THE HIGHEST STAR RATED CLASS EVER- Coach Swinney mentioned that despite the low number of recruits signed, Sports Information Director Tim Bouret told him that this is the highest average star rating of any recruting class Clemson has ever had. It is not, however, anywhere near the highest ranked class in polls by scouting services or ESPN. Rivals ranked Clemson's recruiting class as 37th best in the nation, Scout ranked it 42nd and ESPN ranked it 19th.
HOWEVER, STAR RATINGS DON'T MATTER- Coach Swinney also mentioned that the rankings are over-rated and an inexact science. He said that the true test is four years later. I agree that they're somewhat over-rated and an inexact science but I do not believe it takes four years to determine whether a player was productive or effective. In other words, the coaches can see a hit or a miss way before the end of a player's senior year. Some recruits will play below the coaches', and for that matter, fans' expectations, while others will far exceed them. Some players hit the ground running as true freshmen and make an immediate impact, whereas others take longer to develop.
HITS & MISSES- The overall class ranking really means far less than the individual player rankings because the overall ranking counts players signed in the class who may be academically ineligible. If the player never steps foot on campus and never plays a down, then why would their individual star ranking even be considered cumulatively in the overall ranking of the class? As far as individual rankings, here are a few examples of hits and misses by recruiting services (either Rivals or Scout) in Clemson's classes over the past few years:
HIT: C.J. Spiller was rated as a five star recruit in the 2006 class. Care to disagree with that one? I think not. If there was a six star rating, C.J. may have lived up to that as well.
MISS: Kavell Conner was rated as a two star recruit in the 2005 class but last season as a Jr. , started all 13 games, led the tigers in tackles with 125, including six for loss and also had a sack.
HOWEVER, STAR RATINGS DON'T MATTER- Coach Swinney also mentioned that the rankings are over-rated and an inexact science. He said that the true test is four years later. I agree that they're somewhat over-rated and an inexact science but I do not believe it takes four years to determine whether a player was productive or effective. In other words, the coaches can see a hit or a miss way before the end of a player's senior year. Some recruits will play below the coaches', and for that matter, fans' expectations, while others will far exceed them. Some players hit the ground running as true freshmen and make an immediate impact, whereas others take longer to develop.
HITS & MISSES- The overall class ranking really means far less than the individual player rankings because the overall ranking counts players signed in the class who may be academically ineligible. If the player never steps foot on campus and never plays a down, then why would their individual star ranking even be considered cumulatively in the overall ranking of the class? As far as individual rankings, here are a few examples of hits and misses by recruiting services (either Rivals or Scout) in Clemson's classes over the past few years:
HIT: C.J. Spiller was rated as a five star recruit in the 2006 class. Care to disagree with that one? I think not. If there was a six star rating, C.J. may have lived up to that as well.
MISS: Kavell Conner was rated as a two star recruit in the 2005 class but last season as a Jr. , started all 13 games, led the tigers in tackles with 125, including six for loss and also had a sack.
HIT: Phillip Merling was rated as a four star recruit in the 2005 class, left after his Jr. season and was the first player selected in the 2nd round of the '08 NFL Draft.
MISS: Aaron Kelly was rated as a two star recruit in the 2004 class, yet went on to become Clemson's all-time leader in reception TD's and the ACC's all time reception leader.
HIT: DeAndre' McDaniel was rated as a four star recruit in the 2007 class and has become one of the Tigers' biggest play-makers on defense in just two years.
MISS: Gaines Adams was rated as a two star recruit in the 2002 class, yet tied the school record for career sacks and was the 4th player selected in the '07 NFL draft.
CURRENT RECRUIT AS RECRUITER- Coach Swinney remarked about how our current players are a big part of the recruiting process and can have a huge impact on new recruits. You hear many recruits talk about how current players made them feel welcome on campus when they visited and how the Clemson team felt like a family. If a recruit senses that camraderie while on campus and believes they can fit in, it goes a long way in getting that player to commit. In the case of Tajh Boyd, he may have even been recruited by a fellow recruit, WR Bryce McNeal. Several reports have indicated that McNeal and Boyd may have struck up a friendship at the All American game in San Antonio this year and postulated that it was one more reason for Boyd to come to Clemson.
A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR RECRUITING- Coach Swinney alluded to how difficult of a year it was in recruiting after the disarray that the program was in mid-season. Coach Bowden was out and although Swinney was named interim coach, there was no guarantee who the permanent coach would be since Clemson was interviewing several candidates. Combined with the debacle at the Georgia Dome and losses against MD and WF early on in the season, other programs had plenty of ammunition to use against our prospects, whether they were verbally committed or not. We did in fact "lose" a few recruits but Coach Swinney gave kudos to all the ones who hung in there with us through all of the turbulent times.
JEFF SCOTT IS NEW RECRUITING COORDINATOR- Jeff Scott will now hold the title of Recruiting Coordinator in addition to being Wide Receivers Coach. Billy Napier previously held the Recruiting Coordinator title but will now focus more on his duties as the newly promoted Offensive Coordinator. Scott played for the Tigers from '99-'02. In 2003, he became a graduate assistant, working with the defense. In 2006, he became the head football coach at Blythewood High School (SC), whom he led to the state championship in his first year. He was then hired as Wide Receivers Coach at Presbyterian in 2007 and then returned to Clemson.
MISS: Aaron Kelly was rated as a two star recruit in the 2004 class, yet went on to become Clemson's all-time leader in reception TD's and the ACC's all time reception leader.
HIT: DeAndre' McDaniel was rated as a four star recruit in the 2007 class and has become one of the Tigers' biggest play-makers on defense in just two years.
MISS: Gaines Adams was rated as a two star recruit in the 2002 class, yet tied the school record for career sacks and was the 4th player selected in the '07 NFL draft.
CURRENT RECRUIT AS RECRUITER- Coach Swinney remarked about how our current players are a big part of the recruiting process and can have a huge impact on new recruits. You hear many recruits talk about how current players made them feel welcome on campus when they visited and how the Clemson team felt like a family. If a recruit senses that camraderie while on campus and believes they can fit in, it goes a long way in getting that player to commit. In the case of Tajh Boyd, he may have even been recruited by a fellow recruit, WR Bryce McNeal. Several reports have indicated that McNeal and Boyd may have struck up a friendship at the All American game in San Antonio this year and postulated that it was one more reason for Boyd to come to Clemson.
A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR RECRUITING- Coach Swinney alluded to how difficult of a year it was in recruiting after the disarray that the program was in mid-season. Coach Bowden was out and although Swinney was named interim coach, there was no guarantee who the permanent coach would be since Clemson was interviewing several candidates. Combined with the debacle at the Georgia Dome and losses against MD and WF early on in the season, other programs had plenty of ammunition to use against our prospects, whether they were verbally committed or not. We did in fact "lose" a few recruits but Coach Swinney gave kudos to all the ones who hung in there with us through all of the turbulent times.
JEFF SCOTT IS NEW RECRUITING COORDINATOR- Jeff Scott will now hold the title of Recruiting Coordinator in addition to being Wide Receivers Coach. Billy Napier previously held the Recruiting Coordinator title but will now focus more on his duties as the newly promoted Offensive Coordinator. Scott played for the Tigers from '99-'02. In 2003, he became a graduate assistant, working with the defense. In 2006, he became the head football coach at Blythewood High School (SC), whom he led to the state championship in his first year. He was then hired as Wide Receivers Coach at Presbyterian in 2007 and then returned to Clemson.
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