Recruiting Theory/Strategy

[planored]

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.

I agree but we were struggling in bowls greatly, certainly the Brand was better, prob because of TO as well, my main point is we can't look away from recruiting top talent. Winning will certainly help and I also thinking building takes time and that is what I see taking shape.

 

[Truehuskerfan]

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).

And if that's what he does, then he will have been a success in my book whether he wins any championships or not. The most you can ask from any coach is to leave the place better than it was when you got there.

 

[Archie Graham]

And if that's what he does, then he will have been a success in my book whether he wins any championships or not. The most you can ask from any coach is to leave the place better than it was when you got there.

I agree.

 

[BigBad&Red]

The way I choose to look at today is Simple..... We sure are getting a Better Classes of NOs than we have in the recent past! Next year who knows but at least we are swinging for the fences! I'm 100% behind Coach Riley!

 

[jeans15]

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.

Lmao..what.

So you want to get embarrassed by crappy teams too instead of playing for the conference championship. Just so highly talented players can tell you your program is a joke.

We will say anything to make excuses.

 

[regibson1]

I agree but we were struggling in bowls greatly, certainly the Brand was better, prob because of TO as well, my main point is we can't look away from recruiting top talent. Winning will certainly help and I also thinking building takes time and that is what I see taking shape.

I think that we are in much better shape going into next season. We will have the QB(s) that Riley has been looking for and the starting OL and depth should be better. Defensively the DT's will have more experience with this off season to add additional strength in the weight room. Hopefully, we can get a better pass rush from the DE's next season.

We missed out on a few players today but it was good to see the NU hats up there. Next year maybe a few of them will be selected. GBR

 

[TFrazier]

I think that we are in much better shape going into next season. We will have the QB(s) that Riley has been looking for and the starting OL and depth should be better. Defensively the DT's will have more experience with this off season to add additional strength in the weight room. Hopefully, we can get a better pass rush from the DE's next season.

We missed out on a few players today but it was good to see the NU hats up there. Next year maybe a few of them will be selected. GBR

An improvement would be seeing the Nebraska hat closer to where the recruit is actually standing. One step at a time in the recruiting process.

 

[Harry Caray]

More than anything, we have to recruit studs on the offensive and defensive lines. This year's class has been a huge whiff in this area.

 

[Severin]

You didn't see any Iowa hats on the table, but they already had 2 playing in the game.

 

[Nate004]

I'll be honest... This probably isn't gonna fly with a lot of people, but I'd be willing to go the $ game route. My reasoning you ask? Currently, only 2 or 3 teams (OSU/Michigan, and probably Penn St.) in the B1G currently play the money game route. That's not near as many teams to get over than trying to slow play it, eventually trying to get over those three teams while struggling yearly with the Wisconsin's/Iowa's/Michigan St's of the world in the meantime.

Of course, if you want to play the money game, you have to have somebody willing to hand out the cash... That could be a problem. I have no idea how much cash the big donors are willing to throw. If they aren't willing to play the big boy recruiting game, then slow and steady might be the only way to go.

 

[tone1017]

Lmao..what.

So you want to get embarrassed by crappy teams too instead of playing for the conference championship. Just so highly talented players can tell you your program is a joke.

We will say anything to make excuses.

No, I'm not making excuses, I'm not even a Riley defender. What I'm saying is that people that want to be an Iowa or Wisconsin, that's fine. They've inarguably had better seasons than us the past few years. But that's not what I want this program to be. If you're shooting for an occasional rose bowl and maybe even a win, thats great, and about 110 programs would be pumped about that. But that's not what I want. So if my choices are target safe guys who I know we can get that will get us wins but I also know aren't elite and can't compete with top tier teams OR go after the big fish knowing we don't have a great chance of landing them, I'm choosing the latter. I'm not crapping on Wisconsin or Iowa, they are good programs. What I'm saying is when we luck into the senior year of a top 7 NFL qb like Russell Wilson we better have enough surrounding talent on the roster to get us to a championship. I'd rather have a 20% chance to get an elite player than a 75% chance to get an above average player because you aren't winning championships without the elite. If a conference division title is what you're going for, then go for it.

 

[tone1017]

Basically I'd rather have the chance to be great than the guarantee to be good. If that means I'm occasionally mediocre that's fine.

 

[oldjar07]

I'll be honest... This probably isn't gonna fly with a lot of people, but I'd be willing to go the $ game route. My reasoning you ask? Currently, only 2 or 3 teams (OSU/Michigan, and probably Penn St.) in the B1G currently play the money game route. That's not near as many teams to get over than trying to slow play it, eventually trying to get over those three teams while struggling yearly with the Wisconsin's/Iowa's/Michigan St's of the world in the meantime.

Of course, if you want to play the money game, you have to have somebody willing to hand out the cash... That could be a problem. I have no idea how much cash the big donors are willing to throw. If they aren't willing to play the big boy recruiting game, then slow and steady might be the only way to go.

I don't think we have to go all the way to that point of paying players. If we’re going to go the low integrity route, I’d prefer we do it legally. Tell players they’ll get playing time even if they won’t the first year. We could recruit more players than we need and drop the ones we don’t need. Quickly get players out of the program who aren’t contributing. If we did this, there’d be no need to use $ to recruit players, and we’d avoid sanctions that come along with it.

 

[Mr.Scary13]

Lmao..what.

So you want to get embarrassed by crappy teams too instead of playing for the conference championship. Just so highly talented players can tell you your program is a joke.

We will say anything to make excuses.

Ummmm.... 408 was the one getting embarrassed by crappie teams.

 

[Cisco Red]

There needs to be a balance between the so called 500 mile radius and talent rich coast, Texas, and the deep South. Make the 500 mile radius the base every year.

On average, if you can get something like this:

Nebraska - 2-3

Border States (Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, SD, and throw in ND) - 5-7

Additional Big Ten West states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana) - 2-3

Juco (Jayhawk League, Iowa Western, California JCs) - 2

That puts you at 11-14 per year on average, which leaves you roughly 7-10 HS recruits from the West Coast, SW, Texas, OK, Deep South, FL, Mid Atlantic, and North East.

There's no reason you shouldn't be able to do that and have a class made up 7-8 4 stars, mostly mid-upper 3 stars, and no more than a couple of 2 stars. Do that for several consecutive years, have a walk on or two out of each class surprise, and you'll have a damn strong roster.