Pretty simple:
2015: We got out and win 8+ games and better than .500 in the Pac12 with at least one signature win
2016 Class: We take a BIG step up in talent, landing 3-4 elite athletes (4 star or better) on both sides of the ball
2016: We keep the momentum with a 7-5 season at least
2017 Class: Another top 25 class with 6-8 more elite athletes
2017: 9+ wins
2018: 10+ wins
2019: Dynasty
Dykes either steps up in 2015 or he's out. Very simple.
He then has to capitalize in recruiting in a big way.
Look at 2016 w/o projecting contributions of incoming frosh in '15 and '16:
QB: Rubenzer, Bowers or Forrest (We're solid here)
RB: Watson, Powell, Muhammed, Enwere, Porchivina (Need someone to emerge here but feels plausible)
OL: Moore, Borrayo and M Cochran are foundations. Ooms, A Cochran look like contributors; Hearing good noises about Johnson and Trani as well. (Feels solid)
WR: Lawler, Brown, Hudson, Austin, Rockett (Definitely need some of the newcomers to contribute here)
DL: Westerfield, Kennedy, Wilson, Looney, Manley, Mekari, Palmer (yikes - need the '15 frosh to make a big impact in their 2nd year)
LB: Downs, Barton, Kearney, Nickerson, Powell, Espitia, Tongilava, Anoi'a (Might be the strongest positional unit on the team)
DB: Allensworth, Walker, Coleman, Drew, Albert, Brown, Dozier, Cheek, Piatt, Tartabull (Strange to say it, but perhaps another strength)
I think the offense will be decent but would love to find more playmakers. Defense back 7 looks fine but front 4 is a huge question mark and our best playmakers are likely all LBs. Even if we get 4-5 2nd year and true frosh players to contribute, this is not a great team on paper. It's questionable whether they can get to 7 wins.
Bottom line is that Dykes has to win 8 + in 2015 AND he has to land a top 25 class (average stars 3.3+) in 2016 otherwise we are headed to the land of perpetual mediocrity. A program with its eyes on a BCS bowl cannot handle another recruiting class in line with our last three.
2015: We got out and win 8+ games and better than .500 in the Pac12 with at least one signature win
2016 Class: We take a BIG step up in talent, landing 3-4 elite athletes (4 star or better) on both sides of the ball
2016: We keep the momentum with a 7-5 season at least
2017 Class: Another top 25 class with 6-8 more elite athletes
2017: 9+ wins
2018: 10+ wins
2019: Dynasty
Dykes either steps up in 2015 or he's out. Very simple.
He then has to capitalize in recruiting in a big way.
Look at 2016 w/o projecting contributions of incoming frosh in '15 and '16:
QB: Rubenzer, Bowers or Forrest (We're solid here)
RB: Watson, Powell, Muhammed, Enwere, Porchivina (Need someone to emerge here but feels plausible)
OL: Moore, Borrayo and M Cochran are foundations. Ooms, A Cochran look like contributors; Hearing good noises about Johnson and Trani as well. (Feels solid)
WR: Lawler, Brown, Hudson, Austin, Rockett (Definitely need some of the newcomers to contribute here)
DL: Westerfield, Kennedy, Wilson, Looney, Manley, Mekari, Palmer (yikes - need the '15 frosh to make a big impact in their 2nd year)
LB: Downs, Barton, Kearney, Nickerson, Powell, Espitia, Tongilava, Anoi'a (Might be the strongest positional unit on the team)
DB: Allensworth, Walker, Coleman, Drew, Albert, Brown, Dozier, Cheek, Piatt, Tartabull (Strange to say it, but perhaps another strength)
I think the offense will be decent but would love to find more playmakers. Defense back 7 looks fine but front 4 is a huge question mark and our best playmakers are likely all LBs. Even if we get 4-5 2nd year and true frosh players to contribute, this is not a great team on paper. It's questionable whether they can get to 7 wins.
Bottom line is that Dykes has to win 8 + in 2015 AND he has to land a top 25 class (average stars 3.3+) in 2016 otherwise we are headed to the land of perpetual mediocrity. A program with its eyes on a BCS bowl cannot handle another recruiting class in line with our last three.
