The data below is the "Team Recruiting Rankings" from 2005 - 2009 from two popular recruiting sites. The classes are then weighted and averaged (WA) to give the upperclassmen (05, 06, 07) more impact than the underclassmen (08, 09) because SR and JR typically have more impact on a team's sucess than SO and FR.
A few biases to consider when looking at the data.
1) Rivals and Scout both focus more heavily on scouting the Southeast compared to the Northeast. Recruits for the NE have a much better chance of falling through the cracks than prospects from the SE. This affects Boston College fairly significantly and Marland, Virginia and Virginia Tech marginally.
2) Schools with larger fanbases have a tendency to to have committed recruits get a "bump" in the rankings. This is balanced to some extent by having data from both Rivals and Scout.
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Observations based on the data
- Miami has amassed a stockpile of talent, but failed to develop it in Shannon's first two seasons. Shannon bringing in Whipple to replace Nix has done wonders to help the Canes play closer to their talent levels.
- Florida State has squandered a ton of talent in the last few years. The Seminoles have talent and under no circumstance should rank 11th and 12th in Scoring Defense and Total Defense. Ultimately the blame lies at the feet of Bobby Bowden who has watch the program slide downhill the last few years.
- Clemson has squandered a lot of talent in recent years losing to teams that they should beat with regularity. The Tigers are trying to turn it around under Dabo Swinney, but some concerns remain on the offensive side of the ball due to retaining a couple coaches that were part of the problem under Bowden.
- Two-time defending ACC Champion, Virginia Tech is simple the best in the ACC at scouting and developing players into their system. Frank Beamer and Bud Foster opitimize what a rock solid coaching staff can accomplish and the Hokies should be a model that other programs like Clemson, UNC and NCSU should set their sight on.
Beamer - Doing More With Less
-Georgia Tech under Paul Johnson is an example of how a great coach coupled with a great system can overcome a talent gap. The triple-option has the Jackets rolling despite recruiting rankings in the bottom half of the conference. Johnson will never recruit lights out on offense, but will have his players in a position to win week in and week out.
- North Carolina is a program with a lot of upside, but Butch Davis has always struck me as a great recruiter and above-average coach. Davis has turned around the program from where it was under Torbush and Bunting, but it remains to be seen if Davis can get the Heels to that next level.
Virginia, Maryland and NCSU are all teams that more or less get
about what they should expect out of their talent level, which is middle of the pack. All three might be looking for a coach that can take them to the next level in the next 2 years. Not sold on O'Brien at State at think his staff is filled with deadwood.
- Both Boston College and Wake Forest rivals Virginia Tech as programs that get the most of their talent. Although Boston College is more talented than their rating reflect in my opinion the Eagles are seemingly in the mix for the Atlantic Division on a yearly basis despite being written off in the preseason. Wake Forest is always listed in the basement of the ACC in terms of recruiting ranking, but won the ACC in 2006 and have put up 3 straight winning seasons.
Grobe - A Perfect Fit
I am going to attempt to break the ACC down into offense and defense in the next couple of days.
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