If Auburn's Recruiting Is That Much Worse Than Alabama's, Is Chizik a Bust?

Earlier in the year, Tuberville had a lot of early commits and had Auburn on the way to a better recruiting year in 2009 than 2008.  If Chizik fails to "finish the deal" and pull in a great class, does that mean he's a bust as an Auburn coach?

No. 

Unlike Saban, who did pull a decent class in with his "hurried" first year, it was not until he had a year under his belt that he pulled in the top class. 

Now, I'm certainly not saying that Chizik is going to have a great second-year class, much less a top one, but recruits are going to know a little more about him, his style, and so forth. 

The recent turmoil from this year has just turned some fence-sitters away and caused defections in others, but the majority of the class that Tuberville put together appears to be still willing to sign up for Chizik.

Unlike Kiffin, another SEC newcomer, who is building his coaching staff around recruiting abilities first and coaching abilities second, Chizik is surrounding himself with coaches he feels comfortable with as coaches first.

The recent loss of James Willis will hurt Auburn, as he was its brightest and best recruiter and, to most prospects, the most recognized coach left on Auburn's staff.  Chizik would be wise to add a coach with some recruiting pedigree to take his place.

Though Chizik's record as a head coach may cast doubt on his ability with the X's and O's of running a program, the jury is still out on how he may do as the "main draw" and "closer" for Auburn.  Certainly, the name recognition is not there with the players of the Auburn recruiting area.

After all, this year's high school prospects weren't even in high school when Chizik was at Auburn, so there's little value in his name alone to them. Chizik is going to have to light a fire at Auburn and develop a little "street credit" to impress prospects who may consider Auburn.

Another typical 2-9 or 3-8 season from Chizik would spell disaster not only for next year's recruiting, but for the administration and powers that brought him in.  Even if Chizik doubles his best season as a head coach and pulls off six wins, it's the same disaster.

With the talent that Tuberville left him, Chizik should have no excuses in pulling off at least seven wins and a bowl appearance. Auburn will have the QB question settled and have an offense from day one til the end of the season to work with, unlike last year's comedy of errors with the spread—no spread offense.

So don't judge Chizik on this recruiting year alone. It's not fair to him or to Auburn.  After this season, it will be interesting to see how high he can get his head-coaching winning percentage up. I mean, it can't go much lower.

Should he do the all but impossible and win 10 games, his career head-coaching winning percentage will still be a miserable one, but it would spark pandemonium with Auburn Nation—and even recruits.

So I say, cut Chizik some slack, give him a little rope, and let's see if he hangs himself with it, or ties up some wins with it later.