2012 best class under Mack?

by STLaw on Jan 31, 2012 1:50 PM CST

I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this idea. In my opinion, this may be the best class under Mack so far. Not by much though. My thoughts are as follows:

One, we filled a lot of need positions this year with excellent evaluations. Solid class spread out over position needs except TE.

QB: Brewer was picked by Harsin for a reason. He fits the system well. Yes, he will benefit from a redshirt but his upside is good. Seems like Kellen Moore with better tools to work with. Overstreet is a safe take in case and will likely move to LB I think.

WR: Jones and Johnson are good gets. Jones has great hands and a willingness to go get the ball. Add some strength and blocking technique, and he could have a bright future. Johnson is a dark horse. I really like his speed and ability to get open.

OL: Estelle and Riser have a lot of upside. Both likely need a 'shirt but each has great potential and were recruited to play their natural positions. Hawkins will be very good...bank on it. Fits nicely into OT allowing our OL to fill out in their natural positions. Hughes will be good for depth. Needs some time to develop.

RB: No Brainer

TE: Not much action here. Bluiett could have an impact here though. Really need to land RSJ in 2013.

DB: I'm putting Sanders here because I think this is where he ends up. Great versatility however and will help out immediately. Same goes for Daje. I think he ends up here as well. Honestly, he can play either side and be great. Major luxury take IMO! Echols is a good take with little downside. Good for depth at the very least but a lot of potential as well.

LB: All I have to say is Santos. Natural fit for MLB with the ability to step in if Edmond gains and spins down. The kid can play with the best...ie UA domination. Cole should add some weight and will likely see action some 2013 or so at Sam. Jinkens is an interesting prospect. Great speed and willing to punish someone. I see him ending up at WLB but we will see.

DE: Good to land Cottrell. Nice prospect for WDE especially if he can pack on muscle and polish his technique. Ridgeway will be a good SDE. I really like his potential as well. Glad we added some depth here.

DT: MB2...need I say more? This kid will be special. Easily cracks the 2 deep this season. He is likely done in 3 years. Norman is a good take. Good speed with the capacity to pack on some muscle. Give him a good redshirt and he will be a solid DT for us.

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Thanks STLaW

I’ll wait till it’s over, but can’t remember being more excited. What with te ones we got and the ones we almost got. It’s been very encourageing to see Mack and his staff work so hard to turn thing back in the right direction. The future looks very bright after looking so gloomy just one year ago.

by Burnedsince61 on Jan 31, 2012 2:08 PM CST reply actions

For me, its 3rd

2002
2010
2012
2011
2009

Are my top 5. And I am grading on what I thought on signing day, not years later judging how they actually turned out.

For instance, on signing day, the DT haul of Bible, Dorsey, and Cotton was the best group in the country. In fact, one service had Bible and Dorsey as the top two DTs in the country for a while. The fact that we now know that Bible and Cotton turned out to not contribute, shouldn’t factor into the ranking, because we don’t know that any of these kids will either.

2002’s class is slightly skewed because 1) we know how it turned out, and 2) 5-stars were awarded to more guys nationally. But I think it is still probably the top haul.

2010 is tough to beat in my mind. 25 guys – Rivals = 2 – 5-stars / 19 – 4-stars / 4 – 3-stars

Hicks, Jeffcoat, Mike Davis, Tevin Jackson, D. White, Reggie Wilson, Bible, Dorsey – were all 5 star candidates by one service or another. That is sick.

Espinosa was the best center in the country. Hopkins was a top 5 guard in the country.

And the guys like Adrian Phillips, Carington Byndom, and Demarco Cobbs that you just knew were great athletes, were high 4 star guys.

Then you had Traylon Shead, who was a risk, but set records in HS, so there was a chance he could explode in college.

And Connor Wood, who I was a huge fan of early on, and Case McCoy at QB.

Again, looking back on it now, there are some busts. But onSigning day, this class was amazing.

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Jan 31, 2012 2:18 PM CST reply actions

my top 3 as well

I think this one edges just slightly for me. If we land DGB, then it solidifies IMO. It’s a close one though.

by STLaw on Jan 31, 2012 2:30 PM CST up reply actions

Agree about DGB

That could push this over the edge. I am on record saying I do not think we get Dorial, but if we did…. its that close with these classes.

Though, the more I think about it, this class might be better right now…..

2010 vs 2012
QB – 2012 – Brewer/Overstreet is way better than Wood/McCoy
WR – 2010 – haul of Mike Davis, Darius White, Darius Terell, and Chris Jones was stellar
OL – 2012 – Hawkins, Estelle, Riser, Hughes = wow.
RB – 2012 – Not. Close.
TE – push

DT – 2010 – Bible, Dorsey, Cotton vs MB2, Moore, Norman, Boyette – this one is close, b/c I am a huge fan of Norman, but I am not sold on Moore, and both Norman and Boyette could go the way of Cotton….. and I remember thinking that the combo of Bible and Dorsey was Just amazing.
DE – 2010 – not even close. Jeffcoat, Wilson, Daniels.
LB – 2010 – Hicks, Jackson, Benson, Cobbs (although we weren’t sure at the time that Cobbs would play LB) might be the best LB haul ever.
DB – push – Phillips, Byndom, Jackson, White = Sanders, Thomas, Echols, Colbert

X-Factors = The Five Star Friday momentum builder and overall program attitude change of 2010 vs. The Juco revolution and all the way to the end evaluating change in philosophy of 2012 – push. Both these classes brought with them a philosophical change that I believe will help the program for years.

This is very close. DGB would definately put it over the edge for me.

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Jan 31, 2012 3:18 PM CST up reply actions

Very nice run-down

QB – 2012 – Brewer/Overstreet is way better than Wood/McCoy

Sure hope you’re right!

And kudos for generally using your opinions about the 2010 guys at the same point in recruitment for this comparison.

"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'"
― Isaac Asimov

by burntorangehorn on Jan 31, 2012 3:29 PM CST up reply actions

I agree. A great rundown and strictly weighted on how it looked on that particular signing day.

I love recruiting day, especially when the ‘Horns do well, but we all know that it’s quite a crapshoot. Ya never know who’s gonna turn out strong and who’s gonna fizzle out.

Rather than rating each year’s recruiting haul, I rather try to evaluate the classes on how many wins that year’s class had. I remember back awhile that Cory Redding / DJ Johnson’s class set the record for most wins at UT. Vince & co. probably broke it the next year and I’m sure Colt & co. broke it in 2009. Any idea where to see a list like this printed or evaluate the recruiting classes based on career success rather than on signing day’s potential?

by robthecob on Jan 31, 2012 4:50 PM CST up reply actions

Career success really defines the class in the end.

However, it’s always a fun topic to evaluate the classes on paper before the real dynamics begin. I honestly think this class has the potential to be special…especially since they were recruited the right way now instead of picking up easy grabs. This seems to be how recruiting should be. Hopefully it’s here to stay!

by STLaw on Jan 31, 2012 6:03 PM CST up reply actions

Back in the day, the Dallas Morning News would occasionally review ...

… NSD based on how everyone’s career went and “where are they now”. It was really interesting to see how guys like Egypt Allen (South Oak Cliff), Jessie Armstead (Carter), and Todd Dodge (Port Arthur) did and where they ended up. But analyzing NSD, today, is just as much fun. You’re right about that.

by robthecob on Feb 1, 2012 9:56 AM CST up reply actions

Hard to tell how it's going to rank until after these guys have left college

There have been a number of recruiting classes that ranked better on paper, I think, but in hindsight, those classes didn’t necessarily pan out. Lots of four- and even five-star guys never contributed significantly or at all. We don’t have that benefit of hindsight for the 2012 class yet, obviously, because we don’t know what they’re going to do. But yes, this class does look pretty awesome on paper, and right now it’s just on the staff and players themselves to turn all that potential into production.

by burntorangehorn on Jan 31, 2012 3:13 PM CST reply actions

Well DGB is out...

by STLaw on Jan 31, 2012 7:14 PM CST reply actions

Torshiro Davis signing with us keeps this class #1 for me.

Bigtime surprise and bigtime signing. I like this new direction in recruiting!

by STLaw on Feb 1, 2012 11:16 AM CST reply actions

Deepest

I think this might be the deepest class in Mack’s career here. Even guys outside the top15 could end up being stars. I think the depth will push it over the top since highly touted guys inevitably don’t turn out and lower-rated guys inevitably develop beyond what was expected.
This class has some big stars and then a huge haul of 3/4 star guys that I wouldn’t be shocked to see excel.

by Nickel Rover on Feb 2, 2012 11:48 AM CST reply actions