We are now in close enough range that we can begin to talk about whether this 2024 class has the potential to be our best ever (or at least in the history of the Rivals era).
The GOT to date: the 2011 class. That group had everything. An offensive stud: Jace Amaro. A defensive stud: Delvon Simmons. Depth. Speed. It ended up producing 5+ NFL players, and would have led us to a conference championship if the classes around them hadn’t been total disasters.
The list below compares apples to apples: Rivals 100, Rivals 250, other 4*s and 5.7 3*s for the 2011 and 2024 classes.
I did not include Marcus Kennard and Leon Mackey, who were both 4* JUCO transfers in 2011. Transfers have changed way too much since then for it to be comparable, and nobody really tries to track it for rankings anymore.
2011 Rivals 100
#52 Jace Amaro
#80 Delvon Simmons
2024 Rivals 100
2011 Rivals 250
#226 Kenny Williams
2024 Rivals 250
2011 Other 4*
Tony Morales
Derek Edwards
2024 Other 4*
Will Hammond
Ivan Carreon
Holton Hendrix
2011 5.7 3*
Michael Brewer
Bradley Marquez
Alfredo Morales
Le’Raven Clark
DeAndre Washington
Cooper Washington
Branden Jackson
2024 5.7 3*
Chandlin Meyers
Cheta Ofili
Jacob Ponton
Ellis Davis
J’Koby Williams
Tyson Turner
Potential 2024 Additions
R100 Micah Hudson
R250 Casey Poe
R250 Ashton Bethel-Roman
5.7 Eddy Smith
5.7 Coen Echols
5.7 Oliver Miles III
5.7 Dontae Carter
5.7 Alex January
Some thoughts…
The depth is already there. What’s most impressive about this class (so far) is the OL…lots of projectable talent there. What we’re missing is the flashy top end. That’s what guys like Hudson, Poe and Bethel-Roman would provide.
Tend to think that because our process lends itself to identifying top talent with upside before they’ve been discovered, our guys may rise more than other programs throughout the review process.
Hammond should jump into the top 250 (if not top 100) based on his Elite 11 performance. J’Koby Williams, Ellis Davis and Jacob Ponton should all be 4*s.
If we add Hudson, one of Poe or Bethel-Roman, and someone like Eddy Smith 😉, the classes are roughly equal IMO. If we add all 3 of Hudson/Poe/Bethel-Roman and a few others like Echols, January or Carter, 2024 will have surpassed 2011.
McGuire and Co. have a shot to make this a reality. We will need to hang on to some and close others. Perhaps the best part of all…they’re just getting started.
The GOT to date: the 2011 class. That group had everything. An offensive stud: Jace Amaro. A defensive stud: Delvon Simmons. Depth. Speed. It ended up producing 5+ NFL players, and would have led us to a conference championship if the classes around them hadn’t been total disasters.
The list below compares apples to apples: Rivals 100, Rivals 250, other 4*s and 5.7 3*s for the 2011 and 2024 classes.
I did not include Marcus Kennard and Leon Mackey, who were both 4* JUCO transfers in 2011. Transfers have changed way too much since then for it to be comparable, and nobody really tries to track it for rankings anymore.
2011 Rivals 100
#52 Jace Amaro
#80 Delvon Simmons
2024 Rivals 100
2011 Rivals 250
#226 Kenny Williams
2024 Rivals 250
2011 Other 4*
Tony Morales
Derek Edwards
2024 Other 4*
Will Hammond
Ivan Carreon
Holton Hendrix
2011 5.7 3*
Michael Brewer
Bradley Marquez
Alfredo Morales
Le’Raven Clark
DeAndre Washington
Cooper Washington
Branden Jackson
2024 5.7 3*
Chandlin Meyers
Cheta Ofili
Jacob Ponton
Ellis Davis
J’Koby Williams
Tyson Turner
Potential 2024 Additions
R100 Micah Hudson
R250 Casey Poe
R250 Ashton Bethel-Roman
5.7 Eddy Smith
5.7 Coen Echols
5.7 Oliver Miles III
5.7 Dontae Carter
5.7 Alex January
Some thoughts…
The depth is already there. What’s most impressive about this class (so far) is the OL…lots of projectable talent there. What we’re missing is the flashy top end. That’s what guys like Hudson, Poe and Bethel-Roman would provide.
Tend to think that because our process lends itself to identifying top talent with upside before they’ve been discovered, our guys may rise more than other programs throughout the review process.
Hammond should jump into the top 250 (if not top 100) based on his Elite 11 performance. J’Koby Williams, Ellis Davis and Jacob Ponton should all be 4*s.
If we add Hudson, one of Poe or Bethel-Roman, and someone like Eddy Smith 😉, the classes are roughly equal IMO. If we add all 3 of Hudson/Poe/Bethel-Roman and a few others like Echols, January or Carter, 2024 will have surpassed 2011.
McGuire and Co. have a shot to make this a reality. We will need to hang on to some and close others. Perhaps the best part of all…they’re just getting started.
