Turning to the overall outlook for the 2016 class, obviously expectations will be pretty low coming off a 2-10 season. It will likely take a bowl season to gain any traction with blue chips. That said, there are some questions to be answered in this recruiting class that could tell us a lot about this staff going forward:
Q: Can this staff gain any traction in Texas?
A: When Steven Montez signs his LOI in February, he will be just the third Texan to sign with the Buffs in the two full recruiting cycles since MacIntyre took over as head coach. Of those three signees, not one of them has hailed from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex or the Houston area, two of the top ten metropolitan areas in the country. Furthermore, the coaches are struggling to even get Texas kids on to campus for official visits. If the struggles continue in 2016 after a defensive coaching staff shakeup, it might be time to write off Texas as a major part of MacIntyre's recruiting strategy.
Q: Will the Colorado players stay home?
A: As mentioned above, it appears to be a relatively average year for Colorado prep recruiting, but the coaches have extended two offers and will likely extend at least a few more. The in-state recruiting has been a cornerstone of this coaching staff's recruiting efforts, but can they continue that trend? While Kemp seems like a pipe dream at this point, Domann may be this year's Tim Lynott, the recruit that gives an indication of the staff's overall effectiveness.
Q: What effect does the departure of Andy LaRussa have on Hawaiian recruiting and Polynesian recruiting in general?
A: The new defensive coaching hires will play a part in answering this question, but there is no question LaRussa's departure came at a bad time for the 2015 class. The Buffs had successfully convinced several Poly players to visit in early December and it even looked like some of those players left Boulder with the Buffs as clear leaders. Fast forward nearly two months later and all that momentum seems to have evaporated. Is it is just a momentary hitch or have the Buffs suffered a more permanent setback?
Q: Can Gary Bernardi build upon the 2015 successes in Arizona?
A: With over two decades of coaching experience on the west coast, Bernardi has long-standing recruiting contacts across the West. In 2014, it was evident with several signings from private schools in southern California. In 2015, Bernardi dipped into the Phoenix area and nabbed three prospects. Just as importantly, the three prospects all hail from "name" schools in the Phoenix area. With so many Arizona prospects leaving the state to play college football, Bernardi has a chance to get more players in 2016.