Over the last 15 years there have been many highs and lows when it comes to University of Miami football recruiting. It is hard to argue against the fact that the ebb and flow of talent being brought into Coral Gables on an annual basis has had a direct impact on the product on the field on any given Saturday.
Our friend TonyCane, the Canespace resident statistician and recruiting guru, summed it up by the numbers recently in a well thought out and researched blog comment. It was such good work that we brought it here to the front page spotlight where it belongs.
The four year period between 2002 and 2005 was clearly a solid and steady high period while the four year period between 2013 and 2016 is seen as a consistently low period. Single year anomalies included the 2011 class that ranked among the weakest while the 2008 class ranked among the best.
Here is an example of what Coach Richt is accomplishing. We're still 10 months away from closing out the Class of 2018 and already it is clearly the best since 2008. Certainly, if this class holds together, it could be really, really special.
Four/Five Star Players in Recruiting Classes:
2002: 15 overall (1 *****)
2003: 14 overall (3 *****)
2004: 12 overall (3 *****)
2005: 13 overall (2 *****)
2006: 10 overall
2007: 08 overall (1 *****)
2008: 16 overall (2 *****)
2009: 10 overall (1 *****)
2010: 07 overall (1 *****)
2011: 02 overall
2012: 10 overall (2 *****)
2013: 09 overall
2014: 09 overall (1 *****)
2015: 07 overall
2016: 07 overall
2017: 10 overall
2018: 13 overall (1 *****)
And on the other side, this tells the same story in a different light:
Three/Two Star Players in Recruiting Classes:
2002: 07 overall (1 **)
2003: 11 overall (1 **)
2004: 15 overall (6 **)
2005: 04 overall (1 **)
2006: 10 overall (3 **)
2007: 10 overall (2 **)
2008: 16 overall (8 **)
2009: 09 overall (1 **)
2010: 22 overall (4 **)
2011: 16 overall (2 **, 2 unranked)
2012: 23 overall
2013: 10 overall (2 **)
2014: 18 overall (1 **)
2015: 12 overall
2016: 11 overall (1 **)
2017: 14 overall (1 **)
2018: 05 overall
It's amazing in retrospect to see how the talent (on paper) flipped between 2009 and 2012. Sure coaching matters, but we all know that it takes talent on the field to win football games.
If the Hurricanes can manage a solid season (10-2?) while breaking in a new starting QB in 2017, then Coach Richt will be able to not only keep the 2018 class together but even improve it. That is a welcome thought to UM fans and a downright scary thought to the rest of college football.
What that means is by 2019 we could witness the next period of devastating CAT 5 Hurricanes on the football field and a return to the 1983-1989 period of greatness and maybe even the 2001-2004 NFL draft pick producing machine that is unmatched in college football history.
We like that. Yeah, we like that a lot!
Have yo ever considered the fact that the players around him made him look good?
Dorsett, Walford, Hurns, Coley, Njoku???
Posted by: WWIN | April 30, 2017 at 06:05 PM
Posted by: WWIN | April 30, 2017 at 06:01 PM
Sometimes. Sometimes its throwing into very tight windows under pressure which he did on many many occasions. His biggest problems are pocket pressence and he locks on to his target. Some of that can be corrected by changing his prep habits.
Posted by: Dude | April 30, 2017 at 07:20 PM
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000804999/article/top-undrafted-free-agents-following-the-2017-nfl-draft
Uhhhh. Yearby listed under the QBs. LOL!
Posted by: BEERicane | April 30, 2017 at 09:58 PM
As I have stated on MANY occasions, Kaaya is a Hurricane for life and we appreciate that BUT he is just an above average QB. He has a good arm, below average physical assets, decent accuracy and a good command of the game AND what he lacks is the intangibles.
1. He is not a LEADER of men.
2. He has no will to enforce on his opponent.
3. He does not HATE losing.
4. He does not make those around him better.
5. He is just a guy in practice and on the field.
I am thankful for his service to The U but he is not winning any Medal of Honor for his actions while in Coral Gables. Maybe a Purple Heart for some of the hits he took, but that's about it.
Posted by: SOUP | April 30, 2017 at 10:03 PM
Well said Soup!
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | April 30, 2017 at 10:27 PM
Lol.
Posted by: Go Canes! | April 30, 2017 at 10:39 PM
NEW BLOG IS UP!
Posted by: SOUP | April 30, 2017 at 11:54 PM