Study proves KSU might be ultimate football recruiting outlier

[Harry]

SAN ANTONIO — Kansas State coach Bill Snyder has been confounding the recruiting analysts over the years.

The Wildcats rarely attract many heralded recruits. They were ranked 47th by Rivals in the most recruiting season after placing 66th in 2013, 59th in 2012, 69th in 2011 and 63rd in 2010. During a period dating to 2002, the Wildcats attracted two five-star recruits — running back Daniel Davis and offensive lineman Peni Holakeituai. Neither of them panned out.

Despite consistently ranking among the recruiting bottom-feeders, Snyder has made the Wildcats a consistent power with a 2012 Big 12 championship included among his successes.

A study by Matt Hinton of the outstanding analytical web site footballstudyhall.com ranked the Wildcats as the ultimate outliers in college football.

Read more: http://blog.mysanantonio.com/big12/2014/02/recruiting-study-proves-ksu-might-be-ultimate-recruiting-outlier/

[greenminer]

I wouldn't say they are bottom feeders, but I agree with the gist of the article.

[drex]

Snyder is a magician...the program was all but dead when he arrived. He's very creative.

[UNTLifer]

Too bad he got away from us.

[GMG24]

It's called hard work, coach ability, sprinkle in some more than good but less than great athletes, a family atmosphere (we all fight much harder for loved ones than strangers), and good coaching that equals their success.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

That Snyder is a miracle worker is even more magnified once you visit the Little Apple and realize how out of the way it is.

The guy turned a program with no history and stuck in the middle of nowhere into a credible college football power. He did what Bob Devany/Tom Osborne did at Nebraska, Hayden Fry at Iowa, and Bud Wilkinson, Chuck Fairbanks, and Barry Switzer did at Oklahoma - they began recruiting nationally.

Current K-State roster has players from:
Texas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida, Maryland, California, Nebraska, Georgia, North Carolina, Colorado, New York, Washington, Arizona, and Indiana.

Snyder scoures the country for recruits and melds them into a power running-based offenses and tough defenses. On signing day, he added to that list with signees from South Carolina, Illinois, and Virginia.

Only four of the 2014 Wildcats signees were from Kansas; and, one of those was co-offensive coordinator Dama Dimel's son, Winston.

I've posted before that despite having what is considered one of the most fertile recruiting ground in the country, there has only been one national title winner among the state schools in Texas since 1970; the Longhorns' 2005 title.

Same with California. Since 1978, only USC's 2003 shared title with LSU for Cali.

To me, the small state schools that do well set the standard: go anywhere to get the best.

Florida is, indeed, king. It has housed 11 national title winners since 1983, with Florida, Florida State, and Miami all winning multiple titles since then.

And, that's why the best go to Florida pick up recruits - Kansas State included with five Florida preps on their current roster...four from Miami! Going from big, stinking, "culturally diverse" Miami to an Ag school in the middle of nowhere Kansas? That's Bill Snyder, yo. The man could sell ice to an eskimo.

Edited February 28, 2014 by The Fake Lonnie Finch