0Well, we have reached the bitter end.
Signing day is once again in the books.
So how did it go for UNT?
I've got an opinion, but first a disclaimer.
My take is based solely on a few key factors. What other teams offered the players UNT signed? How did those players do in high school as far as production and landing on all-district/all-state teams? And, of course, how are those players ranked among their peers nationally?
I haven't seen these guys play.
You could tell what Dan McCarney's opinion was today when the topic of rankings was broached. It was a long answer, but the gist of it all was that he believes in his evaluations and those of his staff. He does not care one iota what anyone else who ranks players thinks.
I sure as heck hope that's what he thinks. UNT is paying McCarney and his staff in the neighborhood of 2 million bucks a year to know more than everyone else when it comes to evaluating and coaching players.
But back to the point.
In my humble opinion, after having talked to several of the players and their coaches, I think UNT did a solid job. I would give this class a B.
Boone Feldt is one of the best high school linemen UNT has landed in years -- maybe since Nick Zuniga. Fellow offensive lineman Connor Trussell had an offer from New Mexico, and apparently late interest from SMU.
The star power of this batch is in the defensive backfield. Xavier Kelly is a three-star cornerback who had options, Devante Davis is another three-star guy who could have gone to Louisiana Tech, Coppell's David Busby was UNT's only player in the DMN Area Top 100. DQ Johnson is a three-star JUCO defensive back who decommitted from Akron.
I'm not as high on the front seven guys on defense. Sir Calvin Wallace has great size, but there are a lot of other long-term projects in that batch.
There are some good running backs and OK wide receiver prospects in the class.
I said all along that this was going to be a middle-of-the-pack class in the Sun Belt.
I probably overshot it a bit there. Rivals has UNT in a tie for sixth out of nine teams. Scout.com has UNT at ninth out of 10 (counting South Alabama) and 116th nationally.
I can guarantee you that if UNT was in the cat bird seat in the Sun Belt like Arkansas State is now, Mean Green fans would be thrilled.
I have said all along that the ranking matter (I disagree with coach Mac here). You swim with the big fishes -- the players everyone thinks are going to be good that everyone is after -- your hit-miss percentage is better. For every Cyril Lemon that was clearly under-rated considering who offered him and the way he has produced since, there is a Terrell Brooks, a player who wasn't rated very high and turned out to be a huge bust.
We are talking averages here. Here's a good piece on the issue: Do rankings matter?
I guess that is why I hesitate to go too far beyond calling what UNT landed a solid group, one I give a B largely because of the obstacles that were in the way this year -- seven straight losing seasons, a staff in only its second year at the school and the mess McCarney inherited.
This batch is solid. No doubt. It just doesn't have that "wow factor" recruit at a skill position or at an impact position in the defensive front seven like there is in the secondary. Royce LaFrance would have been one.
There is no Jamario Thomas. No Brandon Kennedy. No Cody Spencer.
A couple of players with that kind of hype landed at other Sun Belt schools. Defensive end Darrian Dyson (Florida International), running back Anthony Wales (Western Kentucky) and running back Michael Gordon (Arkansas State) signed with UNT's competition today.
Just my opinion here, but it would have done UNT some good, both on the field and in the perception game (next year's recruits read the paper), to have more than one player in the Morning News' Area Top 100 list.
McCarney said when he arrived that UNT had a long way to go. The Mean Green is making progress. Today's class was a very positive step. UNT fans just have to hope there are a whole lot more lemons of the unusual variety (Cyril Lemon, the overlooked and under-rated variety) than actual lemons.
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You're right Brett. UT is always rated in the Top 5 recruiting classes nationally, yet they have finish arond .500 the last few years.
Before anyone starts to evaluate the North Texas recruits they need to read Kevin Sherrington's article in Wednesday's DMN. He correctly points out how many of the "stars" become college busts.
If a team is trying to build a program you start by getting "players." Players are guys who give it their all. Stars expect to be given their positions. They expect it, and often don't feel that they have to earn it.
If you read the backgrounds of most of the young men we signed they appear to be guys that fit the "player mold". TCU used this approach back when they started to build their program, and it has worked. That is why young men want to go and become Frogs. I salute Coach Dan and the others on staff for trying to find players who have their future in front of them and have not left it on the high school grass.
I have spent almost 50 years supporting North Texas, and I want players. That is how you build. The young men we signed appear to be workers who will give their all. They want to get an education, and be part of a program the really wants them. They know the Univesity has not just signed you to keep other schools from getting you. Many schools do that. The SEC is full of schoold that have done that.
Support these young men, and they will build a winning program. You don't do it over night.
Amen James. Recruiting classes should not be rated until two years later. It takes time to change the perception of a program. But make no mistake, Coach Mac and the rest of the staff will put together a program that people can get behind.
Rating players is like rating a coach before you hire him. You evaluate on his last performances and hope he can produce at your place too. Sometimes it works out better, sometimes worse. We won't know what we have until we see them in GREEN.
Wow Brett you say rankings matter and your not bashing him for the number 9 recruiting class in the worst conference in all the land. Hmmmmm you seem a little biased here, you scared to bash Dan the Man. Come on I thought you called it like you see it. Don't let Dan write your articles for you. Tell us how you really feel about the number 9 recruiting class. I really feel like we made great strides this past year and our team look really good, but from reading your work over the years I know you enjoy pointing out the failures of this program. I am not sure that you enjoy giving us our bad news, but since you didn't go to school here it doesn't bother you to point out our short comings. So, point out that 9th of 10 schools is horrible. It really is, there is no excuse for it. I think Dan is the man, but 9th out of 10 is just not good being in Texas. I hope we go 9 and 3 next year, but I just think you need to write your own blog. Don't be tiptoeing around, just say what you feel. I have read you long enough and I think you saying 9th place out of 10 is solid is like you saying our basketball team going 4 and 28 is solid year. Dan is a big boy, write what you want and feel, because I know you don't feel this is a solid class.
John....stfu
Trust Dan & Co. They are an experienced staff that knows what players fit their system. Lets see what happens in 2-3 years.