Let's see what our expectations should be:
Nick Saban's first recruiting class:
10 four stars
2 5.7 three stars
He picked up six four stars in January and February and three of them were junior college. His biggest get was Rolando McClain who chose Alabama at the last minute.
Les Miles's first recruiting class:
1 five star
7 four stars
2 5.7 three stars
Three four stars committed in January and February and five star Ryan Perriloux committed in February. Miles of course was taking over what Saban had already built.
Urban Meyer's first recruiting class at Florida:
1 five star
11 four stars
2 5.7 three stars
His five star and eight four star recruits committed to Florida in January and February after he was hired.
Urban Meyer at Ohio State first recruiting class:
2 five stars
14 four stars
6 5.7 three stars
7 of his 22 big time recruits committed to Meyer after he was hired.
Gus Malzahn so far:
1 five star
6 four stars
5 5.7 three stars
Four big time prospects have committed since Malzahn was hired.
We need to close strong to have a similar first recruiting class to the coaches listed above. If we land Foster and one or two more four stars, we'll look just as good as Saban's first class.
I think Malzahn is doing a great job so far, honestly.
I posted this a little while ago comparing a few of the most recent successful coaches and their first year's recruiting classes.
Gus Malzahn's first class:
2 five stars
9 four stars
7 5.7 three stars
Now, I know that recruiting services and stars do not tell the whole story. Just look at Tennessee and Florida State from 2004-2008. In addition to that, look at our program the past few years. Multiple top classes and plenty of failure on the football field.
However, I do believe that Gene Chizik's tenure at Auburn was an anomaly. 3-9 does not happen at Auburn. Being uncompetitive does not happen at Auburn. I have no doubt that even though Malzahn is not the most experienced coach in the country, he will not have us playing undisciplined, apathetic football.
We will be much better coached and will have much better player development, which means bringing in high school athletes with the potential to be great is all the more important for our future success.
With that said, I believe that Gus Malzahn just had what-could-be the most successful 1st year of recruiting in the BCS era.
Not only did he land a stellar class that competes with Saban's, Miles', and Meyer's first classes; he did so without any preseason hype (Saban), any established success (Miles) or any foundational strength (Meyer after a mediocre but not terrible Zook tenure).
Malzahn had to battle multiple NCAA allegations with current allegations making its round on the news. He had to battle the fact that Auburn was the worst team in the SEC last year. Auburn lost 9 games, 8 SEC games, and was shut out by its rivals.
Maybe some will diminish this success because of the immediate playing time Malzahn could offer. Maybe some will diminish this because he used quite a few quality JUCO players.
But one thing can be said - when there was no real reason to believe Auburn would be successful this recruiting season, Malzahn was successful. When Auburn looked to be staring at a tremendous mountain to get back on its feet, Malzahn was successful.
I'm excited. I think we all should be.
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