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When a coach gets fired, the next coach inherits some of the reasons he got fired. Below are the blue-chip ratios for each transition year of the past 15 years. The blue-chip ratio uses the final three classes of the prior coach and the first class of the new coach. While recruiting rankings are flawed, they have progressively gotten more accurate. I also listed the returning quarterbacks to provide a fuller picture of the roster.
2007 Randy Shannon
Blue Chip Ratio- 54%
QBs- Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman
Shannon inherited three overrated Coker classes and two disastrous quarterbacks. The culture was at its lowest point in history. The best thing Shannon did was sign a lean '07 class with guys like Leonard Hankerson, Allen Bailey and Orlando Franklin. This roster proved that rankings had a long way to go.
2011 Al Golden
Blue Chip Ratio- 38%
QBs- Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris
Golden paid for Shannon’s lack of recruiting effort his final two years. To make matters worse, Golden’s own transition class was bloated with 20 players. Many were evaluated in a rush after the high school season. This was before the Portal was a consistent option.
2016 Mark Richt
Blue Chip Ratio- 35%
QBs- Brad Kaaya and Malik Rosier
Five years and a cloud left Richt with a bunch of coal-shovelers. Some of Golden's evals landed, though, including a good QB and 15 NFL players. This core allowed Richt to turn it around fast with professional coaching.
2019 Manny Diaz
Blue Chip Ratio- 48%
QBs- Jarren Williams, N’Kosi Perry and Tate Martell
Diaz walked into a busted quarterback room. The football was bad and the leadership was worse. The offensive line was also barren, plagued by an empty ’16 class and some blue-chip misses. This combo led to catastrophe. We lost to FIU.
2022 Mario Cristobal
Blue Chip Ratio- 55%
QBs- Tyler Van Dyke, Jake Garcia, Jacurri Brown
The quarterback room is light-years ahead of before. It’s also much better than what Mario left behind at Oregon. The ratio above does not include the blue-heavy '18 class (which has an extra COVID year), nor does it account for transfers like Tyrique and Ladson. More blue-chip transfers are on the way after spring.
This roster is ready to compete in the ACC. It should have competed last year. And it's only getting better. Mario is never going to stop recruiting. He pulled Cyrus Moss across the country with a one-day visit. He flipped Skinner from Bama. He beat LSU for a Louisiana running back. These things do not happen to us.
Clemson’s roster is going in the wrong direction. Florida State is broke and sad. We have the best recruiter in the state. Legal money is flowing. It's been long enough. Let's win this conference.
Congrats to all the new Canes and their families.
2007 Randy Shannon
Blue Chip Ratio- 54%
QBs- Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman
Shannon inherited three overrated Coker classes and two disastrous quarterbacks. The culture was at its lowest point in history. The best thing Shannon did was sign a lean '07 class with guys like Leonard Hankerson, Allen Bailey and Orlando Franklin. This roster proved that rankings had a long way to go.
2011 Al Golden
Blue Chip Ratio- 38%
QBs- Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris
Golden paid for Shannon’s lack of recruiting effort his final two years. To make matters worse, Golden’s own transition class was bloated with 20 players. Many were evaluated in a rush after the high school season. This was before the Portal was a consistent option.
2016 Mark Richt
Blue Chip Ratio- 35%
QBs- Brad Kaaya and Malik Rosier
Five years and a cloud left Richt with a bunch of coal-shovelers. Some of Golden's evals landed, though, including a good QB and 15 NFL players. This core allowed Richt to turn it around fast with professional coaching.
2019 Manny Diaz
Blue Chip Ratio- 48%
QBs- Jarren Williams, N’Kosi Perry and Tate Martell
Diaz walked into a busted quarterback room. The football was bad and the leadership was worse. The offensive line was also barren, plagued by an empty ’16 class and some blue-chip misses. This combo led to catastrophe. We lost to FIU.
2022 Mario Cristobal
Blue Chip Ratio- 55%
QBs- Tyler Van Dyke, Jake Garcia, Jacurri Brown
The quarterback room is light-years ahead of before. It’s also much better than what Mario left behind at Oregon. The ratio above does not include the blue-heavy '18 class (which has an extra COVID year), nor does it account for transfers like Tyrique and Ladson. More blue-chip transfers are on the way after spring.
This roster is ready to compete in the ACC. It should have competed last year. And it's only getting better. Mario is never going to stop recruiting. He pulled Cyrus Moss across the country with a one-day visit. He flipped Skinner from Bama. He beat LSU for a Louisiana running back. These things do not happen to us.
Clemson’s roster is going in the wrong direction. Florida State is broke and sad. We have the best recruiter in the state. Legal money is flowing. It's been long enough. Let's win this conference.
Congrats to all the new Canes and their families.
