Quarterback Recruiting Analysis: Clemson vs. non-ACC 2006 to Present

Here we compare CU's QB recruiting over the past six classes with teams outside the Atlantic Coast Conference.  Again, we'll talk only about the core numbers and not about circumstances surrounding these items.  We did a quick and dirty breakdown of the specific QB situation at Clemson earlier.  Follow this link to see what each signee did while at CU and what we thought of the scholarship allocation. 

Again, the quarterback position is different animal than other positions and we think it is important to have 3-4 capable quarterbacks with each optimally in a different graduating class.  This puts a necessity on bringing in at least one good quarterback (minimal) every other class.

Assumptions made in creating this article can be found here.  I should point out that we strictly used www.scout.com position classifications.  It is possible that some players ended up at a different position after they arrived on campus for any of the schools in this article.

Table I and Figure 1 (below) both illustrate Clemson's ranking based on QB class size since 2006.  Clemson (at 1.33 players per class) recruited fewer QB's than Auburn (1.67 per class) and South Carolina (1.5 per class).  The Tigers eclipsed all other schools in terms of players signed.  Overall, the average non-ACC football program brought in slightly fewer (0.05 per class) than Clemson did from 2006-present.

Notable items in this category include AU's three QB class in '11 and Clemson's three in a class this past February.  Overall, Clemson appears to be in good shape numbers-wise compared to the other teams in this survey.

Table I:  Recruiting Class Size

Figure 1:  Individual Institution Recruiting Class Size

Figure 2:  Average non-Clemson vs Clemson Recruiting Class Size

 Table II and Figure 3 show the average star-rating per player for each team, as shown below.  Clemson (3.52 stars/player) lagged behind all teams except South Carolina (3.00) and South Florida (2.60) in average star ratings.  Overall, the Georgia Bulldogs led the field at 4.05 stars per player, followed by Auburn (3.86 stars per player) and LSU (3.70 stars per player).  There were too many good QB's to list here, so see Table III for a list of quarterbacks signed who gathered at least a four star rating from BOTH Rivals and Scout.

Overall, Clemson was a little 0.06 stars better than the non-ACC average.  Clemson is only above the average here because South Carolina and South Florida dragged down an impressive average.  If you omit SCAR and S Florida, the other teams' average star rating per player is 3.78 stars.

Table II:  ACC Atlantic Team Average Player Star Rating

Figure 3:  Individual Schools' Recruiting Average Player Star Rating

Figure 4:  Average non-ACC vs Clemson Recruiting Class Average Player Star Rating

The players listed below each garnered four star ratings from BOTH Rivals.com and Scout.com.

Table III:  Quarterbacks with a Four Star or Better Rating from BOTH Scout and Rivals 

On average (from 2006 to present), and just looking at (all) these numbers, Clemson appears to be on par in terms of players signed and average star rating compared to their non-ACC foes.  These numbers look different when you pull USC and South Florida out of the fold, as the other schools in this survey pulled in some ridiculous talent over the past six years.  If CU wants to catch the Georgia's and Auburn's in terms of talent level, we'll need to pull in more Tajh Boyd-like players.  Again, we would have liked to see a quarterback signed in 2010, but Clemson did sign three in '11.