I remember Brian Kelly saying we could find every player we needed within 100 miles from UC. The other day it dawned on me that 2 major programs and another P5 one have former UC coaches - MSU, ND, and U of Tenn. I haven't gone back to look at recent recruiting classes, but I imagine these three programs can recruit in our footprint given their relationships within it.

You also have a strong U of Mich. So there is a lot of recruiting competition. IMHO, certainly more competitive than in dantonio or Kellys eras. How do you rank programs?

I think these programs are ahead of us and make it very hard for UC to recruit a 5 or 4 star.
OSU
ND
UM/MSU
other national programs - Bama, Fla, etc
Other Big 10 programs
Other regional P5 Schools U of L, UK, WVU

I think we are still ahead of all the MAC programs and C-USA (Marshall)

Add Narduzzi and Pitt to that list. They are in this town often.

(09-18-2016 09:56 PM)bearcat_df Wrote:  I remember Brian Kelly saying we could find every player we needed within 100 miles from UC. The other day it dawned on me that 2 major programs and another P5 one have former UC coaches - MSU, ND, and U of Tenn. I haven't gone back to look at recent recruiting classes, but I imagine these three programs can recruit in our footprint given their relationships within it.

You also have a strong U of Mich. So there is a lot of recruiting competition. IMHO, certainly more competitive than in dantonio or Kellys eras. How do you rank programs?

I think these programs are ahead of us and make it very hard for UC to recruit a 5 or 4 star.
OSU
ND
UM/MSU
other national programs - Bama, Fla, etc
Other Big 10 programs
Other regional P5 Schools U of L, UK, WVU

I think we are still ahead of all the MAC programs and C-USA (Marshall)

We are definitely head of the regional MAC, Sun Belt, and C-USA schools. Obviously Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Michigan can get just about whoever they want. Michigan State, Kentucky (only because they're in the SEC) Louisville, and West Virginia will get their fair share of recruits as well. We do have better talent than schools like Purdue and Indiana though.

Recruiting against OSU, Michigan, and Notre Dame is always going to be tough, but we can hang with the Louisvilles and West Virginias of the world once we are on their level again in terms of conference affiliation.

Before UC joined the Big East, Boston College recruited heavily from the Tri State's Catholic schools. That pipeline got shut off when UC got promoted, and BC has stunk since then.

I looked at Wisconsin's roster last year, and they had more kids from the Cincinnati area than the whole state of Illinois.

(09-19-2016 10:56 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Before UC joined the Big East, Boston College recruited heavily from the Tri State's Catholic schools. That pipeline got shut off when UC got promoted, and BC has stunk since then.

I looked at Wisconsin's roster last year, and they had more kids from the Cincinnati area than the whole state of Illinois.

There are some exceptions (Luke Kueckly)

(09-19-2016 11:24 AM)Crewdogz Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 10:56 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Before UC joined the Big East, Boston College recruited heavily from the Tri State's Catholic schools. That pipeline got shut off when UC got promoted, and BC has stunk since then.

I looked at Wisconsin's roster last year, and they had more kids from the Cincinnati area than the whole state of Illinois.

There are some exceptions (Luke Kueckly)

Stephen Daniels, although that didn't really pan out that much. MSU and Wisconsin have really picked the GCL dry lately.

UT has always recruited here Butch hasn't had recent success but they continue to hit Cincinnati. Fulmer was in the tri-state area often.

(09-19-2016 10:56 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Before UC joined the Big East, Boston College recruited heavily from the Tri State's Catholic schools. That pipeline got shut off when UC got promoted, and BC has stunk since then.

I looked at Wisconsin's roster last year, and they had more kids from the Cincinnati area than the whole state of Illinois.

That has been largely the result of Tom O'Brien leaving BC for NC State since O'Brien was a St. X alum and recruited the GCL heavily.

If the Big 12 intends to do anything, it would be helpful if it got done before national signing day. I guess players could sign elsewhere and transfer back to UC but that gets messy in terms of transfer rules and unbalanced recruiting classes.

So UC remains anchored in the Twilight Zone for this year's recruits.