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On the Quinn Thompson thread someone mentioned an uptick in recruiting; elsewhere HuskyFanDan had an amusing comment on what drives recruits. I thought I'd compile some numbers and look for patterns.
Here's the fraction of 3* according to Rivals by year:
2002 1/14 7%
2003 5/20 25%
2004 1/28 4%
2005 6/25 24%
2006 3/21 14%
2007 6/29 21%
2008 3/22 14%
2009 4/21 19%
2010 9/20 45%
2011 8/16 50%
2012 9/23 39%
2013 5/9 56% (Andreas Knappe not in database)
The only really clear pattern is a significant uptick in recruiting with the 2010 class. We want from FCS type recruiting to bottom half of the BCS recruiting in that year.
Some milestones that must have impacted recruiting: In 2002 UConn became 1-A; in 2003 the Rent opened; in 2004 UConn entered the Big East; in 2006 the practice facility opened.
None of those events led to an immediate uptick in recruiting.
It looks to me like what produced the improvement that first appeared in the 2010 class was consistent winning. The record over the three prior years (2007, 2008, 2009) was 8-5, 8-5, and 9-4. That was the first time UConn had demonstrated an ability to compete and consistently win at the BCS level.
Recruits may not follow college football closely until they get into high school. So the three seasons before signing day may have the most influence over their perception of a program. I think you have to compete on a national stage, and win for 3 years, in order to qualify yourself to recruits.
Cumulative 3-year records prior to the recent classes:
2007: 17-18
2008: 18-18
2009: 21-17
2010: 25-14
2011: 24-15
2012: 21-17
There is a correlation.
Will there be another uptick in recruiting, to take us to the level of the upper half of BCS teams? To make it happen, the place to start is with a great season this year.
Here's the fraction of 3* according to Rivals by year:
2002 1/14 7%
2003 5/20 25%
2004 1/28 4%
2005 6/25 24%
2006 3/21 14%
2007 6/29 21%
2008 3/22 14%
2009 4/21 19%
2010 9/20 45%
2011 8/16 50%
2012 9/23 39%
2013 5/9 56% (Andreas Knappe not in database)
The only really clear pattern is a significant uptick in recruiting with the 2010 class. We want from FCS type recruiting to bottom half of the BCS recruiting in that year.
Some milestones that must have impacted recruiting: In 2002 UConn became 1-A; in 2003 the Rent opened; in 2004 UConn entered the Big East; in 2006 the practice facility opened.
None of those events led to an immediate uptick in recruiting.
It looks to me like what produced the improvement that first appeared in the 2010 class was consistent winning. The record over the three prior years (2007, 2008, 2009) was 8-5, 8-5, and 9-4. That was the first time UConn had demonstrated an ability to compete and consistently win at the BCS level.
Recruits may not follow college football closely until they get into high school. So the three seasons before signing day may have the most influence over their perception of a program. I think you have to compete on a national stage, and win for 3 years, in order to qualify yourself to recruits.
Cumulative 3-year records prior to the recent classes:
2007: 17-18
2008: 18-18
2009: 21-17
2010: 25-14
2011: 24-15
2012: 21-17
There is a correlation.
Will there be another uptick in recruiting, to take us to the level of the upper half of BCS teams? To make it happen, the place to start is with a great season this year.