I seem to remember this being discussed before, but couldn't find it with a search. 05 Class, according to Rivals. Kyle Anderson TE 3 star - Kicked off the team Darry Beckwith LB 4 star - Future first day pick, All-SEC Caliber MLB Ciron Black OL 3 star - will be a 4 year starter, All-SEC Caliber LT Chris Hawkins DB 4 star - Unknown, may start next year Lyle Hitt DT 3 star - starting RG, good but not spectacular Trindon Holliday ATH 3 star - Game breaker, All-SEC caliber KR R.J. Jackson ATH 4 star - Hasn't been the same since injury. Now a WR Ricky Jean-Francois DE 4 star - First round potential, must keep academics in order. All-SEC potential. Al Jones (Rahim Alem) DE 4 star - 2nd string DE, has shown potential Steven Korte RB 4 star - Transferred Brandon LaFell WR 3 star - starting WR, high potential but not complete WR right now Ryan Perrilloux QB 5 star - SECCG MVP, should finish career strong Antonio Robinson RB 4 star - Transferred So, with a class of 13 and in 3 years, we've gotten 6 starters out of it so far (RP will make it 7 next year - 54%). The class has produced 4 All-SEC caliber players (31%), and 5 players who could be drafted on the first day (DB, CB, RJF, BL, RP) (38%). Plus 3 players who transferred or were kicked off the team (23%). Most of this class has 2 years of eligibility left (all except Beckwith), which may see Rahim Alem & Chris Hawkins become starters, and more players exceed current expectations. Overall, I have to say a very good class - especially considering how little time Miles had to get it together. Any time over 25% of a class is a possible first day pick/All-SEC caliber player, you've done a good job. 50% starters and 20% leaving the team are probably about average.
The class was ranked in the 20's due to the low number of commits, but the average star rating was around 3rd best in the country I'm pretty sure.
LSU's 2005 class was ranked 22nd by Rivals with only 13 commits. Only 4 other teams had a star rating greater than LSU's 3.69.
By contrast Saban's 2003 class produced: 7 potential first day picks/All-SEC Caliber players (Broussard & Arnold will not be due to injuries) (25%). 54% of the players became starters. And by my memory, 6 players that left the team early (21%). Very comparable with a slight edge to the '05 class. We'll have to wait for these guys to graduate for a true comparison.
Just some other info, Miles' second class (2006) doesn't look like it will turn out as well. A bright spot of the class were the RBs: Murphy, Scott, and Keiland. It's too early to tell which (if not all) of these will be stars, but all of them have the potential to be great. On the other hand, the WR class of Dixon & the Mitchells appears to be a big dissapointment. All were 4 stars & none look to make an impact. LBs are an unknown right now (but we'll find out next year). Richard Dickson is an All-SEC caliber TE, probably the best player out of the class right now. 9 of the players either didn't make it into school or have been kicked off the team.
And because I'm bored, a little info on the '07 class. I see three or four first rounders from this class already: Drake Nevis, Demetrius Byrd, Terrance Toliver, and Chad Jones.
Let's just hope that the Mitchell boys can develop into better players during the spring and summer...I see more potential in Jared than Chris...Scott and Williams will be great next year, I don't know about Murphy.
