Numbers Crunch: Tennessee building blocks
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Sporting a .500 record is easier when your recruiting class includes one five-star and 11 four-star prospects. The fact that the Vols signed college football's No. 5 class a year ago also inspires confidence in Knoxville. A 3-3 start a year from now won't be acceptable to Tennessee fans, especially because it seems Butch Jones and company have assembled the talent to compete at a high level in the SEC. Recruiting can buy goodwill. In fact, it can purchase a ton of it. This is the last year that people will shrug their shoulders and move on if the product on the field isn't Tennessee-like.
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12
Mississippi State's current recruiting ranking.
Dan Mullen has things looking up at Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs' highest ever finish is 17th in 2002, and there's no reason why they can't eclipse that mark easily come signing day. Success in the SEC has a way of attracting top talent and a shiny No. 1 ranking magnifies the effect. Selling Starkville is difficult, sure. But selling it when everything is rolling on the football field is a lot easier. A losing streak down the stretch or head coach Dan Mullen being strongly linked to another job might be the only thing capable of killing the momentum Mississippi State has built on the recruiting trail.
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2.5
The average current recruiting ranking for Clemson (2) and South Carolina (3).
The previous best year for recruiting in the state of South Carolina was 2007, when the Gamecocks and Tigers finished No. 6 and No. 16, respectively, for an average finish of 11. Florida and Florida State set the record for the highest average finish by two teams from the same state in 2006, when the Seminoles and Gators combined for an average finish of 2.5, which matches Clemson and South Carolina's current combined ranking.
17
Number of Notre Dame's last 18 road games against power conference opponents that have been televised nationally in primetime.
What does this mean? Not much. Only that Notre Dame is probably still more important to the national conversation that some want to believe. The Irish are still a national draw. Networks aren't into sacrificing ratings in the name of some wacky conspiracy. There's a reason Brian Kelly's program finds itself on in prime time so often. Whatever the reason, people are enamored with Notre Dame and that doesn't much change because of record. Now, being "important" -- whatever that even means -- matters not in the long run. It's just that the people claiming Notre Dame isn't relevant are likely still watching.
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8
KD Cannon's strong start at Baylor has surely caught the eye of prospects.
The Longhorns, Red Raiders and Aggies are a combined 4-8 in conference play this season. And while it's too small a sample size to assume one of more of the programs will suffer a recruiting hit because of slow starts, the opportunity in front of undefeated Baylor seems obvious.
The Bears have already taken some steps forward recruiting-wise, but a run to the College Football Playoff combined with the misfortunes of other in-state programs could provide another, larger jolt of momentum. The fact that highly ranked wide receiver KD Cannon is having a spectacular freshman season in Waco is also a selling point to other top-level prospects. Things seem to be aligning perfectly for Baylor to further develop its brand with national recruits.
7
Points by which hapless Kansas lost to Oklahoma State under the leadership of interim head coach Clint Bowen.
Is it progress? It sure looks like it. A decent-at-best Oklahoma State team didn't blow out the Jayhawks, and that's certainly a nice little perk for KU fans. But any speculation that the close loss was a bullet point for Bowen's resume in a quest to land the gig long term is misguided. Major college football teams, regardless of record, shouldn't be looking to hire coaches that almost win.
3
Consecutive years Florida has landed a top-10 prospect, the nation's longest streak.
With Will Muschamp's seat getting hotter by the day, stretching that streak out to four years may be tricky. The Gators will almost certainly need to land No. 1 overall prospect Byron Cowart in order to keep its run alive. And while doing so is by no means impossible, it's not a done deal, either.
Cowart, who plans to announce his commitment on Jan. 2, once publicly named Oregon as his leader but has since backed off that stance. The Gators have been a serious player in his recruitment since the jump, and his Nov. 15 visit to Gainesville, as well as how the administration plays the Muschamp situation, will mean everything to his recruitment.
Rob Cassidy
Midlands/Southwest Recruiting Analyst
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