under whelming recruiting class so far?

[RealTucoSalamanca]

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.

The problem with lowering the number to 5.7 three stars, is that you are not comparing that to the other schools. The report that got this conversation all started referenced 4 and 5 star players, not 5.7 I get what you are trying to say, but unless you do that for all the schools you are comparing apples to oranges.

Nebraska had 9 4 star players in the class last year, 6 committed to Frost, 3 to Riley. 9 of 25 is 36%. So far in 2019 there are 3 Rivals 4 stars out of 16 commitments or 25%. So in two years, there are 12 of 41 or 29%. I am sure that if we added the 5.7 3 stars to all the other teams, we would still be in a similar situation as we are now, when comparing Nebraska to other schools.

 

[huskernorm]

The problem with lowering the number to 5.7 three stars, is that you are not comparing that to the other schools. The report that got this conversation all started referenced 4 and 5 star players, not 5.7 I get what you are trying to say, but unless you do that for all the schools you are comparing apples to oranges.

Nebraska had 9 4 star players in the class last year, 6 committed to Frost, 3 to Riley. 9 of 25 is 36%. So far in 2019 there are 3 Rivals 4 stars out of 16 commitments or 25%. So in two years, there are 12 of 41 or 29%. I am sure that if we added the 5.7 3 stars to all the other teams, we would still be in a similar situation as we are now, when comparing Nebraska to other schools.

The post that got this all started... the op....did not reference 4-5 star players. It said the class was underwhelming. I disagree. I think the class has a solid base and I will always consider 5.7 3 stars in the elite tier because many of our top players in the past decade plus have been 5.7 3 stars. (T-Mart, Bell, Enunwa, Ciante Evans, Abdullah, Valentine, Armstrong, Gerry, Maliek Collins, Jerald Foster, Dedrick Young, Spielman, Farniok, etc....).

Now on to your other point let's go ahead and compare apples to apples.

Nebraska 5.7 or above:
2018: 15 (9 four stars)
2019: 9 (3 four stars)

Wisconsin:
2018: 8 (1 four star)
2019: 7 (4 four stars)

Michigan State:
2018: 9 (5 four stars)
2019: 5 (3 four stars)

Iowa:
2018: 9 (4 four stars)
2019: 4 (0 four or five stars)

Michigan:
2018: 12 (7 four stars)
2019: 12 (5 four stars)

Penn State and Ohio State have ridiculous numbers... We aren't going to catch them in recruiting without winning a whole bunch of games and showing something on the field. Frost has clearly out recruited pretty much everyone else in the big10 in half a year, without playing a game or having a single official visitor on campus (pretty sure that's accurate and it's insane). Can we give the guy a full recruiting class or two before we start bitching about his recruiting prowess?

 

[huskerbaseball13]

The problem with lowering the number to 5.7 three stars, is that you are not comparing that to the other schools. The report that got this conversation all started referenced 4 and 5 star players, not 5.7 I get what you are trying to say, but unless you do that for all the schools you are comparing apples to oranges.

Nebraska had 9 4 star players in the class last year, 6 committed to Frost, 3 to Riley. 9 of 25 is 36%. So far in 2019 there are 3 Rivals 4 stars out of 16 commitments or 25%. So in two years, there are 12 of 41 or 29%. I am sure that if we added the 5.7 3 stars to all the other teams, we would still be in a similar situation as we are now, when comparing Nebraska to other schools.

7 committed to Frost, 2 to Riley*

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

7 committed to Frost, 2 to Riley*

Correct, my apologies

 

[inWV]

In the B1G, I would say Frost is on a trajectory to out recruit everyone but tOSU and PSU and be on par with Michigan. And if recruiting were the only metric, we would have been the odds on favorite to win the West since joining the league rather than struggling to beat Purdue. I am interested in seeing what Frost can do this year with the talent on hand. Work beats talent when talent doesn't work.

 

[Lincoln100]

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.

I see you more as a do-as-I-say, not-as-I-do kind a guy. AmIright?

 

[Skerz4Life50]

The problem with lowering the number to 5.7 three stars, is that you are not comparing that to the other schools. The report that got this conversation all started referenced 4 and 5 star players, not 5.7 I get what you are trying to say, but unless you do that for all the schools you are comparing apples to oranges.

Nebraska had 9 4 star players in the class last year, 6 committed to Frost, 3 to Riley. 9 of 25 is 36%. So far in 2019 there are 3 Rivals 4 stars out of 16 commitments or 25%. So in two years, there are 12 of 41 or 29%. I am sure that if we added the 5.7 3 stars to all the other teams, we would still be in a similar situation as we are now, when comparing Nebraska to other schools.

I think one of the more interesting things to follow the next few years is if and how well SF will process out his own guys that he recruited that are dead weight. It seemed like Bo would never process any of the guys he recruited, even if they were in his ‘doghouse’ or were never going to contribute, and then a lot of his top talent transferred out of the program.

I am with you on the notion we need a higher amount/percentage of blue chip players. I think the only way the percentage could drop and still work overall in our favor is if he is able to keep his top blue chippers while also processing the non-contributors. In that way I guess it would be fine to take more chances if you are consistently signing classes of 25, but removing the bottom 20% or so in each class after a couple years. That still doesn’t explain why he is accepting the commitments of some of these players so early in the year, though.

*Edit: the numbers are also to where I hope we stop redshirting the majority of our players. Unfortunately the new redshirt rule doesn’t really help that aspect.

Also, the total percentage of blue chip players would still need to be close to 50%, but per class the percentage would be lower. (i.e. 10/25, 10/25, 10/25, 10/25 would be 40%, but if you process 15 out from the first 3 classes, you would be at 40/85. That’s just a hypothetical example)

 

[GeorgeFlippin]

If Nebraska is overwhelmed in a lot of games the next few years, I will be underwhelmed by those overwhelmed results.

 

[HuskerDana_rivals188993]

Still, one of my top 20 favorite movies of all time.

 

[sfloudenback]

I know what Frost is trying to do. However, with the 3 star recruits, it hasn't been done in years. Mold them into what you want, and I am sure that he will, but to compete for a National Championship in this day and age, your recruiting class better be up to snuff. From what I am seeing, 50 percent of the 2019 class chose NU because their other offers were sub-par. He needs to pick it up, plain and simple. I support Frost and what he is doing, however, the class we have will compete for a division title in a couple of years. The National Championship? No way in our lifetime if recruiting goes the same way. Everyone says that we will finish in the top 15 this year. With up to 25 or 26 recruits, I sure as hell hope so. From what I have seen thus far, I am under whelmed. No one will say it, because of the Frost hard-on. whatever, but it is time to call it out. There is still time, but he better be one hell of a coach (and I think he is), to mold lower tier players into superstars and compete for the division. National championship? No way.. Good coach or not, the recruiting needs to pick up, or he will have no chance to consistently compete with the big boys every year.Unless he bucks the system, numbers do not lie. Hopefully he will buck it. However, I am not as confident as everyone else.With his classes, the divisional title might be in reach. The NC? No way. Yes I am intoxicated.

Perhaps another way to look at is - How in the heck does a 4-8 2017 team have the 25th rated recruiting class at this point in the cycle? I'm thinking the staff has a plan and is executing to that plan. Not sure I have enough information to ring alarm bells yet... I think we need to let the plays be called and run and we can evaluate the trend and scoreboard.

 

[Pirates919]

Lol @ all the people who think Nebraska is going to just jump into national title level recruiting.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

Perhaps another way to look at is - How in the heck does a 4-8 2017 team have the 25th rated recruiting class at this point in the cycle? I'm thinking the staff has a plan and is executing to that plan. Not sure I have enough information to ring alarm bells yet... I think we need to let the plays be called and run and we can evaluate the trend and scoreboard.

This. Anyone on here who thinks that Frost should be able to start hauling in one four star guy after another is just being flat-out stupid. We have had two losing seasons in the past three years. And sandwiched in the middle of that was on winning season where we got blown out by most teams that mattered. And even if Pelini won at least nine games a year, his teams never won **** that mattered. Callahan years? Lol.

Nebraska's brand is so diminished in the eyes of these 17 year old kids that most of them have very, very little knowledge of any of it. Go read the interview with that kid from Oklahoma that committed to us (not sure of name). He said he had been "taught and brought up to speed" with how important the NU-OU game was at one time. Yikes. Let that sink in.

Add in the fact that all of these kids think of Nebraska as one giant cornfield with millions of cow pies mixed in. Add to that the fact that for academically gifted kids NU is no big draw. And believe it or not, that actually matters to more of these recruits than you might think.

We have to start winning again. And that requires building a culture and a system and a mentality. That is why I believe in Frost. I think he gets it.

I am totally happy with our recruiting to this point.

 

[vs540husker]

There are 3 ways you recruit top players:
1. Pay them. Cash, cars, etc.
2. Have people on staff that can sell ice to an eskimo.
3. Win football games.

Anyone of these or a combination of the 3 will work. Frost doesn't seem like the guy to pay recruits, I also think he's probably more honest with recruits instead of filling their heads with delusions of grandeur, so that leaves winning football games. Seeing as how he hasn't coached a single game here yet, give it a while.

 

[Skerz4Life50]

There are 3 ways you recruit top players:
1. Pay them. Cash, cars, etc.
2. Have people on staff that can sell ice to an eskimo.
3. Win football games.

Anyone of these or a combination of the 3 will work. Frost doesn't seem like the guy to pay recruits, I also think he's probably more honest with recruits instead of filling their heads with delusions of grandeur, so that leaves winning football games. Seeing as how he hasn't coached a single game here yet, give it a while.

4. Sell the recruits on your vision of the program/success as a coach.

Oregon: currently #2, 15/20 blue chip recruits, last year 7-6, new coach
Texas A&M: currently #3, 14/25 blue chip recruits, last year 7-6, new coach
FSU: currently #8, 12/16 blue chip recruits, last year 7-6, new coach
Texas: currently #11, 10/15 blue chip recruits, last year 7-6, 2nd year coach
Tennessee: currently #13, 9/18 blue chip recruits, last year 4-8, new coach
Arkansas: currently #16, 7/18 blue chip recruits, last year 4-8, new coach
Nebraska: currently #25, 3/16 blue chip recruits, last year 4-8, new coach
Florida: currently #41, 5/11 blue chip recruits, last year 4-7, new coach

Now I realize this isn’t all apples to apples comparisons to NU. Some programs are more ‘relevant’, some are in better recruiting areas, many are in the SEC - so may be getting paid, and Texas doesn’t have a new head coach this year. But the point is the perceived quality of recruits these teams are getting. Florida is below Nebraska, but has basically 50% blue chippers. Nebraska arguably has the hottest new head coach in the nation. Now can NU finish very strong, especially after winning some games this year? Of course. But compared to some similar peers in similar situations, it’s hard not to say NU recruiting is ‘underwhelming’. And yes I know SF is gonna coach up our boys better than any team in the nation and it is only August...

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

4. Sell the recruits on your vision of the program/success as a coach.

Oregon: currently #2, 15/20 blue chip recruits, last year 7-6, new coach
Texas A&M: currently #3, 14/25 blue chip recruits, last year 7-6, new coach
FSU: currently #8, 12/16 blue chip recruits, last year 7-6, new coach
Texas: currently #11, 10/15 blue chip recruits, last year 7-6, 2nd year coach
Tennessee: currently #13, 9/18 blue chip recruits, last year 4-8, new coach
Arkansas: currently #16, 7/18 blue chip recruits, last year 4-8, new coach
Nebraska: currently #25, 3/16 blue chip recruits, last year 4-8, new coach
Florida: currently #41, 5/11 blue chip recruits, last year 4-7, new coach

Now I realize this isn’t all apples to apples comparisons to NU. Some programs are more ‘relevant’, some are in better recruiting areas, many are in the SEC - so may be getting paid, and Texas doesn’t have a new head coach this year. But the point is the perceived quality of recruits these teams are getting. Florida is below Nebraska, but has basically 50% blue chippers. Nebraska arguably has the hottest new head coach in the nation. Now can NU finish very strong, especially after winning some games this year? Of course. But compared to some similar peers in similar situations, it’s hard not to say NU recruiting is ‘underwhelming’. And yes I know SF is gonna coach up our boys better than any team in the nation and it is only August...

You are darn right this isn't all apples to apples. With the exception of Oregon every team you list is either in a recruiting rich, population dense, area and/or are teams with very recent success. You list Florida State as a comparison? Really? Did they not win a national title just a few years ago? And even Oregon can recruit heavily in California since they are in the Pac 12 and not really that far away. And Arkansas is in the SEC and right next door to Texas. Every single team you list on here is comparing an apple to an orange.

As a fan base we just have to come to grips with the unique reality Nebraska faces. I think I read somewhere that we are the least populated State among all P5 programs. And we are surrounded by states with low populations. We also have to face the fact that kids from the coasts and the southeast think of Nebraska as one, huge, cow pie. Seriously. Anyone on this board who lives outside of Nebraska on the coasts knows what I am talking about. What people think of Nebraska is just amazingly stupid. But that is the reality. And opposing coaches build on that stereotype in their negative recruiting.

Frost will build this program his way, which is a combination of Oregon and Osborne. He is not emphasizing walk ons and local kids and so on just to blow smoke and play to the crowds. The people on this board who mocked Rimington for his comments on the walk on program have egg on their faces right now and rightly so. Because they are fools who do not understand what it takes to make Nebraska a top ten team.

So if you are underwhelmed by our recruiting and are already sending up the warning flares and the SOS signals before Frost has even been here 10 months you are just being an alarmist. Good grief people.

 

[bshirt73]

You are darn right this isn't all apples to apples. With the exception of Oregon every team you list is either in a recruiting rich, population dense, area and/or are teams with very recent success. You list Florida State as a comparison? Really? Did they not win a national title just a few years ago? And even Oregon can recruit heavily in California since they are in the Pac 12 and not really that far away. And Arkansas is in the SEC and right next door to Texas. Every single team you list on here is comparing an apple to an orange.

As a fan base we just have to come to grips with the unique reality Nebraska faces. I think I read somewhere that we are the least populated State among all P5 programs. And we are surrounded by states with low populations. We also have to face the fact that kids from the coasts and the southeast think of Nebraska as one, huge, cow pie. Seriously. Anyone on this board who lives outside of Nebraska on the coasts knows what I am talking about. What people think of Nebraska is just amazingly stupid. But that is the reality. And opposing coaches build on that stereotype in their negative recruiting.

Frost will build this program his way, which is a combination of Oregon and Osborne. He is not emphasizing walk ons and local kids and so on just to blow smoke and play to the crowds. The people on this board who mocked Rimington for his comments on the walk on program have egg on their faces right now and rightly so. Because they are fools who do not understand what it takes to make Nebraska a top ten team.

So if you are underwhelmed by our recruiting and are already sending up the warning flares and the SOS signals before Frost has even been here 10 months you are just being an alarmist. Good grief people.

Damn well stated sir!!

 

[Skerz4Life50]

You are darn right this isn't all apples to apples. With the exception of Oregon every team you list is either in a recruiting rich, population dense, area and/or are teams with very recent success. You list Florida State as a comparison? Really? Did they not win a national title just a few years ago? And even Oregon can recruit heavily in California since they are in the Pac 12 and not really that far away. And Arkansas is in the SEC and right next door to Texas. Every single team you list on here is comparing an apple to an orange.

As a fan base we just have to come to grips with the unique reality Nebraska faces. I think I read somewhere that we are the least populated State among all P5 programs. And we are surrounded by states with low populations. We also have to face the fact that kids from the coasts and the southeast think of Nebraska as one, huge, cow pie. Seriously. Anyone on this board who lives outside of Nebraska on the coasts knows what I am talking about. What people think of Nebraska is just amazingly stupid. But that is the reality.

Frost will build this program his way, which is a combination of Oregon and Osborne. He is not emphasizing walk ons and local kids and so on just to blow smoke and play to the crowds. The people on this board who mocked Rimington for his comments on the walk on program have egg on their faces right now and rightly so. Because they are fools who do not understand what it takes to make Nebraska a top ten team.

So if you are underwhelmed by our recruiting and are already sending up the warning flares and the SOS signals before Frost has even been here 10 months is just alarmist ********.

The teams listed have new head coaches (except for Texas) which is what was pointed out for each team. That is why they are listed. And of all the teams listed, ONLY FSU and Florida has won a NC in the last 10 years (Florida was 10 years ago). Plenty of these teams have been just as bad or worse than NU in the last 10 years.

*Edit: if you have a better way of comparing first year coaches at major programs, please be my guest and let me see if. Because it seems by your logic, being outside a recruiting hotbed should drop our blue chip percentage at least 30% I guess for us to be able to compare any first year coach in a major program.*

Also this talk about location and Nebraska is bogus. Kids want to win, they want to play, and they want to play for winners. Guess who just went 13-0. Guess who is a proven winner. Use that. For as bad as the previous staff was, they knew how to market the program and get high caliber kids on campus. That’s all SF needs to do is get them here and they will see what it is about. Again, yes I know we haven’t played a game, which is what circles around to the other argument of why take the commits of some of these low recruited players NOW. Why not take a similar approach to Florida (not saying that is their actual approach) and just take fewer kids until they can come to campus and watch a game.

I also have not stated once I am concerned. I just said if you compare to other first year coaches, many who aren’t as ‘hot’ as SF, then I think you could say it is underwhelming. If you want to pump sunshine and say we are recruiting great, that’s fantastic, that’s just not reality to me. I also think we will continually recruit better each year, but to say we can’t do it this year is bullsh*t

 

[Harry Caray]

Purdue and NC State have more 4-star recruits than us right now.

Old Mike Riley, a career .500 coach, had plenty of 4 and 5-star recruits from all over the country interested in Nebraska. He didn't always close on them, but he didn't make excuses about geography.

Top recruits want to win and have fun doing it, and make it to the NFL. Frost is a National Coach of the Year who runs the highest scoring offense in the country. He played in the NFL, coached guys like Mariota, and even sent a player with one arm to the NFL. He should not be getting out-recruited by Purdue and NC State at any point in time.

 

[Hoosker Du]

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.

First and foremost, I look at it this way...is there another coach that we could get to come to Lincoln that would be better than Frost? There may be better coaches, but they aren't coming. So...we have the best guy we can get.

After that, if recruiting isn't primo, then we have to either win to bring in better recruits, or Frost and company have to change their recruiting philosophy. Either way, we haven't even played a game yet, so I have no other choice but to trust that he knows what he is doing, until he proves otherwise. I don't think we can really do a valid analysis of their recruiting until we find out how our results on the field may alter the quality of our recruiting classes.

So in other words, "it is what it is" right now. I think they are identifying multiple players at each position that they will take a commitment from if the player wants to commit. It would appear that on their recruiting board, they feel there are multiple players at each position that they feel they can develop into the type of player that can have us competing with the Ohio State's of the world. Either they are going to be successful competing, or they are going to have to revamp how they approach recruiting.

I'm just going to try to enjoy the ride, and let Frost and company adjust as they see fit. I'm sure they will find the competition is going to be much more difficult in the B1G, which in and of itself may very well be the impetus for a change in their recruiting philosophy.

 

[timnsun]

Purdue and NC State have more 4-star recruits than us right now.

Old Mike Riley, a career .500 coach, had plenty of 4 and 5-star recruits from all over the country interested in Nebraska. He didn't always close on them, but he didn't make excuses about geography.

Top recruits want to win and have fun doing it, and make it to the NFL. Frost is a National Coach of the Year who runs the highest scoring offense in the country. He played in the NFL and sent a player with one arm to the NFL as a coach. He should not be getting out-recruited by Purdue and NC State at any point in time.

Then what’s wrong? Are they not the good recruiters we hoped for? Are they settling? Why is Frost getting out-recruited by Purdue? Did we make a $35 million blunder?

I just don’t get the hand-wringing before a single game is played...

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

The teams listed have new head coaches (except for Texas) which is what was pointed out for each team. That is why they are listed. And of all the teams listed, ONLY FSU and Florida has won a NC in the last 10 years (Florida was 10 years ago). Plenty of these teams have been just as bad or worse than NU in the last 10 years.

Also this talk about location and Nebraska is bogus. Kids want to win, they want to play, and they want to play for winners. Guess who just went 13-0. Guess who is a proven winner. Use that. For as bad as the previous staff was, they knew how to market the program and get high caliber kids on campus. That’s all SF needs to do is get them here and they will see what it is about. Again, yes I know we haven’t played a game, which is what circles around to the other argument of why take the commits of some of these low recruited players NOW. Why not take a similar approach to Florida (not saying that is their actual approach) and just take fewer kids until they can come to campus and watch a game.

I also have not stated once I am concerned. I just said if you compare to other first year coaches, many who aren’t as ‘hot’ as SF, then I think you could say it is underwhelming. If you want to pump sunshine and say we are recruiting great, that’s fantastic, that’s just not reality to me. I also think we will continually recruit better each year, but to say we can’t do it this year is bullsh*t

Don't put words in my mouth. I never said we are recruiting great. Nor am I pumping sunshine. Just pointing out that your comparative list is utterly bogus. Yes they have new coaches. So what? None of those new coaches have the recruiting disadvantages that Frost has. You are clearly insinuating that Frost is not recruiting well and are using this chart as your comparative metric. Sorry ... the chart is worthless as a metric of anything.

I agree that geography does not matter if you are an established winning program with a solid national reputation. We are not that. Osborne/Devaney had us humming and a real machine like system in place. That whole system has been lost. Yes, Riley brought big talent to campus. But couldn't close on the vast majority of them. Why? Because his on the field product utterly sucked. He lost games. Big time. And Pelini's teams routinely pissed down their legs in big games. So yeah ... geography does not matter if you are winning. But we haven't been. So that has to be rebuilt first.

Anyone who thinks that Frost should just be able to start hauling in a bevy of 4 star guys is delusional.

 

[Hoosker Du]

Then what’s wrong? Are they not the good recruiters we hoped for? Are they settling? Why is Frost getting out-recruited by Purdue? Did we make a $35 million blunder?

I just don’t get the hand-wringing before a single game is played...

Not to mention that if Mike Riley can beat Purdue, I'm putting money on Frost to beat Purdue more soundly.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

Purdue and NC State have more 4-star recruits than us right now.

Old Mike Riley, a career .500 coach, had plenty of 4 and 5-star recruits from all over the country interested in Nebraska. He didn't always close on them, but he didn't make excuses about geography.

Top recruits want to win and have fun doing it, and make it to the NFL. Frost is a National Coach of the Year who runs the highest scoring offense in the country. He played in the NFL, coached guys like Mariota, and even sent a player with one arm to the NFL. He should not be getting out-recruited by Purdue and NC State at any point in time.

We have a higher star average than Purdue and they are only ahead of us because they have more recruits. We will easily pass them up by February. As for NC State.... they are in a recruiting rich area. And their average star rating is 3.14. Ours is 3.13. They have 4, four star guys. We have 3. Wow. They are really kicking our ***. Prediction: by February we will pass them too.

Geography matters I don't care what you say. Any recruiting expert worth their salt will tell you it matters a lot. There is a reason why most titles are won by teams from population dense areas.

And you bring up Mike Riley as a comparison? Seriously? He couldn't close on the guys he brought to campus. And his teams sucked. Get real.

 

[Solana Beach Husker]

One thing that is overlooked is how early the recruiting process is working now. The process is 6 months ahead of 10 years ago, meaning many commited kids are not even seniors, many of them are 16. And they will be seniors in college at 21. So we are trying to project the ability of a male in the height of puberty five years ahead of their peak physical ability. It is ludicrous. The recruiting services have to get more inaccurate the earlier the process works because there is a ton of development between 16-18, or 19 for that matter when the kids are most likely to play. As always the services rate on offers first, opinions of regional recruiters, mostly from texas, florida, and california and they try to pump the big population programs to get more hits, much like why the Dodgers, Lakers, Yankees, Cubs, Celtics, Cowboys are always on espn...regardless of relevance. There are plenty of garbage teams with stacked classes and many very good teams with average classes, and the field is looking more and more even when you remove alabama from the equation. Alabama rocks the recruiting world but they are also great because of the system and the culture. Remove Saban and they win 9 games a year.

 

[Skerz4Life50]

Don't put words in my mouth. I never said we are recruiting great. Nor am I pumping sunshine. Just pointing out that your comparative list is utterly bogus. Yes they have new coaches. So what? None of those new coaches have the recruiting disadvantages that Frost has. You are clearly insinuating that Frost is not recruiting well and are using this chart as your comparative metric. Sorry ... the chart is worthless as a metric of anything.

I agree that geography does not matter if you are an established winning program with a solid national reputation. We are not that. Osborne/Devaney had us humming and a real machine like system in place. That whole system has been lost. Yes, Riley brought big talent to campus. But couldn't close on the vast majority of them. Why? Because his on the field product utterly sucked. He lost games. Big time. And Pelini's teams routinely pissed down their legs in big games. So yeah ... geography does not matter if you are winning. But we haven't been. So that has to be rebuilt first.

Anyone who thinks that Frost should just be able to start hauling in a bevy of 4 star guys is delusional.

You are also putting words in my mouth. I never said a bevy of 4 star guys. But yes we should be able to do better than 20% with the hottest coaching hire in the nation. I also never said that chart is the reason we aren’t recruiting great. In fact I said I am not concerned. But I do think it is an interesting comparison to other first year coaches, whether or not you agree. I would assume everyone on this site can see that the majority of those schools are in the south. But I would also assume that they can see the majority of them have been just as irrelevant as NU in the last 10 years. While they are using their advantages to their benefit (location), it doesn’t seem like we are (national coach of the year and just went 13-0).

Also please see the edit to the last post. How would you like to compare first year coaches at major programs. There has to be some way of doing it other than saying only SF is the one who shouldn’t be expected to pull in higher rated recruits because he is in Nebraska, until he has proven he can win.

Like I said previously, what we have to sell is a winning coach, a fun offense/defense, and the chance to play (because we have been ****). And again, guess what kids want (other than money, cars, blow, and hookers), they want to play and win. So sell them damnit ha.

 

[Skerz4Life50]

Then what’s wrong? Are they not the good recruiters we hoped for? Are they settling? Why is Frost getting out-recruited by Purdue? Did we make a $35 million blunder?

I just don’t get the hand-wringing before a single game is played...

I don’t believe anyone is hand-wringing anything. People are discussing it, on a discussion forum. They want to see what others think. Isn’t that the point?

Btw, I don’t think we are getting out recruited by them. They both have 21 recruits, and I personally think we will be getting some bumps and another 5-6 4*. The main thing I question is why are we taking commitments now from lower recruited kids when SF has stated that he really didn’t want to take many commitments until kids have been on officials for games. It seems odd when we are 2/3 full. And I am only questioning it because it came out of his mouth.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

You are also putting words in my mouth. I never said a bevy of 4 star guys. But yes we should be able to do better than 20% with the hottest coaching hire in the nation. I also never said that chart is the reason we aren’t recruiting great. In fact I said I am not concerned. But I do think it is an interesting comparison to other first year coaches, whether or not you agree. I would assume everyone on this site can see that the majority of those schools are in the south. But I would also assume that they can see the majority of them have been just as irrelevant as NU in the last 10 years. While they are using their advantages to their benefit (location), it doesn’t seem like we are (national coach of the year and just went 13-0).

Also please see the edit to the last post. How would you like to compare first year coaches at major programs. There has to be some way of doing it other than saying only SF is the one who shouldn’t be expected to pull in higher rated recruits because he is in Nebraska, until he has proven he can win.

Like I said previously, what we have to sell is a winning coach, a fun offense/defense, and the chance to play (because we have been ****). And again, guess what kids want (other than money, cars, blow, and hookers), they want to play and win. So sell them damnit ha.

Ok. Great. You admit then that your chart has no real significance with regard to how well Frost is recruiting. It is just an interesting chart showing how new coaches are doing. Except you include Texas for some reason. Why?

And I am sorry if you cannot see that Nebraska really does have severe recruiting disadvantages those other schools you list do not have. But the fact you cannot see those disadvantages does not make them any less real.

But anyway... we have both had our say. We just disagree. We still have nine or ten spots left to give out. My guess we are all going to be happier in a few months

 

[Skerz4Life50]

Ok. Great. You admit then that your chart has no real significance with regard to how well Frost is recruiting. It is just an interesting chart showing how new coaches are doing. Except you include Texas for some reason. Why?

And I am sorry if you cannot see that Nebraska really does have sever recruiting disadvantages those other schools you list do not have. But the fact you cannot see those disadvantages does not make them any less real.

But anyway... we have both had our say. We just disagree. We still have nine or ten spots left to give out. My guess we are all going to be happier in a few months

Texas was included because Tom Herman was SF a year earlier. Plus they had a less than stellar year last year. But yes, I think it is interesting to compare SF to other 1st year coaches. Some big names, some not, some big schools, some not so much, etc.

On the recruiting disadvantages based on location, I will just agree to disagree ha. Yes I understand some kids want to play close to home. I understand kids can take more visits to schools since they are close. I understand many like warmer weather. But I think the majority that are serious about football just want to win. Also, I think then there is no reason we shouldn’t be pulling good kids from the 500 mile radius (who all seem comfortable going far from home, but that’s another discussion I guess).

And like I said in a different post, I think we will close out the class strong. My main questioning of SF is why he is taking commitments this early from so many kids (especially the lightly recruited non-Nebraska kids) when he has stated he wants kids to come on officials for gameday and to commit more at that time so they don’t basically have to babysit kids...below is the article.

https://www.omaha.com/huskers/footb...cle_ce36c199-2748-57eb-8073-bc6e38b45e37.html

 

[timnsun]

Texas was included because Tom Herman was SF a year earlier. Plus they had a less than stellar year last year. But yes, I think it is interesting to compare SF to other 1st year coaches. Some big names, some not, some big schools, some not so much, etc.

On the recruiting disadvantages based on location, I will just agree to disagree ha. Yes I understand some kids want to play close to home. I understand kids can take more visits to schools since they are close. I understand many like warmer weather. But I think the majority that are serious about football just want to win. Also, I think then there is no reason we shouldn’t be pulling good kids from the 500 mile radius (who all seem comfortable going far from home, but that’s another discussion I guess).

And like I said in a different post, I think we will close out the class strong. My main questioning of SF is why he is taking commitments this early from so many kids (especially the lightly recruited non-Nebraska kids) when he has stated he wants kids to come on officials for gameday and to commit more at that time so they don’t basically have to babysit kids...below is the article.

https://www.omaha.com/huskers/footb...cle_ce36c199-2748-57eb-8073-bc6e38b45e37.html

I can think of only two reasons that Scott Frost would offer scholarships to these lightly recruited players… Either he doesn’t know what he’s doing, or he really likes what he sees in these players. I cannot think of a third reason for this… But maybe others can. I’m all ears.

 

[Skerz4Life50]

I can think of only two reasons that Scott Frost would offer scholarships to these lightly recruited players… Either he doesn’t know what he’s doing, or he really likes what he sees in these players. I cannot think of a third reason for this… But maybe others can. I’m all ears.

I obviously agree he likes what he sees. It is interesting few other P5 coaches agree but it is what it is.

Why do you think he is taking so many commitments when he himself has stated he doesn’t really like taking commitments until kids have been on officials for game days?

 

[timnsun]

I obviously agree he likes what he sees. It is interesting few other P5 coaches agree but it is what it is.

Why do you think he is taking so many commitments when he himself has stated he doesn’t really like taking commitments until kids have been on officials for game days?

It’s like I just said... he must really like what he sees in these players. I can’t see any other reason to offer them at this stage.

 

[kaz36_rivals189319]

This. Anyone on here who thinks that Frost should be able to start hauling in one four star guy after another is just being flat-out stupid. We have had two losing seasons in the past three years. And sandwiched in the middle of that was on winning season where we got blown out by most teams that mattered. And even if Pelini won at least nine games a year, his teams never won **** that mattered. Callahan years? Lol.

Nebraska's brand is so diminished in the eyes of these 17 year old kids that most of them have very, very little knowledge of any of it. Go read the interview with that kid from Oklahoma that committed to us (not sure of name). He said he had been "taught and brought up to speed" with how important the NU-OU game was at one time. Yikes. Let that sink in.

Add in the fact that all of these kids think of Nebraska as one giant cornfield with millions of cow pies mixed in. Add to that the fact that for academically gifted kids NU is no big draw. And believe it or not, that actually matters to more of these recruits than you might think.

We have to start winning again. And that requires building a culture and a system and a mentality. That is why I believe in Frost. I think he gets it.

I am totally happy with our recruiting to this point.

I think Frost and staff set a standard in the transition class that they are going to have a hard time to live up to in their first full class. "If they could pull in 7 4 stars in about 2 months, then why can't they pull in more in 12 months?"

I am not completely 100% happy with how recruiting is going, but am pretty ok with how things are going. There is a long way to go until February, so a lot can happen(more 4 stars, guys upgraded, etc). I understand the philosophy and installing culture and then letting the wins bring better recruiting classes. I also do understand where @Tuco Salamanca is coming from when he says that we are accepting commits from guys with low/no power 5 offers that may be accepted later on in the process. My hope is, that in 3 years, we are winning at a rate that we are bitching that we had to pass over one 4 star for another 4 star because we are full. I don't get too high and too low when it comes to recruiting, but understand that there are plenty of "diamond in the rough" 3 stars, but if you depend on these "diamonds", you probably won't achieve your eventual goal of winning national championships.

 

[k9_r]

Potentially a very bumpable thread come late January.

 

[inWV]

We may not like it (or not like some of it), but I think the staff is
1. continuing to evaluate the kids on their recruiting boards and adding/subtracting prospects.
2. accepting a commitment when they've determined that they want a particular kid.
3. putting a lot of stock in their own evaluations and willing to pull the trigger on lightly offered kids if they like what they see or what they think can be developed (see Anderson, Matthew).
4. continuing to evaluate players with an eye to roster turnover.
5. not particularly concerned with what others think of their process.
Frost has been pretty clear about how he intends to develop players and the program. It's safe to say that he is more bullish on player development than a number of Rivals free board posters.
The combined populations of OH, PA and MI number over 34 million. The populations of MO, NE and KS number 10 million, Add Colorado and you get 15 million. A program that sits at the edge of where people live better be pretty good at identifying value recruits while it attempts to re-establish itself inside the top 20.

 

[bshirt73]

Well, just maybe HCSF 1st pr

We may not like it (or not like some of it), but I think the staff is
1. continuing to evaluate the kids on their recruiting boards and adding/subtracting prospects.
2. accepting a commitment when they've determined that they want a particular kid.
3. putting a lot of stock in their own evaluations and willing to pull the trigger on lightly offered kids if they like what they see or what they think can be developed (see Anderson, Matthew).
4. continuing to evaluate players with an eye to roster turnover.
5. not particularly concerned with what others think of their process.
Frost has been pretty clear about how he intends to develop players and the program. It's safe to say that he is more bullish on player development than a number of Rivals free board posters.

A truly massive understatement.

 

[TruHusker]

One thing that is overlooked is how early the recruiting process is working now. The process is 6 months ahead of 10 years ago, meaning many commited kids are not even seniors, many of them are 16. And they will be seniors in college at 21. So we are trying to project the ability of a male in the height of puberty five years ahead of their peak physical ability. It is ludicrous. The recruiting services have to get more inaccurate the earlier the process works because there is a ton of development between 16-18, or 19 for that matter when the kids are most likely to play. As always the services rate on offers first, opinions of regional recruiters, mostly from texas, florida, and california and they try to pump the big population programs to get more hits, much like why the Dodgers, Lakers, Yankees, Cubs, Celtics, Cowboys are always on espn...regardless of relevance. There are plenty of garbage teams with stacked classes and many very good teams with average classes, and the field is looking more and more even when you remove alabama from the equation. Alabama rocks the recruiting world but they are also great because of the system and the culture. Remove Saban and they win 9 games a year.

technically you are incorrect. The true "recruiting" process cannot start until September 1 of their junior year. that being said, athletes can approach the schools and coaches and attend camps where coaches are. The coaches are doing much of the evaluations, not always these other "raters" of the services.

It might me an over exaggeration that "many" commit with they are 16. Give me some examples. Again, the coaches can't do that, but players can so if a kid wants to commit early, he goes to camps, contacts the coaches, and if he asks for an offer he can commit but technically if he is NOT a junior, he was not recruited.

Here is one article about this, there are many. https://usatodayhss.com/2017/when-can-division-i-coaches-contact-athletes

 

[Solana Beach Husker]

technically you are incorrect. The true "recruiting" process cannot start until September 1 of their junior year. that being said, athletes can approach the schools and coaches and attend camps where coaches are. The coaches are doing much of the evaluations, not always these other "raters" of the services.

It might me an over exaggeration that "many" commit with they are 16. Give me some examples. Again, the coaches can't do that, but players can so if a kid wants to commit early, he goes to camps, contacts the coaches, and if he asks for an offer he can commit but technically if he is NOT a junior, he was not recruited.

Here is one article about this, there are many. https://usatodayhss.com/2017/when-can-division-i-coaches-contact-athletes

There are a ton of 16 year old juniors...kids go to school earlier than back in the day, and they are getting pressure to commit earlier than ever. The idea even 10 years ago was to wait until at least the fall of their senior year but may committed 4-6 months earlier.

 

[c2o]

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

That is a triple rue.
3 coaches and 3 rue the day is not good.

 

[dinglefritz]

Well, just maybe HCSF 1st pr


A truly massive understatement.

Frost has been in Lincoln for 8 months.....8 months to sell NU to recruits. I think the job his staff has done thus far has been pretty darned good and borders on amazing given that we're coming off a losing season. People need to find something else to worry about. Personally the fact that I can't buy machined parts for anything that aren't made in China scares the hell out of me.... China wouldn't have to go to war with the US. All they would have to do is stop selling us parts. It would totally shut down our economy.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

Frost has been in Lincoln for 8 months.....8 months to sell NU to recruits. I think the job his staff has done thus far has been pretty darned good and borders on amazing given that we're coming off a losing season. People need to find something else to worry about. Personally the fact that I can't buy machined parts for anything that aren't made in China scares the hell out of me.... China wouldn't have to go to war with the US. All they would have to do is stop selling us parts. It would totally shut down our economy.

I would add we are coming off of two losing seasons in three years, with the one winning season ending with some horrible blowout losses that exposed us as paper tigers with an easy early season schedule. We had no "identity" as a program other than the fact that we used to be really good 20 years ago and lots of people come to our games.

I simply do not understand the angst of some on here over this year's recruiting. My goodness, we are rated the 25th best class with some of our recruits most likely going to get a boost in stars and with 9 or 10 more offers to be made. Are we going to end in the top ten or top fifteen? I highly doubt it. But I predict we will be a top 20 class (closer to 15 than to 20) by the time the dust settles. But to read some of the complaints on here you would think we have a roster loaded with 2 star guys.