More to the story on Sunday's recruiting piece

Wednesday is national signing day, and in preparation for it, my colleague, BGSU beat writer John Wagner and I, co-authored a Sunday piece that looks at MAC recruiting from 2007-09. We decided to not look at 2010 and 2011 because, with a few exceptions, members of those classes have yet to impact their teams either positively or negatively.

I’d invite you to read the story. A lot of research went into it, and there will be a few statistics you come across that surprise you. Maybe even stun you.

As many of you probably know, UT has recruited well. On Wednesday, the Rockets will introduce what is likely their third straight No. 1 class by either Rivals or Scout. But it’s a class that wasn’t ranked highly, 2009, that is most instrumental to the program’s revival. That class, which had just one member - Eric Page - when Tim Beckman inherited it was ranked 11th in the MAC by Scout and fourth by Rivals.

Bowling Green, as John notes, turned in a poorly rated 2008 class that ultimately proved to be even worse than the experts predicted. Thus, BG has struggled the past two seasons.

What follows is some of our research that didn’t make the paper

Rivals average class ranking from 2007-09:

Akron 2 (the same number of wins the Zips achieved the past two seasons)

Ball State T8

Bowling Green 12

Buffalo 13

Central Michigan 10

Eastern Michigan T8

Kent State T4

Miami T4

Northern Illinois 11 (2011 MAC champs)

Ohio 7 (2011 MAC runner up)

Temple 9

Toledo 1 (Rockets were No. 1 in 2007, a class that produced more guys who left school early, 12, than those who stayed, eight)

Western Michigan 3

Scout average class rankings from 2007-09:

Akron T5

Ball State T5

Bowling Green T5

Buffalo 13 (In agreement with Rivals)

Central Michigan 3 

Eastern Michigan 11

Kent State T9

Miami 2

Northern Illinois 12 (Again, MAC champs)

Ohio T9

Temple 1

Toledo 4

Western Michigan T5

As you see, Rivals and Scout disagreed considerably on a number of teams.

 

 

Comments

[Brian]

Ryan, just one correction. When Tim Beckman took over at Toledo there were three commitments. One de-committed and signed with Miami (OH). That was QB Austin Boucher. The other two were Eric Page and Jermaine Robinson. Robinson had signed with Toledo the year before (under Amstutz), but went to a prep school and had committed to enroll at Toledo after prep school before Beckman took over. Jermaine was a high 4 star prospect

[Ryan Autullo]

Brian:

I counted Jermaine as a 2008 signee because his commitment was reflected in that year's ranking. As for Boucher, forgot all about him. If I recall, didn't Ohio State show some late interest?