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After 2-10, recruits want to wait and see
Posted August 11, 2007
Five Big 12 Conference teams are ranked in the top-25 in the most recent Rivals.com national recruiting rankings for the 2008 class. Colorado is not among them.
I can totally understand how this must frustrate long-time CU fans, but none of them should be surprised by it. I mean, come on, your team was 2-10 last season.
Players who are being widely recruited are not likely to commit to a program like Colorado right now until they see whether it has really improved from last year. Why would they when they have plenty of other options?
The only guys coach Dan Hawkins and his staff are likely to get right now are under-the-radar types or players who have dreamed of playing for CU their entire lives.
That could easily change with a couple early victories and at least a competitive effort against Florida State in Week 3.
The Buffs are ranked last in the Big 12 Conference at this point in the process, but that means squat in the grand scheme of things. All it really means is that impatient fans, who love to follow recruiting, are likely to panic unnecessarily.
I mean, the members of the 2007 class haven't even played a game yet and you're losing sleep over the next group? Give me a break.
My advice? Take a pill or crack a cold one and check back in early October. If things haven't changed by then, feel free to freak out. But for now, go out and check out a practice, if you can, and familiarize yourself with some of the new guys, who will be wearing black and gold for the next four or five years. They look pretty good.
If you would rather stew in what I think is premature disappointment. Here are the facts as they stand on August 11th.
CU has five commitments and one of them is said to be a "soft verbal." The Buffs are ranked 84th right now, behind such traditional powerhouses as UAB, Tulane and Duke.
Even Air Force has put together a better class so far in the estimation of the guys at Rivals. I guess you could say more of America's young football talent would rather risk their lives in the military than play for CU.
Texas is ranked third with 19 commitments, including 11 rated as four-star players. Oklahoma is ranked eighth with 16 total commitments, including two five-star players and six four-star players. (No truth to the rumor they've all been promised "jobs" at local car dealerships).
Nebraska is ranked 12th with 16 total commitments, including two five-star players and four four-star players. Texas A&M is ranked 13th with 20 overall commitments, including five four-star players. And Oklahoma State is ranked 23rd with 18 commitments, none of whom are rated with more than three-stars. (Wonder whether Boone Pickens is thinking all that money he gave the department is working out?)
Even Baylor has a higher ranking.
Please try to refrain from leaping off tall buildings.
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Posted by DallasBuff on August 12, 2007 at 6:45 a.m.
Kyle -
I am hopeful that Hawk can replicate Caoch Mac's blueprint, where he was able to recruit top national players despite a horrible initial record. There is a difference these days, though. Kids are commiting much earlier than they used to. By the time October and November rolls around, many of the top players are commited.
So you are right, we should relax and focus on this season. It just means, though, that it will likely take Hawk longer to build this program back to respectability.
Posted by rnorthro14 on August 12, 2007 at 11:32 a.m.
Some of these top players don't always pan out their senior seasons or end up changing their commitments to another school.
Then sometimes a player comes along like Josh Smith who has all-star ability but plays in a system that doesn't necessarily highlight his position. CU got him despite late advances by local schools UCLA and USC.
Just have to have faith that this year's team will show enough momentum to woo some big talent towards Boulder.
Posted by snakeyman on August 13, 2007 at 1:32 p.m.
In terms of recruiting, winning home games is most crucial for impressing visiting recruits. A win, or even a valiant effort against FSU would be HUGE. Even though there are a lot of early "top 100" commitments already for other programs, if CU can schedule visits for some higher profile recruits early on, committed or not, they really can make a kid think twice when he stands sideline at Folsom Field.