[socalstanfan1]

Thinking about this year's class vs. previous classes:  to some degree we will begin to find that the advantage of being a top-notch team is mitigated, just a little, by the amount of talent that was brought in that made us a top school in the first place.  If athletes are looking for places they can play right away, some may shy away from a team that seems loaded with guys in front of them.  We might get an OL or DL this cycle, but whoever comes in better be great if they want to get on the field.  Obviously this is a good problem to have, but when you combine it with the tough academic standards, some may shy away.

It may also be worthwhile to think of these three recruiting classes, ('12, '13, '14) as a cluster and see how they look come 15 months from now, after signing day 2014.  If we have a top-5 class in 2012, and a small class that still has some impact players in 2013, followed by another blockbuster class in 2014, then I think all is well.  This is just one of those years when, for whatever reason, things didn't quite fall our way.  (Of course, I haven't given up on landing a few top recruits, like Johnny Johnson and Jordan Cunningham and Devon Allen, and turning this into a small but great class.)  If a lot of these students who are interested for 2014 fall through, then I'll start to be concerned.

Finally, recruiting classes are like draft classes in the NFL.  Sometimes those that look great on paper don't turn out that way on the field, and those that seem, well, "meh" at the time they take place end up being fantastic.  Really, did anyone seriously think that Ed Reynolds would turn out as excellently as he has when he signed?  Or Ben Gardner?  Or Terrance Brown?  None of these guys was highly regarded when they signed.  All are now starters and major contributors to the best D in the Pac-12, and perhaps in the country.  I'll reserve my judgment on the class of 2013 for a year or so after they find their way to campus.

[socalstanfan1]

Thinking about this year's class vs. previous classes:  to some degree we will begin to find that the advantage of being a top-notch team is mitigated, just a little, by the amount of talent that was brought in that made us a top school in the first place.  If athletes are looking for places they can play right away, some may shy away from a team that seems loaded with guys in front of them.  We might get an OL or DL this cycle, but whoever comes in better be great if they want to get on the field.  Obviously this is a good problem to have, but when you combine it with the tough academic standards, some may shy away.

It may also be worthwhile to think of these three recruiting classes, ('12, '13, '14) as a cluster and see how they look come 15 months from now, after signing day 2014.  If we have a top-5 class in 2012, and a small class that still has some impact players in 2013, followed by another blockbuster class in 2014, then I think all is well.  This is just one of those years when, for whatever reason, things didn't quite fall our way.  (Of course, I haven't given up on landing a few top recruits, like Johnny Johnson and Jordan Cunningham and Devon Allen, and turning this into a small but great class.)  If a lot of these students who are interested for 2014 fall through, then I'll start to be concerned.

Finally, recruiting classes are like draft classes in the NFL.  Sometimes those that look great on paper don't turn out that way on the field, and those that seem, well, "meh" at the time they take place end up being fantastic.  Really, did anyone seriously think that Ed Reynolds would turn out as excellently as he has when he signed?  Or Ben Gardner?  Or Terrance Brown?  None of these guys was highly regarded when they signed.  All are now starters and major contributors to the best D in the Pac-12, and perhaps in the country.  I'll reserve my judgment on the class of 2013 for a year or so after they find their way to campus.