New Mexico State 2004 — Recruiting Outcomes

Hits & Misses

Hit: Andrew Mooney (TE) — Originally unranked. Outcome: All Conference. Despite not being highly touted out of high school, Mooney managed to exceed expectations, earning All Conference honors. Hit: Brandon McKinney (EDGE) — Originally unranked. Outcome: College Starter. Another unheralded recruit, McKinney became a reliable starter for the Aggies. Miss: Brian Blake (WR) — Originally unranked. Outcome: Bust. Despite his potential, Blake was unable to contribute meaningfully to the team's success. Miss: Dawson Wilber (ATH) — Originally unranked. Outcome: Bust. Wilber, an athlete who could have played multiple positions, unfortunately did not live up to the hype and was a bust for the Aggies.

Development Story

New Mexico State's 2004 recruiting class is a case study in the inherent uncertainties of college football recruiting. Despite their original class rank of 75, the program fell short in player development, ending up with an S2S rerank of 113. The class, consisting entirely of unranked recruits, had a challenging road ahead from the start. However, standout performances from players like Andrew Mooney and Brandon McKinney served as bright spots, demonstrating that even unranked recruits can make significant contributions at the college level. With a total of 16 recruits but a blue chip percentage of 0%, it's clear that the Aggies were primarily working with under-the-radar prospects. The outcome, unfortunately, was a mixed bag. While some players outperformed their initial expectations, others were unable to make a significant impact, underscoring the inherent volatility and unpredictability in the recruitment and development process.

Outcome Summary

The 2004 class for New Mexico State undeniably underperformed expectations. Their S2S rerank of 113, significantly lower than their original rank of 75, is indicative of this. The lack of blue-chip recruits and the high number of busts contributed to this disappointing outcome. Despite a few standout performances, the overall lack of development led to a lower reclassification. The key takeaway from this class is the high risk and uncertainty inherent in relying on unranked recruits.