FB Recruiting Has UK's 2014 class been a disappointment?

[JRowland]

Lot of talk recently over whether UK's 2014 recruiting class has been a disappointment. So I did a detailed player-for-player look, breaking down the career thus far for every person in that class.

You can read it here if you'd like.

My conclusions:

-- For a class with 10 four-star players, there is not currently as much 'star power' on the roster as you would hope for.
-- However, the class has netted UK more contributors and starters (or future starters, e.g. Stallings) than its often given credit for.
-- There is slightly more attrition than is average in a class (dismissals, recruited over/transfers, didn't love the sport, etc)
-- Some guys are really tough for me to judge (e.g. Drew Barker, Darius West, Kobie Walker, etc) because it's either too early to say, because of injuries, or because (as in the case of someone like Dorian Baker, for instance) their struggles may or may not be linked to broader problems they're a part of but not solely responsible for.

But the biggest conclusion:

-- That class was ranked No. 18 nationally. If people expected one recruiting class ranked No. 18 to change the world, the SEC landscape and UK's place in it, they were mistaken. For a lot of SEC schools a No. 18 finish would be a disappointment. You have to do it year after year.

 

[docholiday51]

We haven't got the mileage out of this class that we might have expected.One way to measure this is are we winning the games we are supposed to win,if you consider Vandy last year and Sou. Miss this year the answer is no.I understand you can't lay this at the feet of one class but if we had won those two games think how different things would look right now.

 

[JRowland]

good point

 

[Mr Schwump]

Biggest disappointment for me in this class is the OL recruits minus Stallings who is really progressing nicely. Who knew that Richardson and Krok would give up the game and LaRubbio would have a significant injury? That's just bad luck.

As for the ranking of the class. I've said many times that the rest of the SEC didn't stop recruiting just because UK finally decided to start. Just have to keep going, hopefully they are.

 

[reflaine]

this class still has at least one more year. Football players in general don't develope as fast as other sports. The reason we return so much next year is this class has been asked to play early and often. They haven't had the luxury of watching experienced upperclassman do it the right way.

Braxton Kelly had Wesley Woodyard to look up to. This class didn't have that. They were brought in after the Cobb years and when talent was at a bare minimizing of a football team, let alone in the sec.

Last year everyone was onto Dorian Baker and I was also. But it's hard to understand the ropes when you have to learn them yourself. This class hasn't been a disappointment but hasn't been great. At 18th national put them in the bottom quarter of the sec.

If this class plays like they are capable before end of next year they could be the class that still got the ball rolling. Let's let them get out of here before we judge.

 

[football follies]

@rowland how many current players from that class got a RS?

 

[WildCard]

The last sentence of the article summed it up nicely...

It's too early to write the class off as a disappointment, but it's true that three years into those players' time in Lexington there probably isn't as much current production as most expected.​

As for attrition, the actual number of 2014 losses is right in line with "number of expected losses" as reflected in the NCAA scholarship limits (i.e., not more than 25/year and no more than 85 on scholarship at once). IOW, over a 5 year period 125 scholarships can be offered but never more than 85 can be maintained. That is a difference of 40 players over a 5 year run or "anticipated attrition" of 8 per year. Not counting JUCOs who finished their eligibility, I believe UK has now lost 9 players from the 25 HS-ers in that 2014 class.

Unlike basketball, on field success is always the result of a mesh of talents assimilated over multiple years. One great recruiting class, by itself, seldom reverses the fortunes of historically losing program.

But it can serve as a foundation upon which to build for the future. And that is where UK is today and the underscores the importance of securing at least a 6 win season in this staff's 4th year. Winning 6 and making a minor bowl (based strongly on the contributions of the remaining 2014 class) will indicate "the class is good, the team is improving" and create a "legitimate expectation" for 2017. That's how you build a program. But another 5 win season...not so much.

Peace

 

[ukalum1988]

Just curious whatever happened to Snodgrass?

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Lot of talk recently over whether UK's 2014 recruiting class has been a disappointment. So I did a detailed player-for-player look, breaking down the career thus far for every person in that class.

You can read it here if you'd like.

My conclusions:

-- For a class with 10 four-star players, there is not currently as much 'star power' on the roster as you would hope for.
-- However, the class has netted UK more contributors and starters (or future starters, e.g. Stallings) than its often given credit for.
-- There is slightly more attrition than is average in a class (dismissals, recruited over/transfers, didn't love the sport, etc)
-- Some guys are really tough for me to judge (e.g. Drew Barker, Darius West, Kobie Walker, etc) because it's either too early to say, because of injuries, or because (as in the case of someone like Dorian Baker, for instance) their struggles may or may not be linked to broader problems they're a part of but not solely responsible for.

But the biggest conclusion:

-- That class was ranked No. 18 nationally. If people expected one recruiting class ranked No. 18 to change the world, the SEC landscape and UK's place in it, they were mistaken. For a lot of SEC schools a No. 18 finish would be a disappointment. You have to do it year after year.

One class won't make a good football team, but having one bad class can do a good bit of damage, not at the time, but 4 years down the road when a class is suppose to be your senior leadership and it was a complete bust its pretty damaging. Richt signed his worst class in 13, it was a huge class because we played the 12 season with 67 kids o scholarship. We signed 31, but in that class, we signed 1 of the top 10 kids in Georgia. Out of the 31 we have 3 who are contributing, it was a disaster of a class where we missed on everyone instate, except 1 and he was dismissed before the start of his soph year. Talent wise we can overcome, but you can't overcome the lack of maturity and leadership lost with a class like that.

 

[Mr Schwump]

Just curious whatever happened to Snodgrass?

Transferred to Lackawanna CC in PA but is no longer listed on their roster.

 

[CB3UK]

This is why it's so critical to show progress this season. Recruit will take a permanent dive for this staff if they don't get the W's fixed this season.

 

[JRowland]

@rowland how many current players from that class got a RS?

I count 15.

 

[megablue]

Ten (10) incoming Freshmen from the 2014 class are gone, including seven (7) from Ohio. It remains to be seen where Horton ends up, but the others transferred to MAC schools, JUCO or quit the game. They were not properly evaluated during the recruitment process, it seems.

Jared Tucker (GA), T. V. Williams (TX) and Tubman (KY) were the other three (3).

 

[BoNicholas]

I'll take Brookes' 70th ranked class of two stars that developed every year over the 18th ranked class where half leave and the rest are about the same as Juniors and seniors as they are a freshman.

 

[K_TIME]

Lets be honest if all you get out of an 18th rated class at UK where we didn't exactly have a stacked roster to compete with is the following (it isn't a good sign):
- Boom is a star RB to me
- Ware looks like he'll be a top pass rusher for UK for 3 years
- Juice has been a very productive slot WR from day one
- Mike Edwards may become a really solid safety...had a rough start to this year

Meh results:
- Stallings has played this year and may take C spot when Toth leaves
- Middleton/Dubose may play alot but don't look like upper end SEC guys yet....maybe they develop into steady DL
- Dorian Baker...has the look of a guy that is passed up
- Drew Barker...if he misses this year and SJohnson take the QB job for this/next year...he'll move to bust status given the QB play we've had at UK in his era

Bust:
Elam, Krok, Richardson, LaRubbio, Tubman, Snodgrass, TV Williams,Darryl Long, Firios, Hendrix, etc...

And that is it (3 players that play at top end) and 1 really solid and a handful are steady guys but not standout and the rest wash out and never help on roster....hard to call that a success no matter how you slice it. It isn't like UK has had some great DL/OL squads, QB play has been poor, LBer play, etc.. in the 4 years period these guys have been at UK.

 

[TBCat]

Lets be honest if all you get out of an 18th rated class at UK where we didn't exactly have a stacked roster to compete with is the following (it isn't a good sign):
- Boom is a star RB to me
- Ware looks like he'll be a top pass rusher for UK for 3 years
- Juice has been a very productive slot WR from day one
- Mike Edwards may become a really solid safety...had a rough start to this year

Meh results:
- Stallings has played this year and may take C spot when Toth leaves
- Middleton/Dubose may play alot but don't look like upper end SEC guys yet....maybe they develop into steady DL
- Dorian Baker...has the look of a guy that is passed up
- Drew Barker...if he misses this year and SJohnson take the QB job for this/next year...he'll move to bust status given the QB play we've had at UK in his era

Bust:
Elam, Krok, Richardson, LaRubbio, Tubman, Snodgrass, TV Williams,Darryl Long, Firios, Hendrix, etc...

And that is it (3 players that play at top end) and 1 really solid and a handful are steady guys but not standout and the rest wash out and never help on roster....hard to call that a success no matter how you slice it. It isn't like UK has had some great DL/OL squads, QB play has been poor, LBer play, etc.. in the 4 years period these guys have been at UK.

I'd move Elam from bust to Meh level. He hasn't been the star that many expected but he has atleast been as good as Middleton and Dubose.

 

[GoCatsForever2k15]

Lets be honest if all you get out of an 18th rated class at UK where we didn't exactly have a stacked roster to compete with is the following (it isn't a good sign):
- Boom is a star RB to me
- Ware looks like he'll be a top pass rusher for UK for 3 years
- Juice has been a very productive slot WR from day one
- Mike Edwards may become a really solid safety...had a rough start to this year

Meh results:
- Stallings has played this year and may take C spot when Toth leaves
- Middleton/Dubose may play alot but don't look like upper end SEC guys yet....maybe they develop into steady DL
- Dorian Baker...has the look of a guy that is passed up
- Drew Barker...if he misses this year and SJohnson take the QB job for this/next year...he'll move to bust status given the QB play we've had at UK in his era

Bust:
Elam, Krok, Richardson, LaRubbio, Tubman, Snodgrass, TV Williams,Darryl Long, Firios, Hendrix, etc...

And that is it (3 players that play at top end) and 1 really solid and a handful are steady guys but not standout and the rest wash out and never help on roster....hard to call that a success no matter how you slice it. It isn't like UK has had some great DL/OL squads, QB play has been poor, LBer play, etc.. in the 4 years period these guys have been at UK.

West

 

[K_TIME]

I'd move Elam from bust to Meh level. He hasn't been the star that many expected but he has atleast been as good as Middleton and Dubose.

Really? From seeing 4 games this year...Middleton makes more plays than Elam. ( 9 tackles to Elam 4 tackles...and Elam has played way more snaps in first 2 games).

 

[BoNicholas]

Elam has been a bust. If his name wasn't Elam he wouldn't be playing. He belongs at Eastern or Oline. If guy won't lose weight he's never going to get there.