It is one thing to recruit, and win the star search. It is another to develop. Yeah Butch recruited well, in his first class, but the talent that came from those classes took a slight downward trajectory with each year. And Hell, he ran off about half of his own recruits. As we later learned fully, some in really crappy ways. Pruitt? Well his development and game day results was pretty much akin to Jones. And both took 4 and 5 stars and tuned them into 2 and 3 stars.
Heupel is taking what he has got, added to the pool out of neccessity from the transfer portal, and what freshmen he has brought in, some may have yet to crack into the rotation.
History tradition and resources might bring a few in. But more importantly, what HS recruits are seeing should eventually translate in attracting higher level talent. Heupel is taking what he has and getting the best out of them. This team is really starting to make strong statements.
Time will tell, but ask yourself this. If you were a recruit, would you want to play for Heupel? I'm 61 and too banged up to grasp it. But you would are a little less cynical and used up should consider that question. Just comparing this staff's first year to Pruitt's Jones', Dooley or Kiffin's first year? I feel Heupel is more the real deal than those other four put together.
