ESPN: Srorylines and classes

[mggoph]

http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...storylines-classes-watch-early-signing-period

Fleck has Minnesota on verge of a record class

Minnesota has never signed a top-25 class since ESPN began ranking prospects and classes. In fact, the Golden Gophers haven't even come close. In the past four years, their average class rank was 58. That makes the work of coach P.J. Fleck and staff otherworldly, with Minnesota sitting at No. 23 entering Wednesday. Even if the Golden Gophers finish just outside the top 25, a tip of the hat is well-deserved. Minnesota is now much more of a factor on the recruiting trail than in years past.

 

[Dano564]

If you look at the top 25 rankings, it's littered with the noteworthy programs.

Hopefully we'll become regulars on that list year after year.

It's easier to win if you have better players.

 

[gophernut79]

I was having a conversation about recruiting with an NFL fan who knows very little about college football. He was asking why MN is never competitive in New Year's bowls and other schools always seem to be at the top of the rankings, etc. To put it in NFL terms, I explained that (right now) Alabama, OSU, Clemson are essentially getting eight first round draft picks, ten 2nd round picks, and seven 3rd round picks. The gophers, by comparison, USED TO get one 3rd round pick, three 4th round picks, a five 5th rounders and then rounded out their roster with 10 undrafted free agents.

Football budgets, local/national media coverage, even coaches and everything else aside, if NFL teams were continuously created that way that college teams are put together, there would be very little parity.