Who the F cares about rankings if we are 7-6? 2008 was the #1 class and we all know how that turned out. Land talented kids, coach them up, win games... hopefully, landed even more talented kids the next cycle, coach them up, win more games...
I’m glad u brought up the 08 class. First off, let’s talk about how the 08 class was supplemented:
In 07 we had a small class of 18; that class ranked 13th. In 09, we had a class that ranked 16th. In 10, we had a class that ranked 14th.
Now let’s add context, in particular to the 08 & 10, I’ll start w 2010.
That class was ranked 14th b/c of the size of it...it was 28 in that class (not all made it in or played a down here.)
Out of the 28 recruits, only 7 were considered 4+ stars. Out of those 7, only 5 were considered blue chips while the other two were considered fringe 3/4 stars.
So in essence, that class brought us 22 players who were not considered elite. Out of those 22 players, only 6 had an impact w us (Hurns, Morris, Feliciano, Walford, McDermott, Hagens). Their impacts weren’t felt until 2012/2013 AFTER the 08 class left.
Let’s look at 08:
We signed a whopping 32 kids that year! To my knowledge, it’s the biggest class we’ve inked, but I could be wrong.
Out of those 32 kids, 16 were considered 4+ stars (fantastic), out of those 16, 14 were considered blue chips, w/ the other 2 considered fringe 3/4 stars (one being J Harris). So half of the class were considered elite, while the other half was considered average.
Here’s the problem; that class collapsed. The headliner, Arthur Brown, bounced. The other half of the class barely or never played a down here.
That 08 class never had a chance. Not only was it top heavy, the classes that were brought in surrounding it didn’t help supplement it, either. Plus, we know about the **** poor player development that manifested itself after 05.
Go look from 06 to about 11, and see how lopsided our classes were, and ask where would the mentorship come from, both in the locker room & from the coaches?
But here’s the real story: That 08 class was # 1 on paper. Had we signed a class of 25, we would’ve dropped. Our avg score was 89 (which is a fringe 3/4 star ranking). That was more accurate.
Take a look at Bama’s 08 class (#3), which had an avg score of 91.2. That 08 class became their foundation to their dominance. Look at UGA that year (#7) that had an avg of 91, that class went on to win a lot of games.
That year, inside the top 15, we had by far the most 3 star recruits. That 08 class was nothing more than paper recruiting champions! When u peel back the onion layers, between what classes we brought in prior to and after, our avg recruiting score, and the **** poor player development, it’s clear that 08 had no chance in ****, despite what that lofty class ranking it was given.
Also, I think we should be more concerned w the avg score, v. class ranking moving forward.
Sorry for the long response, but I’ve been waiting to ether that 08 class argument for a min.
