Recruiting Theory/Strategy

[sloth316]

A buddy and I were talking about Husker recruiting. Should we be trying to win head-to-head battles with the USCs, Stanfords, UCLAs of the college football world? Or should we be trying to win the battles against the Iowas, K-States & Wisconsins, while locking down our in-state talent first?

And maybe we are winning some of those battles against said schools, I don't know, nor have I researched it all that much. Just seems like we are losing out with a lot of West Coast recruits and passing over our in-state guys

 

[sloth316]

It seems like a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation

 

[planored]

We have landed 2 4* QB's from Cali. I think you have to for the top end talent, it can be one guy that changes a program around, think Tommie. We need to and the good news is we have 4 quality players on campus already. Something to be happy about today.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

A buddy and I were talking about Husker recruiting. Should we be trying to win head-to-head battles with the USCs, Stanfords, UCLAs of the college football world? Or should we be trying to win the battles against the Iowas, K-States & Wisconsins, while locking down our in-state talent first?

And maybe we are winning some of those battles against said schools, I don't know, nor have I researched it all that much. Just seems like we are losing out with a lot of West Coast recruits and passing over our in-state guys

I have kind of been leaning in this direction lately too. I said in another thread, Riley chose to swing for the fences in recruiting and he missed. Not sure, in hindsight, that was the best strategy.
Building a new football culture at NU has to be the first priority. A culture of blue collar hard work, no nonsense attention to your own responsibility, and so on. And that takes athletes who are truly devoted to the PROGRAM and not just to themselves.
So give me a locker room filled with 3 star guys recruited by Wisky or Iowa, rather than a room of selfish twits.
Personally, I would tell any recruit who told me that I would have to wait until the AA game and then sit and watch some 17 year old with 27 hats in front of him make a spectacle of himself to take a flying leap.

 

[huskerfan830]

Keep the course, practice more physical than ever, and win games then the kids will come. Note all these recruits have not seen a championship NU team, not even conf., but can still get some reciprocal interests. Key component missing is wins and putting guys in the NFL. Excited to see what happens on the offensive side if they get the line together and Lee is legit.

 

[inWV]

If the goal is to upgrade talent then you try to upgrade talent. It's a risk/reward type deal.

 

[otismotis08]

I have kind of been leaning in this direction lately too. I said in another thread, Riley chose to swing for the fences in recruiting and he missed. Not sure, in hindsight, that was the best strategy.
Building a new football culture at NU has to be the first priority. A culture of blue collar hard work, no nonsense attention to your own responsibility, and so on. And that takes athletes who are truly devoted to the PROGRAM and not just to themselves.
So give me a locker room filled with 3 star guys recruited by Wisky or Iowa, rather than a room of selfish twits.
Personally, I would tell any recruit who told me that I would have to wait until the AA game and then sit and watch some 17 year old with 27 hats in front of him make a spectacle of himself to take a flying leap.

I wish it worked that way.

 

[headcard]

I think we really need to move our focus back to the 500 mile radius. I like what Cav did getting three good players from the radius and the going after a big west coast recruit for his last spot. Just wish he would have landed the big fish

 

[Archie Graham]

I have kind of been leaning in this direction lately too. I said in another thread, Riley chose to swing for the fences in recruiting and he missed. Not sure, in hindsight, that was the best strategy.
Building a new football culture at NU has to be the first priority. A culture of blue collar hard work, no nonsense attention to your own responsibility, and so on. And that takes athletes who are truly devoted to the PROGRAM and not just to themselves.
So give me a locker room filled with 3 star guys recruited by Wisky or Iowa, rather than a room of selfish twits.
Personally, I would tell any recruit who told me that I would have to wait until the AA game and then sit and watch some 17 year old with 27 hats in front of him make a spectacle of himself to take a flying leap.

Yes and no. Today we lost out on a CA receiver we were at the top for all year, a DB with massive connections to other commits (Gebbia, KJJ), and an OL that Cav has been recruiting for four years. I'd expel energy on those kinds of odds every single year. Especially when one hit could change the trajectory of the recruiting class or program.

I like what our staff is doing. They are highly organized, high intensity, good support staff, etc. I think we have two options: (1) recruit 20-25 ranked classes and coach our way to the top of the west (assuming our recruiting intensity plus the program gains will help us win more battles with the big dogs), (2) start playing the money game. I suppose a third option is some combination of both.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

I wish it worked that way.

What specifically do you mean?
I am not saying we should not go after top shelf talent. Of course we should. But we also need to be realistic and understand just how degraded and almost meaningless the Nebraska brand is.
I think you better also gave a ton of solid plan B kids if you are Nebraska. And I am totally cool with that. Wisconsin has a much better program than we do right now and they did it with 3 star, plan B kids

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Yes and no. Today we lost out on a CA receiver we were at the top for all year, a DB with massive connections to other commits (Gebbia, KJJ), and an OL that Cav has been recruiting for four years. I'd expel energy on those kinds of odds every single year. Especially when one hit could change the trajectory of the recruiting class or program.

I like what our staff is doing. They are highly organized, high intensity, good support staff, etc. I think we have two options: (1) recruit 20-25 ranked classes and coach our way to the top of the west (assuming our recruiting intensity plus the program gains will help us win more battles with the big dogs), (2) start playing the money game. I suppose a third option is some combination of both.

Good points.
Not sure however about playing the money game!

 

[TruHusker]

I have kind of been leaning in this direction lately too. I said in another thread, Riley chose to swing for the fences in recruiting and he missed. Not sure, in hindsight, that was the best strategy.
Building a new football culture at NU has to be the first priority. A culture of blue collar hard work, no nonsense attention to your own responsibility, and so on. And that takes athletes who are truly devoted to the PROGRAM and not just to themselves.
So give me a locker room filled with 3 star guys recruited by Wisky or Iowa, rather than a room of selfish twits.
Personally, I would tell any recruit who told me that I would have to wait until the AA game and then sit and watch some 17 year old with 27 hats in front of him make a spectacle of himself to take a flying leap.

With all due respect- no you wouldnt. You invest a ton of time, money and energy in these kids, you would play it out or you have zero shot.

 

[Morgan747]

We have landed 2 4* QB's from Cali. I think you have to for the top end talent, it can be one guy that changes a program around, think Tommie. We need to and the good news is we have 4 quality players on campus already. Something to be happy about today.

You think Tommie turned the program around? He had extremely good players around him. He hardly played his junior year.

 

[otismotis08]

What specifically do you mean?
I am not saying we should not go after top shelf talent. Of course we should. But we also need to be realistic and understand just how degraded and almost meaningless the Nebraska brand is.
I think you better also gave a ton of solid plan B kids if you are Nebraska. And I am totally cool with that. Wisconsin has a much better program than we do right now and they did it with 3 star, plan B kids

The Wisconsin/Iowa path may never lead to the promised land. We need to invest in staff/recruiters that can compete with the big boys.

 

[Archie Graham]

Good points.
Not sure however about playing the money game!

Honestly, I think we are starting to see that "Nebraska" may not be able to sell itself any longer. That's fine. But the way back to the promise land is either going to have to be through a slow build, i.e., win the B10 West a few times and get smoked in the B10 chamionship, recruit a little better, and so on...

Or...get back in the fold by playing the same game that a whole hell of a lot of teams around the country are doing regardless of whether their currently wining or not.

I'm increasingly convinced our fan base will NOT allow #1 happen.

Just my two cents.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

The Wisconsin/Iowa path may never lead to the promised land. We need to invest in staff/recruiters that can compete with the big boys.

I think it can if you don't settle for staying there and view that level as a stepping stone

And yes have the best staff and recruit with the big boys! But by golly you better also be ready with a ton of solid plan B guys because Nebraska is not the draw it once was

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Honestly, I think we are starting to see that "Nebraska" may not be able to sell itself any longer. That's fine. But the way back to the promise land is either going to have to be through a slow build, i.e., win the B10 West a few times and get smoked in the B10 chamionship, recruit a little better, and so on...

Or...get back in the fold by playing the same game that a whole hell of a lot of teams around the country are doing regardless of whether their currently wining or not.

I'm increasingly convinced our fan base will NOT allow #1 happen.

Just my two cents.

Well said. I think what I am advocating for is the model you call the slow build.
Honestly, do we have a choice?

 

[otismotis08]

I think it can if you don't settle for staying there and view that level as a stepping stone

I hear what you're saying, but I bet Wisconsin/Iowa/others say the same thing. And they don't get there.

 

[SilentCommit]

If Riley doesn't swing for the fences, the same crowd celebrating our recruiting misses today would be crucifying him for not trying. There is no winning strategy or way forward with a large percentage of our miserable, petulant, and deluded fans.

 

[Mr.Scary13]

You think Tommie turned the program around? He had extremely good players around him. He hardly played his junior year.

He absolutely did, his Freshman year in the bowl game even though we lost everyone saw how special he was going to be and that it wouldn't be the same old Nebraska anymore. Completely changed the mindset of the program. Even the announcers were talking about him that game.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

I hear what you're saying, but I bet Wisconsin/Iowa/others say the same thing. And they don't get there.

Probably. I guess my hope is that we do still have some advantages they don't have. Our brand is degraded but not dead. And we have trophies they can only dream of. Once we move the needle in a positive direction those advantages would kick in.
Or not. Ha.
I just want us to stop getting blown out on national TV

 

[Archie Graham]

I hear what you're saying, but I bet Wisconsin/Iowa/others say the same thing. And they don't get there.

Thats because they don't have what we have.

The point here is that the 'slow build' approach is a combination of our history/facilities/fans/resources and getting to the next level in the W/L column. Right now it's starting to look like a great recruiting model (which I believe we have) and the "Nebraska" brand isn't enough to get us over the hump. So we need to start winning some more, getting back into the national conversation, while maintaining our intensity on the trail + pimping what we have to offer. One step at a time. Wisconsin and Iowa can't attempt this because they don't have the history/facilities/fans/resources piece of the puzzle. And that's a big piece.

 

[Mr.Scary13]

A buddy and I were talking about Husker recruiting. Should we be trying to win head-to-head battles with the USCs, Stanfords, UCLAs of the college football world? Or should we be trying to win the battles against the Iowas, K-States & Wisconsins, while locking down our in-state talent first?

And maybe we are winning some of those battles against said schools, I don't know, nor have I researched it all that much. Just seems like we are losing out with a lot of West Coast recruits and passing over our in-state guys

If you want to be K State, Iowa, and Wisconsin then by all means go that route.

 

[Morgan747]

He absolutely did, his Freshman year in the bowl game even though we lost everyone saw how special he was going to be and that it wouldn't be the same old Nebraska anymore. Completely changed the mindset of the program. Even the announcers were talking about him that game.

If you say so! Lol It must be true!

 

[planored]

I know today was rough, but when was the last time we even h

You think Tommie turned the program around? He had extremely good players around him. He hardly played his junior year.

i think he had a major impact on one of the most impressive runs in CFB history, no? My point is he was a stud we battled for with many big time teams and landed him.

 

[otismotis08]

Probably. I guess my hope is that we do still have some advantages they don't have. Our brand is degraded but not dead. And we have trophies they can only dream of. Once we move the needle in a positive direction those advantages would kick in.
Or not. Ha.
I just want us to stop getting blown out on national TV

I'm becoming convinced that the past really is the past. Trophies and success from years gone by are just that. We've been passed by other teams.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

If Riley doesn't swing for the fences, the same crowd celebrating our recruiting misses today would be crucifying him for not trying. There is no winning strategy or way forward with a large percentage of our miserable, petulant, and deluded fans.

I agree. At least in my defense I have been saying for a while now that I will support Riley even if he recruits nothing but 3 star guys this year

 

[Truehuskerfan]

If Riley doesn't swing for the fences, the same crowd celebrating our recruiting misses today would be crucifying him for not trying. There is no winning strategy or way forward with a large percentage of our miserable, petulant, and deluded fans.

Bolded for emphasis. Fortunately, not all of us are whining losers whose weekends have been ruined by the whims of 17-18 year old kids.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Thats because they don't have what we have.

The point here is that the 'slow build' approach is a combination of our history/facilities/fans/resources and getting to the next level in the W/L column. Right now it's starting to look like a great recruiting model (which I believe we have) and the "Nebraska" brand isn't enough to get us over the hump. So we need to start winning some more, getting back into the national conversation, while maintaining our intensity on the trail + pimping what we have to offer. One step at a time. Wisconsin and Iowa can't attempt this because they don't have the history/facilities/fans/resources piece of the puzzle. And that's a big piece.

You have just said what I have been stumbling to say. Thanks!

 

[Pennsyhusker]

I'm becoming convinced that the past really is the past. Trophies and success from years gone by are just that. We've been passed by other teams.

Say it ain't so!

 

[blackshirt68701]

Our hat was on that table more times than not today. Keep swinging! We didn't hit any home runs today but we hit a few to the warning track. I didn't see and badger or hawk hats today. That doesn't mean anything today but it does show that this staff is working their asses off. Once we take control of the West, and we are bringing in enough talent to do that right now, we will be better suited to close on some of these big fish. GBR

 

[Archie Graham]

Well said. I think what I am advocating for is the model you call the slow build.
Honestly, do we have a choice?

I don't think we do.

Some final thoughts from me.

I really like Mike Riley. He has been a breath of fresh air after the Pelini tenure. I'll save the details of exactly where I think the program was at when he was hired; you already know about that. Riley has largely purged and/or graduated the toxicity in the program and we have young leadership that is going to be excellent moving forward. He has also introduced some great energy and creativity into our recruiting model with his support staff.I think his talent evaluation is very good, and even though we may finish a little lower than expected this year, we are continuing to try and improve the talent in the program and balance out the poor roster management from the Pelini tenure.

Now, to be clear, I'm not saying that's enough at Nebraska. I'd guess Mike has about 5-6 more years in him. I'd also guess he will get all of those years at Nebraska. And when he retires, regardless of his big accomplishments, I think our program is going to be as healthy as it's been since the TO era. I don't think any folks are going to recognize or appreciate that; however, the next HC sure as hell will.

Personally, I'm just enjoying his tenure because for the first time in my adult life (I'm 33) we have a HC that is moving the program in the right direction (big picture).

 

[NikkiSixx]

I think some of this really revolves around the identity thing.

We know what Riley's offense will be, but we all had to sit through 2 years of transition. That's a long long time.

Once recruits can actually see the real offensive system, that's going to be much easier for kids to visualize.

I don't know if that system is sustainable personally, but they will get better results once they can really run and showcase their system.

 

[redroofer]

The good thing about today is that we can get a couple linemen from Nebraska, we have a ton of untapped talent with high ceilings available. We need to get them up to speed but that Nebraska heart and work ethic is hard to beat.

 

[Archie Graham]

I think some of this really revolves around the identity thing.

We know what Riley's offense will be, but we all had to sit through 2 years of transition. That's a long long time.

Once recruits can actually see the real offensive system, that's going to be much easier for kids to visualize.

I don't know if that system is sustainable personally, but they will get better results once they can really run and showcase their system.

OH GOD. We agree.

 

[TFrazier]

I know today was rough, but when was the last time we even h

i think he had a major impact on one of the most impressive runs in CFB history, no? My point is he was a stud we battled for with many big time teams and landed him.

I agree but the Nebraska brand was in much better position to win the commitment from Tommie Frazier back then. The 2017 Nebraska brand can't be compared to the Nebraska brand back in 1992. Nebraska did struggle a little in 1990 and 1991 but the Nebraksa program had much more momentum in 1992 as compared to today.

Maybe we can win those types of battles in a few years.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

I don't think we do.

Some final thoughts from me.

I really like Mike Riley. He has been a breath of fresh air after the Pelini tenure. I'll save the details of exactly where I think the program was at when he was hired; you already know about that. Riley has largely purged and/or graduated the toxicity in the program and we have young leadership that is going to be excellent moving forward. He has also introduced some great energy and creativity into our recruiting model with his support staff.I think his talent evaluation is very good, and even though we may finish a little lower than expected this year, we are continuing to try and improve the talent in the program and balance out the poor roster management from the Pelini tenure.

Now, to be clear, I'm not saying that's enough at Nebraska. I'd guess Mike has about 5-6 more years in him. I'd also guess he will get all of those years at Nebraska. And when he retires, regardless of his big accomplishments, I think our program is going to be as healthy as it's been since the TO era. I don't think any folks are going to recognize or appreciate that; however, the next HC sure as hell will.

Personally, I'm just enjoying his tenure because for the first time in my adult life (I'm 33) we have a HC that is moving the program in the right direction (big picture).

Exactly!
And personally, I am excited as hell for next year. Excited to see Riley's offense with a real passing QB. Excited to see the progress of our young offensive and defensive lines. Excited to see some of our new young linebackers. I predict a better team next year. And that will help us on the recruiting front even more.

 

[tone1017]

You have to get elite talent to compete with the best of the best. Shoot your shot and the chips will fall where they may, if we want to win championships we have to get lots of 4 and 5 star guys. If we want to be Iowa we can do what they do.

 

[Mr.Scary13]

If you say so! Lol It must be true!

Youre right, it was just those good players around him.... just like Nebraska wouldn't be any better this year with somebody behind center such as the kid at USC right? But since you say so, it must be true.....lol

 

[tone1017]

Quite honestly I'd rather be 7-5 or 8-4 trying to get elite guys and striking out than be 10-2 but getting blown out by every top 15 team we play.