You don't need 28 top recruits to make it!

[ketelmeister]

Everyone needs to keep this recruiting stuff in perspective. You don't need 28 recruits in a class to be "top" guys. It takes 22 starters, plus special teams. If you reshirt everyone, as Chizik is doing, that is 6 guys who can really play per class. Let's look at where we are and have been.

2008: we don't know yet, but..
Bo Williams -four star that EVERYONE wanted
6-three star guys
Jeremiah Schwartz-could have gone just about anywherre
a bunch of big guys, and certainly we'll have some help there

2007: actually, a strong class with lots of players
JJ Bass: he looked good until he got hurt
Phil Bates:
Allen Bell
Chris Lyle
KO
Michael Tate
Tray Bayslinger
Doug Dedrick...I could name more, there's guys plus others are the real deal

2006:
Austen Arnaud
Matt Hulbert
A Rob
Rashan Parker
Ahtyba Rubin
Drenard Williams...and certainly more there

2005
Ace Bowen
Chris Singleton
Reggie Stephens
Marquis Hamilton
James Smith...more, but you can look for yourself

I would encourage everyone who is thinking of jumping off a building to put perspective in this. It would be nice to have 25 or 28 top guys in a class, but you can win with 6-7 per class, and we have more than that.
Now comes conditioning, building up and COACHING. If you see player's I've missed, let me know.

 

[Steve]

Everyone needs to keep this recruiting stuff in perspective. You don't need 28 recruits in a class to be "top" guys. It takes 22 starters, plus special teams. If you reshirt everyone, as Chizik is doing, that is 6 guys who can really play per class. Let's look at where we are and have been.

2008: we don't know yet, but..
Bo Williams -four star that EVERYONE wanted
6-three star guys
Jeremiah Schwartz-could have gone just about anywherre
a bunch of big guys, and certainly we'll have some help there

2007: actually, a strong class with lots of players
JJ Bass: he looked good until he got hurt
Phil Bates:
Allen Bell
Chris Lyle
KO
Michael Tate
Tray Bayslinger
Doug Dedrick...I could name more, there's guys plus others are the real deal

2006:
Austen Arnaud
Matt Hulbert
A Rob
Rashan Parker
Ahtyba Rubin
Drenard Williams...and certainly more there

2005
Ace Bowen
Chris Singleton
Reggie Stephens
Marquis Hamilton
James Smith...more, but you can look for yourself

I would encourage everyone who is thinking of jumping off a building to put perspective in this. It would be nice to have 25 or 28 top guys in a class, but you can win with 6-7 per class, and we have more than that.
Now comes conditioning, building up and COACHING. If you see player's I've missed, let me know.

I agree with your approach, but I believe that you have to raise the bar with your numbers. It takes more like 30-35 guys who are game ready to field a competitive team. You have to have some quality depth to allow for injuries and rotation. I would also discount the 1st year class whether they are true frosh or coming off a red shirt year. You might count on only 2-3 of the first year guys. That leaves a requirement of more like 10-12 solid contributors per class.

The top 25 type teams consistently do this while we have not in recent memory under either Mac or Chizik. Gene's challenge until he can generate recruiting momentum is to manufacture an extra 4-5 guys per class from S&C, walk-ons, or simply good fortune.

 

[Wesley]

For having a team, I would be happy with a real good dual threat qb who can make up for a lot of offensive sins and a great rushing defensive end to pressure the Big 12 passers. That would be beneficial. The gaps could be filled.

 

[thakeepa14]

For having a team, I would be happy with a real good dual threat qb who can make up for a lot of offensive sins and a great rushing defensive end to pressure the Big 12 passers. That would be beneficial. The gaps could be filled.

A team with a Seneca and (for all his faults) a Berryman? Yeah, I'd take that too...

 

[CTTB78]

I'd agree with the 6 or seven per class theory if we signed 4 or 5 star super froshes, but it is very tough to rely on freshman and sophs to pull equal weight. We really need 12-14 quality guys who will end up playing winning football as jrs. and senoirs.

 

[FLYBOY1979]

I agree some what with how many kids you need every year to keep the program on the up swing. BUT what happens when A Rod gets hurt one game after JJ got hurt.
Depth is very important, without it we will stay where we are at. If Tuba goes down
in game 4 or 5 last fall, do we win any conference games?? Red shirts help make the new guys bigger and stronger and help build some depth in the program. This will take
time BUT it will happen IF Gene and Co. stick around.