Class of 2014 And Handwringing

[anon_7tbtqcx308nxh]

With Barker's transfer I'm seeing some handwringing around social media about the 2014 class. In hindsight, it definitely was over-hyped, but it was partly over-hyped because those guys were recruited over. To date, none transferred to a P5 school (but maybe Barker will) and many seemingly gave up football (please correct any errors).

• Dorian Hendrix transferred to Bowling Green.
• Thaddeus Snodgrass plays for Wittenberg College.
• Nick Richardson is MIA.
• Mikel Horton is MIA.
  
• Darryl Long transferred to Akron.
• Kobie Walker is MIA.
• Nico Firios is MIA.
• Jarrett LaRubbio is at Miami (OH)
• Jared Tucker is at Eastern Kentucky
• TV Williams transferred to Texas State
• Josh Krok transferred to Akron
• Lloyd Tubman transferred to Austin Peay

Hindsight being 20/20 the big names from this class ended up being (punching above their star ranking to varying degrees): Bunch Stallings, Mike Edwards, Denzil Ware, Garrett Johnson, Boom Williams, and AJ Stamps, and CJ "Poop" Johson.

Given their star ratings, I think these players contributions have lived up to their hype: Blake Bone, Adrian Middleton (one season left), Kendall Randolph, Ryan Flannigan, and Dorian Baker (one season left).

Given their star ratings, I think Matt Elam underachieved and Darius West has too although to a lesser degree and he still has one season of eligibility left.

So out of 28 commits, 12 went on to be solid contributors, or 43%. In my opinion, if you are signing approximately 20 person classes every year, you probably figure half will be starters/important contributors at some point in their career.

I think if 1 or 2 other players had made an impact, this class wouldn't have underachieved. In any case, it's probably borderline, but importantly also moot because Stoops recruited over and filled the deficiencies.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

As you hint, it's actually a great sign. Unfortunately for those kids, we started signing kids more talented than they. Seeing the writing on the wall, many left.

Sucks. But it's a positive for the program. Not a negative.

 

[megablue]

With Barker's transfer I'm seeing some handwringing around social media about the 2014 class. In hindsight, it definitely was over-hyped, but it was partly over-hyped because those guys were recruited over. To date, none transferred to a P5 school (but maybe Barker will) and many seemingly gave up football (please correct any errors).

• Dorian Hendrix transferred to Bowling Green.
• Thaddeus Snodgrass plays for Wittenberg College.
• Nick Richardson is MIA.
• Mikel Horton is MIA.
  
• Darryl Long transferred to Akron.
• Kobie Walker is MIA.
• Nico Firios is MIA.
• Jarrett LaRubbio is at Miami (OH)
• Jared Tucker is at Eastern Kentucky
• TV Williams transferred to Texas State
• Josh Krok transferred to Akron
• Lloyd Tubman transferred to Austin Peay

Hindsight being 20/20 the big names from this class ended up being (punching above their star ranking to varying degrees): Bunch Stallings, Mike Edwards, Denzil Ware, Garrett Johnson, Boom Williams, and AJ Stamps, and CJ "Poop" Johson.

Given their star ratings, I think these players contributions have lived up to their hype: Blake Bone, Adrian Middleton (one season left), Kendall Randolph, Ryan Flannigan, and Dorian Baker (one season left).

Given their star ratings, I think Matt Elam underachieved and Darius West has too although to a lesser degree and he still has one season of eligibility left.

So out of 28 commits, 12 went on to be solid contributors, or 43%. In my opinion, if you are signing approximately 20 person classes every year, you probably figure half will be starters/important contributors at some point in their career.

I think if 1 or 2 other players had made an impact, this class wouldn't have underachieved. In any case, it's probably borderline, but importantly also moot because Stoops recruited over and filled the deficiencies.

With Barker's transfer I'm seeing some handwringing around social media about the 2014 class. In hindsight, it definitely was over-hyped, but it was partly over-hyped because those guys were recruited over. To date, none transferred to a P5 school (but maybe Barker will) and many seemingly gave up football (please correct any errors).

• Dorian Hendrix transferred to Bowling Green.
• Thaddeus Snodgrass plays for Wittenberg College.
• Nick Richardson is MIA.
• Mikel Horton is MIA.
  
• Darryl Long transferred to Akron.
• Kobie Walker is MIA.
• Nico Firios is MIA.
• Jarrett LaRubbio is at Miami (OH)
• Jared Tucker is at Eastern Kentucky
• TV Williams transferred to Texas State
• Josh Krok transferred to Akron
• Lloyd Tubman transferred to Austin Peay

Hindsight being 20/20 the big names from this class ended up being (punching above their star ranking to varying degrees): Bunch Stallings, Mike Edwards, Denzil Ware, Garrett Johnson, Boom Williams, and AJ Stamps, and CJ "Poop" Johson.

Given their star ratings, I think these players contributions have lived up to their hype: Blake Bone, Adrian Middleton (one season left), Kendall Randolph, Ryan Flannigan, and Dorian Baker (one season left).

Given their star ratings, I think Matt Elam underachieved and Darius West has too although to a lesser degree and he still has one season of eligibility left.

So out of 28 commits, 12 went on to be solid contributors, or 43%. In my opinion, if you are signing approximately 20 person classes every year, you probably figure half will be starters/important contributors at some point in their career.

I think if 1 or 2 other players had made an impact, this class wouldn't have underachieved. In any case, it's probably borderline, but importantly also moot because Stoops recruited over and filled the deficiencies.

MAC-level talent cannot compete in the SEC.

 

[DACats86]

I prefer recruits whose stars don't match their offers moreso than recruits whose offers don't match their stars.

 

[WildCard]

I prefer recruits whose stars don't match their offers moreso than recruits whose offers don't match their stars.

Bingo! Even though the actual status and nature of such "offers" cannot be verified I still spend at least as much attention on who offered as I do "stars". When there are apparent "discrepancies" I usually go with the "offers" list. Bottom line for fans of most schools - better higher than lower but recruiting rankings are a crap shoot!

FWIW, there is nothing in football harder to "quantify" than recruiting. Numbers guru Phil Steele "averages out" (methodology unknown) the rankings of over 10,000 kids each year from 10 different recruiting services. I tend to look at his rankings a bit more closely than the internet sources. He ranked UK's 2014 class #20, the highest I have seen for UK in his rankings. The 2015-2017 classes were ranked #42, #37 and #32 respectively.

Peace

PS: Good post Gus!

 

[reflaine]

For a class that committed to back to back 2-10 football teams they should be commended for laying a decent foundation.

 

[WizardWCN]

not many from that class got to redshirt, since we were left in bad need of players. and the offensive players have had 3 OCs in their time here.