I think both sides are correct on this one. I think there is a lot to like about this class in terms of the size and athleticism many players bring to the table. There is a good crop of local players as well. There is a composite 4 star in Martel Hight. But it is also fair to criticize the class. The losses of Lanier and Pimpton late really suck, as did the losses of guys of 4 other flips to P5 school: Kevis Thomas, Julien Randolph, Jatavius Shivers, and Kelvon McBride. I think with some of those earlier decommits the 2-10 season rang loud, with Lanier he just really like Minnesota for whatever reason, and Pimpton had LSU recruiting him for a few months before they got him and that's a program not many would turn down for the current Vanderbilt football program. These players are likely better than what Mason would bring in, but it's fair to say that the ratings are more similar to a Mason class. It's also fair to have more faith in Barton than in Mason. I don't think he would ever come out and say it but I think Clark is disappointed in this class as well. Last class was incredible by Vanderbilt standards, and that's not necessarily a fair bar to live up to. Our 3 4 star commits last go around were more of the borderline 4 stars who didn't have the huge offers, and the biggest flip candidate was an international kid considering us and 7-5 UT who hadn't been good in forever. So while our staff did an incredible job with the last class, they also had some luck on their side as well. This class was not as good but they also had some bad luck.
I think everyone can agree that we need to see and should see an improved class in this next cycle, where we are coming off a 5-7 season and should not have the rash of decommits that we have had at the beginning of each class, maybe only one or two. I think they will also have a chance to make some nice late adds into the winter and spring for this class whether that's from HS or the portal, and I hope they do. With no Pimpton, it's up to Cole Spence to show why he's the future of the TE room, as well as Kamrean Johnson in a year or two. I say that for the TE position specifically, but really for the whole roster. These guys they're bringing in will need to show that the recruiting and development is different with this current staff, regardless of the ratings of the players, whether they're a recruit we beat out a lot of schools for or they are the hidden gem type. Only time will tell
I think everyone can agree that we need to see and should see an improved class in this next cycle, where we are coming off a 5-7 season and should not have the rash of decommits that we have had at the beginning of each class, maybe only one or two. I think they will also have a chance to make some nice late adds into the winter and spring for this class whether that's from HS or the portal, and I hope they do. With no Pimpton, it's up to Cole Spence to show why he's the future of the TE room, as well as Kamrean Johnson in a year or two. I say that for the TE position specifically, but really for the whole roster. These guys they're bringing in will need to show that the recruiting and development is different with this current staff, regardless of the ratings of the players, whether they're a recruit we beat out a lot of schools for or they are the hidden gem type. Only time will tell
