You mentioned Billy being top recruiter in the SBC after I mentioned our #4 class. Not sure how I’m off but ok. Continue to ignore four teams have been added since his tenure too.
Billy definitely had better classes, not disputing that. But you can’t compare the SBC in the Spring of ‘20 to the Spring of ‘23.
Ok. My original thoughts were about in state and Billy finally making us a solid number 2 behind A&M BR. By doing that he also became number one in the belt as well. He just did things in recruiting that we have always felt we should be but other never could do. My question was are we going back to pre billy days just one full year removed?
You can still compare UL to Tech and Tulane.
Billy won with Hud recruits. 3 OL; RB; S; WR currently in NFL plus a few others that made teams briefly plus his QB1 Levi that played for Billy were Hud recruits.
Let's flip this.....how many Draft ready studs did Billy leave for Des?
Your right, no comparison. Billy moved from Arizona and his recruiting board was already set-up because he retained several members of the previous staff that helped put the board together and extended offers. Moncrief, Smith and a number of recruits from the first class held offers before Napier hit campus. Some has already taken their official visits. Fact, I know which were offered by Stringer and the previous staff. He kept some of the on campus recruiting staff. He completed the class, but a large number signees held offers from the previous staff and remained on his recruiting board.
Now when Napier left, a number of recruits had already began to de-commit because they were being told he was gone by other programs. He took many of the on campus recruiting staff with him that hosted the visits of many of the kids on their board that took official and un-official visits prior to his departure. Napier starting recruiting a few of his prior commitments at UL and a number of his former players were telling their teammates they were leaving the program including several that planned to follow him to Florida.
You're right, there is no comparison.
Unfortunately with the portal billy got to take one very good o lineman that was draft ready and running back. Throw in the other o lineman Bailey, MG at LSU, the line backer that went to Kansas they could have all been difference makers. I won’t even include the locker room cancer that was Lacy in that group.
Billy kept Des from the previous staff. Period. And that was with some encouragement from the AD. And it turned out to be a good move obviously. I am sure Des took over with that same type board that was filled up when he took over but the difference is he was also one of the coaches recruiting the kids on that board over the previous 2 or 3 years. When Billy took over none of those kids on that board knew him so he had to start from scratch. Which is why keeping Des was a good move he had the relationships.
Not counting Troy of course who was also on staff in a non coaching and recruiting position.
T’s point was more so that Billy may have lost a few recruits due to being brand new and Hud being fired, but Des had to deal with the fact that the top of his board was being actively recruited to go to Florida. Quite a different scenario
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