The 2023 class is in the books and here’s my ranking of the ACC classes.
Miami — Even with DB Antione Jackson wanting out and losing DB Cormani McClain in this class, it’s still epic for Mario Cristobal as he flexes his recruiting muscles after a poor season one.
Clemson — Clemson continues to roll out small and elite classes year after year and won three big recruiting battles in Alabama which speaks volumes.
Florida State — Flipping QB Brock Glenn from Ohio State caps off a class for FSU we have been expected since Jimbo Fisher left.
North Carolina — This class is strong on defense and that’s key. But so was 2021 and that hasn’t helped. These guys need to be developed.
NC State — It’s a small but solid class with a lot of in state wins which is always key. The DB class should impact early.
Virginia Tech — It’s a very good class based on how bad the season was and the recruiting thumbprint rangers from home to California.
Louisville — Elite players from Florida, Georgia and California and this class would have been better without the coaching change.
Pitt — It’s not Pat Narduzzi’s best class and losing Kenny Minchey hurt but keep an eye on this defensive class as there are sleepers in here.
Wake Forest — Dave Clawson keeps rolling out average classes based on rankings and winning seasons. This class has zero players from North Carolina and is still solid.
Duke — Mike Elko had an amazing first season and this class reflects that. Duke has to overcome academic hurdles and he still reeled in talent from Georgia, Texas and Florida.
Virginia — A bit of a scattered class geographically and a need to keep more kids home is clear.
Boston College — A rough season hurt recruiting and more battles on the east coast need to be won.
Georgia Tech — This class is heavy on Georgia players which I like but many of them didn’t have big offers and will need to be developed.
Syracuse — No way to sugarcoat this, this class isn’t pretty on paper and there are way too many kids from the Northeast.
Based on the success of the past two seasons, Pitt’s ’23 recruiting class should be in the top-2. Hence, it’s difficult to comprehend why the Pitt coaches have been so badly out-flanked in the ACC. Behind Virginia Tech even 🙁
Then again, based on the success of the past two seasons, apparently ACC recruiting rankings aren’t a very reliable indicator for success. Although too lazy to verify, I’m sure that Pitt is rarely, if ever, near the top of the conference in recruiting and yet as everyone probably knows, only Clemson has more ACC wins during the Narduzzi era.
I am happy for PN to sort of lose at the recruiting game but continue to win on the field where it really matters. Pitt can sell real results and success if a kid is hungry and wants to work for it. What better could you ask for honestly?
A consistent Top-10 team is my wish but nearly impossible to achieve if the plan is to maximize the abilities of primarily 2 and 3-star level recruits.
Burton Tee
1 month ago
It’s disappointing that PN can’t seem to capitalize on his teams recent success. I get that he’s had success from time to time coaching kids up, but there is not reason he shouldn’t be able to land elite QBs and WRs.
H2P.
Joe
1 month ago
Doesn’t matter how far away they come from. To paraphrase Lombardi ” It’s important how well they block and tackle.” PN recruited an elite QB – and you see where that got us. Recruiting is a crap shoot. The recruits are stars against a lot of kids that will never play in college. PN and staff must simply keep developing the players they do have and let the results speak for themselves. If they opt to go somewhere else with their 4 or 5 star rating and ride the bench with a bunch of others, that’s their decision.
Mtgj
1 month ago
In todays transfer era, it’s less important to get top recruiting classes, but recruiting is still very important.
Unless Pitt gets an on campus stadium or hires Deion sanders, top 25 recruiting classes won’t be likely.
Understanding how hard recruiting at Pitt is, makes the job narduzzi has done all the more impressive.
H2P
kevin
1 month ago
These ranking do not include transfers. We are much higher if the transfers are included.
H2P!
Giving out star-rankings to 16 year old football players is the second-least accurate exercise in sports (behind only ranking baseball farm systems where the Pirates …well you know that story). Beyond the elite athletes at the very top of the pile, who are never coming to Pitt anyway, it’s a crapshoot. For a school like Pitt, depth and retention are the keys. If you can bring solid players in and redshirt them behind capable players, you give them a chance to show their ‘want-to’, something stars can’t assess. When their time comes, they’re more than capable. Pitt is sending six… Read more »
Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson… would disagree with you if the goal is to have a consistent top-10 team. Talent is talent. It does take a skilled coach though to manage and discipline the prima donna’s well.
Based on the success of the past two seasons, Pitt’s ’23 recruiting class should be in the top-2. Hence, it’s difficult to comprehend why the Pitt coaches have been so badly out-flanked in the ACC. Behind Virginia Tech even 🙁
Then again, based on the success of the past two seasons, apparently ACC recruiting rankings aren’t a very reliable indicator for success. Although too lazy to verify, I’m sure that Pitt is rarely, if ever, near the top of the conference in recruiting and yet as everyone probably knows, only Clemson has more ACC wins during the Narduzzi era.
I am happy for PN to sort of lose at the recruiting game but continue to win on the field where it really matters. Pitt can sell real results and success if a kid is hungry and wants to work for it. What better could you ask for honestly?
A consistent Top-10 team is my wish but nearly impossible to achieve if the plan is to maximize the abilities of primarily 2 and 3-star level recruits.
It’s disappointing that PN can’t seem to capitalize on his teams recent success. I get that he’s had success from time to time coaching kids up, but there is not reason he shouldn’t be able to land elite QBs and WRs.
H2P.
Doesn’t matter how far away they come from. To paraphrase Lombardi ” It’s important how well they block and tackle.” PN recruited an elite QB – and you see where that got us. Recruiting is a crap shoot. The recruits are stars against a lot of kids that will never play in college. PN and staff must simply keep developing the players they do have and let the results speak for themselves. If they opt to go somewhere else with their 4 or 5 star rating and ride the bench with a bunch of others, that’s their decision.
In todays transfer era, it’s less important to get top recruiting classes, but recruiting is still very important.
Unless Pitt gets an on campus stadium or hires Deion sanders, top 25 recruiting classes won’t be likely.
Understanding how hard recruiting at Pitt is, makes the job narduzzi has done all the more impressive.
H2P
These ranking do not include transfers. We are much higher if the transfers are included.
H2P!
Uh, no, we probably aren’t.
Giving out star-rankings to 16 year old football players is the second-least accurate exercise in sports (behind only ranking baseball farm systems where the Pirates …well you know that story). Beyond the elite athletes at the very top of the pile, who are never coming to Pitt anyway, it’s a crapshoot. For a school like Pitt, depth and retention are the keys. If you can bring solid players in and redshirt them behind capable players, you give them a chance to show their ‘want-to’, something stars can’t assess. When their time comes, they’re more than capable. Pitt is sending six… Read more »
Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson… would disagree with you if the goal is to have a consistent top-10 team. Talent is talent. It does take a skilled coach though to manage and discipline the prima donna’s well.