2018 verbal commitments

[Clutch0364]

I hate when Stevie P says this, but it applies here. Large sample size.

Citing 1 or 2 exceptions to the star system does not negate a double digit disparity in 3 star recruits between us and the schools I mentioned. That gap MUST be closed.

Ask Rickey Bustle how coaching up a bunch of 2 star recruits worked out for him.

Ask Hud what happened after he lost Bustles 2 star recruits...

[CajunNation]

We were facing an absolute disaster of a recruiting class, like an all time bad one, before Hud was fired. Napier worked a damn minor miracle to get what we got and even have a chance for the three guys we lost. What he was able to do will keep us in the game. Next years class will (needs to be) the big splash.

Correct. All of it.

[cajunhawk]

Ask Hud what happened after he lost Bustles 2 star recruits...

He had to deal with his 3 stars that couldn't qualify.

[Turbine]

He had to deal without his 3 stars that couldn't qualify.

Fixed it for you Hawk

[Big Buds]

And HUDs first recruiting class was pretty stout, although he did cheat

Cool your jets...Hud didn't cheat until the class of '12.

[Oiler]

We know Napier was behind the 8 ball with this year's class. Last coach wrecked relationships with many HS staffs. The early signing period really threw a monkey wrench into things. He only had a few weeks to build a staff to try and piece together a decent signing class.

All of us should have seen this coming. To expect an eye popping class this season was really wishful thinking. Now, I fully expect this staff to absolutely crush the next class.

Just to give you guys an idea of where we need to go, these are 24/7 class rankings of certain regional foes.

#66 Tulane. (20) 3-stars
#73 Houston. (19) 3-stars
#76 Louisiana Tech. (16) 3-stars
#81 Southern Miss. (19) 3-stars
#85 UTSA. (16) 3-stars
#86 Memphis. (16) 3-stars
#88 Arkansas State. (14) 3-stars
#89 SMU. (15) 3-stars


#125 Louisiana. (4) 3-stars

Best post of this entire thread and it is right on the money.

We all understand the tough situation that our new coaching staff faced in putting together a signing class this year. Now it is imperative that everyone also understand just how important it is for us to regain our competitiveness in recruiting against the regional rivals CajunNation listed. Recognizing that our program has taken a step backward is the first step in turning it around.

It’s plain see that we got whipped badly this year in recruiting. This is something that the new coaching staff can certainly overcome.

[Turbine]

Coaches (and by "coaches" I mean fans also) need to remember a 2-star athlete from Louisiana would be a 3-star athlete in any other State.

The quality of the HS opponent is greater in Louisiana than any other State.

The same numbers don't mean the same thing.

Individual accomplishments mean more in Louisiana. They faced better competition.

1=2
2=3
3=4
4=5
5=ready for the NFL.

Louisiana has more NFL players per capita than any other state.

Don't just look at raw numbers when evaluating recruits.

Recruit Louisiana First.

[basinbear]

We had 18 schollys to offer and I believe we signed 14....we missed out on 3 big time Defensive Tackles and a Offensive Left tackle. We have signed a very capable group of prospects and filled out critical needs on the defensive edge and at linebacker...stay tuned because they are not done for this year.

[Just1More]

We were facing an absolute disaster of a recruiting class, like an all time bad one, before Hud was fired. Napier worked a damn minor miracle to get what we got and even have a chance for the three guys we lost. What he was able to do will keep us in the game. Next years class will (needs to be) the big splash.

Not that other posts aren’t relevant or accurate... but your post sums things up best. We absolutely cannot overlook the decline we were in under Hud... and somehow compare our status to others that are on the rise. We hired Napier to BEGIN our move. We cannot and could not expect better from him and his staff in this recruiting cycle. Above that, let’s not get sucked into the BS belief that a recruiting class ranking just defined our future. It takes successive classes of the right athletes, skill AND character, to establish a better program. We hired a really good coach and staff, and that is going to improve our program... one minute at a time.

[cajun4life]

We had 18 schollys to offer and I believe we signed 14....we missed out on 3 big time Defensive Tackles and a Offensive Left tackle. We have signed a very capable group of prospects and filled out critical needs on the defensive edge and at linebacker...stay tuned because they are not done for this year.

Yup! This class is very solid. We missed on some pieces that would have put this class over the top. But it’s still a really good class.