Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins
Expectations need to be tempered for the next few years. The lean classes of '12, '13, and '14 are really going to bite us in the ass.
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8-9 wins is a pretty reasonable expectation next season, I think, based on the returning talent levels.
The 2012 class was ranked 31 by Rivals and has turned out better than expected, already:
DGB
Boehm
Hansbrough
Harold Brantley
Mauk
John Gibson
Golden
All have already made pretty significant contributions as rs. freshmen and sophomores.
Guys like Copelin, Culkin will play bigger roles next year. Also wouldn't be surprised to see one of Jordan Williams, Donavin Newsom, or Evan Winston be an contributor next year.
The 2013 class still looks promising to me. I think there's a good shot we see a star T (Rhodes), star DT (Augusta), star WR (J'Mon Moore), star CB (Penton), star DE (either Harris or Loud), and several solid players out of it. WOuldn't surprise me if Biesel ends up being a star at LB.
(Note: "Star" = above-average starter)
I think the biggest problem is that the 2011 class hasn't contributed a whole lot. It was a small class that already lost its best player (Sheldon Richardson). Ray was a star as a pass-rush sub. Brothers is a solid LB, and it's likely they get pretty nice contributions from Chappell, McNulty and McGovern on the OL and Simon in the secondary.
But that class being thin really hurts the program in 2014 (rs. jr/sr) and 2015 (rs. sr) years.
I think the 14 class is going to end up being pretty valuable. I would feel better about it had they secured Brian Wallace, but I think it's going to be a strong group.