The number seven team ranking feels nice and is exceptional considering the circumstances, but Bowden, Tubs, Chizik, and Gus all managed to land top ten classes while at Auburn. What separates this class from most of those other top ten finishes is that talent was not sacrificed for intentionality, and vice versa. Hugh managed to put together the #4 class in the SEC and constructed it in a way that addresses legitimate needs on the roster. In this class there are zero running backs, only two true cornerbacks, and one safety. Our class has addressed three of our four pressing needs, a serious pass rush, power and athleticism in the interior of our defense, and speed, athleticism, size, and most importantly big play ability on the on the outside on offense.
Only thing not fully addressed is OL, but it's obvious they're still working on addressing that issue and will do so with either Edwin and/or Echols or through the portal. With previous classes we had the team ranking and talent but because of the poor class construction/intentionality and roster management some of our most prized recruits either left, faded into obscurity, or were average contributors at best.
Hugh is anything but a Gus retread, in many ways he is the anti-Gus. But unlike Haskins who was the anti-Gus in all the wrong ways, Hugh is the anti-Gus in ways that were needed. Still to be seen whether it translates to on the field success but Hugh seems too self-aware and cerebral for it not to at some point, imo.
Only thing not fully addressed is OL, but it's obvious they're still working on addressing that issue and will do so with either Edwin and/or Echols or through the portal. With previous classes we had the team ranking and talent but because of the poor class construction/intentionality and roster management some of our most prized recruits either left, faded into obscurity, or were average contributors at best.
Hugh is anything but a Gus retread, in many ways he is the anti-Gus. But unlike Haskins who was the anti-Gus in all the wrong ways, Hugh is the anti-Gus in ways that were needed. Still to be seen whether it translates to on the field success but Hugh seems too self-aware and cerebral for it not to at some point, imo.
