Recruiting Under Diaco By The Numbers

[gioff23]

Let's be honest, at this point, we have to accept that this staff will not get good recruits to come here. Would you send your kid here to this staff with this mess?

Having said that, a few things in BDs defense:

1. as was said earlier, the first class doesn't count - he scrambled to find guys at last minute;
2. I thought last year's class was a good one. we won't know for awhile, but we started to add speed and some line depth with guys that had P5 offers
3. the biggest problem with this analysis is that once a non-4/5 star kid commits, he falls off the radar. we all know kids who committed here over last 2 years were made offers after they committed, but none of the services tracked that info.

Now, the real question is whether we have a team capable of generating 7/8 wins next year? Nothing I saw tells me we do, but then again, I am told it was a Molotov cocktail stuffed inside a fish cake that created the kind of CONFLict no one cares about.

 

[BlueandOG]

Nice work finding all of this!

 

[Exit 4]

2. I thought last year's class was a good one. we won't know for awhile, but we started to add speed and some line depth with guys that had P5 offers
.

On paper last year's class in very promising. Our spring and summer will be all about the buzz regarding Vickers, Hopkins, Herring, Coyle, Skanes, Dixon, etc - who all displayed some real speed in their game. If Diaco is here for 2017, his future will be riding on this promising group.

 

[Exit 4]

Great quotes here about how 32 teams missing on drafting Romeo Okwara on the Giants.

NFL Draft: How did 32 teams miss on Giants’ DE Romeo Okwara?

 

[gioff23]

On paper last year's class in very promising. Our spring and summer will be all about the buzz regarding Vickers, Hopkins, Herring, Coyle, Skanes, Dixon, etc - who all displayed some real speed in their game. If Diaco is here for 2017, his future will be riding on this promising group.

and throw in Tre Bell at CB. The problem is that we really need some of these kids to stop developing and start performing - now

 

[Pudge]

It is not a fair level depiction if you throw the kids that commit in May & June in with all the others.

 

[freescooter]

I actually remember Edsall signing a long snapper, forget who, but he was signed long after signing day and Randy made a particular point about how important it was not to have to worry about that position for the next 4 years. Our special teams play improved markedly the next season though that could have been just luck.

 

[Sky ball]

My purpose in doing this was sorting players into three groups: players whose best offers were P5 level, players whose best offers were G5 level, and players with only UConn on the FBS level. If a player is already in the "has P5 offers" group, I didn't find it relevant to list offers from lower tiers.

Thanks for putting this together and the time spent. Interesting stuff. What would be even more interesting is a comparison of the Edsall years to your compilation. That would be telling. Did Edsall have better players or was he (and staff) better coaches? Both?

 

[BlueMAB]

I actually remember Edsall signing a long snapper, forget who, but he was signed long after signing day and Randy made a particular point about how important it was not to have to worry about that position for the next 4 years. Our special teams play improved markedly the next season though that could have been just luck.

Wasn't it the kid from Burlington, Derek Chard(?)

IIRC he nearly made a team in the league as a long snapper.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

These numbers highlight the point I've making about recruiting. We have way too many kids with UConn as their only FBS offer. You cannot build a roster like that. I have no idea how much our ridiculous admissions standards come into play here but I have a feeling that's a problem as well.

 

[UConnDan97]

Must have been a he'll of mess when the players you recruit can't push those guys off the field.

BINGO!

I've always said that PP could recruit well, even if he was not a good head coach. Well, this clown can't do either one...

 

[Excalibur]

That is actually the biggest indictment. When you are getting blown out every week and the underclassmen haven't forced themselves onto the field....

I can excuse the 2016 class which, in terms of other offers, was as good as any we've had. But the almost complete lack of contributors coming from the 14 and 15 classes on a bad team is telling.

 

[Excalibur]

BINGO!

I've always said that PP could recruit well, even if he was not a good head coach. Well, this clown can't do either one...

PP being a good recruiter is a myth. If he was, the teams would have been better. The fact that the 2014 and 2015 classes have been awful does not mean that any of P's classes were good. Again, if you're looking at winning recruiting battles (i.e. getting guys with other FBS and P5 offers) the 2016 class was better than anything that P ever put together by a wide margin.

 

[Pudge]

PP being a good recruiter is a myth. If he was, the teams would have been better. The fact that the 2014 and 2015 classes have been awful does not mean that any of P's classes were good. Again, if you're looking at winning recruiting battles (i.e. getting guys with other FBS and P5 offers) the 2016 class was better than anything that P ever put together by a wide margin.

Bingo

Look at the play on the field. Not the HS rankings nor offers not notoriety. PP production was less than stellar

 

[CTMike]

Bingo

Look at the play on the field. Not the HS rankings nor offers not notoriety. PP production was less than stellar

PP was an awful coach.

But his recruits are why we went bowling last year.

 

[Pudge]

PP was an awful coach.

But his recruits are why we went bowling last year.

Well ... We are heading towards grading on a curve now.

The "flavor of the moment guys" seem to be promoting that we can SELL 3/4 star highly desired recruits over Maryland, BC, Pitt, Rutgers and/or Syracuse ... and others.

First? Randy Edsall rarely won those type of recruits. Second ? Many of those kids (poster child Tim Boyle) never rose at UConn to stellar college careers. Shamar Stephen, Kendall Reyes, Scott Lutrus, Sio Moore, Jordan Todman, Marcus Easley, Andrew Adams, Byron Jones, Geremy Davis, Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Ryan Griffin, Dwayne Gratz, Moe Petrus, Ryan Crozier, Obi Melonfonwu, Etc ... None of these kids are this category.

We can win with the thoughtful harvesting of kids LIKE Edsall. Great evaluation skills. Good closing with key Assistants that know PA, NE, FL, GA, NJ, MD.

It would be great to win more battles with the P5 universities in our core. But that's not ultimately why we won in the past 10 years.

There seems to be a strain of boneyard guys that are reduced to "Give up Football" if we don't play the 3/4 Star 5 offers win. We aren't trashing $200m investment in big football. Think reboot a different way.

 

[Excalibur]

PP was an awful coach.

But his recruits are why we went bowling last year.

This year's team was mostly P recruits. You can't have it both ways.

 

[Husky25]

PP was an awful coach.

But his recruits are why we went bowling last year.

Then why didn't they succeed this past season? If I'm doing the math right, 4 of the 6 players that departed the Defense were recruited by Edsall and redshirted in 2011 (Campenni, Adams, Vann, and Adeyemi) and one was a transfer (Stewart). Samra was a Pasqualoni recruit and before the season, I would have counted him as addition by subtraction.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

These numbers highlight the point I've making about recruiting. We have way too many kids with UConn as their only FBS offer. You cannot build a roster like that. I have no idea how much our ridiculous admissions standards come into play here but I have a feeling that's a problem as well.

Finally!

• When people complain that we should be competing with Houston, Memphis, USF and UCF for the same kids, I always wonder how many of each school's recruiting class would make it past UConn's admission process. It seems like Revenge of Nerds as pay back for JC's bullying attempts to get his kids.

 

[Pudge]

Then why didn't they succeed this past season? If I'm doing the math right, 4 of the 6 players that departed the Defense were recruited by Edsall and redshirted in 2011 (Campenni, Adams, Vann, and Adeyemi) and one was a transfer (Stewart). Samra was a Pasqualoni recruit and before the season, I would have counted him as addition by subtraction.

This was a "good" year - everyone rising to compete with plenty of depth.

Hence ... Some of us thought 7 or 8 wins was justifiable expectation. Then, Diaco hugely crapped out on a season that should have been far more productive - with A Melifonwu & Noel Thomas. Nobody should consider this 4th year as anything but a 2-3 win season. It's unconscionable to believe he would get to a bowl. UConn admin knows this. So ... we have this awful situation. And someone needs to pay.

 

[whaler11]

Well ... We are heading towards grading on a curve now.

The "flavor of the moment guys" seem to be promoting that we can SELL 3/4 star highly desired recruits over Maryland, BC, Pitt, Rutgers and/or Syracuse ... and others.

First? Randy Edsall rarely won those type of recruits. Second ? Many of those kids (poster child Tim Boyle) never rose at UConn to stellar college careers. Shamar Stephen, Kendall Reyes, Scott Lutrus, Sio Moore, Jordan Todman, Marcus Easley, Andrew Adams, Byron Jones, Geremy Davis, Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Ryan Griffin, Dwayne Gratz, Moe Petrus, Ryan Crozier, Obi Melonfonwu, Etc ... None of these kids are this category.

We can win with the thoughtful harvesting of kids LIKE Edsall. Great evaluation skills. Good closing with key Assistants that know PA, NE, FL, GA, NJ, MD.

It would be great to win more battles with the P5 universities in our core. But that's not ultimately why we won in the past 10 years.

There seems to be a strain of boneyard guys that are reduced to "Give up Football" if we don't play the 3/4 Star 5 offers win. We aren't trashing $200m investment in big football. Think reboot a different way.

Waylon would be impressed by your strawman building skills lately.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

The bottom line is Diaco is not getting it done. His recruits don't look very impressive, to say the least. I thought one of the reasons we got him was because he is a good recruiter. The result on the field says otherwise.

I hope we got something prepared on Jan 2nd. Hopefully, he will get the axe but I am not holding my breath.

 

[jbdphi]

PP was an awful coach.

But his recruits are why we went bowling last year.

I'd credit turnover ratio for our bowl appearance more than the extraordinary performance of those recruits...

 

[CTMike]

Then why didn't they succeed this past season? If I'm doing the math right, 4 of the 6 players that departed the Defense were recruited by Edsall and redshirted in 2011 (Campenni, Adams, Vann, and Adeyemi) and one was a transfer (Stewart). Samra was a Pasqualoni recruit and before the season, I would have counted him as addition by subtraction.

Touché to you and Excalibur - fair point.

Coaching was terrible this year amongst other things. But it's not like it was great last year either.

 

[Pudge]

Waylon would be impressed by your strawman building skills lately.

You have never convinced me with your understanding of how kids are going to get to wear our uniforms.

What? World class salesmanship?

Our best kids (2004-2011) would have our team competing for a bowl today. With obviously the right coach - say Joe Moorehead. Right offense.

It's basically Iowa-like. 1/3rd CT/ NY/NE (most all not 3 star because the ratings agencies don't rate commensurate to talent in this region) AND 2/3rds elsewhere (PA & NJ & MD & FL). I do not see tons of 3 star kids yield from the latter geography given our last 6 years.

You seem to believe in magic beans.

And then ... it swirls down the toilet to just collapse the program with $200m+ sunk costs.

You can snidely say Waylot or whatever. I just think you have lost the pragmatic construct that makes this Program work. Better than Syracuse or BC with the right coach. Better than a F&acknowledged Rutgers. Top in the AAC? Nope. We are in a frigging tough league with less name recognition for our Fanbase. But we need to Win. And waiting on Diaco makes zero sense. I believe David Benedict sees this as a transformative moment as an AD.

 

[whaler11]

You have never convinced me with your understanding of how kids are going to get to wear our uniforms.

What? World class salesmanship?

Our best kids (2004-2011) would have our team competing for a bowl today. With obviously the right coach - say Joe Moorehead. Right offense.

It's basically Iowa-like. 1/3rd CT/ NY/NE (most all not 3 star because the ratings agencies don't rate commensurate to talent in this region) AND 2/3rds elsewhere (PA & NJ & MD & FL). I do not see tons of 3 star kids yield from the latter geography given our last 6 years.

You seem to believe in magic beans.

And then ... it swirls down the toilet to just collapse the program with $200m+ sunk costs.

You can snidely say Waylot or whatever. I just think you have lost the pragmatic construct that makes this Program work. Better than Syracuse or BC with the right coach. Better than a F&acknowledged Rutgers. Top in the AAC? Nope. We are in a frigging tough league with less name recognition for our Fanbase. But we need to Win. And waiting on Diaco makes zero sense. I believe David Benedict sees this as a transformative moment as an AD.

You think we need magic beans because you think people are asking to outrecruit Maryland rather than Temple.

You don't think UConn can win the AAC? A league that UCF and Temple have won? Wow.

Recruiting is a lot about salesmanship by the way. It's how Greg Schiano took over the worst team in the country and became a NFL HC.

 

[Pudge]

You think we need magic beans because you think people are asking to outrecruit Maryland rather than Temple.

You don't think UConn can win the AAC? A league that UCF and Temple have won? Wow.

Recruiting is a lot about salesmanship by the way. It's how Greg Schiano took over the worst team in the country and became a NFL HC.

If Schiano is your ideal ... then this isn't a debate.

And no amount of salesmanship is going to get UConn Football to win the right kids in the near term. It took Calhoun about 7 years to get in a groove in a different sport. Schlub Schiano, btw, took a good 5 years.

No. We shouldn't be out recruited by Temple. That's a scary urban school on the wrong sides of Broad Street & the neighbors look like "The Wire" abandoned homes. But read closely: the others on this board do expect Maryland type total recruits.

We can win this conference. I do see some promise with our former Assistants - Orlando or Moorehead - but Diaco isn't totally flummoxed.

Also ... going back to Hun & Deerfield is evidence that he's not done well with standard track kids in markets we should harvest. Benedict should know this kind of stuff.

 

[UConnDan97]

This year's team was mostly P recruits. You can't have it both ways.

Name the most important players to this year's team, and with the exception of Shirreffs, which ones were BD's? (Because Cochran, a PP guy, couldn't continue to play)

The reason you can have it both ways is because we have now lost impact players from PP recruiting and it shows (Campenni, Vann, Stewart, etc.). So now, we are less than half of PP's guys, but with almost none of BD's guys making major contributions.

And under BD's tutelage, the team continues to disintegrate. Try to consider what this team will be without players like Obi, Thomas, Jhavon, Myers, etc. It might change your views...

 

[UConnDan97]

Then why didn't they succeed this past season? If I'm doing the math right, 4 of the 6 players that departed the Defense were recruited by Edsall and redshirted in 2011 (Campenni, Adams, Vann, and Adeyemi) and one was a transfer (Stewart). Samra was a Pasqualoni recruit and before the season, I would have counted him as addition by subtraction.

Campenni and Vann were both PP's guys...

 

[Excalibur]

Touché to you and Excalibur - fair point.

Coaching was terrible this year amongst other things. But it's not like it was great last year either.

You'll get no argument. Again, our two best weapons in 2015 were smoke and mirrors . . .