Although I agree that Cutcliffe has done wonders for that program over his tenure a little context is important. First, he's been there since the 2008 football season as he was hired in December of 2007. During that time, and based upon what I consider to be the most legitimate recruiting ranking system and the one most referred to on this forum, his classes have been ranked as follows:
2008 - 71 (2 four star recruits)
2009 - 52 (1)
2010 - 71 (0)
2011 - 63 (0)
2012 - 63 (0)
2013 - 70 (0)
2014 - 67 (0)
2015 - 70 (1)
I fully understand that numbers signed play into overall ranking but over this seven-year period I would not say his recruiting has been amazing as compared to other P5 schools. They have behind there primary opponents just like us. They are at or equal to us in terms of recruiting ranking and I have yet to see anyone declare HCSS as an amazing recruiter.
With his southern roots, on field success and long tenure I would assume his sales pitch would pick up at some point. To this point, based upon the data, its been rather static and in the bottom half of the ACC and among P5 conference teams. Maybe 2016 is his year to have a Top 40 class although we are a long way from signing day so I will reserve judgment on this year til then.
On the field performance/coaching may be a different debate but I continue to believe his recruiting prowess is overstated and has been in this forum for the past few years as a perceived way to slight our recruiting efforts since HCSS has taken over. The numbers I look at just don't back it up.
Of course, as always, this is just my opinion.
