2026 Recruiting Thread

@Thiefery While Xavier Griffen to Bama hurts, it also means you guys likely go all-in on Atkinson. You have money to work with. That wouldn't be a bad consolation prize.
 
michigan-wolverines-150x150.png


4 star EDGE Carter Meadows out of Washington DC has committed to Michigan. Big get by the Wolverines.


 
osubuckeye89 said:
He's definitely a guy who looks better than his current ranking from most services.
Click to expand...
Same thing for Wilder. Of course we have to avoid any potential flip, but I love those two as additions. The DL recruiting nonsense on twitter is exhausting.
 
Across The Field said:
Same thing for Wilder. Of course we have to avoid any potential flip, but I love those two as additions. The DL recruiting nonsense on twitter is exhausting.
Click to expand...

We clearly aren't going to give the type of NIL money to HS kids that these upper end DE recruits are getting. People are going to have to get used to that fact.

I'll take a guy like Wilder and another solid 4* guy at DE and then go spend the real money on a proven production transfer in the offseason any day over giving blank checks to a HS recruit.
 
Across The Field said:
Same thing for Wilder. Of course we have to avoid any potential flip, but I love those two as additions. The DL recruiting nonsense on twitter is exhausting.
Click to expand...

Touching back on this, there is a ton of whining in our fan base because we aren't up at #1 in the recruiting rankings. People are acting like we are settling for 3* Low Level P4/G5 guys. Even with the "misses" we have had we still have #3 in quality recruiting class at the moment (average player ranking average in the composite) We are still going to be top 5ish every year in HS recruiting but the majority of our NIL money is budgeted for roster retention and the portal, I think this strategy pays off more in the long run than just chucking blank checks at any HS kid who will say ok.
 
osubuckeye89 said:
Touching back on this, there is a ton of whining in our fan base because we aren't up at #1 in the recruiting rankings. People are acting like we are settling for 3* Low Level P4/G5 guys. Even with the "misses" we have had we still have #3 in quality recruiting class at the moment (average player ranking average in the composite) We are still going to be top 5ish every year in HS recruiting but the majority of our NIL money is budgeted for roster retention and the portal, I think this strategy pays off more in the long run than just chucking blank checks at any HS kid who will say ok.
Click to expand...
I think if you are top 10 in HS recruiting then there isn't a ton of difference. Top 5 for sure. If you have a top 10 class then the talent is there, now what do you do with it. I think having a top 3 class means you will have a top 3 exiting transfer class the following year.
 
osubuckeye89 said:
Touching back on this, there is a ton of whining in our fan base because we aren't up at #1 in the recruiting rankings. People are acting like we are settling for 3* Low Level P4/G5 guys. Even with the "misses" we have had we still have #3 in quality recruiting class at the moment (average player ranking average in the composite) We are still going to be top 5ish every year in HS recruiting but the majority of our NIL money is budgeted for roster retention and the portal, I think this strategy pays off more in the long run than just chucking blank checks at any HS kid who will say ok.
Click to expand...
We have a lot of spoiled brats in our fanbase. Also the morons crying about 5* EDGE rushers need to go back and look at the last 4 years of top-rated EDGE rushers. A few great talents and a lot of nobodies.
 
WhosYourDawggy said:
@Thiefery While Xavier Griffen to Bama hurts, it also means you guys likely go all-in on Atkinson. You have money to work with. That wouldn't be a bad consolation prize.
Click to expand...
Wait…I’ve been told that texico is the mostest bestest and that they don’t lose recruiting battles…any kid that doesn’t end up there is only becuzz texico found a better kid? :think:
 
osubuckeye89 said:
Touching back on this, there is a ton of whining in our fan base because we aren't up at #1 in the recruiting rankings. People are acting like we are settling for 3* Low Level P4/G5 guys. Even with the "misses" we have had we still have #3 in quality recruiting class at the moment (average player ranking average in the composite) We are still going to be top 5ish every year in HS recruiting but the majority of our NIL money is budgeted for roster retention and the portal, I think this strategy pays off more in the long run than just chucking blank checks at any HS kid who will say ok.
Click to expand...
The top 50-300 is going to be the difference maker now. It has always been important, but now that 5* are going to be more distributed, the teams that eval the 50-300 best are going to be the teams to win.

Example: we are in on ILB Atkinson, but Texas may grab him. We already have a very good ILB, Toodle, but would likely get Nick Abrams who is a national 245 guy who has a ton of talent. Are Toodle/Abrams as good to get as one of Atkinson. Basically you are getting 2 for 1, and if they work out that might the better outcome.

These are the new decisions that have to be made. I think you are going to see the UGA, Bama, tOSUs dominating 50-300 like they used to domainte the top 100. This is where the math/finance nerds get involved.
 
Across The Field said:
We have a lot of spoiled brats in our fanbase. Also the morons crying about 5* EDGE rushers need to go back and look at the last 4 years of top-rated EDGE rushers. A few great talents and a lot of nobodies.
Click to expand...

EDGE definitely seems to be the position that's commanding the most insane NIL money (outside of QB of course)

Wafle is a grand example. he's a nice prospect but nowhere near a elite can't miss one and he got the same money as Dylan Stewart did last year. Insanity.
 
WhosYourDawggy said:
The top 50-300 is going to be the difference maker now. It has always been important, but now that 5* are going to be more distributed, the teams that eval the 50-300 best are going to be the teams to win.

Example: we are in on ILB Atkinson, but Texas may grab him. We already have a very good ILB, Toodle, but would likely get Nick Abrams who is a national 245 guy who has a ton of talent. Are Toodle/Abrams as good to get as one of Atkinson. Basically you are getting 2 for 1, and if they work out that might the better outcome.

These are the new decisions that have to be made. I think you are going to see the UGA, Bama, tOSUs dominating 50-300 like they used to domainte the top 100. This is where the math/finance nerds get involved.
Click to expand...

Yep, I'd rather have 2 solid 50-300 guys than completely overpay for a top 50 guy any day of the week. You are probably even saving resources on the 50-300 guys rather than it being a straight up 2 for 1 in terms of money.

Then you can always use the portal as well. Schools like Ohio State, UGA & Bama are ALWAYS going to be attractive to better portal players. If those 50-300 guys need more time or they don't work out you just supplement with a more proven portal guy.
 
fordman84 said:
I think if you are top 10 in HS recruiting then there isn't a ton of difference. Top 5 for sure. If you have a top 10 class then the talent is there, now what do you do with it. I think having a top 3 class means you will have a top 3 exiting transfer class the following year.
Click to expand...

Top 10 with good use of the transfer portal and good roster retention will have you in the hunt every year at least. Because yea, a top 3 class does no good if half the class transfers after 1 season.
 
osubuckeye89 said:
Top 10 with good use of the transfer portal and good roster retention will have you in the hunt every year at least. Because yea, a top 3 class does no good if half the class transfers after 1 season.
Click to expand...
Top 3 is key for me. Maybe 5. Huge difference between 3 and 10. I've studied this in the past, and the main exception was Clemson and Michigan. Everyone else winning NCs - Bama, UGA, tOSU, and even LSU, were constantly in the top 3. And even more important is that you have to do it year after year. Doing it one year like ATM, and then not the next year, doesn't work. You have to stack top 3 classes.

The other thing is you can't be overly reliant on the transfer portal. It should fill gaps, that's it. Look at FSU going undefeated because 9 transfers had career years and then they win 2 games the next season. tOSU only took 6 transfer players when you win the NC. One was a QB and didn't contribute. The culture doesn't work if you have too many transfers. This is why the top programs have always been the top programs and always will.
 
WhosYourDawggy said:
Top 3 is key for me. Maybe 5. Huge difference between 3 and 10. I've studied this in the past, and the main exception was Clemson and Michigan. Everyone else winning NCs - Bama, UGA, tOSU, and even LSU, were constantly in the top 3. And even more important is that you have to do it year after year. Doing it one year like ATM, and then not the next year, doesn't work. You have to stack top 3 classes.

The other thing is you can't be overly reliant on the transfer portal. It should fill gaps, that's it. Look at FSU going undefeated because 9 transfers had career years and then they win 2 games the next season. tOSU only took 6 transfer players when you win the NC. One was a QB and didn't contribute. The culture doesn't work if you have too many transfers. This is why the top programs have always been the top programs and always will.
Click to expand...

This is why I said GOOD use of the portal. I think 6-10 a year is appropriate depending on the circumstances of each year, if you are trying to build most of your roster off the portal you are gonna be disappointed most of the time you are right on that. This is a big part (but not all of course) of why Deion will never actually win anything, he wants to flip most of their roster basically every offseason if things don't go exactly how he wants.

I think top 5ish is good enough now, especially when you are going to have teams like Texas A&M, USC and Cryami who have shown they will buy their way toward the top but have not shown they are any actual threat of winning anything butting into the upper level and swooping players who otherwise woulda ended up at the real players.
 
And the run continues - Composite ranked 66 - DL, can't have enough of them:

 
WhosYourDawggy said:
And the run continues - Composite ranked 66 - DL, can't have enough of them:

Click to expand...


Lol this is a good one that shows how lost "insiders" are now a days, some of them were reporting this morning that Dean's offer from UGA wasn't even committable and he was going to South Carolina because of that :pound: :facepalm:

Wiltfong included, guy's taken a beating on being dead wrong lately. "Fong Bombs" currently mean next to nothing.
 
WhosYourDawggy said:
@Thiefery While Xavier Griffen to Bama hurts, it also means you guys likely go all-in on Atkinson. You have money to work with. That wouldn't be a bad consolation prize.
Click to expand...
i'm not buying Atkinson ending up in Austin.. think they will take Okpola (in state LB) and maybe do a hard sell at Rouse for the other LB slot. But who knows with this staff..
occupant said:
Wait…I’ve been told that texico is the mostest bestest and that they don’t lose recruiting battles…any kid that doesn’t end up there is only becuzz texico found a better kid? :think:
Click to expand...
lol just like clockwork.. sooners talking about Texas recruiting.. only to see them sign a much better class on ESD than what it looked like in June/July..
enjoy the bargain bin recruiting under your new dictatorship:
1751315245488.png

lets's emphasize this part:
1751315323721.png
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top