CU's recruiting effort to date is one of the worst in the country per Bleachers R

[moett88]

Another part of this is that at this point a lot of kids are falling in love with an image, what they have seen on Sportscenter or in other media. As time goes by and a lot of these kids actually take a closer look at what each school offers many will change their ideas.

A lot of schools that have been very high profile in recent years thus grabbing kids attention have some serious drawbacks if you look closer. In many cases top position coaches have moved on, in others head coaches are likely to leave for the NFL or for other college jobs. What a kid sees right now may and probably will be very different in 3 years.

Another factor is going to be the kids who are already on the roster and those who are committed. Kids have to look at what their prospects are for seeing the field in the near future. If the school they are considering has two highly rated prospects at his same position in the previous years class and another highly rated kid committed this year, the kid has to ask how much of a priority is his development going to be. How much personal attention is the staff going to give him, are they going to try to find him field time to develop him.

As kids look more closely at CU they are going to see a lot of opportunity with a highly qualified coaching staff with experience at the highest levels and a staff that is coming in with a clean slate. They don't have prior commitments to a bunch of kids, everyone is going to get a fair shot at seeing the field.

To some kids this stuff doesn't matter. They have dreamed all their life of wearing a certain uniform or telling people that they are signing with a top 10 team. Others are going to look at the entire package, what is the best situation for them both on the field and in their lives academically, socially, etc..

The lucky kids have a parent, a coach, or someone else they can trust who has their best interest at heart to help guide them through this process. Some kids start the critical evaluation process early and have time to make a decision based on what is really important. Others start later and can change their mind in the process. Every year we see kids decommit as they get closer to LOI day and go another direction.

A lot of kids end up signing with a school and then later realizing that in retrospect they would have made a different choice. Some stick with the school, other transfer or more sadly just don't finish, dropping out. Of course a lot make less that their best decision but still make a good experience out of it. If a kid is willing to work hard and have a good attitude he can make the best out of a variety of decisions and have a great experience but it still wouldn't be as good as it could be.

ABSOLUTELY! Current example, Texas. The WR position has been deep for several years. One of 2010's top receruited receivers ended up with limited playing time and voiced his frustrations on FB but struggled to produce a bit when he did get playing time. One of their receivers got the point and just transferred.

Class of 2011 just as strong. They have now pull 2 of the top WRs from Texas for the 2012 class. It must've been a serious song and dance put out to these kids to not see how tough it is going to be for them to possibly make a difference until their junior year because they are behind so many other "top talents". Texas didn't need WRs but pulled in top talent to make sure no one else got them. Just crazy to me! The power of pulling depth charts on the internet can be a great thing! When we visited A&M they were actually surprised when we brought that information into the meeting with Coach Sherman...........so it will be interesting to see the shift over the next few years.

 

[Duff Man]

I disagree and think we are doing about the level we should expect. Good recruiters, but we are selling air at this point in time. Colorado hasn't been relevant in 10 years and has been embarrassed regularly on National TV in many of those years. The staff includes a first time Head Coach with no coordinator experience and a first time OC with no previous coordinator experience. Until these guys show a turnaround on the field, they are selling air.

Throw in that some of the early commits are likely to get upgraded as we go thru the process (I'm basing that on our staff being in early on lots of guys who have blown up given a little more exposure and I expect more of that). In fact, I'm more worried about keeping some of these guys.

The real disappointment for me is the lack of in-state kids picking CU. I blame that on the last 10 years of crappy football, the sex scandal, and our local media partly. But mostly I blame that on the complete lack of ties that our population has to this state. Most of these kids have not one single tie to CU and in most cases grew up rooting for other schools their parents went to, or the states they came from (Michigan for example). Kozan, Connors, Callahan, the TE going to Oregon.... none of these kids have a link to CU. When my own kids have graduated, all of their classmates were totally focused on getting out of Colorado. It's the hip thing to do in Colorado culture. Funny thing is that most of them didn't last a year out of state, but I regress.

If we had hired a big name such as Nick Saban, we'd lock these kids up. But asking an unproven no-name staff to lock up these kids without a track record given the above is unrealistic in almost every case. But there's some time between now and LOI day.

Maybe we are meeting expectations, but there are some posters on various boards (including this one) acting like the staff has done a GREAT job on the recruiting trail thus far. Really?

I also think the in-state recruiting struggles go deeper than merely not landing players. We honestly have not been very close with any of the in-state 4* players, not even in their top groups. I still think Callahan can be flipped, but that is hardly a certainty.

This staff better sell air to some prospects before the season starts or else we will be in a very disadvantageous position. Landing 20-25 verbals in 3-4 months, including flipping several kids, is completely unrealistic.

 

[walk]

ABSOLUTELY! Current example, Texas. The WR position has been deep for several years. One of 2010's top receruited receivers ended up with limited playing time and voiced his frustrations on FB but struggled to produce a bit when he did get playing time. One of their receivers got the point and just transferred.

Class of 2011 just as strong. They have now pull 2 of the top WRs from Texas for the 2012 class. It must've been a serious song and dance put out to these kids to not see how tough it is going to be for them to possibly make a difference until their junior year because they are behind so many other "top talents". Texas didn't need WRs but pulled in top talent to make sure no one else got them. Just crazy to me! The power of pulling depth charts on the internet can be a great thing! When we visited A&M they were actually surprised when we brought that information into the meeting with Coach Sherman...........so it will be interesting to see the shift over the next few years.

IMO, the best players are the ones that want to challenge themselves day in and day out. The way to do so is to go to schools that have the best players at all positions - yes, even the position the player is at.

 

[buffs04]

IMO, the best players are the ones that want to challenge themselves day in and day out. The way to do so is to go to schools that have the best players at all positions - yes, even the position the player is at.

Do you live in reality? FYI: this isn't how the world works.

 

[Burrito]

IMO, the best players are the ones that want to challenge themselves day in and day out. The way to do so is to go to schools that have the best players at all positions - yes, even the position the player is at.

So how do you propose to fix this?

 

[walk]

Do you live in reality? FYI: this isn't how the world works.

Ummm, yes it is. The elite players go to USC, Florida, Texas, etc. so they can be challenged day in and out. They know that's the way to be the best. The best DBs want to practice against the best WRs, the best OL want to practice against the best DL, etc. Elite players are confident in their abilities and choose to go to these schools to compete against the best.

You see it all the time in recruiting updates on players committing to the top schools. They aren't afraid of depth charts.

 

[Burrito]

Ummm, yes it is. The elite players go to USC, Florida, Texas, etc. so they can be challenged day in and out. They know that's the way to be the best. The best DBs want to practice against the best WRs, the best OL want to practice against the best DL, etc. Elite players are confident in their abilities and choose to go to these schools to compete against the best.

You see it all the time in recruiting updates on players committing to the top schools. They aren't afraid of depth charts.

So what do you propose we do about it?

 

[walk]

So what do you propose we do about it?

You recruit players who want to compete. Players that don't look at a depth chart and shy away from tough competition. You find character recruits that understand that it could take until their Jr. and Sr. year to play, but that they'll be better for it. You build depth that way.

 

[DesertDawg526]

Watch CU take at least 25 players in the next 3 classes. Each class will be better than the last...

 

[Quattro]

Watch CU take at least 25 players in the next 3 classes. Each class will be better than the last...

3. 2. 1! To the top!

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

You recruit players who want to compete. Players that don't look at a depth chart and shy away from tough competition. You find character recruits that understand that it could take until their Jr. and Sr. year to play, but that they'll be better for it. You build depth that way.

You don't think Embree and Scooter know this? Things are certainly slow, but I'm not going to question their recruiting ability. I think their track record is proof enough.

 

[Burrito]

You recruit players who want to compete. Players that don't look at a depth chart and shy away from tough competition. You find character recruits that understand that it could take until their Jr. and Sr. year to play, but that they'll be better for it. You build depth that way.

So you're saying the '11 class and the '12 verbals aren't these people?

 

[Quattro]

So you're saying the '11 class and the '12 verbals aren't these people?

They didn't have an Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, USC, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, and Georgia offers so no.

 

[rscmac]

Why should these kids sign with cu when we have a new staff and havent had a winning record in 6yrs. You cant blame the staff if the kids want to leave the state. Can someone name a player from colorado who has made an impact on a team or was named all conference who chose to leave colorado in the last 10years. We need results on the field and with the upcoming schedule it doesnt look good.

 

[Buffnik]

Why should these kids sign with cu when we have a new staff and havent had a winning record in 6yrs. You cant blame the staff if the kids want to leave the state. Can someone name a player from colorado who has made an impact on a team or was named all conference who chose to leave colorado in the last 10years. We need results on the field and with the upcoming schedule it doesnt look good.

Onyeali was the newcomer of the year in the Pac-10 just last season. Might have led the conference in sacks as a true freshman (don't feel like looking it up).

 

[walk]

They didn't have an Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, USC, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, and Georgia offers so no.[/FONT]

Actually, an offer from any top 25 school would do.

 

[sackman]

Was Bo Scaife in the last 10 years? Lendale White?

 

[Creebuzz]

Next time I see EB I'm gonna get in his grill about his ****** recruiting during his first 100 days on the job. :wow:

 

[buff4bcs1985]

Actually, an offer from any top 25 school would do.

[video=youtube;gVscCNZsYSY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVscCNZsYSY&feature=player_detailpage#t=78 s[/video]

 

[rscmac]

so 2 guys and all we hear about is making sure we get every player from mullen. Ill take texas and cali.

 

[Buffnik]

Here are a few more CO preps I thought of from the last decade: Kasey Studdard, LenDale White, Lamaar Houston, Pierre Allen.

 

[Mick Ronson]

Zak Robinson, Zach Latimer, Andre Woolfolk.

 

[Del]

IMO, the best players are the ones that want to challenge themselves day in and day out. The way to do so is to go to schools that have the best players at all positions - yes, even the position the player is at.

Okay that sounds easy enough but say you are a top recrutied 4 or 5 star type guy...you go to said school like Texas, USC, Florida etc and you are competing with two other elite guys at your position. You are "elite" and you like to challenge yourself everyday just like Walk said so on the field, the coaches can't see much of a difference in play because you are good, but so are the other two guys you are battling it out with. Remember, "these players went to schools that have the best players at every position" . You are an incoming freshman, and there is a junior and another incoming freshman who all are competing for the position. The coach will go with the junior this season because he has more experience even though athletically you can't really distinguish them. At these schools there is so much pressure to win every game there is no way they would risk putting in a freshman. So you sit your freshman year. Next year the same guy is a senior and now a "leader" of the team...guess what he gets the starting job again. So you are riding the bench again your 2nd year. You catch what could be considered a lucky break for you because this guy gets hurt with a minor ankle injury and is out for two games. Now its between you and the other guy who are both competing for the position. You each split series during the first game but neither of you really stand out much and end up doing the same thing again the next game. Then the senior comes back from injury and finishes out the season. Now you are going into fall camp of your third year and competing against another guy in your class plus two more guys behind you for one spot that are just as good because remember "the best players go to the schools that are good at every position"


By the time you finish your career, you have had one maybe two seasons of regularly starting at the postion and are ready to get drafted. NFL Teams like your size and speed but just "haven't seen enough on tape to get a good feel" -- You end up getting taken in the 4th or 5th round.

Or you could go to a school like CU where you still play against the best competition every week but there is an opening on the depth chart and a chance for you to legitimately start your freshman year...You decide to go ahead and go with CU because of the early playing time and turn down the offers from the Texas, USC and Florida's out there....fast forward to fall camp and you end up impressing the coaches. You don't win the starting job outright but end up seeing good amounts of playing time on the field your first year. By your second year out of fall camp you have the job outright and spend years 2,3, and 4 starting. You go into the draft with the same size and speed as some of the other guys from these other schools but end up getting taken in the 2nd or 3rd round because they "really just liked what they saw on tape" -- Just saying... I'm sure P Rich is loving the fact that he chose CU, ended up playing his first year and getting the freshman receiving record. Its something some of these kids should think more about and the smarter ones do.

 

[sackman]

Name escapes me now - but who was that lineman from the Springs who ended up at OU and is now playing in the NFL?

Suffice it to say, there have been plenty of Colorado players who have had an impact at big schools outside of Colorado in the last 10 years.

 

[pwbuffan]

Name escapes me now - but who was that lineman from the Springs who ended up at OU and is now playing in the NFL?

Suffice it to say, there have been plenty of Colorado players who have had an impact at big schools outside of Colorado in the last 10 years.

Loadholt?

 

[MtnBuff]

Loadholt?

Loadholt was an interesting case because he committed to and really wanted to go to CU. The problem was that he was a kid that didn't get serious about his HS academics until late and although he tried he couldn't get qualified to go the CU. After not qualifying he went to Garden City CC where he got his academics in order to return to D1. Coming out of Garden City he still had an interest in Colorado but a combination of things kept him out. One was that CU wouldn't accept some of his CC credits so he would have had to take a brutal summer load to try to qualify. He also wasn't thrilled with the coaching situation at CU and being rated the #1 JC O-lineman that year he had choices. He originally committed to LSU, then changed to OU and the rest is history.

He also is one of those kids who although attending a Colorado HS isn't really a "Colorado kid" in the sense that a lot of other kids are. His family is military and if I am remembering correctly he got to Fountain-Ft. Carson in the middle of his Soph year so he didn't have those strong ties to the state. Even then he wanted to go to CU. If his HS academics had been okay or if the staff at CU had taken care of the details and guided his schedule choices at the CC level he would have been a Buff. One of his comments was that when he was at Garden City a number of the other players there who were in his situation had regular contact with their origional schools supporting and guiding them, he got nothing from Colorado. Had Hawkins and company made any kind of effort he would have taken the right classes and moved right into Boulder. Although Hawkins could screw up anything, this one was a classic.

 

[sackman]

Yes, Loadholt is the guy I was thinking about. Thanks.

 

[moett88]

Okay that sounds easy enough but say you are a top recrutied 4 or 5 star type guy...you go to said school like Texas, USC, Florida etc and you are competing with two other elite guys at your position. You are "elite" and you like to challenge yourself everyday just like Walk said so on the field, the coaches can't see much of a difference in play because you are good, but so are the other two guys you are battling it out with. Remember, "these players went to schools that have the best players at every position" . You are an incoming freshman, and there is a junior and another incoming freshman who all are competing for the position. The coach will go with the junior this season because he has more experience even though athletically you can't really distinguish them. At these schools there is so much pressure to win every game there is no way they would risk putting in a freshman. So you sit your freshman year. Next year the same guy is a senior and now a "leader" of the team...guess what he gets the starting job again. So you are riding the bench again your 2nd year. You catch what could be considered a lucky break for you because this guy gets hurt with a minor ankle injury and is out for two games. Now its between you and the other guy who are both competing for the position. You each split series during the first game but neither of you really stand out much and end up doing the same thing again the next game. Then the senior comes back from injury and finishes out the season. Now you are going into fall camp of your third year and competing against another guy in your class plus two more guys behind you for one spot that are just as good because remember "the best players go to the schools that are good at every position"


By the time you finish your career, you have had one maybe two seasons of regularly starting at the postion and are ready to get drafted. NFL Teams like your size and speed but just "haven't seen enough on tape to get a good feel" -- You end up getting taken in the 4th or 5th round.

Or you could go to a school like CU where you still play against the best competition every week but there is an opening on the depth chart and a chance for you to legitimately start your freshman year...You decide to go ahead and go with CU because of the early playing time and turn down the offers from the Texas, USC and Florida's out there....fast forward to fall camp and you end up impressing the coaches. You don't win the starting job outright but end up seeing good amounts of playing time on the field your first year. By your second year out of fall camp you have the job outright and spend years 2,3, and 4 starting. You go into the draft with the same size and speed as some of the other guys from these other schools but end up getting taken in the 2nd or 3rd round because they "really just liked what they saw on tape" -- Just saying... I'm sure P Rich is loving the fact that he chose CU, ended up playing his first year and getting the freshman receiving record. Its something some of these kids should think more about and the smarter ones do.

GREAT BREAKDOWN! Plain and simple...........you don't play, you don't get better. You don't get better you lose exposure. Straight trickle down effect. The school that plays in a strong conference will expose how great you are or are not as a player. The competition on the field should be more important than the competition in the locker room. It's the same philosophy as buying the worst house in the best neighborhood (just a metaphor). If you have a strong foundation and all you need to do is upgrade the appliances and paint job, the rate of return on your investment doesn't get any better. Don't get me wrong, i'm not confused and know that all athletes must compete for their position at all times........but if you have a chance to go someplace where you are actually needed and can make a difference, that to me is the smarter challenge.

 

[MtnBuff]

The other part that is left out of this conversation on competing is the politics involved. If a school has three legit prospects at one position we would hope that each gets a fair shot to earn the job or at least playing time. More often than not however that is not the case. If one of those players comes from a HS that is considered a key recruiting target because of having a history of top prospects or if one of the kids comes from an area that the school considers a key recruiting area more often than not the coaches are going to give preference in order to make their future recruiting easier. The kid who comes from a school or recruiting area that is not the priority has to go far above and beyond to get his shot.

Other politics play in as well when their are multiple prospects for a position. Was the kid recuited by the position coach or by a different position coach who had that geographical area, did the position coach who recruited the kid leave and get replaced on the staff so the kid loses his advocate.

We would love to think that it all comes down to play the best kid and let them earn their time but when schools have choices they often don't follow this rule. On the other hand a quality kid coming into a building program has coaches who know that they have to create wins on the field or they not only lose their jobs but they also get tagged as losers hurting future coaching prospects. It is in their interest to find who is the best player and get them out there as soon as possible.

 

[CUFan]

I don't care how pathetic our recruiting is or is not at this point, Bleacher Report can **** off.