Who's this year's second most important recruit?
While most of us are looking at next year's squad as a top ten and potential playoff outfit, 2017 is a different story. We'll lose all three top receiving options, every starter on what looks like the best secondary in the country (assuming Peppers moves on), over half the 2 deep on an elite DL, and likely 4 starting OL.
Gary is clearly our most important recruit this year. If he is even half what the world thinks he is he'll be All America by his 2nd year, but given our needs going into '17 I think the upcoming Raulerson visit is incredibly important.
We'll either return a starting qb or a guy who supplanted a starting qb. I'd also anticipate at least 1 solid RB. Raulerson would anchor what could still be a good OL in spite of possibly 4 new starters (given Newsome's emergence and Dawson's hype). Good OL and RB? Sounds like the start of an offense that could protect a rebuilt defense. Without Raulerson, my confidence in fielding a good OL in '17 is greatly diminished.
If we have a great year next year, 2017 will define national perspective of our program. Did we have a confluence of Harbaugh and a bunch of great seniors followed by a dropoff, or are we already at the "reload" stage?
Thoughts?
January 15th, 2016 at 5:26 PM ^
DB Long. We're going to lose a few starters back there after this year. We need to reload. If we get him.
January 16th, 2016 at 12:35 AM ^
You all think Gary is number 1?
I'd put Peters 1 and Gary 2 in a heartbeat.
I know Gary is a difference maker, but he's just 1 out of a group of linemen.
Look at it this way, if you had to erase either Gary or Peters for the next 3-4 years, whos loss (without a second choice replacement) are you going to feel the most?
I know Harbaugh is a QB whisperer, but Jake Rudock's (mostly early) shaky play cost us more games than any 1 dominant lineman could have; and his development also earned the team a couple big wins.
Unless it's a 3* or a walk-on, anyone Harbaugh wants at QB is just too valuable.