Why would Sales say that? He grew up a Bama fan.@thehoosierhuddle Damn man, I hate that news. It sure would be refreshing for a top local dog like Sales to say "I'm a Hoosier thru and thru regardless of the $$." Probably a novel approach too.
I'd love to see Cig and company have the talents of a 5-star WR to play around with. I think it'd be a thing of beauty. But if he's hell-bent on the biggest payday, I'd guess Cig will say "see you" before long.
People need to face reality that this is how big time recruiting works. Either way, I bet he comes here.
Cig is on record saying he doesn’t care about the reason someone comes to Indiana. That includes money. He only cares about what they do once they’re actually here.
Sales has arrived in Austin for his OV with Texas
@thehoosierhuddle I’m not a fan of that either. Of course you aren’t going to leave tons of money on the table, but I’d like to think relationships might still matter a bit. I had been told quite awhile ago that part of the reason IU was in the driver’ s seat was that he wanted his mom to be able to easily come to all his games. I guess with the amount of money he will be getting she will be able to do that anywhere.
@thehoosierhuddle I’m not a fan of that either. Of course you aren’t going to leave tons of money on the table, but I’d like to think relationships might still matter a bit. I had been told quite awhile ago that part of the reason IU was in the driver’ s seat was that he wanted his mom to be able to easily come to all his games. I guess with the amount of money he will be getting she will be able to do that anywhere.
I don't know any numbers, but I would bet a large sum that with all the kids we've gotten to commit, we're at the top with all of them in terms of their NIL demands.
@myteamisonthefloor good sentiment, but not reality with HS recruiting yet. What did someone say, with Mayfields commitment our class now ranks 28th? We’re still finding our place wirhnHS recruiting.
@myteamisonthefloor good sentiment, but not reality with HS recruiting yet. What did someone say, with Mayfields commitment our class now ranks 28th? We’re still finding our place within HS recruiting.
Kinda. But then again, we're the National Champions. All these other programs with their highly ranked HS recruiting classes couldn't beat us last year.
For the first two years of Cig most IU fans were talking about how recruit rankings/stars don't matter. I don't think we need to flip to worrying too much about high school class rankings. To be clear, I'm not saying we shouldn't worry at all. There are legit positives and negatives to discuss.
I'll be most interested in Cig's view on this HS class when it's all said and done. I'm not sure how much he'll say, but at the end of the day he knows better than 24/7 or On3.
I sound like a kool-aid sipper... I just can't ignore what happened last season.
@kkott I don't get too concerned with rankings and for this reason. On3 had IU at 28 and 247 has them at 48. That's a wide range for recruiting rankings. I know 247 has lost several of their top analysts to On3 in the last year or two as well and they may be late to update.
@thehoosierhuddle 247 has had us ranked much lower than other sites for some time now. It’s not just that they’re “late to update”. There is a deliberate reason for doing so, and that’s their prerogative. I just hope they’re wrong 😎
@myteamisonthefloor good sentiment, but not reality with HS recruiting yet. What did someone say, with Mayfields commitment our class now ranks 28th? We’re still finding our place within HS recruiting.
Kinda. But then again, we're the National Champions. All these other programs with their highly ranked HS recruiting classes couldn't beat us last year.
For the first two years of Cig most IU fans were talking about how recruit rankings/stars don't matter. I don't think we need to flip to worrying too much about high school class rankings. To be clear, I'm not saying we shouldn't worry at all. There are legit positives and negatives to discuss.
I'll be most interested in Cig's view on this HS class when it's all said and done. I'm not sure how much he'll say, but at the end of the day he knows better than 24/7 or On3.
I sound like a kool-aid sipper... I just can't ignore what happened last season.
exactly. let's not forget this.....
cig took a bunch of guys with low or no stars and made them into 5*'s when they left.
and.....won a B1G title, NCAA Championship, Perfect 16-0, countless awards etc.
the internet and college football world is full of "analysts" who have huge biases and/or don't know sh!t. (eg: finebaum)
every one of these HS studs who haven't played a down are ridiculously overpaid. show it on the field then we'll talk
@the-watson I doubt that it’s intentional. They have had their talent poached and is in the middle of a fight for survival against On3 and Rivals.
@drjb Mayfield’s quote on IU being the best place for development was great to see. If we see big years from Hoover and Marsh, that narrative will be undeniable. Hoover is who I am particularly hopeful for because of the continued rep as a QB whisperer. Plus, I’m petty and would love to see him come out efficient after Dykes threw him under the bus. Him balling out only emboldens the difference from Cig to his peers.
@drjb Mayfield’s quote on IU being the best place for development was great to see. If we see big years from Hoover and Marsh, that narrative will be undeniable. Hoover is who I am particularly hopeful for because of the continued rep as a QB whisperer. Plus, I’m petty and would love to see him come out efficient after Dykes threw him under the bus. Him balling out only emboldens the difference from Cig to his peers.
here's a good article that speaks to this from The Daily Hoosier......
"Is IU football coach Curt Cignetti a quarterback whisperer?
The son of a college coach, a quarterback at West Virginia from 1979 to 1982, and a more than 40-year coach himself, Cignetti seems to have the position down to a science.
You know about Fernando Mendoza and Kurtis Rourke, but the last two IU quarterbacks have followed a well established pattern of quarterbacks joining Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan — and improving dramatically.
Consider these numbers. On average, Cignetti’s last six starters at quarterback going back to his time at James Madison have seen a 275% improvement in touchdown to interception ratio, a 25.4% increase in quarterback rating, and a 23.2% improvement in PFF grade. They’ve all won major postseason honors as well.
Here’s a last season before and first season with Cignetti look at his last six quarterbacks:
___
2025 – FERNANDO MENDOZA
First Year Under Cignetti
- Completion percentage: 72%
- Passing yards: 3,535
- Touchdowns: 41
- Interceptions: 6
- QB rating: 182.9
- PFF rating: 91.6
Postseason honors: Heisman Trophy, First Team All-American.
Prior Year
- Completion percentage: 68.7%
- Passing yards: 3,004
- Touchdowns: 16
- Interceptions: 6
- QB rating: 144.6
- PFF rating: 77.4
2024 – KURTIS ROURKE
First Year Under Cignetti
- Completion percentage: 69.4%
- Passing yards: 3,042
- Touchdowns: 29
- Interceptions: 5
- QB rating: 176
- PFF rating: 88.4
Postseason honors: Second team All-Big ten, ninth in Heisman voting.
Prior Year
- Completion percentage: 63.5%
- Passing yards: 2,207
- Touchdowns: 11
- Interceptions: 5
- QB rating: 132.5
- PFF rating: 78.9
2023 – JORDAN MCCLOUD
First Year Under Cignetti
- Completion percentage: 68.2%
- Passing yards: 3,657
- Touchdowns: 35
- Interceptions: 10
- QB rating: 165.9
- PFF rating: 84
Postseason honors: Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year
Prior Year
- Completion percentage: 65.8%
- Passing yards: 481
- Touchdowns: 2
- Interceptions: 5
- QB rating: 116.4
- PFF rating: 57.5
2022 – TODD CENTEIO
First Year Under Cignetti
- Completion percentage: 63.7%
- Passing yards: 2,697
- Touchdowns: 25
- Interceptions: 5
- QB rating: 169
- PFF rating: 90.4
Postseason honors: Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year
Prior Year
- Completion percentage: 60.3%
- Passing yards: 2,958
- Touchdowns: 15
- Interceptions: 10
- QB rating: 133
- PFF rating: 78.5
2021 – COLE JOHNSON*
First Full Year As Starter Under Cignetti
- Completion percentage: 68%
- Passing yards: 3,779
- Touchdowns: 41
- Interceptions: 4
- QB rating: 173.4
- PFF rating: 89.7
Postseason honors: CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy winner, CAA Offensive Player of the Year.
* Johnson started the eight-game spring 2020 season for JMU. Those numbers are below:
Prior Year
- Completion percentage: 65.7%
- Passing yards: 1,633
- Touchdowns: 11
- Interceptions: 7
- QB rating: 161.7
- PFF rating: 81.0
2019 – BEN DINUCCI
First Year Under Cignetti
- Completion percentage: 70.9%
- Passing yards: 3,441
- Touchdowns: 29
- Interceptions: 6
- QB rating: 169.51
- PFF rating: 90.4
Postseason honors: AFCA First Team All-American, CAA Offensive Player of the Year.
Prior Year
- Completion percentage: 68%
- Passing yards: 2,275
- Touchdowns: 16
- Interceptions: 12
- QB rating: 139.45
- PFF rating: 60.6
there does seem to be a pattern here don't you think?
Yep
