I get that. I can see the logic in both ways...
Posted on: January 18, 2019 at 15:23:50 CT
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... i didn't complain when we decided to create a footprint in the SEC states. I didn't complain when we decided to go heavier back to Texas either. They both made sense.
In 2001 when Pinkel was hired, he decided they needed to make a big push into Texas since that was our conference now, and we needed to be able to compete in that footprint to have any chance in the still rather new Big 12.
We were never going to get the 5-stars out of Texas - we didn't. We would land a few 4-stars - we did. But we were going to have to still find diamonds in the rough in Texas - which we feasted on.
And this is sorta undeniable too... the recruiting services did not like our recruiting classes that led up to the 2007 team.
via 247sports
2005 class ranked 8th in Big 12, 42nd nationally
2006 class ranked 9th in Big 12, 43rd nationally
People back then were complaining that we weren't getting good enough players, that we could never win getting the leftovers in Texas.
They were wrong.
We were top 5 in the nation in wins the next 4 years.
Same principle in the SEC move.
We were never going to land the 5-stars, or even many 4-stars ever. But there is so much great talent in all this SEC land (just like Texas), that we would be able to field teams that could win lots of games, just like in the Big 12.
Recruiting wise, we've pretty much stayed right on track. Outside of a fluke 2015 when Lock was playing with a decimated and injured team, we've always had a talented QB, multiple good running backs, tight ends, receivers and offensive line. So its hard to see where there was any drop off.
On defense... the scheme was changed so drastically that its impossible to know whether it was due to a lack of players or more the change in scheme.
I think the signs point to scheme.
As for a real recruiting problem... we need to dominate the state again.
Our 2007 team may have had Daniel at QB, but every single offensive lineman, all our starting receivers and tight ends and our starting running back were all from the state of Missouri.
The key to Mizzou's success is twofold.
1. Dominate the state of Missouri recruiting wise
2. Get the rest from Texas (or the SEC territory)
We don't have a big enough state to only recruit Missouri, and we'll never get the best athletes from Texas or the SEC territory to get all our players there either. Gotta be a combined success.