@evillehoosier8 Yeah, we discussed it on the podcast earlier this week. He probably stays in the south.
@mushroomgod I don't know how disappointing it is. I think it's already by far the best class we've ever had, but maybe you said that before some of these latest commitments. If we get Sales, I think it's a good class for what Cig is trying to do. Every Cig interview recently (and maybe that's why he's done them!) has trumpeted how crazy the HS NIL deals have gotten. He's not going to pay above his range for HS guys especially. He's going to hold NIL $$ back for experienced guys. When he talked about transitioning to recruiting more HS guys, it was before the NIL dollars had jumped up.
I think people need to re-evaluate how they look at high school recruiting until they limit transfers.
1) Being overly concerned about ratings in June/July is a little ridiculous. A lot of prospects either haven't been rated or updated. I get it's fun and gets views, but until the class is finalized, I really am not concerned about rankings.
2) If Indiana is indeed spending 10% of their budget on HS recruiting, the classes aren't going to be super highly ranked. It'll be full of players whom the staff believes they can develop into good players and retain.
3) Why in the world would you pay a freshman who will not see the field for a year x amount of dollars when you can get a proven commodity for less in the portal?
No it isnt.@kkott They will recruit guys who fit the program.
I get this, but imo it's a disappointing class. Let's be real.
LOL if being real.
Be disappointed if you like to.
I think its shaping up pretty damn well. Cig says we are right up there on available spending. Ill take his analysis on who he spends it on. I really doubt hes losing out often on players when money is even. Ton of guys want to play for him. Our class will reflect his priorities.
,
Seems pretty clear that Coach isn’t going to throw money away on players who, at best, are a 50/50 proposition as to whether they’ll be able to break solidly into the 2 deep by year 3 And when they do but only in a backup role, become another 50+% probable as to having their agent shop them around to another 80 teams who are looking to make a living off the back of our Staffs evaluation and coaching efforts…
The obvious solution is to put your high school recruiting efforts primarily on developmental guys who are smart enough to realize that they’re getting the best coaching in today’s college football.
Whether they (the HS recruit) go for the short term initial cash or the long term development becomes elimination test #1, with more to follow; fortunately they have a clear template to look to as to where the process will lead to…
Smart money (or Cig Money) goes today towards:
A) keeping your current Team together, and
B) bringing in positions of clear need via the Portal (and this is where some big money has to be available after you’ve taken care of your 2 deep)…
As Cig has pointed out the Portal players are operating at a 90%+ success rate versus a 30 - 50% pan out rate of a high school recruit…
A 27-2 record over his first two years in the Big Ten tells me that Cig understands the recruiting game given today’s parameters…
I’m confident of any decisions this staff makes until proven otherwise (and I don’t expect that to change)…
***
The exception to this approach is when we have a legitimate shot at a probable generational talent like Monshun Sales, in which case the players odds of their starting and producing almost immediately is extremely high and should not be assessed as an average high school recruit would be…
Anyone saying this is a disappointing class, especially if we somehow also land Sales, has lost all perspective. You probably had delusional expectations to begin with…
Anyone saying this is a disappointing class, especially if we somehow also land Sales, has lost all perspective. You probably had delusional expectations to begin with…
I can't speak for the poster who said that but I can understand that after we won a national title and the volume of high level recruits we had come through, and in some cases commit (then decommit), there was definitely a sense we may have a top 15 class. Be it by design or by circumstance, we clearly won't. For those recruits, it'll be their loss. We still have some really good players committed but we can't act shocked that someone would have that perspective.
I think people need to re-evaluate how they look at high school recruiting until they limit transfers.
Multi-year contracts with the recruits, with stepped up payments -- much like coaches contracts -- would help I'm sure.
@unclemark why would you give a kid a multi-year deal when there is a 50/50 or greater chance that he won’t pan out?
IU will open the wallet for Sales, but he will start day 1.
@unclemark why would you give a kid a multi-year deal when there is a 50/50 or greater chance that he won’t pan out?
IU will open the wallet for Sales, but he will start day 1.
Probably thinking a school can get a better deal with multi year and protecting them from a player transferring out.
Player gets guaranteed pay for multiple years even if not doing well.
@hurryinghoosiers sure, but why would you do that with a guy who is going to sit on the bench for a year, when you can go grab a plug and play guy from the portal?
Are there certain HS players (like Sales) you do this for? Absolutely, but it’s few and far between.
Put another way...
Production over potential
We’re likely going to get our first 5 star…disappointed does not compute. lol
Seems pretty clear that Coach isn’t going to throw money away on players who, at best, are a 50/50 proposition as to whether they’ll be able to break solidly into the 2 deep by year 3 And when they do but only in a backup role, become another 50+% probable as to having their agent shop them around to another 80 teams who are looking to make a living off the back of our Staffs evaluation and coaching efforts…
The obvious solution is to put your high school recruiting efforts primarily on developmental guys who are smart enough to realize that they’re getting the best coaching in today’s college football.
Whether they (the HS recruit) go for the short term initial cash or the long term development becomes elimination test #1, with more to follow; fortunately they have a clear template to look to as to where the process will lead to…
Smart money (or Cig Money) goes today towards:
A) keeping your current Team together, and
B) bringing in positions of clear need via the Portal (and this is where some big money has to be available after you’ve taken care of your 2 deep)…
As Cig has pointed out the Portal players are operating at a 90%+ success rate versus a 30 - 50% pan out rate of a high school recruit…
A 27-2 record over his first two years in the Big Ten tells me that Cig understands the recruiting game given today’s parameters…
I’m confident of any decisions this staff makes until proven otherwise (and I don’t expect that to change)…
***
The exception to this approach is when we have a legitimate shot at a probable generational talent like Monshun Sales, in which case the players odds of their starting and producing almost immediately is extremely high and should not be assessed as an average high school recruit would be…
I don't disagree with anything you say here.
The ONLY question presented here is what do you think of the '27 HS class? AT THS POINT.
At this point, I'd say it is disappointing, because it is basically the same quality as last year. 247 had us rated #30 last year, with 7 4* recruits and 15 3* recruits; this year they have us 29th, with 4 4* recruits and 12 3* recruits. Avg recruit ranking last year was 87.95; this year it is 87.91.
Obviously, if we get Sales, I will NOT be disappointed with the '27 class.
I don't disagree at all that the portal & retaining our best current players (and coaches!) are far more important than HS recruiting for CIG. He did say he was going to transition away from so much reliance on the portal; however, if we have a great year again this year, as I fully expect, the portal recruiting/selection will again have to be outstanding for us to remain elite. That won't bother me because I'm not as invested in strong recruiting classes as a typical OSU or SEC powerhouse fan. But I imagine it is a little different than what CIG expected.