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Ups and downs: Team rankings risers, fallers

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DallasJacksonClickMORE:KellytoNFL:What'stherecruitingimpact?HeretoviewthisLink.istheNationalColumnistforRivals.com.EmailhimyourcommentsorstoryideastoDallasJ@Yahoo-Inc.comClickMORE:KellytoNFL:What'stherecruitingimpact?HeretoviewthisLink.andfollowhimonTwitterClickMORE:KellytoNFL:What'stherecruitingimpact?HeretoviewthisLink..
Goodriddance,Chip.
ThatmightnotbethereactionofOregonfanswhoappreciatethefourstraightBCSbowlsChipKellyshepherded.But,thebottomlineis,hisdeparturetotheNFLgetstheprogramonestepclosertosomestability,andthatmightbebestfortheDucks'recruiting.
OregonfinishedwiththeNo.16classintheRivals.com2012rankings.ButwithjustthreeweeksuntilNationalSigningDay,theDuckssitatNo.44for2013.ThedropisnotthesteepestofFBS-levelautomaticqualifiers,butitraisesissuesastowhycertainschoolsareunderperforming.
Rivals.comnationalrecruitinganalystMikeFarrellsaidthatwhileKellyhadbeenthereasonkidscametoOregon,therumorsofhisdeparturewerestartingtoholdtheprogramback.
"LastyearitstartedtohurtalittlewhenhewasdealingwiththeTampaBayBuccaneersjob,anditjustgotworsethisyear,"Farrellsaid."Idon'tthinktheassistantswouldadmitit,butIthinkthateveryonewaslayinglowontherecruitingfrontbecausetheydidn'thavetheanswers.
"NowthatChiphasleft,itwillbeinterestingtoseeifkidsbuybackinorwaitandsee.Theuniformsandthefacilitiesarethingsthatkidslookatasbonuses,butthatoffenseisaplacetoshowcaseability,andOregonwillneedtoproveitcanstillbethatplace."
TheDuckswadedthroughthecoverageofKelly'sdecisionandrumorsaboutrecruits'de-commitmentswithoutanyactuallosses,butmanyhigh-profileplayersareconsideringtheiroptions.
Beaverton(Ore.)Alohafive-starrunningbackThomasTynersaidthathewasplanningonstayingput,butothertopprospectswerenotaswilling,sayingtheywouldtestthewaters.
TwinsTyreeandTyrellRobinsonofSanDiego(Calif.)LincolnsaidthatNotreDameandUSCwereimmediatelyinthemix,andjustaftertheKellyannouncementthepairtweetedthatOhioStatehadofferedthem.
DeSoto(Texas)HighrunningbackDontreWilsonsaidthathewasstayingcommittedbutwouldvisitOhioStateaswellasClemsonandthatNotreDamecouldbeinplay.
Wilson'scoach,ClaudeMathis,saidthatithasbeenoverwhelmingdealingwithallofthecalls.
"IcantellyoueverybodyfromtheMidwesttotheEastCoasttotheWestCoasthascontactedmetodayaboutDontreWilson.It'sbeenacrazydaytoday,"MathistoldRivals.com."EventhecoachesatTexas.EveryoneinstatesclosetoTexashavecontactedmeaswell.It'soneofthosethingswherehe'sahotcommodity,whichitshouldbe.Hecangetthejobdone.Iknowanyonewillbeveryfortunatetohavehimrightnow."
Farrellsaidthatholdingthoseguyswillbethekeytoensuringthatthebottomdoesn'tfalloutforOregon.
"Thisisaverytop-heavyclassandnotaverydeeponeatthat,"hesaid."OregonhastokeepTyner,WilsonandtheRobinsons--andIdon'tknowiftheycanornot--tonothavewhatsomecouldconsiderawastedclass."
Oregonisnotaloneinthefallfromgraceascomparedto2012,butofcoursethereareothersontherebound.Here'salookatfiveotherteamsontheslide,followedbyfivewhoaremakingasurprisingsurge:
FIVETEAMSONTHEFALL
TEXASTECHClickHeretoviewthisLink.:Down60spotsfromNo.26toNo.86
TheSkinny:Adisappointingseasononthefieldcombinedwithacoachwhowasnevertrulyembracedmadeittoughintheearlygoing.WhenTommyTubervilleskippedtownforCincinnati,itallbutstalledtheprocess.TexasTechisstillinatoughpositionasitisbeingpoachedandnothittingthetrailsthathard.
Quotable:"AbigpartoftheblamecanbelaidatthefeetofTommyTuberville.Hewasn'tdoingthatgreatinthefirstplaceandthenlefttheminareallybadspot.KliffKingsburywashiredatatimewhenitwastoughforhimtogetintouchwithrecruitsandhestilldoesn'thavehisstaffassembled.Tothatend,theyreallyhaven'tidentifiedthetypeofplayertheywanttorecruitletalonespecificplayersthattheyaregoingtotarget."--JasonHowell,Rivals.comMidlandsanalyst
MIAMIClickHeretoviewthisLink.:Down49spotsfromNo.9toNo.58
TheSkinny:Thisisadeceptiverankingastheclassdoeshavefivefour-starplayersamongits12commits.Itispurposelysmallandsothatisgoingtohurtcountingnumbers.AlGoldenistargetingplayersandthestaffisdoingasolidjobingettingplayersitwants.LandingAl-QuadinMuhammadfromRamsey(N.J.)DonBoscoaddressedthedefensiveline,whichwasnecessary.
Quotable:"Theyareself-sanctioning,sothenumbersaredownwhichresultsinwhatlookslikeabadclass,whenitreallyisn'tatall.TheyhavebeenwaitingontheNCAAforitsfindingsanditseemsasthoughtheNCAAisjustgoingtodragitoutaslongaspossibleandthatishurtingaswell.TheprogramcouldhaveplayedintheACCtitlegameanditcouldhaveplayedinabowlgameanditcouldhavemorecommits,butitishurtingitselfonpurposeinhopesofseeinglesserofficialsanctions."--MikeFarrell,Rivals.comnationalanalyst.
CINCINNATIClickHeretoviewthisLink.:Down47spotsfromNo.50toNo.97
TheSkinny:CincinnatiwasinaterriblestormofnegativityasithadalittlebitoftheChipKellysyndromewithButchJonesbeingrumoredforeveryopening.ItwasthenhitwithTommyTubervillecomingtoanareathathehadneverrecruitedbeforeandbasicallyignoringthecurrentclass.Thetriplewhammyisthatitisinaconferencethatisontheoutsidelookinginandmightnotbeofferaspottocompeteforanationaltitle.Allofthatequalsapredictablydrasticdrop.
Quotable:"LosingButchwasthebeginningofitall,butitwasjustthestartofwhatwasmuchworse.Tubervillehasnorelationshipswithcoachesinthisregionorplayersthatwereinthisclass,andsomanydidn'tlastlong.TheBigEastisnotaviableconferenceanymoreandsotherejustisn'tmuchtosellrightnow.Cincinnatiisthemostconcerningoftheseteamsbecauseitcouldstaydown."--MikeFarrell,Rivals.comnationalanalyst
STANFORDClickHeretoviewthisLink.:Down46spotsfromNo.5toNo.51
TheSkinny:Thisisasmallclassrightnowwithjust12commitments,andsothereisnoreasontopanic.Therearefourplayerswithfourstarsinthisclass,includingtwoU.S.ArmyAll-Americans:linebackerPeterKalambayiandquarterbackRyanBurns.Theclassmightstaysmallbutitwillstillhavethequalitythathasbeenexpectedfromtheprogram.
Quotable:"Stanfordisgoingtobefine.Theytakealongtimetogetkidsclearedforenrollmentandsofromthatendthingsjustmoveslower.DavidShawhasshownthathecanclosestrongandyouonlyneedtolooktolastyearwhenStanfordaddedfive-starsKyleMurphy,AndrusPeat,andAzizShittuonsigningday.Astrongfinishwillpushtheclassbacktoarespectableranking."-AdamGorney,Rivals.comWestCoastanalyst.
PURDUEClickHeretoviewthisLink.:Down43spotsfromNo.33toNo.76
TheSkinny:Purduedidnothavethetypeofseasonthatinspiresconfidence,asitfinishedwitha6-7recordandanewheadcoach.Therecruitingeffortswereupanddowninrecentyears,butthisNo.76spotislow.Theclass,likeMiamiandStanford's,onlyhas12commitments,butunlikethosetwoschoolstherearenotmultiplefour-starplayers.Thelonefour-starcommitisDannyEtlingfromTerreHaute(Ind.)SouthVigo.Therearenearlyasmanytwo-starsasthree-starplayers.
Quotable:"Purdueisateamthatneedstogoinandmineoutplayerfromareasthatotherschoolsoftenoverlookanditjustdidn'thappenthisyearwiththeseasontheyhadandknowingthatthecoachwasonhiswayout.IthinkthatDarrellHazellwillgetbacktodoingthatandsogoingforwardIammoreoptimistic.ThiswasjustayearwithNotreDamebeingeliteandIndianarecruitingoveritsheadthatitwasgoingtokeepsqueezingoutplayersfromPurdueandultimatelythatiswhathappened."--MikeFarrell,Rivals.comnationalanalyst.
FIVETEAMSONTHERISE
KANSASClickHeretoviewthisLink.:up39spotstoNo.35fromNo.74
TheSkinny:Kansassufferedthrougha1-11seasonwithitslonevictorycomingagainstSouthDakotaState.Itwasheldto17pointsorfewerinsevengamesandCharlieWeisdidnotlooklikeacoachwhowasreadytoleadaprogram.Allofthat,somehow,madeplayerswanttocometotheschoolandithaspushedtheclassintotheTop40nationallywithjustthreeweeksleftuntilNationalSigningDay.
Quotable:"Kansasiskillingitwithjuniorcollegekidsrightnow,almosttakingapagefromKansasStateinthatrespect.JUCOkidsareobsessedwithgettingtothenextlevelandtheylookatKansasandseeaplacewithimmediateplayingtime.TheyseeCharlieWeisandhisSuperBowlringsandthinkthatthisisaplacethatcangetthemtothenextlevel.BeingabletohelpsomeoftheseguysgettherewilllikelydetermineifthiskindofapproachcanbesustainedatKansas."-RobCassidy,Rivals.comWestregionanalyst
IOWASTATEClickHeretoviewthisLink.:up37spotstoNo.50fromNo.87
TheSkinny:OnehastogobacktoEarleBrucefrom1973-78tofindacoachatIowaStatetoleavewithawinningrecord.Throughfourseasons,PaulRhoadsisascloseasanyonehascomebeingjustthreegamesunderandyes,thatisthegoodnews.ThecombinationofanimprovedproductonthefieldandIowabeingdownthelastfewseasonsisstartingtomakeitspullinrecruiting.IowaStatestillisn'tajuggernautbutitisfightingforrespectability.
Quotable:"PaulRhoadsisprovingtobeareallygoodcoachandsomeonethatkidsbelievein.LandingJakeCamposfromanin-statepower[WestDesMoines(Iowa)Valley]wasabigstatementbecauseheisthetypeofkidthateithergoestoIowaorgoessomewhereelse.Ifhecankeepgettingguyslikethatoncampusitwillstartacyclethatfeedsitself."--MikeFarrell,Rivals.comnationalanalyst.
ILLINOISClickHeretoviewthisLink.:up33spotstoNo.31fromNo.64
TheSkinny:ThisisashockerofaclassforIllinois.Theprogramwasterribleonthefieldthisyear,limpingtoa2-10seasonwithwinsagainstWesternMichiganandCharlestonSouthern.ItisalsoabigofasurpriseasRonZookwasmostknownforbeingagoodrecruiterandlosinghimwouldhavefiguredtohurtrecruiting.CredithastobegiventoTimBeckmanforthesuccess.
Quotable:"Beckmanisveryenergeticandifyouhaveeverbeenaroundhim,youkindoffeedofhispassionandthatreallydoesfeedintorecruiting.HepickedupinsomeofthestrongholdsthatZookhadandexpandedhisboundaries.UsuallywhenteamssuchasNotreDame,OhioStateandMichiganarerecruitingwell--liketheyarethisyear--itisusuallyIllinoisthatfeelsthemostpain.Butthisclassisshapinguptobeprettyimpressive."--MikeFarrell,Rivals.comnationalanalyst
KENTUCKYClickHeretoviewthisLink.:up25spotstoNo.37fromNo.62
TheSkinny:MarkStoops.Plainandsimple.WhatStoopshasbeenabletodosincehisarrivaloncampushaspiledontotheso-sorecruitingthatwasbeingdonebyJokerPhillips.Hehasre-doubledhiseffortsonkidswhowereonthefenceandhasmadearunatplayerswhowerenotinitiallyinterestinKentuckyandgotthem.ThereisabuzzinLexingtonnowandthisisaclassthatisshowingitalready.
Quotable:"Partofthisriseisjustarecentrun,becausebeforeMarkStoopsgottherethiswasaprettydownclass.Hegotacoupleofhigh-profilejuniorcollegeplayersincludingfour-starZa'DariusSmith,andthenwentintoOhioandgotthreekids,JaleelHytchye,KyleMeadowsandLovellPeterson.Ithinkthathefoundaperfectplanandisgoingafterit.Hedidn'tgiveuponthisclassandisshowinghecangetplayersintoKentucky."-WoodyWomack,Rivals.comSoutheasternregionanalyst
OLE MISSClick Here to view this Link.: up 23 spots to No. 17 from No. 40
The Skinny: Ole Miss is actually tied with North Carolina, Arizona and West Virginia with a 23-spot gain from last year, but the safe bet is that Ole Miss is about to skyrocket and may even end up inside the Top 10. The rumors circling Robert Nkemdiche -- the nation's No. 1 overall player -- have only helped with the interest of other major prospects. The Rebels lead for five-star receiver Laquon Treadwell who will announce his choice Thursday, and four-star Antonio Conner is also looking like a strong Ole Miss lean. Four-star defensive end Elijah Daniel could be the next in the line to fall, pushing this class toward the top of the rankings.
Quotable: "Hugh Freeze is a tremendous coach and really a good recruiter. It is impossible to underestimate the Nkemdiche effect. It doesn't even matter if Robert goes there because the buzz that he is creating is helping the staff sell the program. Two months of that kind of attention is only good. Nkedmiche isn't like Dorial Green-Beckham last year, where he was tied to a bunch of schools and none could use him to sell. People have assumed Robert to Ole Miss so Ole Miss can run with it." -- Mike Farrell, Rivals.com national analyst.
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Dallas Jackson is the High School Football analyst for Rivals.com. Email him your question, comment or story ideas to DallasJ@Yahoo-Inc.com and follow him on Twitter.
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