One interesting observation between CBB vs HDN recruiting

[Dropkick]

We'll see how it pans out. But having those 4 scholarships full would be better than nothing. You never know how one or any or all of those guys we could have offered but didn't would have turned out. Poor strategy by CBB.

What if we used the last scholarships on reaches and then a Ricky Town type player is looking for a new home.

[Dropkick]

I've read a couple people on here today talk about it being ok to lose 4 players on signing day to bigger schools. In a way I agree with that but in a way I don't.  Another poster said Nutt would win recruiting battles against Sun Belt schools and CBB is finally recruiting against big schools.

The problem I see with CBB philosophy this year is that he's got about 4 empty scholarships or 3 if you count offering the walk-on guard today who didn't have to be offered because he was gonna be on the roster anyway.  That's potentially another OL, secondary player, or both we could have used which I think we are short in. In the SEC there are 2 units you have to be adequate or you're not beating anyone in the conference, Offensive line, and secondary.   Offensive line is the backbone of being able to move the ball. Secondary is your last line of defense in keeping people out of the endzone. QB's, RB's, and WR's are a dime a dozen and can transfer in at any time because they aren't playing where they're at. You can also compete with below average LB and DL. An OL can make every other unit on the field better and keep the defense rested.  A secondary can turn on the jets and run someone down because he's the only one in the play who can.

I don't necessarily think we have to be losing recruiting battles on signing day to LSU, Texas or Florida , or any home state schools to be successful. We do have to have as many adequate players as we can find for the roster at key positions. If he's here a year and he's not working out and can be replaced that's fine. But there's no doubt it's a mistake in strategy to have this many empty scholarships. Somewhere out there, are 3 guys that signed with the Sun Belt or Conference USA that could have helped the program.

[Oklahawg]

There is always talented transfers and walkons inside the program that deserve it more than just throwing around schollies. So don't agree.

The graduate transfer rule was not in effect for Nutt, IIRC. It joins a number of issues that are not equitable comparisons but Nutt wins in most of those cases (ie, number of scholarships that could be offered, JUCO transfer rules in SEC, easier competition in the middle of the overall conference if not in your own division as well).

[cardinalandwhite]

Agreed

However, I was asking about hard recruiting stats.

If you're going to look at "hard recruiting stats" (whatever that is), you'd better be honest enough to only look at players that made it to campus. That may not fit the narrative of the op, though.

An integral part of CBB's system is retention and coaching. He mentioned Jake Hall from Har-Ber  (right?) as a player who would need to be in the program for a while, but whom he expected to be a big player for them his last two years here. That's an uncommon approach in the SEC, but it works. Furthermore, it's what we have to do to build a monster without major bagman game.

Bottom line is that Bielema is looking 5 years out and 5 years back recruiting, all while seeing how the young fellas on campus perform throughout the year. We aren't. Did we miss some impact playerso late? Yes. Did we still reel in a solid class that is helping to develop the monster CBB wants to build here? Absolutely.

[Tusks]

How can anyone be hootie fan, I mean WTH are you smoking cause I'd like some.

[HogFoo]

I've read a couple people on here today talk about it being ok to lose 4 players on signing day to bigger schools. In a way I agree with that but in a way I don't.  Another poster said Nutt would win recruiting battles against Sun Belt schools and CBB is finally recruiting against big schools.

The problem I see with CBB philosophy this year is that he's got about 4 empty scholarships or 3 if you count offering the walk-on guard today who didn't have to be offered because he was gonna be on the roster anyway.  That's potentially another OL, secondary player, or both we could have used which I think we are short in. In the SEC there are 2 units you have to be adequate or you're not beating anyone in the conference, Offensive line, and secondary.   Offensive line is the backbone of being able to move the ball. Secondary is your last line of defense in keeping people out of the endzone. QB's, RB's, and WR's are a dime a dozen and can transfer in at any time because they aren't playing where they're at. You can also compete with below average LB and DL. An OL can make every other unit on the field better and keep the defense rested.  A secondary can turn on the jets and run someone down because he's the only one in the play who can.

I don't necessarily think we have to be losing recruiting battles on signing day to LSU, Texas or Florida , or any home state schools to be successful. We do have to have as many adequate players as we can find for the roster at key positions. If he's here a year and he's not working out and can be replaced that's fine. But there's no doubt it's a mistake in strategy to have this many empty scholarships. Somewhere out there, are 3 guys that signed with the Sun Belt or Conference USA that could have helped the program.

So let me get this straight.   You think that we should basically have just filled the 4 scholarships we had left even if it was just with  just lower caliber recruits that sun belt teams would perhaps have barely wanted  right?  Come on man.  So you dont think we should see what graduate transfers might be out there? Or even what players that didnt sign yesterday and are still out there?   You are basing the whole " comparison "  on the whole premise that Nutt would have just filled those positions just to fill them?    Sounds to me like u should trust what Bielema is doing more and not give a shizz what Nutt  did or does.  Cuz apparently the Ole miss cheating leads all the way back to when he was coaching there.

[thefisher]

....You can't develop what can't enroll.  That should be sufficient.

Most applicable and accurate line of this thread. On point sir!