Big Week in SEC Next Week

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

@NewPhoneWhoDis and @WhosYourDawggy

You guys got me thinking hard about recruiting. Often times, I will bring up topics here on other message boards or real life discussions. In a major discussion about this in VolNation and got a great counter for both of you. I am curious to know what the average Clemson rankings were because this guy is claiming that Clemson didn't even have top 10 classes. BTW, you guys know that you got me intrigued and had good arguments if I am talking about it in other places .

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Nebraska fans think I hate Nebraska, but honestly, I couldn't care less about them. I don't hate them in the least bit. I actually enjoy the Nebraska fan base -- they are some of the nicest fans in all of CFB.

They are simply prime example A for today's CFB and how important it is to have elite in state talent to build your recruiting class around. If you are relying on your entire class to be signed from outside your state -- you will never consistently bring in top 5 recruiting classes and even top 10 recruiting classes. The fact they have to recruit almost solely out of state recruits makes it an impossible task in today's game.

Those blue chip in state recruits are like gold to these programs. You don't have to sell them on the program like you have to others, as they have grown up watching and cheering for the program. They have grown up dreaming of playing for the program. Once those top recruits commit -- they can work as recruiters for the program, as they know the area, they know the program, they have been to the school an endless amount of times, etc. They can attract other top recruits to join them.

If you are from, say, California and you commit to, say, Michigan. How are they going to sell the guy on the state, the school, the campus?

 

[WhosYourDawggy]

Clemson has been the one outlier in the 1st championship, but they were still at 53% blue chip recruits on their roster. They are also the one outlier of a team who isn't located in a state with a ton of blue chips recruits every year.
What Clemson did have was All-American QB talent, in DeShaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence when they won their titles, both gifts from being located on the border of Georgia.

So is it impossible to win national titles without elite of the elite recruiting classes? Sure. Is it probable that it will happen? No. Is a team going to be a national title contender on a yearly basis bringing in recruiting classes outside the top 10? IMO, no. And I say that as a fan of a school who falls into that category. I think a superior QB can narrow the talent differential in a year like say Cam Newton did at Auburn, or the year Joe Burrow did it for LSU.

I think this is right. You can have a generational QB that can carry you to a natty - think Scam Newton at Auburn, Watson at Clemson. Lawrence's year was because they had a ton of seniors come back, so they had great culture and a very, very good front 7 on D, which made the difference. So, you can overcome the recruiting disadvantage by having enough really good players in 4 classes come together so that it's like you had a no. 1 class. But you have to get really lucky with injuries, players not leaving early for the NFL, being willing to wait their turn, etc. Dabo has the ability to make that happen.

In some ways you might say that UTjr could make a run this year because of really good QB play.

The other thing about Clemson is that they play in the ACC which gives them one of the easiest runs to the CFP. When Clemson won and were 15th in recruiting, or whatever it was, keep in mind that they were probably first or second in the ACC. They would have been 7th or 8th in the SEC (I am just guessing on this, but there would be a lot of SEC teams in front of them). That makes a huge difference, IMO.

 

[Deep Creek]

I think Alabama has more offensive fire power with Georgia. Feel free to disagree with me.

Don't say this you blue tick coon dog aggie. He's an attorney. That means he can argue either side if you extend such an offer!

 

[Deep Creek]

- You can never put too much stock in recruiting. Jimmies and Joes way > than Xs and Os. Now, having great recruits doesn't mean you win, but the opposite is true ... it's really hard to win without great players.

Now you're just rubbing salt in the Aggie wounds.

 

[Deep Creek]

So is it impossible to win national titles without elite of the elite recruiting classes? Sure. Is it probable that it will happen? No. Is a team going to be a national title contender on a yearly basis bringing in recruiting classes outside the top 10? IMO, no. And I say that as a fan of a school who falls into that category. I think a superior QB can narrow the talent differential in a year like say Cam Newton did at Auburn, or the year Joe Burrow did it for LSU.

I agree and have stated the CFP participants are usually decided on NSD the previous 2-3 years. There have been outliers like Cincy, Sparty, etc in a few years but I think that is a result of the stars aligning more than it is the quality of those teams.

That said, I'm anxious to see how the transfer portal and NIL work. Kiffey boy and Dykes seem to have assembled some pretty good teams by using the former. Hell, one of Kiffey's even came from TCU.

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

I agree and have stated the CFP participants are usually decided on NSD the previous 2-3 years. There have been outliers like Cincy, Sparty, etc in a few years but I think that is a result of the stars aligning more than it is the quality of those teams.

That said, I'm anxious to see how the transfer portal and NIL work. Kiffey boy and Dykes seem to have assembled some pretty good teams by using the former. Hell, one of Kiffey's even came from TCU.

I think the portal will help those teams with the elite recruiting classes already. They can add players if they have a position of weakness more than any other type teams.

Now NIL can be a game changer, but with the $$ figures being mentioned, I don't see it being a sustainable way for success. I could see it being a short term way to success and hoping it snowballs on the recruiting trail?

 

[Deep Creek]

I think the portal will help those teams with the elite recruiting classes already. They can add players if they have a position of weakness more than any other type teams.

Now NIL can be a game changer, but with the $$ figures being mentioned, I don't see it being a sustainable way for success. I could see it being a short term way to success and hoping it snowballs on the recruiting trail?

I definitely see those teams identifying former 2-3* guys at the lower schools that have developed beyond what everyone thought when they were seniors in HS and going after them. Guys like those in the NFL from FCS schools, etc.

I'm not sure former 5* guys will go to schools already loaded with 5*s and possibly sitting on the pine.

 

[osubuckeye89]

I definitely see those teams identifying former 2-3* guys at the lower schools that have developed beyond what everyone thought when they were seniors in HS and going after them. Guys like those in the NFL from FCS schools, etc.

I'm not sure former 5* guys will go to schools already loaded with 5*s and possibly sitting on the pine.

Yea outside of QB of course.

The portal is going to gut the G5. Especially the lower G5 schools, Good luck building anything when your best players are constantly looking to go up the ladder after every season, even if its just to better G5 schools.

 

[Deep Creek]

Yea outside of QB of course.

The portal is going to gut the G5. Especially the lower G5 schools, Good luck building anything when your best players are constantly looking to go up the ladder after every season, even if its just to better G5 schools.

The big names will definitely get those G5 2-3*s that have proved to be better than their recruiting stars and were "missed" by the biggies when they were seniors in high school. But, the G5s don't get the 4-5* anyway...at least on a regular basis. The only chance G5s have is to get some of those higher rated guys that haven't worked out at the bigger schools....and that aren't total misses. I think that applies to the lower P5 schools as well. They need to fill in where they really missed in classes.

 

[osubuckeye89]

The big names will definitely get those G5 2-3*s that have proved to be better than their recruiting stars and were "missed" by the biggies when they were seniors in high school. But, the G5s don't get the 4-5* anyway...at least on a regular basis. The only chance G5s have is to get some of those higher rated guys that haven't worked out at the bigger schools....and that aren't total misses. I think that applies to the lower P5 schools as well. They need to fill in where they really missed in classes.

I don't think you'll see the top P5 schools really attacking the portal too much. If they really need something at a position or if a guy is a absolute can't miss for the most part. It's really not a winning strategy for those types to load up on too many transfers per season.

The middle of the P5 really has the most to gain IMO.

 

[TaikoTiger]

@NewPhoneWhoDis and @WhosYourDawggy

You guys got me thinking hard about recruiting. Often times, I will bring up topics here on other message boards or real life discussions. In a major discussion about this in VolNation and got a great counter for both of you. I am curious to know what the average Clemson rankings were because this guy is claiming that Clemson didn't even have top 10 classes. BTW, you guys know that you got me intrigued and had good arguments if I am talking about it in other places .

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It's possible if don't miss on good QB talent in or adjacent to your own state

 

[NinerSpartan]

This makes zero sense.

Total Defense

#4 Georgia
#82 Tennessee

Total Offense

#1 Tennessee
#2 Georgia

homie actually sought out statistics to argue against an obvious troll post

 

[Rolltide94]

I'll respond to this because recruiting is, unfortunately, something I know too much about.

- The main reason, as a rival, I don't like seeing UTjr playing well is what it might do to your recruiting. This is going to be your third gameday, you've played 2 night games that have shown recruits the crazy environment in Knoxville. I'd rather the recruits not know about UTjr and just know it's where Manning went a billion years ago. Schools getting cool is how the recruiting starts to turn - it's why UF couldn't do it under Mullen because he's a dork. So, you guys doing well at actual football will translate to recruiting.

- You can never put too much stock in recruiting. Jimmies and Joes way > than Xs and Os. Now, having great recruits doesn't mean you win, but the opposite is true ... it's really hard to win without great players.

- Forget individual recruiting rankings because they can be off. Elite recruits can be meh players, and 2/3* can become 5* players. But, college football is all about amassing the most really good players and then letting the chips fall where they may. If you get 3-5 five stars per year, and the rest high 4* with a few developmental 3*, you are going to be way better than the school that gets 3-5 four stars and then a bunch of 3* developmental players. Both teams will have some that will work out, some won't. But the first school simply is going to have more better players work out than the second school will find diamonds in the rough. Throw in injuries, which will 100% happen, and one team is replacing injuries with 5*s while the other is with 3*.

- I pointed this out to you the other day - you can be top 10 and think that is great. It's not. The difference between top 3 and top 10 is like the difference between top 10 and top 30. And, top 10 nationally means you are 7th in the SEC, the league you have to win in.

- The problem with ATM is they forgot you have to have a great culture to bind all these great prima donnas together. Day, Saban, Smart have shown they can do that even if they will tell you it's really hard. Dumbo had no idea how to do that at FSU, and he doesn't at ATM.

The good thing for you is that CFB is cyclical and you might be at the start of a cycle ... getting a new coach can do that. And your success on the field should translate to successful recruiting.

Pretty good synopsis. I give you grief about stuff, but usually not on recruiting.

Tennessee does have a lot of things going for them...and I would hate to see them get the ball rolling. 5 or 6 5-stars over two-cycles if Lamaleavea works out like Hooker could definitely start a wave.

 

[Rolltide94]

When I look at this game, having watched the Bama and UK games, I am very, very glad we are playing in Athens!

Amen...Rocky Top is still ear-worming me. Sucks.

 

[Mistaken4193]

The more I think about it I think UGA wins.

Kirby runs Sabans defense so he will be able to look at how Tennessee attacked Bama and not let it happen to him.Also helps he doesn’t have a complete moron calling the defensive plays like dumbass drunktard Pete Golding.

 

[WhosYourDawggy]

The more I think about it I think UGA wins.

Kirby runs Sabans defense so he will be able to look at how Tennessee attacked Bama and not let it happen to him.Also helps he doesn’t have a complete moron calling the defensive plays like dumbass drunktard Pete Golding.

I've thought our schedule has been very good to us - we get to watch the tape of Bama v. UTjr, UTjr v. Ky, and then Bama v. MSU. Those are the three toughest teams we have to play in a row.

All that said, I can tell you that UGA has had this game on the radar since the season started. They've dedicated time every week to the defense of the UTjr speed. You can't stop it but you can slow it down. That will be our goal. They will gash us for a few TDs, no doubt, but can they sustain that once we've made our adjustments? We shall see in a few days.

 

[WhosYourDawggy]

Pretty good synopsis. I give you grief about stuff, but usually not on recruiting.

Tennessee does have a lot of things going for them...and I would hate to see them get the ball rolling. 5 or 6 5-stars over two-cycles if Lamaleavea works out like Hooker could definitely start a wave.

Having lived through the 90s when those inbred hillbillies where winning at a high level was a horrible experience. I'd love for them to be down for many years to come. If UGA has an edge, it's talent in the back yard and I think Smart is a top 2 or 3 coach. But UTjr seems to be the real deal this year.

 

[Volbound1700]

Having lived through the 90s when those inbred hillbillies where winning at a high level was a horrible experience. I'd love for them to be down for many years to come. If UGA has an edge, it's talent in the back yard and I think Smart is a top 2 or 3 coach. But UTjr seems to be the real deal this year.

Well Texas was in the first playoff ranking but I don't see them as being the "real" deal this year.

 

[HammerDown]

 

[Hatcher3333]

Tennessee 41
Georgia 14

LSU 35
Alabama 6