OB has made pretty compelling data-driven arguments around the need for at least 6+ super blues per class, in order to compete consistently for a national title. With the Portal, how does that change the calculus, and roster management strategies, especially with NIL/compensation now part of the equation?
Certainly seems like it creates more than one path to success, with a number of variables controlling outcomes, such as budget, injuries, development ability, team building/culture, etc. In essence, can you increase the “magic number” of 6+ super blues via the portal and or really investing in development?
Let’s look at Texas. Who on the roster, is playing as one would expect a super blue to play (plus plus player, conference/national recognition, etc.)?
2024
Portal - Ewers, Mukuba, Bond, Golden, T. Moore
Development - Wisner, Taaffe, Helm, Barron, Sorrell, Goosby (only one game but played at same level as a 5*, and when it mattered)
2023
Portal - Ewers, Worthy, Mitchell
Development - Sweat, Ford, Christian Jones
I only looked at 23/24, as these are teams playing at championship level (the desired outcomes we are talking about here).
In 2023, we had 6 players performing at/near what one would expect from a Super-blue, who were not originally recruited to Texas, or were not super-blues.
In 2024, we hit 11 players, 5 from Portal, 6 from development, married with 2 classes that hit the magic number (might be 3 — I didn’t look at the ‘22 class).
I didn’t dig deep here. May be some players above that people will quibble with (spare us all any Ewers debates, plenty of other threads for that), and probably missed a player or three that maybe should be on the list.
Regardless, in this Brave New World, it seems that with smart Portal recruiting, and a level of development that Texas hasn’t seen in a decade (Mack haters would argue far longer), a program can easily exceed the magic number, and together with magic number level recruiting, be a program that consistently plays at a championship level. It’s a small sample size, but it poses an interesting take on what might be possible.
Fire away!
Certainly seems like it creates more than one path to success, with a number of variables controlling outcomes, such as budget, injuries, development ability, team building/culture, etc. In essence, can you increase the “magic number” of 6+ super blues via the portal and or really investing in development?
Let’s look at Texas. Who on the roster, is playing as one would expect a super blue to play (plus plus player, conference/national recognition, etc.)?
2024
Portal - Ewers, Mukuba, Bond, Golden, T. Moore
Development - Wisner, Taaffe, Helm, Barron, Sorrell, Goosby (only one game but played at same level as a 5*, and when it mattered)
2023
Portal - Ewers, Worthy, Mitchell
Development - Sweat, Ford, Christian Jones
I only looked at 23/24, as these are teams playing at championship level (the desired outcomes we are talking about here).
In 2023, we had 6 players performing at/near what one would expect from a Super-blue, who were not originally recruited to Texas, or were not super-blues.
In 2024, we hit 11 players, 5 from Portal, 6 from development, married with 2 classes that hit the magic number (might be 3 — I didn’t look at the ‘22 class).
I didn’t dig deep here. May be some players above that people will quibble with (spare us all any Ewers debates, plenty of other threads for that), and probably missed a player or three that maybe should be on the list.
Regardless, in this Brave New World, it seems that with smart Portal recruiting, and a level of development that Texas hasn’t seen in a decade (Mack haters would argue far longer), a program can easily exceed the magic number, and together with magic number level recruiting, be a program that consistently plays at a championship level. It’s a small sample size, but it poses an interesting take on what might be possible.
Fire away!
