Mike Farrell Sports

College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

Why Florida, UCLA, USC, the Big 12, Maryland, and Duke Gained the Least

Florida, UCLA, USC, the Big 12, Maryland, and Duke gained the least in their 2024 classes.

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Sep 24
Sep 24

By Rock Westfall

Florida Fans Mullen Regrets and a Big Mistake 

Head coach Billy Napier was hired two years ago at Florida as a signal that the school was fully committed to recruiting. This move was after previous HC Dan Mullen was roasted for failing to voice his enthusiasm for the task. Yet Mullen’s last class at Florida ranked 12th compared to Napier’s 15th-ranked class this year. In the process, Napier had several players flip on him at the end. Additionally, 17 Gators hit the transfer portal after a catastrophic 5-7 mark for the 2023 campaign. Florida is in a tumultuous free-fall crisis.

Why is Florida and Napier struggling? Brand perception is a major problem. Napier’s failure to quickly jumpstart the Florida program has put him on the hot seat. His status leads to easy negative recruiting and the perception of top players that Florida is a sinking ship.

Had Florida stuck with Mullen, they would likely be in a much better position. But this is a fan base that drove off legendary national championship winners such as Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer. Florida has gotten its just desserts.

A Big 12 Crisis Emerges 

With the loss of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC, the Big 12 lacks a marquee power brand and has rapidly become the weakest of the remaining Power Four conferences

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West Virginia (46th), BYU (54th), Iowa State (55th), Oklahoma State (57th), Kansas State (61st), Utah (62nd), Baylor (67th), Houston (70th), and Colorado (98th) were among the biggest recruiting disappointments for the league. The top ranks went to Texas Tech (23rd), TCU (31st), and UCF (32nd). That is hardly the stuff of powerhouse programs.

Why is the Big 12 so down? Most of its issues are about branding and the bag. The league lost considerable prestige when Oklahoma and Texas bolted. And there was nobody of the caliber brought in to replace them. Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Baylor, and TCU have had occasional and recent national success, but not on the blue blood level.

The Big 12 has a smaller TV contract than the SEC and Big Ten, and most of its NIL programs pale in comparison. Thus, negative recruiting is a cinch for competing schools from other leagues that can promise more NIL, better facilities, and higher-quality competition.

In the future, things could get much worse for a league that is rapidly descending into second-class status.   

Lackluster Days in LA-LA Land 

UCLA finished 58th in the nation with its class, and coach Chip Kelly’s recruiting is a perpetual embarrassment. Kelly’s salad days at Oregon were based in large part on having a bagman handle most of the recruiting. While Kelly got a show-cause penalty for being a then-outlaw, his reputation from that time at Eugene made him countless millions.

Why is UCLA and Kelly not making strides? In the new world where everyone gets the bag, Kelly is not keeping pace. He loathes recruiting and is purely a whiteboard coach. Kelly much prefers scheming in his bunker than hitting the recruiting trail. Nor is his arrogant elitist school all in. Tone-deaf UCLA can’t bring itself to a full commitment to championship football. And it shows in its mediocre results and humiliating attendance figures.

UCLA’s cross-town rival, USC, has less of an excuse. The Trojans are fully committed to winning a national championship. And their fan base and donors rank on the top shelf. But it’s becoming increasingly apparent that HC Lincoln Riley may have been a colossal mistake of a hire. Riley’s class finished 18th this year, ten spots worse than one season ago.

Why is USC falling fast? Riley is playing catch-up for his lack of commitment to physical football and defense. The Trojans crashed and burned with five losses in their final six games based in large part because of its putrid defense. Hence, negative national media stories and recruiting filled the void.

USC and UCLA are off to the much tougher Big Ten for 2024. There is no sign of relief and potential further doom for both programs.

Duke Fails to Manny Up

Former Duke HC Mike Elko had the wisdom to get out while the getting was good. Elko produced two bowl seasons in two years at this basketball school that continues to be lukewarm about football. As a reward, Elko got the Texas A&M job a month ago. Elko saw the empty seats at Wallace Wade Stadium despite bringing a winner to the field. He will have no such problems at College Station.

Former Miami-FL head coach Manny Diaz was so desperate for another HC shot that he took the Duke gig. Diaz is defying history in taking a job where coaching careers usually leave in caskets. And his 58th-ranked recruiting class is indicative of potential problems ahead.  Among the challenges will be replacing departed star QB Riley Leonard, who entered the transfer portal after Elko’s departure.

Why will Duke fall back? Duke’s history shows little in the way of sustaining serious success. Its fan support is poor, even in good times, and its commitment to winning football, while improved, is nowhere near elite.

Locksley and Maryland Fail to Meet the Moment 

Maryland HC Mike Locksley is reputed to be a recruiting machine with deep ties and profound respect in the fertile DMV footprint. Instead, his class ranked 45th this year, up only three spots from last season.  That reality defies the reputation.  

What is the problem at College Park? Despite having strong ties to Under Armour, Maryland’s NIL is not as competitive with serious programs. Its fans are beaten down by years of mediocre football. And the DMV’s top players have plenty of other options that are as good or better.

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