'26 MS WR Tristen Keys (Tennessee commit)

[GUNTERSVOL]

Honestly, though, this staff has shown the ability to evaluate and find lesser rated guys who turn out good. Sounds like Ty Redmond is going to be very good and he was a 3*, rated around the 500th best player in America. Sampson also outplayed his ranking (he was a 3* who was bumped late). Farooq will be another.

In this class, I think guys like Outlaw, Theodore, Edwards, Rivers, Combay, and Baker will outplay their rankings. All of those dudes look like studs. The only commit we have that I’m not really excited about is McClain.

Services have a tough job. So many players, varying levels of competition, unfamiliarity with each player’s maturation cycle, etc. Staffs can really study a smaller subset and be more concerned with projecting skills instead of grading HS history.

The NFL draft each year shows this with later bloomers passing hundreds of higher star guys for paychecks.

Higher risk with unproven guys, but huge reward if you Sign 3 stars on the rise instead of 4 stars who have plateaued. Bluechip ratio needs to be established after the guys hit the field, not signing day.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

Keys said he tweaked his leg in practice — nothing serious — and doc told him to sit out tonight. So they were without him.

50-28 Petal. Hattiesburg had 6 turnovers (unless I forgot one). Petal is good, but I’m not sure they could have covered Keys.

Incoming drop of his 5th star, as well as Faizon since his hand is injured. Can’t have TN commits with 5 stars.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Services have a tough job. So many players, varying levels of competition, unfamiliarity with each player’s maturation cycle, etc. Staffs can really study a smaller subset and be more concerned with projecting skills instead of grading HS history.

The NFL draft each year shows this with later bloomers passing hundreds of higher star guys for paychecks.

Higher risk with unproven guys, but huge reward if you Sign 3 stars on the rise instead of 4 stars who have plateaued. Bluechip ratio needs to be established after the guys hit the field, not signing day.

There is also the camp factor. Redmond didn’t attend a lot of camps. Neither has Baker. That tends to keep the recruiting services from ranking them highly. Coaches, on the other hand, aren’t evaluating players at a rivals camp. They’re evaluating high school film and in person when they bring them to campus. Also, coaches are better evaluators.

 

[WaywardVol]

The amount of players you can sign is dependant on the number of scholarships you have available. So I don't get your complaint there. The teams with bigger classes just have more turnover. Its better to have stability than huge turnover each year.

With regard to the 3-stars, our average rating per recruit is 91.43. Texas who is ahead of us at #6 is at 91.74, #5 Alabama is at 92.89, #4 A&M is at 92.07, and #1 Georgia is at 92.21. From the looks of it we're right there with all the other top teams in terms of quality.

You can complain about our recruiting most years. This year ain't one of them. This is a stellar championship caliber class in line with all the other elite teams in the country.

Complaint? Just stated a fact. Just the fact that it’s uber competitive at the top. When are the scholarship limits going up?

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Complaint? Just stated a fact. Just the fact that it’s uber competitive at the top. When are the scholarship limits going up?

And we’re at the top so what's your issue? Did you by any chance notice whose behind us in the recruiting rankings? Teams like Ohio State. You ready to count them out of championship contention? If not then we're in contention too and isn't that the best you can hope for? To go into every season believing you have a chance to win it all.

If we recruit every year going forward like we are doing in the 2026 class then we'll be just fine at the top of college football competing for championships every season.

 

[overseasorange2]

And we’re still 5th in the league, LOL. Brutal

I just noticed Rivals (on their latest commitment list) has Keys as a 4*. Just goes to show how little they know! OH Yea the consensus best WR in the class, but he is a 4* by their rating. Hey RIVALS.........

Latest ratings on 247 has Brandon #1, Keys #4 and Osenda #19. Rivals should take some advice from 247!

 

[Jackcrevol]

I just noticed Rivals (on their latest commitment list) has Keys as a 4*. Just goes to show how little they know! OH Yea the consensus best WR in the class, but he is a 4* by their rating. Hey RIVALS.........

'we missed (in the first year and a half) that he played against inferior opponents'...

and

'despite dragging four players to the end zone, we'll have to drop him to an four star.'

-Rivals

 

[DaddyChad]

Are you confident in De’Rail as a recruiter?

Hell yes I am.

 

[85SugarVol]

Hey LSU…

 

[WaywardVol]

And we’re at the top so what's your issue? Did you by any chance notice whose behind us in the recruiting rankings? Teams like Ohio State. You ready to count them out of championship contention? If not then we're in contention too and isn't that the best you can hope for? To go into every season believing you have a chance to win it all.

If we recruit every year going forward like we are doing in the 2026 class then we'll be just fine at the top of college football competing for championships every season.

Why are you assuming I have an issue? Are you just another one of the regulars here who think it’s their duty to act like a territorial dog and piss on the fence post to mark their territory?

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Why are you assuming I have an issue? Are you just another one of the regulars here who think it’s their duty to act like a territorial dog and piss on the fence post to mark their territory?

Looked to me like you were complaining about our recruiting. I'm sure others would agree.

 

[85SugarVol]

If we had just landed Hiter .... Damn. What an offensive class.

In this offense, I’ll take the 5 Star WR over the 5 Star RB.

Me and you could get out there and run it in this Heup offense, BB

 

[85SugarVol]

Lol

Lol is right. Especially since he was bumping other people’s posts just a few pages back.

 

[WaywardVol]

Looked to me like you were complaining about our recruiting. I'm sure others would agree.

I’m sure you’re right. But based on what I’ve experienced the last few weeks, I don’t think that really helps your argument. In case you are unclear, I they are recruiting great. It blows my mind, because despite that, they’re still 5th in their own league. That isn’t a complaint, just a realization of how insane the competition is in this league.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

It blows my mind, because despite that, they’re still 5th in their own league. That isn’t a complaint, just a realization of how insane the competition is in this league.

Well that's like being surprised a game versus a real good team is close. We already went through how close the rankings are. There's literally a few points separating teams in the rankings. Stop focusing on something silly like 5th in the conference and instead look at things like average rating per recruit and total points.

 

[WaywardVol]

Well that's like being surprised a game versus a real good team is close. We already went through how close the rankings are. There's literally a few points separating teams in the rankings. Stop focusing on something silly like 5th in the conference and instead look at things like average rating per recruit and total points.

K

 

[thistime]

Welcome young man !!!! Work hard and you can become a VFL Legend and that means a lot for you and your future.