I had this in another thread, but thought I would start over:
A comment on talent. I apologize for using 247 recruit rankings. Rivals ranking don't convey any information.
Since Wisconsin is in out division, I compared our recruiting to theirs.
Wisconsin has signed 65 players in the past 5 years with ratings of .840 or higher. They will sign another 18 this season.
Minnesota has signed 39 players in the past 5 years with ratings of .840 or higher. They will sign another 16 this season.
Even more telling: Wisconsin is purported to be a team that can build with lower level talent. In fact, they have signed 42 players with a rating of .860 or higher since 2013, Minnesota has signed 9. This class they will sign 5, Minnesota will sign 3. Again, we begin to close the gap.
There is obviously a huge ability difference between Minnesota and the other top teams in the conference, but this year's recruiting class appears to show we will begin to close that gap.
Still, it doesn't explain losing to Maryland or Purdue, particularly Purdue. New coach, youth, new system, lack of talent. Yet they beat us. Actually, Maryland has talent very similar to Wisconsin, so I withdraw that comment, although they were playing with their 3d QB. They have signed 59 players .840 with 20 more in the 2018 class. And 30 recruits over .860 with most of those more recently, with another 10 coming in with the next class.
Hopefully, Minnesota can continue to close the gap and be competitive to Wisconsin in year 4 of the PJ tenure.
A comment on talent. I apologize for using 247 recruit rankings. Rivals ranking don't convey any information.
Since Wisconsin is in out division, I compared our recruiting to theirs.
Wisconsin has signed 65 players in the past 5 years with ratings of .840 or higher. They will sign another 18 this season.
Minnesota has signed 39 players in the past 5 years with ratings of .840 or higher. They will sign another 16 this season.
Even more telling: Wisconsin is purported to be a team that can build with lower level talent. In fact, they have signed 42 players with a rating of .860 or higher since 2013, Minnesota has signed 9. This class they will sign 5, Minnesota will sign 3. Again, we begin to close the gap.
There is obviously a huge ability difference between Minnesota and the other top teams in the conference, but this year's recruiting class appears to show we will begin to close that gap.
Still, it doesn't explain losing to Maryland or Purdue, particularly Purdue. New coach, youth, new system, lack of talent. Yet they beat us. Actually, Maryland has talent very similar to Wisconsin, so I withdraw that comment, although they were playing with their 3d QB. They have signed 59 players .840 with 20 more in the 2018 class. And 30 recruits over .860 with most of those more recently, with another 10 coming in with the next class.
Hopefully, Minnesota can continue to close the gap and be competitive to Wisconsin in year 4 of the PJ tenure.
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