I don't have exact insight, just a few old friends here & th

Posted on: July 7, 2025 at 23:27:40 CT

Here's what I think, mixed in with what I know. I'll define each, as best I can.

A few months ago, around January the general feedback was, our class sizes going forward would max out around 20. Quality prospects over quantity. Real emphasis on the 400 miles radius, with COMO as the epicenter. At that time, there were 5 in state recruits, that looked like future Professional type of kids if all went well. Was emphasized, that Jackson Cantwell was anything but a lock, but folks felt good. Was also told, the coffers were full for this season, but that prices were going up, but better quality of non con was coming. Expected a rebirth with the stadium being modernized. Only philosophical stuff mentioned, was we were targeting real good prospects or kids that could walk in the door, and be on the 2 deep. Again, stressing the linemen on both sides..as in 27, we would have cycled through our current depth chart. That's what I knew then. Since then, I've heard recently we flat out missed or been out worked on the recruiting trail. Other teams that dismissed us in the past, are now jumping on our guys quicker and recruiting against us. As much as I love Drink, and all that comes with him...many more do not. Also heard, DJ was a HUGE part of recruiting, & loosing him hurt. Blake Bake & Kevin were good recruiters & closers too. The new guys are in year 2, and have not kept up like they did. ( so far..it's long way to signing day) losing the DL coach hurt as well. This year, we didn't get the response from any of the big time Florida, Georgia, etc talent that we've been able to chip away in years past. We were confident in the recruiting perimeter I mentioned, and very high on the instate talent. Was expected to be our best class yet, with around 20 recruits. That's what I know from what's shared been shared by those who do know.

What my eyes have seen, and friends down south are saying, is we are under paying $$$ for our baseline needed recruits..badly. We are getting beat by 6 digits or higher by the Louisvilles, Illinoises, OK States, and others. As to why, I can only speculate..but it breaks down 3 ways, either we are spending less this year, or other teams that were slow to NIL going, have caught up and outbidding us.., or the agents have gotten into kids ears, and its a frenzy of Black Friday like deals going on. Maybe a combo of the latter 2. The other factors, as I only speculate, are that we are in fact waiting til Aug 1st, apparently on that day, contracts are issued by schools ..per the settlement...& when pending comes to paper, the staff can say we told you all along, and we can jump back in, as the prospects deal,, isn't what was promised.This allows us to sell the integrity card. I really hope there is something to this. 🤞. The last factor, & this doesn't sit well...is that we are kinda broke....and we SPENT A LOT OR WAY TOO MUCH on the portal. Again, I was told, we had plenty of money, and space on the caps that are in place for next year, so I hope that isn't true... & we've put certain limits or certain kids and selling the be a part of a talented team by taking less, so there's more for everyone mantra. IDK, but Bama & Uga & the Ohio st places can say & sell that..obviously we can't. That's as close as I can get concerning their current formula. I think they are assigning value, like a pro organization would, and acting accordingly...and sticking to their guns. We'll see, how it shakes out. But I personally, I'll say this, I don't believe you can expect to nail the portal every year. Even if we shock next year, and go 11-1, we are still going to have nail...I mean almost no misses rely on the portal again on 26. I feel it should enhance the roster, sans one or 2 special studs. The baseline will be the strength of this team. We need about 9-10 low end blue chips to create that baseline, with another 7-8 3 stars to develop and cultivate into SEC players. We should be doing that. & from what I understand ...we've been trying..we been going at it, we are just missing on kids. Because I've seen this narrative run, on & on about how we focusing on the transfer portal going forward, no coach or Drink has confirmed nor spoke this. I never heard from my citcles...I think it's just a narrative from boards, and Podcasters. We see a poor recruiting/commit board and believe it, because it's been repeated so often, but I don't think that's the case. I think they aimed for all they could, & you can see the results. *If* there is a new discipline about spending, concerning what we do going forward, post settlement..then they fully deserve the benefit of the doubt. We will see. After all, this regime has been excellent from day ones of using the portal on all levels, setting up and initiating the NIL, and some very good game plans. Despite a couple of misses, this staff has been excellent overall at acquiring talent at Mizzou, so much so, we're kinda disappointed now, when Odom only pulled more than one four star once...his first year, he got the incoming. Remember. The last few years have been the best ever.