Things are setting up for a nice stretch for the program. Are we talking about a 2007-2014 stretch like we saw under Pinkel? Hard to say, but I'm not so sure it's that crazy of a thought looking at how things are setting up:
- 9-10 wins looks to be attainable for the first time in a decade or so.
- It looks like the lid could blow off the 2024 recruiting class at any point here, potentially looking at two 5 stars and a handful of 4 star guys is kind of rarefied air around these parts
- Speaking of recruiting, the 2023 class was Drink's lowest rated class on paper I believe, but it's looking like a banger already in terms of results. Norfleet and Marquis Johnson look like future stars. We've seen contributions on the field from Harris, Burks, Blood, and Roche. Manning and Newsome have got some time. And the coaching staff has gushed about the potential of Reichert and Shemar McNeil who we haven't seen yet.
- Even with Drink's recruiting exploits so far, he's never had the ability of selling anything but a hope, a dream, and 6-6 on the recruiting trail. That finally changes this year it would seem, and I can't wait to see the results there come portal shopping season and heading into the 2025 class.
- We lose a ton on defense after this year, but with the previous thought about what Drink may be able to do in the portal this off season and seeing some of these younger guys starting to emerge......I'm not sure things are as bleak there as what we may have thought. Still have highly touted guys from previous classes like Gracial, Wesolak, etc.. that have been buried behind a deep bunch of upperclassmen at their positions that could have something to say about there being to steep of a drop off in certain spots on defense next year.
