

[Sinomatic]

Nebraska is just going to have a harder time recruiting because of the location.

Scott Frost made a point the other day about it, you look at the teams that win titles and then look at the proximity to talent rich areas, Nebraska is an outlier to those teams that have played for a NT.

BYU has won one, but other than that one time?

OU is so close to TX they might as well be North Texas.

Oregon played for only one that I can remember.

 

[inWV]

Kids want to play for titles, conference and national. NU has the talent on the roster to get to the CCG right now, as they are the top recruiting team in the West for the past four years.
When NU ceases to field teams that produce occasional (or in the case of last year, consistent) embarrassing results and plays to potential, CCG appearances will result.

 

[Jacobhuskerfan]

Last night I had dinner with a beautiful 44 y/o firefighter who has the body of a 20 y/o gymnast because of her dedication to CrossFit, and we rode the Ferris wheel at Scheel's afterwards, and went back to her place to watch some football (yeah, she likes football) the game was Denver versus somebody, doesn't matter....while I was giving her incredible body a massage, while watching football, I never once thought about our recruiting class. We had very different evenings.

I also choose her over the recruiting class

 

[F5Tornado]

Here is reality for you! Over the past 10 seasons, teams that won the national title had a bunch more 4/5 star kids than Nebraska does.

More reality, Nebraska is no longer running an offense that is designed to slow the game down and melt clock. When you run an offense that puts a premium on speed and athleticism, you can’t have average speed and athleticism and expect to win the requisite number of games to compete for and win titles. Please provide me a list of teams that ran an offense even similar to what Frost runs, that recruited 3 star talent and won division and conference titles. I’ll hang up and listen.

I am just asking questions, but so far the only real answers I get is “trust Frost”, “he hasn’t coached a game yet” and “I think the better players will come once he starts winning”. I’ve been trusting Nebraska coaches since 1998. I am pretty sure they all had a plan with regards to recruiting and had a plan to win the number of games necessary to compete in and win championships. The one thing they all have in common, lack of consistent results in recruiting.

How is that for a little ride on the reality train?

Fair enough, and I get what you're saying. But I'll add, despite Frost and Company's best efforts, maybe a great deal of 4 and 5 star recruits just aren't wanting to come to Nebraska at this point in time. Maybe a few years from now, if Frost is truly bringing Nebraska back up to a more legitimate (B1G & National contender) program, they will take greater notice and start to come to Lincoln.

I wish it were instant success where the names Frost and Nebraska were significant enough to get 3/4th of the class filled with prime 4* & 5* players, but I never believed that would be the case for the first two or three years, it has to be earned on the field, showing a product that can and will be competitive on a conference level (B1G Title) and going upward from there.

That page in Nebraska Football history is ready to get written in about three weeks.

 

[Crushinator]

NU is on track to land a class ranked around 20-25. Underwhelming? Maybe if you are expecting a NC level class in Frost’s first year. That level of class isn’t up to snuff. Period.

Underwhelming from the perspective of what the staff should be expected to land based on:
1- NU’s proximity to talent
2- our nearly 20 YEARS of not being a NC caliber team
3- NU’s repeated floggings at the hands of some pretty average teams over that time period

I’d say that’s not an underwhelming class at all. Good coaching and 20th rated classes will fix number 3. It’s all up from there, IMO.

 

[Harry Caray]

Fair enough, and I get what you're saying. But I'll add, despite Frost and Company's best efforts, maybe a great deal of 4 and 5 star recruits just aren't wanting to come to Nebraska at this point in time.

This staff signed nine 4-star recruits in last year's class in only 2 months on the job.

Riley's last recruiting class had seven 4-star recruits.

Pelini the lazy recruiter once signed eleven 4-stars in one recruiting class.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Fair enough, and I get what you're saying. But I'll add, despite Frost and Company's best efforts, maybe a great deal of 4 and 5 star recruits just aren't wanting to come to Nebraska at this point in time. Maybe a few years from now, if Frost is truly bringing Nebraska back up to a more legitimate (B1G & National contender) program, they will take greater notice and start to come to Lincoln.

I wish it were instant success where the names Frost and Nebraska were significant enough to get 3/4th of the class filled with prime 4* & 5* players, but I never believed that would be the case for the first two or three years, it has to be earned on the field, showing a product that can and will be competitive on a conference level (B1G Title) and going upward from there.

That page in Nebraska Football history is ready to get written in about three weeks.

I'm glad we can agree on something. I would just like to clarify that no one has said that Nebraska needs 4 and 5 star kids to the tune of 3/4 of the class. No one expects that, and quite honestly, it isn't needed. 45% is the number that, in my opinion, that would be enough.

 

[huskernorm]

I think this discussion is very premature and this class is actually going to have more highly rated guys than any Riley class and the majority of Pelini classes as well (possibly all of them). Frost is already bringing in more talent than previous staffs and he has had very little time to work with.

Here are the number of 5.7 three stars (highest rated 3 star) or higher in the following classes:

2008: 11
2009: 11
2010: 13
2011: 14
2012: 12
2013: 17
2014: 7
2015: 9
2016: 9
2017: 9
2018: 15 (at least 12 of which committed after Frost took over)
2019: 9 (with likely 10 spots left to fill)

Now granted, we want better recruiting than we got under the previous two staffs but things seem to be trending in the right direction, especially considering we haven't played a SINGLE GAME under Frost yet.