There are a lot of people who are clutching their pearls over a decommitment. While you hate to see it, a decommit is a normal part of the recruiting cycle.
In some cases, decommits are a team rescinding a scholarship offer when the get a better recruit. Other times, a recruit gets an offered pulled because of academical or legal challenges. Sometimes, a recruit fail to develop as a senior. Sometimes, it really is what you fear... a kid going to where they think the grass is greener, whether true or not. Cal typically loses only one to three recruits per cycle. So until Cal starts losing recruits at the pace of other Pac-12 schools - then you can relax your grip on your pearls.
SGBear: You are absolutely right. Yes, our current losing streak probably isn't helping but it also seems to me that we have a pretty deep bench at running back. He might be looking somewhere else so he can get immediate playing time. If that is the case, all I can say is beware. The last five-star stud (I know Ott is a four star) who left Cal for greener pastures (Demetrius Robertson) ended up riding the bench at Georgia behind all of the other five and four star studs who were beating him out for playing time. He is now at Auburn trying to live up to the hype (although he did have three touchdowns last week against Alabama State).
I've been a big supporter of Coach Wilcox from day one because I believe he brought a lot of experience and good ethics to the program - and I still appreciate that. I would love to see him get out of this rut but my biggest complaint is his inability to see a problem and fix it quickly. He sticks with the same people (both players and coaches) for far too long and it ends up doing a lot more damage over time. He's a bit lost right now.
We should have one of the top three OLines in the Pac12 right now based on experience and coaching time - we definitely do not have that. After 5 years, our QB should be the #1 rated QB in the league, he's far from that. Our DB squad should be unparalleled in the P12 after Alexander and Wilcox, they're not. Do we even need to discuss special teams? The recruiting apparently has not been producing the depth and talent needed, and we've lost a lot of talent to transfer.
We have a serious coaching problem, especially on offense. During Wilcoxs 5 years at Cal, we haven’t produced one offensive skill player or OL who is good enough to be selected in the NFL draft. It is year 5 and none of our current offensive players look like they will be drafted. Garbers, Brooks, none of the WRs will be drafted. Talk about poor coaching and player development.
Yeah I thought he was the golden boy who would turn the program around. He seemed to be doing that but 2020 was tough (OK, blame covid but that doesn't absolve staff from mistakes) and 2021 has started out on a sour note. Need to right the ship and fast.
I was afraid this might start happening. I suppose it's normal but the kid just committed in July and already has reopened the process. Gotta win these next two games or we might see more.
Things went sideways way too fast for JW…fear the wheels are gonna fall off the Wilcox wagon pretty quick this season…
In the absence of elite, impact recruits, if you’re gonna rely on developing average players to build your program, you gotta have a competent coaching staff. Really not sure the Bears have that right now.
Agree. The coaching wheels started falling off last year with poor decisions that led to defeats in the Oregon State and Stanford games. The only guy who seems to coach up those three stars year in, year out is Whittingham at Utah. The truly sad thing is that despite all the coaching turmoil at USC over the past several years, the elite talent in the state still lines up to go there.
There are a lot of people who are clutching their pearls over a decommitment. While you hate to see it, a decommit is a normal part of the recruiting cycle.
In some cases, decommits are a team rescinding a scholarship offer when the get a better recruit. Other times, a recruit gets an offered pulled because of academical or legal challenges. Sometimes, a recruit fail to develop as a senior. Sometimes, it really is what you fear... a kid going to where they think the grass is greener, whether true or not. Cal typically loses only one to three recruits per cycle. So until Cal starts losing recruits at the pace of other Pac-12 schools - then you can relax your grip on your pearls.
https://247sports.com/college/arizona-state/Season/2021-Football/Decommits/
SGBear: You are absolutely right. Yes, our current losing streak probably isn't helping but it also seems to me that we have a pretty deep bench at running back. He might be looking somewhere else so he can get immediate playing time. If that is the case, all I can say is beware. The last five-star stud (I know Ott is a four star) who left Cal for greener pastures (Demetrius Robertson) ended up riding the bench at Georgia behind all of the other five and four star studs who were beating him out for playing time. He is now at Auburn trying to live up to the hype (although he did have three touchdowns last week against Alabama State).
I've been a big supporter of Coach Wilcox from day one because I believe he brought a lot of experience and good ethics to the program - and I still appreciate that. I would love to see him get out of this rut but my biggest complaint is his inability to see a problem and fix it quickly. He sticks with the same people (both players and coaches) for far too long and it ends up doing a lot more damage over time. He's a bit lost right now.
We should have one of the top three OLines in the Pac12 right now based on experience and coaching time - we definitely do not have that. After 5 years, our QB should be the #1 rated QB in the league, he's far from that. Our DB squad should be unparalleled in the P12 after Alexander and Wilcox, they're not. Do we even need to discuss special teams? The recruiting apparently has not been producing the depth and talent needed, and we've lost a lot of talent to transfer.
This is a serious coaching issue.
We have a serious coaching problem, especially on offense. During Wilcoxs 5 years at Cal, we haven’t produced one offensive skill player or OL who is good enough to be selected in the NFL draft. It is year 5 and none of our current offensive players look like they will be drafted. Garbers, Brooks, none of the WRs will be drafted. Talk about poor coaching and player development.
Yeah I thought he was the golden boy who would turn the program around. He seemed to be doing that but 2020 was tough (OK, blame covid but that doesn't absolve staff from mistakes) and 2021 has started out on a sour note. Need to right the ship and fast.
Do we need more recruits without family or a circle?
Or we need to be in his circle
LOL
Crap…..
Yeah I’m not too worried.
DOH!
I was afraid this might start happening. I suppose it's normal but the kid just committed in July and already has reopened the process. Gotta win these next two games or we might see more.
Direct result of these losses the past few weeks. Fire Ragle immediately and stop the nepotism. Unless Wilcox prefers 3* recruits from Arizona...
Things went sideways way too fast for JW…fear the wheels are gonna fall off the Wilcox wagon pretty quick this season…
In the absence of elite, impact recruits, if you’re gonna rely on developing average players to build your program, you gotta have a competent coaching staff. Really not sure the Bears have that right now.
Agree. The coaching wheels started falling off last year with poor decisions that led to defeats in the Oregon State and Stanford games. The only guy who seems to coach up those three stars year in, year out is Whittingham at Utah. The truly sad thing is that despite all the coaching turmoil at USC over the past several years, the elite talent in the state still lines up to go there.
This is where I am at. We will win on Saturday but anything less than 6 wins in conference and it will get ugly in terms of recruiting.