Georgia Tech Recruiting Review: A Q&A With From The Rumble Seat

Georgia Tech’s 2007 Class changed the direction of the program and was a big part of the 2009 ACC Championship team.

That class was the best, but also the last class of the Chan Gailey era. Paul Johnson has come into Atlanta and taken the Yellow Jackets to heights they have not seen since earlier this decade.

For a look back at how the 2007 class changed the Georgia Tech program, I contacted the guys at From The Rumble Seat.

Q: Looking back at the 2007 class that Scout.com ranked 15th nationally, how did this class change Georgia Tech's program?

A: People will forget that this class was actually Chan Gailey's last class at Georgia Tech so we need to give him credit where credit is due. What we'll all remember is how Gailey's players (the ones who stayed at Tech) flourished. Jon Dwyer and Demaryius Thomas, Derrick Morgan, Morgan Burnett, Josh Nesbitt etc.

All these names will make a fan's eyes light up when you mention them. Dwyer went on to become ACC POTY, Derrick Morgan DPOTY. We have All-Americans and All-ACC candidates out of this class...in summary; they helped get us back the national attention that we so desperately crave. This class was rock solid.

Q: As good as that '07 class was it had a few guys who never panned out. Whatever happened to guys like 4 stars Steven Threet, DJ Donley, and Willie White?

A: Steven Threet got screwed big time for his college career. Originally recruited by Gailey, he transferred up to Michigan. Then Rich Rod[riguez] came in and Threet didn't fit in there either so he transferred to Arizona State I believe.

Willie White never panned out and due to injuries transferred to a community college in Kansas. DJ Donley also transferred out of Tech. He went to Purdue but there were some issues with that as well. Basically we lucked out on all three players.

Q: Who was the biggest surprise (good or bad) from this class?

A: Right now this is a good surprise...But I think a lot of us were surprised at how well this class played under a new system with Paul Johnson. CPJ of course, wasn't. He said just the other day to expect the B-back every year to gain around 1,000 yards a year. I think we were just so tired and used to consistent mediocrity that we didn't expect any type of success from anything that had Gailey's fingerprints on it.

Q: The line of scrimmage is very important in college football. How did the offensive and defensive line players from this group turn out?

A: Everyone knows the story of Derrick Morgan and about how he is expected to be a Top-5 pick. However, the defensive line players overall had some big shoes to fill as they followed names like Darryl Richard, Michael Johnson, and Vance Walker who all play in the NFL and it showed. They were very raw this year in their first year as starters. The offensive line grew together this year and still has some holes to fill.

Q: How has recruiting changed for GT since Paul Johnson arrived?

A: We're learning to not care about rankings anymore! Johnson knows what he wants and he goes after it. This 2010 class has only 18 players, 14 of whom are from Georgia and the emphasis was clearly on defense.

Q: What are some recruiting advantages Ga. Tech has over other ACC schools?

A: Academics Georgia Tech will teach you and train you for the real world and companies will see you out for hire. History....yes we have a better CFB history than almost every school but it's just a little older and not as recent! and Paul Johnson

Q: What about some of the negatives?

A: Academics..heck, that's a negative for a normal student.

Q: Georgia Tech sits in a great recruiting area. Is the state of Georgia top priority or do academics force the Yellow Jackets to go elsewhere many times.

A: Like previously mentioned, 14 of the 18 players for the C/0 2010 are from Georgia. So while academics do throw you a curve ball, it is not anything to shy away from. [It is] hard to believe, but there are actually smart football players out there.

My Thoughts on Georgia Tech Recruiting:
Ga. Tech is in an interesting spot when it comes to recruiting because they sit in on the best talent areas in the country (Atlanta), but also sit right in the middle of SEC territory.

Additionally, GT is a smaller school than its rivals with less major options to choose from so the recruiting pool is smaller.

But the state of Georgia legislature gave the Yellow Jackets an unintended bump when requiring all high school graduates to have four years of math, which Georgia Tech had always required.

Paul Johnson has stated from day one that his first priority in recruiting was in state and he has been able to win some battles with the dominant school, Georgia.

But to continue to win conference titles and compete for a national championship, Georgia Tech has to win even more of those head to head battles with the big boys of the SEC. I think Johnson’s scheme and coaching ability can only take them so far.

They did that with the 2007 class that has chance this upcoming season to win back to back ACC titles.

Thanks again to From The Rumble Seat for their insight. Be sure to check them out.

Please follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/accsecblog

Georgia Bulldogs Recruiting Review: A Look Back At Could Have Been

The Georgia Bulldogs are usually near the top of the recruiting rankings with some of the top rated talent in the country. 2006 was no different with the additions of Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, both first round draft picks last year.

2007 was a little bit of a drop off for UGA, but the Bulldogs still reeled in a nice class led by Rennie Curran who is off to the NFL next season.

To get some more insight into those classes and Georgia's recruiting in general, I contacted Senator Blutarsky at Get The Picture.

Q: UGA had two 5 star guys in the 2006 class in Reshad Jones and Matt Stafford. Where would you rate these guys now four years later?

A: From the standpoint of pure physical talent, Matt was the most gifted quarterback I've seen suit up for Georgia and Reshad would be in the top ten of defensive backs. I think both lived up to their recruiting rankings - but it would have been nice to see what each could have done in their senior seasons.

Q: UGA had only 3 star recruits in above in '06, but who do you think really surprised with their performance?

A: Geno Atkins was the three-star recruit who really stepped it up on the college level.

Q: Who was the biggest disappointment of the 2006 class?

A: [Akeem] Hebron and [Darius] Dewberry never lived up to their five-star billing.

Q: How will you remember that 2006 class?

A: As Knowshon's and Matt's class. The class you wish everyone had come back for their senior seasons.

Q: Caleb King was the headliner of the 2007 class. Does he still have a chance to live up to his high billing?

A: The key for Caleb will be staying healthy for an entire season. It wouldn't hurt if the offensive line stayed in place for the season, too.

Q: Who are some guys from the '07 class that could have a breakout year this coming season?

A: If after two lost seasons, staying healthy and starting all year can count as "breakout", Triton Sturdivant qualifies. In the more traditional sense, I look for Justin Houston to build on last year and really explode in the new 3-4 defense. And if Justin Anderson would play more consistently, he could be a monster on the offensive line.

Q: Alot of teams like to recruit the state of Georgia. Who do you think is UGA's biggest rival for in state talent?

A: Auburn, traditionally. But Alabama under Saban has been stepping it up noticeably.

Q: When the Bulldogs do go out of state, where do they like to recruit the most?

A: Relatively speaking, the Dawgs don't do that much out of state recruiting, but I would say that Florida and South Carolina are the states that get most of the attention when they do.

Q: And with this most recent class of 2010, who are you most excited about?

A: Jakar Hamilton. He comes in as a player with a big JUCO rep at a position of need.

My Thoughts on UGA Recruiting:
Georgia has one of the best recruiting positions in the country being the dominate team in a state that puts out the fourth most prospects. The top three states all have way more than two FBS schools to contend with.

That being said, UGA has allowed many neighboring schools to come into the recruiting territory and steal some of the better prospects. Even Georgia Tech with its recent success has been able to nab a prospect or two. This was most evident in 2007 when Georgia fell down a little in the rankings.

The 2006 class led Georgia to a preseason number one ranking and if the two big stars had stayed one more year who knows what could have happened this year.

Some will blame the 2007 class for the disappointing seasons the last two years, but most of it still has one more year to build a legacy. I think some guys on defense could benefit from the switch to a 3-4 and the offensive line has a chance to build on a great end of 2009.

Thanks again to Sen. Blutarsky at Get The Picture for his insight.

Please follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/accsecblog

South Carolina Recruiting Review: 2007 Class Had High Expectations

South Carolina just wrapped another good recruiting class with some highly ranked players included. But whatever happened with the 2007 class that was also highly ranked?

I discussed that class with Gamecock Bloggers, Leftover Hot Dog.

Q: Both Scout and Rivals ranked this 2007 class in the nations top 10. What made this class so special on signing day?

A: This class caught the attention of everyone due to the number of recruits and it being loaded with talent in skill positions. The class had a size of 31 which will grab the attention of most just based off that facet. Some of the big names were Stephen Garcia, Chris Culliver and Brian Maddox just to name a few.

Some would say that the fact that the class was so heavy on two areas – DBs and WRs made it one to watch. The WRs due to the fact that Spurrier’s “fun n gun” offense relies on WRs that can create and this class had that…on the surface. The class had 6 defensive backs and 8 wide receivers in it. Some called the WR class the best in the nation.
Q: Who were the biggest surprises of this class?

A: Weslye Saunders and Clifton Geathers stick out in my mind. Due to the fact that they were recruited for a position they did not end up playing yet excelled in their new position and will end up in the NFL. Saunders was recruited as a defensive end but proved he is more valuable as a tight end. He is a big boy that can create the mis-match in the secondary and has good speed to go with good hands.

Clifton Geathers was recruited to be on the offensive line yet switched over the defensive side of the ball to be a pass rushing end and has excelled. He decided to leave after the bowl game and skip his senior year to try his hand in the NFL. I am sure he will land somewhere and do well.

Q: What about the biggest disappointments?

A: The biggest disappointment is just how many did not pan out of that 31 number. Some of the kids didn’t live up to expectations and left the program for whatever reason. Just look at the wide receiving class for example; only 2 of the 8 WRs are still playing that position on the team (Barnes & LeCron).

Thus you see this face evidenced in the 2009 starting line-up that was littered with freshman and sophomores due to the fact that the 2007 class didn’t live up to the hype.

Q: Stephen Garcia was probably the headliner of the class. Why do you think he has been so up and down and can he turn it around this year?

A: Simple - Stephen had to grow up. He came in and was viewed as Spurrier’s “gun” to lead the offense to new heights. He is good but he had to learn the system.
Last year, the USC faithful witnessed him growing up before their eyes and began to understand how to be a quarterback under Steve Spurrier.

I really think the best is yet to come with Garcia. He has two more years to play at Carolina and I really do think he will do well. Spurrier has the right kids in now – those that want to be Gamecock football players.

Q: Why do you think South Carolina was not able to maintain this momentum with the more recent classes?

A: I think it is more of what he was left with under Holtz. What I mean by that is he basically had to overhaul the team to usher in his style of play. That takes time and doesn’t happen overnight, especially with the recruiting battles in the south.

Yes, the 20007 class got the accolades but some really good players have come in the last three recruiting cycles. This makes the team very young which we all hope will bold well for Gamecocks chances down the road.

Q: How will you remember this class?

A: Addressing the needs. The 2010 class really addressed the needs of the team on the offensive line, six signees, and will provide depth in key positions. These two areas needed attention and will make the team stronger.

Example, Spurrier has said that possibly 10 of the 23 recruits could play this coming season. Most on special teams but that has been a weak area for SC.

Q: What are South Carolina's biggest advantages in recruiting?

A: The spin you hear is that “come to USC and help Carolina win its’ first SEC East Crown or SEC title…be part of doing things that have never been done.” That is the spin you hear but some of the ’key’ attractions are - the chance to play in the SEC, climate, Coach Spurrier and now the brand new Dodie Anderson Academic Center for athletes.

Q: What about the disadvantages?

A: Recruiting in the SEC and the South for that matter is fierce. Competition for the best kids is tremendous. The big disadvantage for SC is having to go up against UF, UT, UGa, etc. USC doesn’t have the National Championship trophies to point to or lean on like others and that is a factor. So that makes it tough for a kid picking against USC and Alabama.

Q: How important is winning the instate recruiting battle with Clemson? Also, where do the Gamecocks like to heavily recruit outside the state?

A: For USC, job number one is to win its’ backyard. They have begun to do that as evidenced in getting the state’s “Mr. Football” for two years straight. It has helped with the turnover at Clemson in coaching but still vital to win the recruiting battles in-state first.

Lots of credit to Spurrier for changing that because during the Holtz time it seemed that was forgotten. Because let’s be honest, USC does not recruit on a national stage…yet. Most of the kids for Carolina come from the Southeast and specifically SC, Georgia, N. Carolina and Florida.

The 2010 class broke down like this –
-South Carolina: 7
-Georgia: 6
-Florida: 5
-North Carolina: 3
-Kansas: 2

The two from Kansas were JUCO kids that are originally from South Carolina. So as you can see winning the battles in our in neck of the woods is extremely important on and off the field.

My Thoughts on South Carolina Recruiting:
The Gamecock program is notorious over the years for having some of the most loyal fans in the country, but also some of the biggest disappointments on the field.

Steve Spurrier has raised the level of play in Columbia, but has yet to get over that hump of winning the East Division. To do that, he has to keep the top guys in his state from going out of state or to rival Clemson.

If you look back at 2007, three of the top four Rivals players in the state went elsewhere. South Carolina needs to have more years like 2010 when they grabbed two of the top three, including one of the top running backs in the nation Marcus Lattimore.

But it will ultimately be up to the player development once they get on campus which must improve in Columbia. This 2007 class has largely underachieved expectations that had South Carolina's fans giddy three years ago. It will be interesting to see how a guy like Lattimore pans out three or four years down the road.

Thanks again to Leftover Hot Dog for their insight.

Please follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/accsecblog

Virginia Tech Recruiting Review With Hokie Blogger Gobbler Country

The Virginia Tech Hokies have won at least ten games for the past six seasons. Only the Texas Longhorns can match that kind of consistency.

But that level of success begins on signing day where Virginia Tech has been able to recruit kids who fit the Hokie philosophy. Frank Beamer usually never has his recruiting class ranked at the top, but he usually has his team there at the end of the season.

To get some better insight into the Hokies recruiting, I spoke with the Virginia Tech blog Gobbler Country.

Q: The 2007 class was ranked 25th and 29th by Scout and Rivals, but that is not a huge surprise since VT does not usually have highly ranked classes. Why do you think it appears VT's classes are consistently under ranked when you look at the on field performance?

A: It's because Tech goes after guys who fit their program and fit the philosophy that's worked for them. They go after hard-working guys and find a lot of diamonds in the rough that way. Tech isn't an elite program yet, so they haven't been able to get the elite players that make headlines. Maybe that will change down the road, but for now there's no point in fixing something that isn't broken.

Q: Who were the biggest surprises of this class?

A: I'd say the biggest surprise is Danny Coale. You look at him and you don't think the guy can be a D1 receiver. But he embodies the "more with less" trend that we've seen with a lot of Virginia Tech classes. He came in, worked hard and became one of Tyrod Taylor's main targets because he just finds a way to get open.

Q: What about the biggest disappointments?

A: I'm tempted to say Josh Oglesby because he hasn't been able to do in games what he's shown in practice. But with guys like Evans and Williams in the backfield it's tough for anyone to see playing time. Instead I'll go with Hunter Ovens. He's a 3/4* guy from Florida who likely won't see the field this year.

Q: Do you think Tyrod Taylor has lived up to his 5 star billing?

A: Not yet, but after the improvement he showed as a junior I think he can do that his senior year.

Q: How will this class be remembered by Virginia Tech fans?

A: It'll be remembered as a solid, hard-working class. A lot of their legacy will be written this upcoming year.

Q: What are some of the recruiting advantages for the Hokies?

A: The coaching staff continuity, playing in a BCS conference, a consistent winner.

Q: What about some disadvantages that causes recruits to go elsewhere?

A: Ever been to Blacksburg? While I love the place, it takes a certain kind of person to be willing to live there for four to five years.

Q: Is there a particular area of the state of Virginia that the Hokies like to recruit?

A: Tha 757. That number designation refers to the area code of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia which has produced players like the Vicks, Tyrod Taylor and a host of defensive stars.

Q: What about outside the state, where does Va. Tech make a second home recruiting?

A: Recently we've been getting a lot of recruits from Atlantic Community High School in Delray Beach, Fla. Brandon Flowers, David Clowney and Jayron Hosley came from there. 2010 signee Mark Leal played there.

My Thoughts on Virginia Tech Recruiting:
The Hokies staff is some of the best talent evaluators in college football. You hardly ever here about Virginia Tech reeling in a top recruit, but their on the field success is remarkable, especially over the last six years.

Virginia Tech does have a good talent within the state to recruit, but most convince kids to come to the mountains and Blacksburg. Still, the Hokies have been able to pull many kids from the Hampton, Virginia area an underrated hot bed for talent.

I don't doubt that Virginia Tech will have continued success from September to November over many of the teams ranked ahead of them in the recruiting rankings each February.

Thanks again to Gobbler Country for their insight.

Please follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/accsecblog

Alabama Recruiting Review: A Look Back At Nick Saban's First Class

Alabama's 2007 recruiting class was signed shortly after Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa. While this class was not on par with the Tide's classes the next two seasons, it provided a foundation for building the Alabama national championship season with players like Rolando McClain.

To get a better look at this class, I contacted Roll 'Bama Roll for their insight.

Q: Nick Saban was hired in the middle of the 2007 recruiting season. Was he able to hang to most of the class set up by Mike Shula? Did he grab any big names late?

A: Saban held on to his fair share of the Shula recruits, but there was a significant amount of turnover. Saban and company pledged to honor the commitment of any current commitment so long as they did not look around, and while several prospects agreed to do that, many others simply went their own way.

When all was said and done, about one-half of the class would not have signed with Alabama had the Shula regime remained in place.

Q: Who was the biggest surprise of this class?

A: The biggest surprise was undoubtedly Kareem Jackson. He did not get a single offer coming out of high school, and even after a year of military school he still drew almost no interest from BCS conference schools. When he committed to Alabama, even most Tide fans didn't have the slightest clue about him, and more than a few questioned if he was legitimately an SEC caliber prospect.

Of course, though, Jackson started from day one on campus and became a key feature of two elite defenses before leaving early for the NFL Draft.

Q: What about the biggest disappointment?

A: The biggest disappointment to date would likely have to be Kerry Murphy. Most considered him the state's top prospect in 2007, and he spent much of the year with a consensus five-star rating. Unfortunately, Murphy didn't qualify out of Hoover, and once again failed to qualify out of Hargrave.

He finally made it to UA in his third year -- and in all fairness, he has been very impressive at times and still likely has a bright future ahead of him -- but things haven't gone anywhere near like what we expected.

Q: Scout.com ranked this class 22nd nationally, while Rivals.com ranked it 10th. Why do you think there was such a discrepancy and which one got it right?

A: As for the discrepancy itself, who even knows with the good ol' recruiting "experts"? In any event, though, it seems relatively clear that Rivals had a more accurate evaluation of this class. Several signees from that class quickly washed out in Tuscaloosa, and on the whole there have just been very few impact players produced to date.

Rolando McClain and Kareem Jackson turned out to be great players, but only one other player from that class has since became a starter (Marquis Maze) and honestly he has had quite a bit of struggles in his own right.

Q: How will this 2007 class be remembered?

A: Unless a lot of players really step up in the next couple of years, it won't really be remembered at all. Instead, people will just remember that being the class that brought us Rolando McClain and Nick Saban, with all of the real results coming in 2008 and beyond.

Q: Alabama has brought in two top rated classes the last two years. What has changed recruiting wise with Nick Saban entrance to Tuscaloosa?

A: Everything has changed, really. Saban has devoted much more time and effort to recruiting -- and demanded the same of his staff -- and even the camp system has changed under Saban. Truth be told, the recruiting efforts of the Saban regime have nothing in common with what we saw with Shula.

Q: Besides the state of Alabama, where else do the Tide recruit heavily.

A: Good question. Traditionally, Alabama has gotten nearly all of its players from the state of Alabama and Alabama's border states. Under Saban, however, that traditional notion is changing.

We didn't sign a single prep player in 2010 from the state of Mississippi or the state of Florida -- probably the first time that has happened in decades -- but in turn we have increased recruiting efforts on the state of Georgia and have expanded into areas that we have never before had a recruiting presence (Texas, Virginia, Carolinas, etc.).

It's not that we aren't recruiting the old traditional strongholds, but clearly Saban is expanding the recruiting base.

Q: What player are Alabama fans most excited about for the 2010 class just signed?

A: We had a thread on the blog about that the other day, and truth be told most signees were thrown out there by at least one person. It's a very deep class with a lot of highly-touted signees, so realistically you could make an argument for quite a few people.

I would probably cast my stone with either [DeMarcus] Milliner or [Phillip] Sims, but again you could make a valid argument for a lot of guys. For an outside-the-box choice, though, keep your eyes on Chad Lindsay.

My Thoughts on Alabama Recruiting:
I agree with Roll 'Bama Roll that this class is largely forgettable outside of McClain, but it was an important foundation for the past two seasons success.

The arrival of Nick Saban has turned recruiting upside down for the Tide and thus had effects on schools like Auburn and the rest of the SEC.

Saban set out to dominate the state of Alabama in recruiting and did that in 2008 and 2009. Now with the success of national championship, he can go into other states and successfully recruit top talent.

A big reason for Alabama playing two straight years in the Georgia Dome to open the season was to gain a foothold in the state of Georgia for recruiting. That paid off with five signees in the 2010 class.

It doesn't look like the Tide is going to slow down anytime soon on the field as long as they continue to recruit like they have as of late.

Thanks again to Roll 'Bama Roll for their insight.

Please follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/accsecblog

Clemson Recruiting Review: A Look Back At The Tigers 2007 Class With Shakin The Southland Blog

This is the first of series of recruiting reviews I will be posting with Q&A from some of the top bloggers in the ACC and SEC.

First up is Clemson where we take a look back at 2007 class and how it really panned out with one of the top Clemson blogs, Shakin The Southland.

1. Looking back at the rankings for 2007 (Scout 23rd - 4th ACC, Rivals 16th - 1st in ACC) four years later, who has been the biggest surprise of this class?

"The over performer would be Andre Branch, a 2-star OLB who moved to DE and played on par with Sapp and Bowers this past year. Another would be Chad Diehl, a 3-star LB who has become our best blocking FB since the mid 90s. MLB Brandon Maye was a lightly recruited guy from Mobile AL that we pulled in late, and was a freshman All-American, though he took a step back last season."

2. Who has been the biggest disappointment?

"4-star WR Markish Jones signed with Clemson out of Broome HS, and never enrolled. He went to Cal anddidnt make it in either, and now plays at a small college.

4-star CB Marcus Gilchrist started at FS this year, but I really think he's underperformed to his potential, as has 4-star DE Kourtnei Brown, who took a Redshirt in 2009 to work on some things. I also thought 4-star LB Scotty Cooper would blossom, but he's buried on the depth chart and hasnt been the same player following 2 knee surgeries.

But really, the disappointment was Will Korn. He was heralded as a Top 5 national QB, and after 2 shoulder surgeries, has amounted to nothing. Now that Parker has beaten him for the starting job, he'll transfer elsewhere, maybe Marshall."

3. Is there a late bloomer in this class with a chance to finally live up to the hype this year?

"4-star RT Landon Walker put it together down the stretch in 2009, and if he becomes more tenacious in run blocking and committed in the off season, he could be very good. Gilchrist will move back to CB we believe, so he has a chance at his natural position to finally impress after all the hype that went into his recruitment.

Branch I believe has the best NFL-potential if he works on some technique things, and LG Mason Cloy has the ability to be All-ACC if he recovers from his broken leg."

4. We all know how important the line of scrimmage is. Looking back at the offensive and defensive lines for the class, how have these groups panned out?

"This class was heavy in the trenches for us. Jarvis Jenkins will be an NFL draft pick at DT. Branch could be if he works on things, he's mean enough. The rest have been solid contributors along the DL.

Offensively, Mason Cloy will start this year at LG, Wilson Norris redshirted his first year and is stuck behind Antoine McClain at RG but plays a few snaps. David Smith and Landon Walker will share duties at RT with Walker getting the start.

Overall we hit on them as contributors, but none of these guys are real maulers up front. Walker can pass block but not run block as well. Mason Cloy can be good
but he's not an elite talent. These guys are all going to be RS Juniors because we RS nearly all linemen, so this will be their big year to differentiate."

5. Who is the big recruit that got away?

"Probably Ron Gronkowski, TE who went to AZ, declared for the NFL draft early a few weeks ago. Brandon Hicks (FL) and Larry Asante (Neb) both took
visits to Clemson and went elsewhere. We offered Carlos Dunlap (FL) but were never really in it for him.

Clemson offered and led for 4/5-star WR Dwight Jones.

However, the AARC (academic board) refused to let us take him because they felt he wouldn't cut it academically.

And yet he went to UNC. WTF.

6. What do you think the biggest attractions are to playing at Clemson?

"Nearly all recruits say its the game day and local atmosphere. Clemson is one big family, and while I thought Bowden spent more time praying than scheming or working on football, he did sell it to recruit as a religious, family-oriented place.

Plus, it was at this time that our West End zone was being constructed, so we had great facilities improvements to sell players."

7. What are some recruiting disadvantages for the Tigers ?

"I think that the money influx at Clemson hurts us somewhat, though we do a lot with average money when it comes to recruiting, it just hasn't shown on the field (consistently Top 20 by Rivals).

We're a smaller school with a smaller alumni base, and it shows in the cash department.
Also Clemson is a small town with little to do, and we have to compete in-state
every year for our share of a small level of D1 talent (though per capita S.C. ranks well).

But if Clemson was winning ACC championships, I think we'd be top 10-15 perennially in the recruiting rankings."

8. How important is recruiting in state for Clemson?

"We have to win our share, but we're not going to sweep in-state often. USC has a large alumni base and great TV exposure and so

they generate quite a bit of revenue. Still, we own them on the field if you look at the history and that does help.

What I believe is that you are born into being either a Clemson or USC fan in this state, and who we fight over every year are those few kids who
have no allegiance to either school.

What we must do is shut off the state to outside schools."

9. Where are the Tigers "second homes" for recruiting out of state?

"We generally get a few players from Jacksonville FL because of Swinney's ties to the area, as well as a few from south Alabama when we basically signed zero in the 90s.

This year we've pushed hard into Atlanta and have signed the most players from Georgia this year that we ever have in my memory."

Shakin The Southland went on to add..."I think if Clemson can compete for its share of ACC titles, and we should be in the Top 3 ACC teams every year if you look at these recruiting rankings over the last 5-6 years, then we'll only continue to make inroads in Georgia and Florida and start pulling in more of the elite level talent that teams like Georgia, Florida State, Florida, and Alabama get.

But the biggest question is just that: Can we develop them and win more than 7-8 games a year every year?"

My Thoughts on Clemson Recruiting...This Tiger recruiting class was brought in by Tommy Bowden, but will end up coached by Dabo Swinney. Rivals ranked it 16th nationally and the best in the ACC. Scout had the Tigers at 23rd nationally and fourth in the league. I would have to say Scout got it more right in this case.

The non development of Willy Korn was a big disappointment as he was thought to be the guy who would take Tommy Bowden's offense to the next level.

Clemson has a small, but very talented pool to recruit from in state. Per capita, the state of South Carolina is one of the best at recruiting talent. But the Tigers do have to compete with South Carolina and teams like Florida, FSU, Georgia, and Tennessee love to come in and pluck some of the top talent.

The Tigers got four of the top 10 and nine of the top 20 in the state according to Rivals in 2007. If Clemson wants to get to that next level in recruiting they have to do a better job of keeping the top tier talent in state. I think they also have to make some in roads back into North Carolina where they had great success in the 80s and 90s. I agree with Shakin The Southland that recruiting Georgia is a must as well.

But it comes down to what Dabo Swinney and his staff do once they have these players on campus. Bowden could never get these guys to live up to their hype.

Thanks again to Shakin The Southland for their responses.

Please follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/accsecblog

National Signing Day: Instead of Looking Forward, I am Going To Look Back

National Signing Day is here and most of the letters of intent are in. A few top recruits remain “undecided” but most will be announcing later today. Not going to sit here and tell you who won or who lost because we don't really know for about 2 or 3 years.

Instead, I am going to pass along some of my favorite links I have compiled over the past week.

People will be clamoring over 18 year old kids today who may not even see the field next year (or even the year after that). Well what about some players who actually may contribute significantly that we may have forgotten about?

The kids who last year had all the buzz this time of year. Rivals.com looks at who the impact redshirt freshman could be next year.

Some of these guys may be filling in for early departures to the NFL. Who is going to fill those roles?

Of course there are always guys who slip through the cracks and turn into stars. Chris Low took a look at some of the undervalued SEC recruits over the past few years.

It looks like the Gators and Longhorns are going to battle it out for recruiting supremacy this year. But what about all time? Andy Staples of SI ranks the top 15 classes of all time with two of them coming in the late 1940s. Doubt they had recruiting rankings back then.

My only gripe with this list is why more Miami classes aren’t on here.

Same list in wonderful SI pictures.

Of course the goal of every recruiting class is to build a national championship team. You can look at the last 3 BCS title winners and see how high their classes were ranked. But a top class doesn’t always guarantee a national title.

However, it must be noted that the last five BCS championship game participants all had consensus top 10 classes on their rosters. So to at least get to the big game you gotta recruit well.

But if you can’t win a national title with a recruiting class, you at least want to beat the other guy in state. Rivals looks at the top battles for state supremacy.

And finally to take a look back at how those five stars from 2006 and 2007 panned out.

I also have some recruiting reviews coming up with some of the best bloggers in the ACC and SEC looking back at those classes. Check back on Friday for the first installment.


Please follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/accsecblog

5 ACC Basketball Thoughts, Power Rankings, and Game Predictions

5 Thoughts on the Weekend Action

1. Not a good day for Duke or the ACC on Saturday when one of the best, if not the best team in the league goes down to the third or fourth best team in the Big East.

2. Maryland had a chance to assert themselves as one of the top contenders for the ACC title but lost to Clemson Sunday. Now the Terps just fall back into the heap of six or seven teams that could win this league.

3. And speaking of the heap, Sports Illustrated lists just one ACC team as a lock for the Tournament right now, Duke. I have to agree with that for now but we all know this league will get at least five bids and maybe eight.

4. Georgia Tech has a very good chance to assert themselves as a top 4 seed candidate if they can sweep Duke this Thursday. The Yellow Jackets may be the most talented team in the ACC this season.

5. So I was way off on North Carolina. 8-8 may be a pipe dream right now. If Roy gets these guys to the NCAA Tournament it may be his best coaching job yet.


ACC Power "Rankings"

1. Duke
2. Florida State
3. Maryland
4. Georgia Tech
5. Virginia Tech
6. Virginia
7. Clemson
8. Wake Forest
9. Boston College
10. North Carolina
11. NC State
12. Miami

That was difficult. I think Duke is the best. Miami the worst. And everyone else is just throwing darts.

Predictions

Tuesday
Wake Forest over Miami

Wednesday
Virginia over NC State

Thursday
Duke over Georgia Tech
FSU over Maryland
Virginia Tech over North Carolina

Please follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/accsecblog

5 Thoughts On SEC Basketball, Some Rankings, And Some Predictions

5 Thoughts on the Weekend:

1. I think we saw the two best teams in the league in Rupp Arena Saturday. I bet Vanderbilt cannot wait to get Kentucky in their gym.

2. Watching Bruce Pearl's antics on the sideline is almost as entertaining as watching the game. By the way, I think Pearl is a really good coach.

3. Devan Downey is giving John Wall a run for his money on SEC Player of the Year.

4. Georgia just can't buy a break. These next four games will determine if they go into the tank or if they use what they learned from so many close losses and make a run at the NIT.

5. Where has Arkansas been all season? With two wins over the top of the SEC West they are right back in the division race.


SEC Power Rankings
I am member of the SEC Basketball Power Poll which you can find here.

1. Kentucky
So what that they lost. I thought the Wildcats were ripe for the upset on Tuesday anyways after being ranked number one. Oh yeah, they beat a pretty good Vandy team this week too.

2. Vanderbilt
I think the Commodores are looking forward to the rematch when they get Kentucky in their quirky gym.

3. Tennessee
I hope Bruce Pearl wears the T-shirt and jacket combo more often.

4. Miss State
The Bulldogs are rated below Ole Miss in the RPI, but yet they beat the Rebels in Oxford. Weird.

5. Ole Miss
The Rebels fall victim at Arkansas just like their in state brethren did earlier in the week.

6. South Carolina
Devan Downey is giving John Wall a run for his money on SEC player of the year.

7. Florida
Just when I think Florida has turned the corner, they blow a good opportunity to move up in the East.

8. Arkansas
So John Pelphrey, where has this been all season?

9. Auburn
Jeff Lebo gives Auburn fans a reason to crow against Alabama.

10. Alabama
I think Crimson Tide fans are ok with losing to Auburn as long as they win on National Signing Day.

11. Georgia
Either these closes losses are going to make UGA stronger in the second of the season or they are going to break them.

12. LSU
Is it baseball season yet?


SEC Game Predictions:

Tuesday
Kentucky over Ole Miss

Wednesday
Georgia over Arkansas
Vanderbilt over Miss State

Thursday
Florida over Alabama
Tennessee over LSU

Please follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/accsecblog

Pro Bowl Rosters Filled With Former ACC, SEC Talent

The Pro Bowl kicks off tonight taking the bye week spot before the Super Bowl for the first time.

Both the ACC and SEC are well represented on the rosters this year. The ACC leads all conferences with 23 players according to the conference office.

This number is greatly bolstered by the injection of Miami into the league a few years ago as the Hurricanes have 10 Pro Bowl selections to lead all schools.

And that isn't just fill ins as seven 'Canes were selected to be starters. The amount of talent Miami puts out continues to amaze. And most of it is home grown in South Florida. It is just a matter of time until gets back near the top of college football. I know my friends at the 7th Floor Blog are excited.

Now to be completely accurate, most of those Miami players didn't play in the ACC, but the ACC office will sure count them.

Michigan is second with six, followed by Texas with four selections. Surprising schools like Kent State with three selections and East Carolina, Rutgers, Syracuse, and Boise State had two each.

The SEC was "second" with 15 selections. Tennessee and Alabama led the conference with three selections each. LSU and Georgia have two selections each. Florida has just one selection in rookie Percy Harvin.

And just to show how far Notre Dame has fallen in the last 10 years, no Irish alums were selected to the Pro Bowl.

Please follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/accsecblog