Expectations need to be in line with Colorado's place in the college football world right now.
Colorado hasn't had a winning season since 2005. From that 2005 season to today, Colorado has had 4 different head football coaches. In the Pac-12 conference, Colorado's football facilities are at or near the bottom. Correct or incorrect, there is a general public perception that the City of Boulder is racists, or at the very least, hostile to African Americans, including football players. The last head football coach, who was a former player at Colorado and a lifetime position coach at Colorado, publicly stated to all who would listen that race played a role in his termination. The greatest football coach the program has ever known, who took the program to the highest levels of college football, publicly stated to all who would listen that race played a role in Embree's termination. Several local media members, and a large number of fans, are absolutely convinced that the University is not at all behind the football program, does not support the football program, does not give the football program the tools to succeed - and said media members have publicly stated the same to all who would listen.
In short -- this football program is GARBAGE right now. It is perceived as the WORT BCS program in the country by many. It shouldn't be expected, right now, for CU to compete on the recruiting trail with ANYONE at the BCS level. That is not so say that CU shouldn't TRY to recruit with the best of the best. But it should not be considered a failure on the part of this staff if they fail to win those types of recruiting battles.
At this point in time - Colorado needs to be recruiting players who can make this team BETTER. Not national championship contenders. Not even Pac-12 championship contenders. But make this football team BETTER. More competitive. When this football program starts winning 5 or 6 games a year -- THEN I expect them to start recruiting better. When the facilities begin construction and when the product on the field looks like a real football team --- THEN I expect the coaches to start pulling in a top 35 recruiting class.
Colorado should be beating Colorado State, Air Force, Fresno State, San Jose State, San Diego State, BYU, UNLV, Iowa State, Kansas, Washington State, etc. for football players right now -- because that is the level of football program in Boulder right now. Beat those teams on the football field and on the recruiting trail -- and THEN start trying to move up to compete against the USC's, UCLA's, Oregon's, etc.