UNT's 2012 class ranked #6 by Rivals

[gangrene]

...in the Sun Belt Conference!

2012 Rivals Sun Belt Conference recruiting rankings (last updated on 2/1 at 4:00 PM ET)

But who really cares about ratings?

Not a single school signed a 4 or 5 star Rivals-rated recruit (excluding Ark St's transfers, which I don't count) but four have 10+ 3-star commits.

[island eagle]

...in the Sun Belt Conference!

2012 Rivals Sun Belt Conference recruiting rankings (last updated on 2/1 at 4:00 PM ET)

But who really cares about ratings?

Not a single school signed a 4 or 5 star Rivals-rated recruit (excluding Ark St's transfers, which I don't count) but four have 10+ 3-star commits.

If you go back and look at the Sun Belt class signings over the past 9 years, there seems to be little correlation between the ranking of any one class and how the conference shaped up 3-4 years down the road. Not to say that rankings don't matter, but when you are dealing mostly with 3 star and 2 star signees, a lot of luck is involved. It's kind of like Ace-King versus pocket 9's in poker, you are pretty much dealing with a toss-up...at least until the flop comes.....i.e. the equivalent being for football, till they show up and actually play.

[gangrene]

Not to say that rankings don't matter, but when you are dealing mostly with 3 star and 2 star signees, a lot of luck is involved.

I agree 100%. And I'll add that not every 4 and 5 star recruit is a guaranteed star.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

Texas signed 11 3-star players, Oklahoma signed 13 of them.

The thing is, you recruit what you need. The five-stars are dazzling on signing days. But, as OU and UT have proven, you can sign 3-star players that become much bigger stars than the 5-stars.

UT signed 3-star recruit Colt McCoy in 2005. In the ensuing years, they signed:

2006

4-star Jevan Snead

3-star Sherrod Harris

2007

3-star G.J. Kinne

2008

None

2009

5-star Garrett Gilbert

None could unseat Colty, and none really left marks on the program other than skid marks out of town.

Now puny, little Colty is being speared by the likes of James Harrison in the NFL while the rest watch him on TV.

What matters with these 2- and 3-star kids is whether a coach can get them to give that live umph to push them over the edge to 11 when 10 isn't loud enough.

With the right coaching and situation, all of these kids we signed could be like just another 3-star Colty. But, will they work hard enough:

-Will they stay home and rest while everyone else is out getting drunk, smoking dope, and getting laid.

-Will they go to the library and study while everyone else is out getting drunk, smoking dope, and getting laid.

-Will they be 110% ready for practice, weight lifting, film watching, and game plan study, or will they be fighting off the cobwebs from getting drunk, smoking dope, and getting laid.

It's hard enough to be at a college where they allow girls and beer and dope smokers in all around. Those who want to someday go toe-to-toe with the likes of James Harrison and collect NFL-size paychecks will lay of the booze, weed, and wool, set goals and, in attaining them, bring glory to the Green.

Amen.

Edited February 1, 2012 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

[akriesman]

Our coaches did a fine job of recruiting. But WOW, the Sun Belt as a whole has really stepped it up.

Anything can happen. But, you have to give credit to our mates in Jonesboro. What a haul for them. I am anxious to see where their class ranks nationally. It has to be in the 55 to 70 range at least.

P.S.-Ditto for FIU.

Edited February 2, 2012 by akriesman

[akriesman]

P.S.-Compare the Belt to the Mid-America conference. Times are changing.

[All About UNT]

Do yourself a favor and don't look at the recruits on Ark St. Rivals. The offers those kids had were insane that they wanted to pass up on them and go to school there. IF that doesn't show you the power of a name hire then I don't know what does. Also.... Fran down at Texas State had a huge haul of 3*s as well.

I trust that Mac can take these kids and get the 115% out of them that will make our team winning again but do not ignore the statistical talent that both Ark ST. and FIU just got thus making it harder for us to dominate the Belt again.

This is not the 2000 or the 2005 (for that matter) Sunbelt anymore.