Hits & Misses
Hit: Chris Hubbard (IOL) — Originally ranked 627. Outcome: NFL Starter. Hubbard exceeded expectations significantly, transitioning into a starter role at the NFL level.
Miss: David Conner (S) — Originally ranked 471. Outcome: Bust. Conner's performance failed to meet recruitment expectations, resulting in a complete lack of impact.
Miss: Reginald Bryant (RB) — Originally ranked 626. Outcome: Bust. Like Conner, Bryant did not fulfill the potential anticipated during recruitment.
Miss: Rashad Wynes (RB) — Originally ranked 789. Outcome: Bust. Wynes also fell short of expectations, contributing minimally during his tenure.
Development Story
The UAB 2009 recruiting class featured a total of 29 commits, with an original class ranking of 70 and a subsequent S2S rerank that moved to 87. This upward movement indicates some level of improvement in how the recruits were assessed post-recruitment, suggesting that while the initial expectations may have been modest, the performance of certain players elevated the overall assessment of the class.
Despite the overall increase in ranking, the class did not feature any blue-chip recruits, which means that the majority of the athletes entered the program without high expectations based on their initial rankings. The outcomes reflect a mixed bag of performances, with several players achieving notable accolades, such as Chris Hubbard being labeled an NFL Starter. However, the class also saw multiple recruits, including those ranked as high as 471, fail to meet expectations entirely, as evidenced by their classification as Busts.
Outcomes among the unranked recruits were generally positive, with a number of players achieving College Starter or All Conference status, indicating that the coaching staff successfully developed talent that did not receive initial recognition. However, the presence of multiple underperformers among the ranked recruits detracted from the overall success of the class.
Outcome Summary
Overall, the 2009 recruiting class for UAB met moderate expectations, particularly highlighted by the standout performance of Chris Hubbard. The S2S rerank increased due to the recognition of development among lower-ranked and unranked players who outperformed their original assessments. Conversely, the class faced challenges with several recruits failing to contribute significantly, which impacted the overall perception of the class. In conclusion, while there were standout performances, the presence of several Busts among the ranked recruits ultimately tempered the class's success.