2023 - State of the Recruiting Class

Jiggafini19Deux

Minister of Delayed Gratification
Messages
13,489
Reaction score
14,230
I think NOT having a class full of bag chasers could ultimately work out for ND.
Absolutely.

Culture and team building still matter, especially in this sport more than any other. TAMU's fun in the sun was short lived. Oregon is going to fuck around and find out too from the looks of things.

I would rather let them make the big mistakes and be the cautionary tales of what NOT to do in this new era of college football.
 

Dale

Well-known member
Messages
16,128
Reaction score
27,377
Called Armel an inside guy FWW

Wants length everywhere if possible
 

Dale

Well-known member
Messages
16,128
Reaction score
27,377
Lotta praise for Drayk Bowen as a recruiter. Talking about Xbox lol

Says 2023 class doesn’t change the portal. Portal is immediate impact. Recruiting class you don’t know
 

Dale

Well-known member
Messages
16,128
Reaction score
27,377
Hillman is still up to the coordinators to duke it out for him.

(Talked about him on defense more though)
 

Dale

Well-known member
Messages
16,128
Reaction score
27,377
Rees called Greathouse and Flores polished and physically ready. Braylon similar to Tobias, size + speed. KK Smith smooth, upside, who slipped through the cracks nationally.

Ton of praise for Stuckey.
 

Dale

Well-known member
Messages
16,128
Reaction score
27,377
Mentioned Greathouse and Flores in the slot

Rees 1000% expects Greathouse to play next year IMO. Mentioned it like 5 times.
 

Dale

Well-known member
Messages
16,128
Reaction score
27,377
Flanagan even could play right away since he’s learned already to truly play TE.

I wouldn’t rule it out personally either with an open TE room.
 

NDMatt91

Well-known member
Messages
3,533
Reaction score
3,453
Does 247 give out more 4 star than they used to? I feel like the average player rankings in general are higher than they were 5 years ago for the same class ranking.
There are over 420 recruits who are rated 4-star or higher on the 247 composite in the 2023 class. I can't speak for previous classes.
 

jprue24

Well-known member
Messages
2,895
Reaction score
3,245
Does 247 give out more 4 star than they used to? I feel like the average player rankings in general are higher than they were 5 years ago for the same class ranking.
2023 Composite - 428 4/5 *s

2018 Composite - 375 4/5*s
 

Dale

Well-known member
Messages
16,128
Reaction score
27,377
Each individual site probably gives the same amount of 4 stars as they used to but the addition of On3 probably leads to more composite 4 stars
 

rikkitikki08

Well-known member
Messages
4,263
Reaction score
3,097
We can all act like we know if this class is going to be great or if someone has a better class but let’s all be honest. No one knows how any class is going to turn out until atleast two years in
 

irishff1014

Well-known member
Messages
26,514
Reaction score
9,289
We had the most players we have had in the top 150 that I can recall with out going and looking. Which is good. Great effort by the staff.
 

SouthSideChiDomer

Well-known member
Messages
1,526
Reaction score
614
There are over 420 recruits who are rated 4-star or higher on the 247 composite in the 2023 class. I can't speak for previous classes.
Looking this up real quick

426 in 2022
400 in 2021
373 in 2020
2019 only goes to 150 for some reason
376 in 2018
 

greyhammer90

the drunk piano player
Messages
16,842
Reaction score
16,131
I've put more blood, sweat, and tears into cheering on this program than most people on this board.

Not the brag you think it is.
I'm happy with this class but I think this chart is a bit misleading, making the gap look much bigger than it actually is.

I disagree. I think it actually makes it look closer. The gulf between a .92 average class ranking and a .90 average class ranking is immense. The last class that even came close to sniffing the average talent of our last two classes was in 2015.
 

Irishdrunk

Not Banned Yet
Messages
2,861
Reaction score
807
Except better than any class Kelly signed, top-to-bottom. I'm assuming that's what you guys mean

Huh? Wrong. Not as good as Kelly's last class or some of his other classes. And for all the recruiting hype, to have zero 5 stars and no Vyper? This is a B+ Class but C+ based on Freeman's recruiting prowess expectations (not!).
 

Irishdrunk

Not Banned Yet
Messages
2,861
Reaction score
807
A- class. Another class like this or better in '24 and I truly believe we'll be competing for championships. The speed and lack of holes in these Freeman classes are just different. Yeah it's not a top 3-5 class, but getting top 6-8 classes year over year with top 200 athletes at WR and CB, stud QBs, in addition to the guys we normally get on the interior will bring us up a level. The talent will be more spread out too across CFB with NIL - Miami, Oregon, A&M, etc. will take some guys away that would normally sign with Clemson, Bama, and UGA. The difference is those programs won't develop like the blue bloods.

Without NIL I think we are in a better place no doubt, but I still think it's a HUGE leap over the Kelly classes, while keeping the developmental culture.

If Freeman can coach. That is the big question. Kelly can coach and did wonders with so-called lesser classes.
 

slick7410

Well-known member
Messages
568
Reaction score
808
I repeat - our MAJOR need ON THE DL was WDE...
I thought this initially as well - but looking at our class and roster got me to thinking. It appears he's building his 3 man front. Obviously Keeley's a 5* you take and fits anything

Vernon, Houstan, Traore, Mukam - all 6'4"-6'5" - all play over 270, a couple closer to 300 probably.

Tyson Ford, West Mich. Target, Rubio, Mills, Onye, Keanaaina all 6'3+ all closer to 300 than 250.

Tuihalamaka and Burnham already moved to Vyper - standing up that's really an OLB. Zinter added in - getting another longer "large" LB/Outside player.
 

Irishdrunk

Not Banned Yet
Messages
2,861
Reaction score
807
Freeman a bit rattled IMO. Stumbled over his words a bit.


He probably also hasn’t slept much regardless to be fair lol

He is a noob and learning on the job. This is the risk we took. It will be interesting how he does next year and whether Fickell will do anything at Wisky. Fickell was the obvious more experienced HC possibility instead of Freeman.
 

BabyIrish

Marble Mouth
Messages
2,841
Reaction score
726
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. What I look at the most in the team rankings is our class average. Before Marcus Freeman, we’d barely get above 90 if we even did it at all. In two classes with Marcus Freeman, we’re at at the 92 mark. We’re definitely upgrading the talent and we should be ecstatic for this class.
 

SouthSideChiDomer

Well-known member
Messages
1,526
Reaction score
614
I thought this initially as well - but looking at our class and roster got me to thinking. It appears he's building his 3 man front. Obviously Keeley's a 5* you take and fits anything

Vernon, Houstan, Traore, Mukam - all 6'4"-6'5" - all play over 270, a couple closer to 300 probably.

Tyson Ford, West Mich. Target, Rubio, Mills, Onye, Keanaaina all 6'3+ all closer to 300 than 250.

Tuihalamaka and Burnham already moved to Vyper - standing up that's really an OLB. Zinter added in - getting another longer "large" LB/Outside player.
I've been thinking the same for a while. It's why I haven't been super upset not getting a Vyper. We probably wanted Keeley because he may be the type that can single-sandedly disrupt an offense, so you build around him. But if you can't get that type of player, then avoid needing that type of player by playing 3 down and relying on having several similar types of LBs that each can rush or drop, causing confusion for the offense. With so many of the offenses now reading defenses and then reacting, basing your defense on the ability to cause post snap confusion may be the way to go.
 
Top