Recruiting classes and where we are now

[GrayTide]

Was looking at the recruiting site last night to check on our current Commitments. Looked at the Bama On Line list. While there I noticed it had our recruiting classes by year back to 2002. I decided to check these years out to see who was still on the team and who from those classes were still around and had contributed. 2002 was Franchione's last class and 2003 was Price's only class. If you take the time to look at each of these classes you will quickly see why we are in the shape we are in from talent, numbers, etc. I realize these classes were under the shroud of our probation, which meant everyone of our signees really counted. It is a reality check to see that only a handful of signees from those classes are still on the team and how few have played. Now if you look at Coach Shula's first two classes you will see a lot of familiar names, that are contributing now, but it also makes you painfully aware of how young and inexperienced this team really is.

 

[ua9899]

I agree with you 100%. To be honest, we over-achieved this year. This team was not supposed to be back contending for championships until at least 2007. What's great is the fact that not only were we in the hunt for the division and SEC crown, we were in the hunt for the Nat'l Title until game #10(which went into OT). We did this with 65 initial scholarship players. That means we competed with alot of walk-ons and freshmen. If you look at our rebuilding, we resemble how Miami came back to be a prominent team.

 

[bamaslammer]

just one bad quarter of football. If we could have erased that I think lots of folks would be more encouraged about the future. All I can say is revenge is best served COLD and our day will come, I just don't know when.

I agree with your assessment, Franchione's last class and Price's only class as a whole have not been good, Its probably more due to probation than them personally, but we have definately felt the pain. Shula's first class I felt was better in quality but smaller in size due to probation, I think and so we are really a few years from seeing what Shula's kids can do. In the old days it was understood it would take 5 or 6 years to turn a program around, now days folks expect it in one, Sometimes you do see quick turnarounds but if you look its usually a case where the groundwork was already laid and they just didn't have the patience to see it though with the one that did all the hard work. Somebody new comes in reaps the reward and takes all the credit.

 

[GrayTide]

It is obvious to me that each of Coach Shula's recruiting classes are getting better. This can be explained in part by the fact that we are coming off probation not only from the number we can sign standpoint but by the fact that higher rated recruits are once again seeing the visibility and prestige of playing for Alabama. It is also a testament to the dedication of our coaching staff to sign players whose character matches their on the field abilities. Regardless of the players we eventually sign, according to Frank Broyles who was a pretty fair coach "Recruiting is and will always be an inexact science."

 

[POWERLINEMAN42]

Shula might not be getting the top 10's of the world but he is getting the right players for his system that are CONTRIBUTING right away. The WR's struggled this year but most as freshmen really contributed. That's what you want, kids that can come in right away if needed to play. Bad thing is we are young and inexperienced in places but the good thing is they'll be seniors one day that are really experienced.

 

[SimCastilleFan3]

The receivers hit a soph. slump they will step up next year with the recruits coming in and pushing them, that will make them work even extra harder.

 

[FanofDubose]

Where are they Now

I've been looking for something like this for a long time, Its a pretty good analysis. I hope he continues to update it.

http://www.geocities.com/claysbamapage/AllClasses.htm

 

[CapstoneTider]

I've been looking for something like this for a long time, Its a pretty good analysis. I hope he continues to update it.

http://www.geocities.com/claysbamapage/AllClasses.htm

Nice....thanks for the link

 

[cbi1972]

That's cool but it shows Demeco Ryans as being in the NFL now :0

 

[Tide49]

I agree, things should just keep on getting better for Bama in the next couple of years!

Now we are getting better recruits, more of them, and they are being hand-selected by Shula & staff to fit the current systems. When you look at the past few recruiting classes, it just makes 2005 all that more impressive for Coach Shula and staff. I see 2006 being similar to 2005, but, 2007 could be the year that Shula takes the Tide to a SEC Title and to one of the BCS Bowls.

 

[mp24casc]

Pass Commits I thought this was pretty cool

Check it out pretty cool IMO


http://www.geocities.com/claysbamapage/AllClasses.htm

 

[mp24casc]

Sorry

I've been looking for something like this for a long time, Its a pretty good analysis. I hope he continues to update it.

http://www.geocities.com/claysbamapage/AllClasses.htm

Ididnt know you put this here, I started a new topic then seen you already put it in. Sorry!

 

[FanofDubose]

That's cool but it shows Demeco Ryans as being in the NFL now :0

And did I mention the site prdeicts the future too.