So, what is the overall feeling about the current recruiting class?

I'm just wondering how everyone is feeling about the current recruiting class.

I've never been a stargazer, but I will say that Bama's class definitely looks bit overwhelming. I know it doesn't always translate on the field, but, man, it looks like they're putting together a damn fine class.

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about our class yet. For the last few years, everyone has been hyping this year as the best recruiting class in LA since the invention of football. It would be incorrect to say that I'm disappointed, because that's not the case, but for some reason I feel a bit..........underwhelmed, I guess.

I feel good about the fact that we are filling positions of need. I'm extremely glad we got Mettenberger ( though I would rather have gotten Bridgewater or others over Rivers ) I'm disappointed about Hill and Robinson.

Obviously we're putting together some monster D-Linemen and a few awesome O-Linemen. We've got a great WR in Landry and 1 or 2 other great athletes.

The scholarship reduction hurts, though, and for some reason, I just feel like either we're not getting the overall quality that we have in years past, or possibly my expectations were a bit too high and I simply expected the overall quality to be higher.

Maybe I'm just concerned about our Offensive performance and our lack of Defensive consistency over the past few years. Many of our games were very close this year and I know we're going to have to really recruit well to compete with Florida, Bama, Auburn, Arkansas, and even Miss State and to a somewhat lesser extent Ole Miss.

I dunno. I'm very happy about some things, but I guess the best way to put it is that with all the hype, I felt like this class would help to quell many of my concerns, but I'm not sure its done so.......yet. I guess I just haven't really formulated an overall feeling about where this class is going and what I think about it just yet.

SO........How about you? What are your feelings about the Recruiting class of 2011? How do you feel about what has happened so far, what you expect will happen in the coming 7-8 weeks, and about how it has matched up with your hopes and/or expectations?

 

The quality is there for us...it is just a vastly underrated class in the rankings for some reason. A example would be the class 2 years ago. The class was looking pretty good, then all of a sudden we got several guys with big boosts. Like Faulk. This year was heralded as the best class ever in Louisiana and I don't think it is changing. A lot of guys are underrated on the recruiting sites and I think it has a lot to do with the South is loaded this year, not just Louisiana. With that being said, the class doesn't yet have the swagger I expected with the loss of guys like Hill, Robinson and Sylve. If we can land someone like Jernigan and the guys we expect, this probably will be the best class ever though.

I expect to see several of our guys get boosts in the rankings, especially after their bowl performances so far. Freak/Jernigan not being 5 stars on Rivals is the biggest joke right now, IMO. I don't expect Freak to get the boost because he is in the UA game. Jernigan might since he is in the AA and destroying everyone(as I expected).

 

The needs are being addressed in amazing fashion, except I'm a little worried about LB.

I think people are gonna be surprised with Rivers, and Mett should be a home run. This is just me personally, but I don't want anymore "dual threat" QBs. I like the fact that Les seems to be focusing on a particular plan, and putting the pieces together to make that particular plan work.
Pro style QBs, big RBs, big OL, etc...

I just can't understand why with Chavis here, we can't seem to attract more LB recruits.

Magee is extremely underated, and that goes for others such as Eugene and Austin. But I don't see how anyone can complain with Hilliard, Freak, Collins, Trai Turner, Jarvis Landry, et al coming in. This is an amazing class...and it's still too early to count out the likes of Jernigan, Drew, and even Hill...although I'd rather see a big time LB than Hill at this point.

 

I do believe each class has a way of generating their own excitement. Bama and the 2008 class had that dynamic feel that the 2009 number one group didn't.

We finish with some 5 star, cherry picking type of cream of the cream, that's what it takes to get that special feeling.

 

I really Like the class...I think it's a QUALITY class, looks like nice talent in areas of need, gonna be a little downplayed because of only 23 taken, compared to alot of teams taken 28 to 30.

 

This will be the best class since 2001 and I would not go so far as to that it won't be better. The stars are off on a lot of these kids and perhaps that's because so many committed early and so many will be playing different positions once they get on campus in Baton Rouge. No doubt though that this is a fantastic group of not "athletes", but "football players".

There are only four more slots to fill:

20) Odell Beckham, Jr.
21) Jemauria Rasco
22) Jeremy Hill
23) Surprise! (Jernigan? Drew?)

 

Said it in another thread but man, Jarvis Landry really impressed me at the under armor practice. I can't believe this kid's hands, I don't think I have ever seen better at that age.

 

I have to admit, I'm a little underwhelmed too. Granted, we have limited numbers to work with, but I just felt like the Louisiana class hasn't lived up to the hype. Maybe that's just because these guys are underrated, though.

I would have been a lot happier if that last spot had been Greg Robinson. Seems like there are several 4* LA prospects that we didn't go after very hard or even at all, which perplexes me a little, but I'll trust the coaches know what they are doing.

 

That's because so many signed so early. We've been sitting on a top class for awhile now so the excitement of adding these guys has already passed. Put it this way: Even with Greg Robinson and let's say adding Jeremy Hill, AU's class still wouldn't be as good as LSU's.