10 Schools That Will Top Their 2011 Recruiting Classes in 2012
Sometimes a school just has an off year on the trail, other times they go through coaching changes which can turn a class of recruits off to them. Sometimes the current year's crop of players just aren't feeling a particular program in that isolated year. But anyway you slice it, a sub-par class is part of a college football program's recruiting cycle, hey it happens.
Last year there were some schools that did well on the trail while other schools that usually gobble up top player after top player were behind. Surely, an off year for the second year in a row isn't likely...or is it?
Here are 10 schools that we expect that will see a rise back up on the recruiting trail in 2012 when compared to 2011.
10. UCLA
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Like they always say, when you hit rock bottom, there is no other place to go but up and UCLA will fill that bill.
After signing a top 10 class in the 2011 recruiting cycle, Rick Neuheisel and the Bruins felt that they were rimed for a breakout season. Yet, the Westwood Wonders went 4-8, and that prompted Neuheisel to make significant coaching changes.
Two new coordinators have been hired and Neuheisel will take a more direct approach with the offense.
QB Brett Hundley is the future of the program, and surely Neuheisel will sell recruits on the prospect off playing with Hundley on a great campus in Los Angeles during the 2012 recruiting campaign.
9. Pittsburgh
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Many observers actually will tell you that the Panthers did not need to make a change and that Dave Wannstedt was doing a fine job at his alma mater.
Yet enter former Tulsa coach Todd Graham who will likely bring substantial changes to the steel city. Graham will bring a spread, shotgun offense with him from Tulsa and also a 3-3-5 defensive scheme as well. This is a big 180 in compared to the pro-style offense and 4-3, NFL defense that Wannstedt ran as the Panthers' head man.
Pitt saw John Baldwin and a few other top players leave for the NFL and suffered a sub-par recruiting class in the midst for the Wanny to Graham switch. But Graham surely will use the spring and summer to connect with he Western Pennsylvania high school coaches and that should pay dividends coming down the home stretch of his first full class.
8. Colorado
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Colorado used to be a recruiting powerhouse, as it was home to Kordell Stewart, Rashaan Salaam, Chad Brown, Michael Lewis and Christian Fauria.
The Buffs have fallen on some hard times, but enter new coach and former Buffalo great Jon Embree. Embree also has brought Eric Bienemy with him, a renowned running backs coach, former Buff, but more importantly recruiter.
Colorado will move into the Pac-12 this year, and Bienemy will certainly use his Los Angeles ties to attract players to Boulder from the talent rich sunshine state. Embree is a good evaluator and the tandem with Bienemy's charisma will certainly garner the CU a solid class in 2012.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. TCU
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TCU already has seen the benefits of moving to a BCS conference, evidenced by getting DT CHuck Hunter and prying stud receiver LaDarius Brown away from powerful Oklahoma in the home stretch before NSD this past year.
Gary Patterson and his staff really pride themselves on evaluating players that fit the TCU mold: tough, smart, versatile and physical. With playing in a BCS conference, surely this will help the Horned Frogs increase their pool of talent to pick from and boost them up the rankings as the 2012 cycle carries on, such as Johnathan Gray and Kendall Sanders.
Oh, beating Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl will also help as well.
6. West Virginia
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Ok, I know there is an "interesting" situation happening at West Virginia but by all accounts, Bill Stewart has handled everything perfectly. All Stewart cares about is what is best for WVU football overall.
Say what you want about Oliver Luck handled everything, but securing Dana Holgorsen as the next headman for the Mountaineers is a coup and will help big time in recruiting. Wherever Holgorsen has been, his offenses have scored points and lit up score boards.
He will immediately attract talent at all of the offensive skill positions and upgrade the talent on the roster.
Holgorsen has to really recruit well in the trenches and make sure he scores key defensive recruits to balance out his roster. But surely, offensive play makers will take a longer and harder look at West Virginia now.
5. Washington
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Steve Sarkisian is one the best recruiters in the Pac-12 and U-Dub has a chance to rise up the recruiting rankings this year because of the wealth of in-state talent available to them for the 2012 class.
There's QB Jeff Lindquist, OL Josh Garnett, RB KeiVarare Russell and OL Zach Banner all for Washington to nab. Sark surely will be on their trail and also use his LA contacts to continue to pluck talent from California.
Also, evidenced by going hard after Jacoby Brissett in Florida, Sarkisian and the Huskies are not afraid to recruit nationally and battle the big boys, especially dipping into Florida. I fully expect Washington to compete with USC and Oregon for the best 2012 class in the Pac-12.
4. Notre Dame
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Notre Dame signed a Top 20 class in 2011, now that Brian Kelly has had a full year learning the ropes of the animal that Irish recruiting, they should see an even better class in 2012.
Kelly has to recruit specifically for his spread offense and Notre Dame's 3-4 defensive scheme. The Irish don't have talent at their disposal in their backyard in Indiana which is why they recruit heavily in nearby Chicago and nationally.
Expect Notre Dame to capitalize on their solid recruiting class and sign an even better class in the 2012 cycle.
3. Michigan
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I really think Brady Hoke did an excellent job of maintaining the Wolverines commits from and adding some other fine players during the RichRod switch. Hoke also scored another coup in getting Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison to return back to the college game.
Mattison is seen as one of the premier defensive coordinators in all of football, and even more importantly, one of the best recruiters in college football. Hoke has vowed to bring Big Blue back, and will use what he learned in his short bit recruiting for Michigan this past season as a foundation of recruiting in 2012.
Expect Michigan to sign a Top tier class this go around.
2. Florida
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New FLorida coach Will Muschamp is an experienced recruiter and has coached and recruited in the SEC. Although Florida still signed a top 15-20 class depending on who you ask, we are all used to seeing the Gators in the top 5-10.
Muschamp is keen to evaluate players, claims he doesn't pay attention Internet recruiting sites and star rankings and is a Gainesville native who's passion for Florida football will ooze out onto recruits.
Another key element to the Gators' expected rise is they have renowned offensive coordinator Charlie Weis in the fold. We all know how good of an offensive coach Weis is, but don't forget he was an elite recruiter at Notre Dame, The Irish signed top classes under Weis, whom surely will help Florida do the same.
1. Miami
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Al Golden has really attacked recruiting very aggressively in his first few months at Miami and had the Canes in on some prospects that they were out of with Randy Shannon. They made it hard for Marqise Lee to say no in favor of USC and got Jalen Grimble to switch form USC, plus Marcus Roberson gave them a late look.
In his first full year, expect Golden to get Miami back into the national limelight on the recruiting scene, and in the hunt for some top prospects. Golden wants to re-secure the "State of Miami" branch up to North Florida and then nationally.
New blood usually means a new sense of enthusiasm around a program, but throw in the Miami name, tradition, campus location and Al Golden's recruiting work ethic, and Miami is the top team expected to see a rise in recruiting.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
