So, For Those Of Us Who Have Not Studied

[OrangePA]

did we get a solid class?

How does it compare to the quality of last year's class?

Thank you!

 

[jekelish]

According to TOS, it's currently ranked #44 in the nation. That would be the highest ranking for a class since $co ut started doing rankings, according to their Twitter.

 

[dinosaurbbq]

My thoughts are that if they all make it to campus, which is a concern every year, this class provides huge help on the defensive side (Pickard and Ealey at DE, Steven Clark at DT, Henderson and Cullen at LB, Marquise Blair at S and Daivon Ellison at DB), on the OLine and at RB (Strickland). That's not to shortchange any of the other signees. Those guys are just the ones that stand out to me. Its a better class by the numbers and by what I've seen in individual talent than last year's class and last year's class had some big weapons on O and D. This is more a year of beefing up the lines than individual weapons, although there are some of those too.

 

[jekelish]

Also, some of the schools we beat out for recruits include:

Oregon
Michigan
Florida
Wisconsin
Georgia
Louisville
Nebraska
Virginia
Rutgers
West Virginia
Boston College
North Carolina
Mississippi State

...among others.

 

[CuseCrew08]

Pickard and Ealey at DE, Steven Clark at DT, Henderson and Cullen at LB, Marquise Blair at S and Daivon Ellison at DB), on the OLine and at RB (Strickland).

These guys along with Dunkelberger look to push for playing time next year IMO

 

[Upstate]

I'd like to see a list of the late offers that came through. I saw the Georgia interest, which I'd almost guarantee would have ended up in an offer had Strickland gone down there. Also the late offer for Fredrick from Stanford. Any others I'm missing?

 

[jekelish]

I'd like to see a list of the late offers that came through. I saw the Georgia interest, which I'd almost guarantee would have ended up in an offer had Strickland gone down there. Also the late offer for Fredrick from Stanford. Any others I'm missing?

Well, obviously Florida and Vandy for Clark and Michigan for Pickard. But I'm guessing you mean ones that were on the verge of coming through that haven't been as highly publicized?

Bambrewer did Shy get any?

 

[CuseCrew08]

Henderson got a phone call from Michigan as well I read.

 

[sutomcat]

did we get a solid class?

How does it compare to the quality of last year's class?

Thank you!

I think it is a solid class, maybe a little better than the one last year.

It features a great group of DL. I think they are the highlight of the class.

The other big story is the re-establishing of the pipeline to NJ. We got a bunch of future starters from that state in this class. Coach Acosta was a great hire.

 

[VirginiaOrange]

Best class in a long time and it did NOT rely on FLA.

7 of last year's 25 recruits (Howard and Dawson may still contribute down the road but neither was here last year) either never made it or have already left including the hyped QB and hyped WR recruits - arguably the best two in the group.

 

[PhatOrange]

I'd like to see a list of the late offers that came through. I saw the Georgia interest, which I'd almost guarantee would have ended up in an offer had Strickland gone down there. Also the late offer for Fredrick from Stanford. Any others I'm missing?

off the top of my head:

these are all the kids who received January offers, contact and/or visits

troy henderson - michigan
steve clark - florida (miss st, vandy, psu all made contact)
trey dunkleberger - fsu, clemson others
ty cross - wake forest
chris frederick - stanford
jordan fredericks - "A lot of people tried to make a run at him here late and we were able to hold onto him" Per Coach Smith
dontea strickland - georgia, louisville
jake pickard - flip from a top 10 team, michigan

if there's others chime in ...this was off the top of my head

 

[Macky44]

This is a truly solid class. Yes, i know its hard to judge until they get on the field for a year or two...but we are taking back NY, NJ and PA and that is VERY important to the future of this program.

 

[OttoForLife]

I'm a boob who knows practically nothing worthwhile about evaluating incoming talent. That said, somebody wake me up when we figure out if the QB is a player or not. Because outside of that, I see a class that will continue the current trend - strong D that likely be asked to do more than its share to try and win games.

 

[OttoForLife]

PS: Seemed like some people called into question how the staff identified and secured a lot of kids early this class. Hard to say if they were the right kids, but I think our staff gets credit for doing so and holding onto most of them for an extended period.

 

[Orijinal]

I'm a boob who knows practically nothing worthwhile about evaluating incoming talent. That said, somebody wake me up when we figure out if the QB is a player or not. Because outside of that, I see a class that will continue the current trend - strong D that likely be asked to do more than its share to try and win games.

Please do not toss Hunt out. I would not have discounted him last year. He is getting WAY too much criticism. If he had stayed healthy last year, maybe we beat a couple more teams. Hunt is an excellent runner (not fast) but have not seen someone that can make people miss like that since McNabb. His deep ball was improving too.

The problem is will some of these receivers make a leap next year and will the O Line get enough proper coaching to protect--or at least open up a hole for a running back? If those questions are settled then we might have a decent year

 

[Rocco]

I'm a boob who knows practically nothing worthwhile about evaluating incoming talent. That said, somebody wake me up when we figure out if the QB is a player or not. Because outside of that, I see a class that will continue the current trend - strong D that likely be asked to do more than its share to try and win games.

Dungey is going to be a stud IMO. Think of that Robertson kid from Villanova but with a better arm.

Hunt will start next year, but Dungey could be a 4 year starter for us.

 

[orangecuse]

Glad to see it seems solid according to people here who follow much more intently than I. I happened to turn on ESPU a short time ago and they had our class ranked #14th in the ACC. I guess beauty certainly is in the eye of the beholder...

 

[jekelish]

Glad to see it seems solid according to people here who follow much more intently than I. I happened to turn on ESPU a short time ago and they had our class ranked #14th in the ACC. I guess beauty certainly is in the eye of the beholder...

ESPN's recruiting rankings are wacky. Sc out has us as the 44th best class in the country. The discrepancy is absurd.

 

[RF2044]

Glad to see it seems solid according to people here who follow much more intently than I. I happened to turn on ESPU a short time ago and they had our class ranked #14th in the ACC. I guess beauty certainly is in the eye of the beholder...

That is disconcerting, but this is a class full of three stars, many of whom have good offer sheets.

Our class also got dinged IMO because we have two special teams players we're bringing in. Even though both are amongst the top rated guys at their positions nationally, they never get more than 2 stars at most sites.

 

[jekelish]

That is disconcerting, but this is a class full of three stars, many of whom have good offer sheets.

Our class also got dinged IMO because we have two special teams players we're bringing in. Even though both are amongst the top rated guys at their positions nationally, they never get more than 2 stars at most sites.

Yup. One of our special teamers was an Under Armour All-American (Keller), but we still take a hit because he's only listed as a 2-star recruit. Nevermind that he's quite literally one of the very best at his position in the country.

 

[orangecuse]

ESPN's recruiting rankings are wacky. Sc out has us as the 44th best class in the country. The discrepancy is absurd.

44th is very respectable! Hail to 44! Hopefully, a good omen...

 

[RF2044]

44th is very respectable! Hail to 44! Hopefully, a good omen...

I'll tell you what--if we can stack together a couple of classes ranked in the 40s nationally, the talent base overall will improve and we'll be closer to challenging for the top 25. The two most important factors in getting that done on the recruiting trail in my mind are: winning games [just win, baby!], and finding a legit QB who makes us dangerous offensively.

Those two things go hand-in-hand.

 

[PhatOrange]

Yup. One of our special teamers was an Under Armour All-American (Keller), but we still take a hit because he's only listed as a 2-star recruit. Nevermind that he's quite literally one of the very best at his position in the country.

And the Kicker is rated (i think 6th best nationally) by the most prestigious kicking camp in the nation.

If we had the 6th best LB or 6th best QB he'd be a 4 star 5.9 rated kid.

 

[Orijinal]

And the Kicker is rated (i think 6th best nationally) by the most prestigious kicking camp in the nation.

If we had the 6th best LB or 6th best QB he'd be a 4 star 5.9 rated kid.

And kickers actually score points.

 

[Stevenson]

65 teams in the Power 5. Our class is ranked anywhere from mid 40s to mid 50s, so roughly 75% of the P5 teams had better classes. Also anywhere from 10th to 14th in the ACC. Looks like a garden variety SU class that we have grown accustomed to in the past 15 years. Of course, stars and rankings don't matter, I guess.

And we 0nly brought in one QB...very disappointing. Not sure any of the guys on the current roster would start and any other ACC school.