I went down a rabbit hole of comparing upper tier ranked players in recruiting classes between our last three coaches and was blown away by what Frost is accomplishing up to this point, especially considering what he is working with in terms of record. Consider the following breakdown of players on the RIvals rankings, ranked as 5.7 3 star or above.
Pelini= last 3 classes
2012- Six 4 star players, Six 5.7 3 star players = 12 total
2013- Five 4, Twelve 5.7= 17 total
2014- Four 4, Three 5.7= 7 total
Pelini (last 3 classes) total= Fifteen 4 star players, Twenty-One 5.7 three star= 36 total
Riley
2015- Six 4 star, Three 5.7= 9 total
2016- Four 4, Five 5.7= 9 total
2017- Seven 4, Two 5.7= 9 total
Riley total= Seventeen 4 star players, Ten 5.7 three star= 27 total
Frost
2018- Nine 4 star, Six 5.7= 15 total
2019- (so far) Nine 4 star, Eight 5.7= 17 total
Frost total (so far)= Eighteen 4 star players, Fourteen 5.7 three star= 32 total
So in just two classes (with one not completed yet) Frost secured more 4 star players than either Pelini or Riley did in three total classes. It's pretty darn likely that we add at least 4-5 more 5.7 or higher recruits in this 2019 class (Pola Gates, Pola Mao, Parker, Njoku, DJ James, Mayo, Fonua- all 5.7 or higher). Even if we lose Bland it is likely that Frost will at least equal the number of highly rated players from the last three Pelini classes and will easily exceed the number from the three Riley classes in only two cycles. Just incredible work by this staff. The rise in talent level over the next couple years is going to be very apparent.
Pelini= last 3 classes
2012- Six 4 star players, Six 5.7 3 star players = 12 total
2013- Five 4, Twelve 5.7= 17 total
2014- Four 4, Three 5.7= 7 total
Pelini (last 3 classes) total= Fifteen 4 star players, Twenty-One 5.7 three star= 36 total
Riley
2015- Six 4 star, Three 5.7= 9 total
2016- Four 4, Five 5.7= 9 total
2017- Seven 4, Two 5.7= 9 total
Riley total= Seventeen 4 star players, Ten 5.7 three star= 27 total
Frost
2018- Nine 4 star, Six 5.7= 15 total
2019- (so far) Nine 4 star, Eight 5.7= 17 total
Frost total (so far)= Eighteen 4 star players, Fourteen 5.7 three star= 32 total
So in just two classes (with one not completed yet) Frost secured more 4 star players than either Pelini or Riley did in three total classes. It's pretty darn likely that we add at least 4-5 more 5.7 or higher recruits in this 2019 class (Pola Gates, Pola Mao, Parker, Njoku, DJ James, Mayo, Fonua- all 5.7 or higher). Even if we lose Bland it is likely that Frost will at least equal the number of highly rated players from the last three Pelini classes and will easily exceed the number from the three Riley classes in only two cycles. Just incredible work by this staff. The rise in talent level over the next couple years is going to be very apparent.