Coverage of recruiting in this day and age...

[Hiphopopotamos]

Its like the second season of football to me.  Since we dont get to play ags anymore beating their ass in recruiting would have been just as beautiful.  But it appears the other way around this year.

I think Newsome > McNeil.

As for Jefferson, it would be foolish to say we dont need him.  I am worried about our recruiting, but I guess most on here are content with coaching up 2 stars into 4 stars.  I for one, prefer the 5 stars and then coach them up.  You cant coach speed and raw talent.

I am not impressed with this staffs recruiting thus far, it could change before NSD but to say "Nah we will fine with 2-3 stars" seems rather complacent.

But watch I will get flamed in a few minutes for that bit of criticism, LOL  #WaitforIt

We don't have any two-stars - unless you are talking about the Juco who by all accounts is a Wickline project.  Absolutely the staff would love to have all 5 stars, but that isn't in the cards.  From everything we've heard, if Strong has to choose between a coach who can develop and a coach who is a recruiter, Strong is going to choose the guy who can actually coach.

Strong got plenty of 5 star talent as a memebr of the Florida staff, so I'm sure he knows how important it is.  But I'm sure he's also aware that those are the type of guys who are identified early and develop relationships with schools over a number of years.  Strong is going to need to start hitting on some of the guys who were Sophmores last year when he came into the job.  But until he does he's going to grab as many of his type of players as he can - and in many cases they are only going to be rated 3 or 4 stars.

FWIW - the players the Longhorns are still going hard after are all very highly rated prospects.  Chris Warren who is believed to be leaning Texas would be the highest rated recruit in this Texas class.  Clarington is a 4 star.  As is Tim Irvin.  As is Ryan newsome.  And Anthony Wheeler.  And Chris Clark.  Kris Boyd and Davante Davis are both 4 star.

There is plenty of talent still available.  Not enough to pass AtM in recruiting, but enough to give us a competitive class. 

I'll match Strong coaching his guys against Sumlin and his.

 

[DMAC]

Where are the 5 Stars?  Look at the ESPN 300.

How many does Alabama have?  Aggies have?  

If the ags land MJ as expected they have 3 (Murray,MJ,Mack).  

You dont find that odd considering they dont even have a freaken DC and Strong is a defensive guru? 

 

[DMAC]

I'll match Strong coaching his guys against Sumlin and his.

I agree with that, and have said so many times.  Why cant we have recruiting as well?  So chambers is the best we can get, because hes a great TE coach?

 

[Hiphopopotamos]

I agree with that, and have said so many times.  Why cant we have recruiting as well?  So chambers is the best we can get, because hes a great TE coach?

We can - but I'm going to give him more than one year to prove he can do it.  He's had 12 months.  Unlike the coaches he is recruiting against - he didn't come up through the Texas high school system, and didn't spend years developing connections with schools.  Its why the Florida connection will be so important for at least the next couple of years.

Chambers is an easy scape-goat, but we really don't know what his responsibilities are at this point.  For all I know he is on staff because he is a conduit from Strong to high school coaches, and the thought is that there might be a little backlash if he got dumped from the staff.  Could be his usefullness will run out at the end of this recruiting cycle.

Personally - I'd like to see Strong bring in more people with Texas ties - but he's going to hire coaches he knows/trusts/has worked with. 

Even if they lose out on Malik, this could still end up as a top 12 class.

I don't expect him to turn this program around in one year - and I don't expect him to dominate recruiting in one season either.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

We don't have any two-stars - unless you are talking about the Juco who by all accounts is a Wickline project.  Absolutely the staff would love to have all 5 stars, but that isn't in the cards.  From everything we've heard, if Strong has to choose between a coach who can develop and a coach who is a recruiter, Strong is going to choose the guy who can actually coach.

Strong got plenty of 5 star talent as a memebr of the Florida staff, so I'm sure he knows how important it is.  But I'm sure he's also aware that those are the type of guys who are identified early and develop relationships with schools over a number of years.  Strong is going to need to start hitting on some of the guys who were Sophmores last year when he came into the job.  But until he does he's going to grab as many of his type of players as he can - and in many cases they are only going to be rated 3 or 4 stars.

FWIW - the players the Longhorns are still going hard after are all very highly rated prospects.  Chris Warren who is believed to be leaning Texas would be the highest rated recruit in this Texas class.  Clarington is a 4 star.  As is Tim Irvin.  As is Ryan newsome.  And Anthony Wheeler.  And Chris Clark.  Kris Boyd and Davante Davis are both 4 star.

There is plenty of talent still available.  Not enough to pass AtM in recruiting, but enough to give us a competitive class. 

I'll match Strong coaching his guys against Sumlin and his.

To compete for national championships you must have both, good coaching and good recruiters.

If you have just one, you will always have an uphill battle.

There is no reason for University of Texas not to have both. None, zip, nada.

I think Texas has the coaching part of the equation but I am not completely sold on the recruiting part.

 

[DMAC]

I don't expect him to turn this program around in one year - and I don't expect him to dominate recruiting in one season either.

I had high hopes for recruiting because Strong is great coach and his players love him.  I also heard Holtz pump Charlie as a great recruiter.  When the ags lose their Ace RC and DC and when 2 5-star instate defensive prospects are leaning towards the hapless ags it makes me wonder.  I fully expected in state defensive stars to be busting down the doors to get into UT.  After reading the statements by MJ its more like "meh"

 

[Hiphopopotamos]

To compete for national championships you must have both, good coaching and good recruiters.

If you have just one, you will always have an uphill battle.

There is no reason for University of Texas not to have both. None, zip, nada.

I think Texas has the coaching part of the equation but I am not completely sold on the recruiting part.

We don't know that they don't have both.  Its going to take time to develop these relationships - even for ace recruiters.  We'll know more over the next couple of years - but I happen to believe Strong has several good recruiters on his staff.

Its also important to note that Strong is honest to a fault with recruits, and I presume that he expects the same from his assistant coaches.  He's likely never going to get those 5-stars that only want to hear how great they are.

 

[DMAC]

We don't know that they don't have both.  Its going to take time to develop these relationships - even for ace recruiters.  We'll know more over the next couple of years - but I happen to believe Strong has several good recruiters on his staff.

Its also important to note that Strong is honest to a fault with recruits, and I presume that he expects the same from his assistant coaches.  He's likely never going to get those 5-stars that only want to hear how great they are.

Trob is one of them?  Who are the others?

 

[pringlelake]

The real value of the recruiting sites?

"Fans follow them and think their teams are going to get better," Stephens said.  They sell hope."

 

[Hiphopopotamos]

Trob is one of them?  Who are the others?

Chris Rumph and Brian Jean-Mary.  Watson is a good recruiter for QB's.

 

[DMAC]

Chris Rumph and Brian Jean-Mary.  Watson is a good recruiter for QB's.

I heard some about Jean-Mary.  I heard Rumph was a decent recruiter and a great DL coach.  Never heard Watson mentioned in the great recruiters talk.

A Big 12 assistant who recruits in the Lone Star State said he could see that Texas would have problems on the recruiting trail the minute Strong announced his staff. The assistant praised Strong for luring Joe Wickline away from Oklahoma State and believes his addition will help the Longhorns find some hidden gems along the offensive line. But after that, the assistant said it was hardly the all-star cast many thought Strong could assemble, given the school’s resources. 

“I thought [strong] needed to bring in guys that can stand toe-to-toe against A&M, LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma and all the other top teams that recruit in Texas,†the coach said. “He needed guys that had deep ties with the high school coaches in Texas. Instead, he got a lot of coaches that can win recruiting battles against Cincinnati, UCF and teams like that. This is the Big 12, not the AAC.†

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4689699/texas-has-a-state-recruiting-problem

 

[Hiphopopotamos]

I heard some about Jean-Mary.  I heard Rumph was a decent recruiter and a great DL coach.  Never heard Watson mentioned in the great recruiters talk.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4689699/texas-has-a-state-recruiting-problem

His only criticism is something I already brought up - Strong brought in assistants that didn't already have ties to Texas high-school coaches.  Its going to take some time for them to develop them.  The easiest path would be for Strong to just hire a current high school coach to be on his staff - but Strong doesn't work that way.

 

[DMAC]

His only criticism is something I already brought up - Strong brought in assistants that didn't already have ties to Texas high-school coaches.  Its going to take some time for them to develop them.  The easiest path would be for Strong to just hire a current high school coach to be on his staff - but Strong doesn't work that way.

yes it will take time to develop them but he could have hired Wyatt, there really wasnt a need for Chambers.  Chambers hasnt really brought in the recruits from the DFW area lately.

 

[CCausey11]

To compete for national championships you must have both, good coaching and good recruiters.

If you have just one, you will always have an uphill battle.

There is no reason for University of Texas not to have both. None, zip, nada.

I think Texas has the coaching part of the equation but I am not completely sold on the recruiting part.

I agree on the coaching part..recruiting is an incomplete.  I'm waiting to judge the 2016 class as the first real measure.  If it's not great then we have a problem.  If it is a really top class than much of this teeth gnashing will be for nothing.  I think we need to focus on what players do we need to win ball games and build on vs. this fanatical score card against A&M's recruits.  JMO

 

[bcherry168]

You guys need to relax. We won't know how good anybody's recruiting has been this year until the 2017 season.

Everyone of our recruiting opponents have had the luxury of establishing relationships with all of the good recruits for 2 or more years longer than Strong. Give him a break, for crying out loud. The guy is doing damned good given the circumstances.

If you want to bitch about his recruiting, at least wait until next year.

 

[hornag]

Just a thought.....Have you considered that some of these 5 star and upper 4 star recruits might have the feeling that they do not need much coaching.  Could possibly think that they already know it all and have little to nothing to learn in order to reach the next level (the NFL). As I prefaced, just a thought.

 

[DMAC]

You guys need to relax. We won't know how good anybody's recruiting has been this year until the 2017 season.

Everyone of our recruiting opponents have had the luxury of establishing relationships with all of the good recruits for 2 or more years longer than Strong. Give him a break, for crying out loud. The guy is doing damned good given the circumstances.

If you want to bitch about his recruiting, at least wait until next year.

Well each to his own.  

I heard that same argument on Swoopes all year.   It started as he was new but he was just as bad his last game as he was in his first.  Then I heard give him all of next year before we judge Swoopes.   Maybe we should wait til after his senior season before judge Swoopes.  So forgive me if I am not a total "buy in" to the stick head in the sand.

I love Strong being the coach so no need to get all defensive for the guy.  

Most of the problems IMO are in the front office but his staff he put together lacked any notable recruiter to help in Texas.   Chambers or Les > Wyatt?  I dont think so.

 

[Hiphopopotamos]

Well each to his own.  

I heard that same argument on Swoopes all year.   It started as he was new but he was just as bad his last game as he was in his first.  Then I heard give him all of next year before we judge Swoopes.   Maybe we should wait til after his senior season before judge Swoopes.  

I love Strong being the coach so no need to get all defensive for the guy.  

Most of the problems IMO are in the front office but his staff he put together lacked any notable recruiter to help in Texas.   Chambers or Les > Wyatt?  I dont think so.

I hate to be 'that guy', but one of those three is currently sitting home unemployed.  It goes back to the idea of Strong preferring coaching over recruiting.

 

[hornag]

I, too, would love to get all the 5 stars that we truly have the need for and then just fill in the balance of our needs with the top ;4 stars, but this isn't going to happen.  I think we have developed a high level of impatience over Mack's last 4 to 5 years, and much of this frustration is being channeled towards Coach Strong and his staff.  I want to be in the playoffs next year, but doesn't look very likely.  I do hope that most of us can accept that this was not created overnight, and we need to give this coaching staff our support and confidence that they will right the ship in a timely fashion.

 

[DMAC]

 

I hate to be 'that guy', but one of those three is currently sitting home unemployed.  It goes back to the idea of Strong preferring coaching over recruiting.
 

Well well.....

Did I quote you wrong Hiphop?  

Its not just the recruits flip flopin...waffles anyone?

Certainly looks that way - and if Wyatt gets hired Lodge might very well go there despite Sumlin calling him out.  IMO not retaining Wyatt was the biggest mistake Strong made.  He's a good enough coach and a fantastic recruiter with ties to the state - would have been a good guy to keep for a staff new to the area.

Over on 247, they were talking that STrong is much more interested in having coaches that can develop players than he is interested in guys that specialize in recruiting.  These next few years should be a pretty good case study for that idea.