@kkott I think its probably "more" than that, with regards to Sales, and why IU seems to be staying in it for him, where they haven't with other high 4 star and 5 star guys. Most high 4 star and certainly 5 star guys, come with early playing time and role expectations. I don't think Cignetti is overly comfortable with young, unproven guys, having those roles on his teams... really for any amount of money. So while I agree, it must be that Cignetti thinks Sales would start day 1... I think he probably thinks he'll be WR1, feature guy, focal point guy, from day 1. And he's o.k. with that expected role for him from day 1.
@iunorth I don't follow HS recruits, but would love to hear someone knowledgeable compare their opinion and expectations between Smith and Sales. Went back and looked and Smith was the top rated recruit in his class, while Sales was 8th and the 2nd WR per Rivals. Even if you don't think he'll approach Smith's freshman #s, it's still exciting to think he could step in as a #1 here next year. Hopefully we'll know in a couple weeks!
I can't wait until October 9th when Center Grove travels to Lawrence North.
While I certainly expected a top 20 freshman class. And its disturbing to hear Cig say the freshman bidding is out of hand and unsustainable, indicating to me we lose out on plenthy of guys due to funding distribution choices we must make. I still am not disappointed in the class. I like it a lot. Going player by player.
It does seem the building more from recruiting each year of the Cig regime is taking a small hit, but Cig adapts...
Not surprised our ranking takes a hit when we signed Caleb Pugh. He's a 'reach' TWO star... per their rankings, and our average starts goes down. A tenth of a star as tight as the rankings are 20 thru 40 for average stars, and we drop. But, do I think a guy our staff liked enough AT CAMP is not a three star? LOL , of course not. Hopefully he pans out, but even if not, I'll take Cig and Bostad's LIVE opinion of the young man. Maybe his height lmits him and his comp was not strong enough, so film wont tell if he can be a good major college player, but the dude absolutely dominates on film. And after a live look, we offered...
But sure, I expected top 20. A ton of other programs really upped their game. But I am not disappointed, class is looking good.
Pugh is a mid range 3 star on rivals, espn, and 247.While I certainly expected a top 20 freshman class. And its disturbing to hear Cig say the freshman bidding is out of hand and unsustainable, indicating to me we lose out on plenthy of guys due to funding distribution choices we must make. I still am not disappointed in the class. I like it a lot. Going player by player.
It does seem the building more from recruiting each year of the Cig regime is taking a small hit, but Cig adapts...
Not surprised our ranking takes a hit when we signed Caleb Pugh. He's a 'reach' TWO star... per their rankings, and our average starts goes down. A tenth of a star as tight as the rankings are 20 thru 40 for average stars, and we drop. But, do I think a guy our staff liked enough AT CAMP is not a three star? LOL , of course not. Hopefully he pans out, but even if not, I'll take Cig and Bostad's LIVE opinion of the young man. Maybe his height lmits him and his comp was not strong enough, so film wont tell if he can be a good major college player, but the dude absolutely dominates on film. And after a live look, we offered...
But sure, I expected top 20. A ton of other programs really upped their game. But I am not disappointed, class is looking good.
@packtherock See, I said he is really a 3 star. 🤣
Thx, srry for the error.
compare their opinion and expectations between Smith and Sales
Smith was the best WR prospect (thats why the service ratings gave him a 101/100 lol) in a long time. Monshun is rated more similarly to the top two or 3 receivers in any given class. Smith was an inch shorter but 10lbs bigger as a prospect, Sales had better HS track numbers. Smith came into college more polished, Sales' will need to work on his route running. I would probably give Sales the edge in run blocking as a prospect (Smith has developed into a willing component of the run game at OSU, he wasnt that way out of HS).
I think our recruitment of Sales is going to come down to if Texas can hold onto Easton Royal, who is the other top WR in this class. LSU has been making a big push to flip him recently. If they flip him Texas will have a crapload of NIL and a big need for a WR, and I dont think we can compete with Texas money.
I guess the kid who decommitted ( forgot his name immediately) announced to UM tonight, but did the hat thing and picked up IU first. Bye…
I thought you meant a lineman so was looking and looking for who. Dont know how I had lineman in my head. Yeah someone asked about our Torbert chances. Nope, it's Michigan.
Funny on reddit CFB one of the comments is pumped they got him out of Ohio, and over Indiana. Then said how weird it sounds being happy they pulled a guy away from Indiana. 🤣
@zeke4ahs Michigan spent big to get him, he was looking like a OSU lock until last second offer
This is where I think Ryan Day gets underrated a little bit. He's not a very innovative HC, but he adapts and has OSU "caught up" with the new trends within 1-2 years. The only problem that hasnt been fixed in his tenure at OSU is their kicking unit always stinks. They are starting to take a page from our book where they arent spending as much on HS commits, and cycling out some of the unproven depth positions on the roster for proven transfers. They recently took a 3* WR and their fans were melting about how they havent done that in years.
Michigan meanwhile continues to play the "lets throw giant bags of money at HS kids" game. They spent a boatload of money flipping a 5* OT from Alabama in the 2025 cycle, and the kid already transferred to Alabama. Schools who are spending big on HS recruits have coaches who dont know what they are doing IMO. Texas A&M is going to find out the hard way with the recruiting class they put together this year (possibly best of all time on paper), no way they can keep all those dudes
Not surprised our ranking takes a hit when we signed Caleb Pugh. He's a 'reach' TWO star... per their rankings, and our average starts goes down. A tenth of a star as tight as the rankings are 20 thru 40 for average stars, and we drop. But, do I think a guy our staff liked enough AT CAMP is not a three star? LOL , of course not. Hopefully he pans out, but even if not, I'll take Cig and Bostad's LIVE opinion of the young man. Maybe his height lmits him and his comp was not strong enough, so film wont tell if he can be a good major college player, but the dude absolutely dominates on film. And after a live look, we offered...
the only reason I brought up Pugh is to further highlight the flaws with these rankings. I'm assuming we're all agreed that our staff has excelled at identifying less heralded guys and developing them. Assume they are all "formula based" so it is understandable why it would hurt the ranking, but if you take a step back, anyone this staff adds at this point, at the very least shouldn't hurt the quality of the class. A good example were some of Crean's late signings, Priller... and the Crown Point kid? Those truly hurt the quality of a class, where Pugh, who probably didn't cost us much in NIL and seems to have been overlooked (and also seems to want to play at IU, so less likely to bail if say a UM or MSU suddenly showed interest) won't. This being an Indiana discussion board, I thought those were pertinent points as to why this class fits with the approach our staff is taking, even if it's not top 15.
@packtherock do you know when he got the 3 star ranking? Just wondering if our guys are getting the "Cig bump" now like Duke/UNC recruits in bball. We've had a lot of guys really rise in their rankings after we signed them (Torbert, Sharpe, the safety prospect from the NE....). I think the QB we took is moving up also, Purcell?
Pugh got one from 247 a few days after committing. The rest took about a week.@packtherock do you know when he got the 3 star ranking? Just wondering if our guys are getting the "Cig bump" now like Duke/UNC recruits in bball. We've had a lot of guys really rise in their rankings after we signed them (Torbert, Sharpe, the safety prospect from the NE....). I think the QB we took is moving up also, Purcell?
i agree, if this were 7-8 years ago he’d be a two star. That’s not a shot at him though. I like him a lot.
I wasn't dissing your point on that, Pugh and the drop in rankings, at all.
I was explaining it, to those disappointed with the class. Meaning, for the same reasons as you, I am not worried about the 'star' rankings.
Me too. I swear I saw a non-ranking (or less than 3) on Pugh right when he was announced. But if 247 has him at 86, my eyes must have deceived me.@packtherock do you know when he got the 3 star ranking? Just wondering if our guys are getting the "Cig bump" now like Duke/UNC recruits in bball. We've had a lot of guys really rise in their rankings after we signed them (Torbert, Sharpe, the safety prospect from the NE....). I think the QB we took is moving up also, Purcell?