National Signing Day: Evaluation

Checking through the signings Wednesday night and Thursday, I did a comparison of where the recruiting, “dot.com’s” as Randy Galloway would say, had our three teams before the LOI (Letter of Intent) day.

TCU made little changes from before to after the signing day.  Before signing day, Tuesday night, Rivals.com had the Horned Frog class ranked number 43.  The Frogs slipped to number 46 following the signing day.  Scout.com had the Frogs ranked at number 55 which is where they finished ranked with them.

Such is the case for SMU and UNT.  Before the signing day, Scout.com had the Mustangs at number 66, but after the singings had come in, they dropped to number 67.  Rivals.com had the Mustangs sitting at number 78 before Wednesday, and after all of the LOI’s were in, they finished number 80.

Fans in Denton cannot be pleased with how the recruiting services ranked them, but they understand that being one of the worst teams in the country keeps a team from having a top 20 class.  Before Wednesday, the Mean Green were ranked number 101 by Rivals.com and number 109 by Scout.com.  After the letters were faxed in, UNT finished number 104 by Rivals.com and number 110 by Scout.com.

What does all of this mean?  Well, we know that you don’t have to sign a top 10 class to finish in the top 10 (see TCU and Utah).  A good recruiting class can, however, turn around a program just as it seemed to do for the Alabama Crimson Tide.  Mid-level, non BCS schools seem to focus on meeting needs as most schools do.  It is, however, more important for the non BCS schools to meet the needs.

Success on the field can translate in better recruiting.  TCU anded 4 four-star recruits according to Rivals.com (Scout.com only labeled one of the TCU signees a four-star recruit).  Each service had TCU at 11 or 12 three-star recruits.  Compare that with 5 or 7 by SMU and 2 or 3 by UNT.  The Frogs announced that they signed almost as many 4-star recruits this year as they had signed in the previous 8 years.

Did each team meet their needs?  They seem to think they did.  SMU coach June Jones identified the defensive secondary as their biggest need and added accordingly.

However, it does not seem they addressed the running game.  SMU was one of the worst teams in the nation in rushing, and they failed to sign a running back in this class expecting to rely on a transfer which they hope will receive a waiver from the NCAA to play this year.  They failed to hold leads last year which says they could not run the ball to put teams away.  A better offensive line will help, and the Mustangs picked up five kids including four from the DFW area.  Aledo’s Christian Miller is (literally) the biggest sign of the OL at 6-4, 295 he might get to play some as a Freshman.

In Denton, UNT coach Todd Dodge feels like his class will help immediately.  “We are very excited about this class across the board,” Dodge told the Denton Record Chronicle’s Brett Vito.  “We feel like we have helped ourselves out.” As with any incoming class, it remains to be seen.

Dodge failed to find speed in the front 4 of the defense.  Howerver, they definitely found some beef, picking up four 300 pounders for the defensive line.  If those guys are as strong as an ox, then maybe someone get some pressure on the quarterback next year.  However, if they just can’t tie up any blockers, then the Mean Green will still not have any sacks worthy talking about.

In Fort Worth, TCU had a strong class, but the recruiting services did not deem it very good for a team finishing in the top 10.  However, Patterson does not recruit like other coaches.  Patterson sees things in kids that no one else sees.

On Wednesday, Galloway and Company broadcast live from TCU, and Brian Estrdige noted that 10 of the 20 players the Frogs signed were running backs.  When asked by Galloway how many of those would still be running backs in two years by Galloway, Patterson remarked maybe two.  Patterson recruits speed.  That is why he puts defensive ends om the field who can get to the quarterback.

Patterson does not recruit according to traditional blueprints, he finds great athletes, puts them in the weight room, and then let’s them play fast.  He realizes that to “tackle them, you have to catch them” as he told GAC.  And, if you are a “mid-major” or a non BCS program, you have do something different.  For most coaches, that something different is a system such as an unusual offense (the spread or the run and shoot), for Patterson, it is nontraditional recruiting which finds speed.  That is why they match up so well against the BCS schools.

For a look at the TCU signees, click here.

For a look at the UNT signees, click here.

For a look at the SMU signees, click here.