National Signing Day 2011: 10 Big Time Schools with Awful Recruiting Classes
Every now and then you'll see a major program just have an off year in recruiting. There are many different variables that play into whether a program hauls in a great class, including location of many of the top prospects that year, that year's success on the field, a staff's recruiting effort that year and the dreaded coaching change, among an array of others.
A bad recruiting class can set a program back for a year or two, and those seasons can make or break a head coach's future.This year is no different, as there are some schools who are not having the best of luck on the recruiting trail.
Let's check out 10 big time schools with sub-par recruiting classes thus far.
10. Pittsburgh
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The Panthers forced Dave Wannstedt to resign, saw new head coach Mike Haywood take a mug shot and get fired and then hired Todd Graham from Tulsa. This prompted talented players such as Dion Lewis and Jonathan Baldwin to enter the NFL Draft.
Better days also are ahead in recruiting as, right now, Pitt doesn't have a good class coming in. There are only 11 players committed right now and only one player is labeled as a 4-star recruit.
Graham will use this class to learn the ropes of recruiting western Pennsylvania, and next year the Panthers should see a spike up in recruiting.
9. Colorado
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Remember the early 90s when the Buffs were a dominant program? Or how about the early 2000s when Colorado was one of the upper-echelon teams in the Big 12?
That's not the case anymore, as the program has taken a step back and let Dan Hawkins go this past season. On the trail, the Buffs have the worst class in the Big 12 this year.
There are only 12 commits and none are even 4-stars.
8. Purdue
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The Boilermakers don't necessarily pick and choose in recruiting, but it must be noted when they are not having a good class. Minnesota, which is under a new coaching staff, and Indiana, which is not a football recruiting juggernaut, are both having more success than Purdue.
At the start of the decade, the Boilermakers hauled in what many considered the worst recruiting class in the Big 10, and experts wrote them off. Years later, that class went to the Rose Bowl. The headliner of that class?
A short quarterback from Texas named Drew Brees. Could magic strike twice?
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. UNLV
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UNLV has been a peculiar program over the years. Many wonder why they haven't had more success, as their campus is in Las Vegas—a lavish city, just over three hours from Los Angeles. They have a small campus, a solid stadium and play in a solid conference, the Mountain West.
This was the first year under a new coaching staff for the Runnin' Rebels, yet they still only have 10 pledges scheduled to come to Las Vegas.
Only three of the commits are even rated as 2-star players.
6. Vanderbilt
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James Franklin is still getting things in order at Vanderbilt and won't coach his first game until the fall, yet the Commodores still sit at the bottom in the SEC.
Fans will see a swing in recruiting next year, but the SEC is a tough conference to recruit in and Vandy has very strict academic admission standards. Also, Vandy is no stranger in landing hidden gems, including Jay Cutler.
Yet with 10 of their 13 pledges being 2-star recruits, Vandy falls onto this list.
5. Fresno State
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Pat Hill is a great coach and has built the Bulldogs program into an unprecedented powerhouse in central California. Fresno State has a mantra of "we'll play anyone, anywhere, anytime," and the Bulldogs have used that to vault themselves into the national spotlight in recent years.
Yet this year has been a disappointment in recruiting for Hill and the Bulldogs. Only seven recruits are committed to don the green V on the back of the helmet, and only two players are even rated as 2-star talents.
We know Fresno State doesn't find itself in the hunt for many of the top-tier national prep talents, but the Bulldogs should be doing a bit better than they are at this point in recruiting.
4. Idaho
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Idaho is similar to Fresno State in the sense that they don't land or really recruit many of the top prospects.
But some of their fans may even have a hard time finding out who some of their incoming freshmen are. Only 10 recruits are scheduled to sign, and seven are not even rated.
The Vandal staff recruits players who want to come to Idaho, work hard and fit their system, yet every recruiting class needs some star power, and Idaho's class lacks it right now.
3. Washington State
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WSU used to collect players from the Northwest and get them on campus to be Cougars—Michael Bumpus, Ryan Leaf and Marcus Trufant to name a few.
It was just earlier this decade when Mike Price was at the helm and had Wazzu as a Pac-10 powerhouse before leaving for Alabama for a few months (and eventually settling in at UTEP).
Paul Wulff is a great coach and is doing everything he can to restore his alma mater back to prominence, yet he will likely end up with the worst class in the new Pac-12 this year.
2. UConn
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Fresh off a BCS Fiesta Bowl appearance, one would figure UConn would be doing well on the trail.
Then you remember that Randy Edsall bolted for his dream job at Maryland, and you see that UConn is having a down year on the trail.
Only 15 recruits are scheduled to sign, second to last in the conference, and only eight are 3-star recruits. Paul Pasqualoni has vowed to turn over every stone in the northeast and eastern regions to recruit the best prep players, and we firmly believe he will. Yet this incoming class that will combine his recruits along with some Edsall leftovers won't gain much fanfare.
1. UCLA
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UCLA takes the top spot on our list because they have seen the biggest fall from grace in recruiting over the past year. Last February, the Bruins were running their mouths about how Los Angeles was theirs for the taking and things were changing versus USC.
They were inspired by a top 10 recruiting class and the coaching turnover at USC, along with expected heavy sanctions against the Trojans. Well, that's about it, as the Bruins could not use any momentum to have a good season, nor could they notch another top-tier recruiting class.
They only have eight commits at this point and they have one of the worst classes in the country.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
