Hugh Freeze managed to do more for Auburn Football recruiting in 6 weeks than both of his predecessors did with years on the job. His track record suggests this is a pattern more than an exception. Could Hugh Freeze be an elite SEC recruiter?
Recruiting is so critical to the success of a football program that national champions tend to be comprised of top tier recruiting talent every year. Georgia and Alabama are at the top of the list when it comes to recruiting and in national championships. But 3rd place as far as recruiting in the SEC is very much debatable.
Among the many factors that make a team’s recruiting successful, you’ve got program resources and infrastructure, on-field success and player development, and the head coach’s recruiting skill & personality. Hugh Freeze hasn’t built an on-field product yet, though the program machine does appear to be moving in the right direction. His personal recruiting ability, though, appears to be elite.
I think as far as personalities, Hugh Freeze might be top 2 recruiter in the conference. But he does not have the on-field product to do the speaking for him. That’s the biggest difference between him and everybody else right now.
– B Wil on The Morning Drop
For all the strengths it takes to be an elite recruiter, Hugh Freeze seems to have Auburn well-positioned to take the next step into the upper 3rd of the conference. But is he a top-3 SEC recruiter? What constitutes a great recruiter? Could he eventually challenge for the top spot?