It's amazing how the Miami area (and FL) dominates the recruiting rankings

[Vernon]

From Mike Farrell's article last week - https://westvirginia.rivals.com/new...ec-reset-raiding-louisiana-cities-with-talent

Do you like to crunch numbers? Here are the top cities to produce four and five star prospects since Rivals began tracking such things in 2002. I’ve included the teams that landed the most players out of each state as well for the top ones.

Miami: 119 (Miami-32, Florida-9, Florida State-8, Louisville-7, Auburn-4, USF-4, Georgia-3, LSU-3, Ohio State-3, Illinois-2, Tennessee-2, Texas-2, UCF-2)

Los Angeles: 63 (UCLA-16, USC-14, Cal-5, Arizona-4, Oregon-4, Washington-3, Stanford-2, Washington State-2)

Houston: 60 (Texas-21, Texas A&M-10, LSU-6, Baylor-2, Florida State-2, Oklahoma-2, Oklahoma State-2, Oregon-2, Stanford-2, Texas Tech-2)

Jacksonville: 60 (Florida-14, Florida State-12, Auburn-3, Clemson-3, Georgia-3, Ohio State-3, Alabama-2, LSU-2, Miami-2, South Carolina-2, UCF-2)

Tampa: 48 (Florida-12, Florida State-8, Miami-4, Auburn-3, Clemson-3, Georgia-3, South Carolina-3, USF-2, USC-2)

Dallas: 42 (Oklahoma-9, Texas-7, Texas A&M-6, Oklahoma State-3, Cal-2, Texas Tech-2, USC-2)

New Orleans: 40 (LSU-20, Texas A&M-4, Georgia Tech-3, Florida-2, Mississippi State-2)

Atlanta: 39 (Georgia-18, Auburn-4, Clemson-3, Florida-3, Alabama-2, South Carolina-2)

Detroit: 39 (Michigan-17, Michigan State-10, Ohio State-3, Iowa-2)

Cincinnati: 38 (Ohio State-9, Notre Dame-5, Kentucky-3, Cincinnati-2, LSU-2, Michigan-2, Michigan State-2, Penn State-2)

Washington DC: 34 (Maryland-10, Florida State-3, Alabama-2, Illinois-2, North Carolina-2, Pittsburgh-2, Tennessee-2, Texas A&M-2, West Virginia-2)

Cleveland: 33 (Ohio State-19, Notre Dame-2)

Charlotte: 32 (North Carolina-9, Georgia-4, Clemson-3, Florida-3, South Carolina-3, Tennessee-3, NC State-2, Notre Dame-2)

Memphis: 32 (Tennessee-9, Alabama-4, Mississippi-3, Georgia-2, LSU-2, Vanderbilt-2)

Nashville: 28 (Tennessee-11, Memphis-2, Oregon-2, Vanderbilt-2)

Las Vegas: 28 (USC-6, UCLA-5, Oklahoma-3, Arizona-2, Arizona State-2, Miami-2, Nebraska-2, Notre Dame-2, Ohio State-2)

San Diego: 27 (Oregon-5, Stanford-4, USC-4, Cal-2, Oklahoma-2, UCLA-2, Washington-2)

Indianapolis: 27 (Notre Dame-5, Indiana-4, Michigan-2, North Carolina-2, Ohio State-2, Tennessee-2)

Long Beach: 27 (USC-10, UCLA-5, Arizona State-2, Florida State-2, Oregon-2)

Virginia Beach: 26 (Virginia-7, Florida State-5, Virginia Tech-5, Maryland-3)

Orlando: 25 (Florida State-7, Florida-5, Alabama-2, Miami-2, Michigan-2, Notre Dame-2)

Chicago: 24

Fresno: 24

Mobile: 20

Pittsburgh: 19

Scottsdale: 19

Baton Rouge: 19

Philadelphia: 18

Baltimore: 18

St. Louis: 18

Fort Worth: 18

Portland: 17

Sacramento: 17

Phoenix: 16

Oklahoma City: 16

Oakland: 13

Honolulu: 13

Austin: 13

Louisville: 13

Tulsa: 13

Denver: 12

Brooklyn: 11

Birmingham: 10

 

[Rootmaster]

Good find Vernon. Was a story in Tampa newspaper last week that covered this also...and the impact of other Florida schools other than the big three to harvest this talent. Had quite the disagreement last year with several posters who equated somewhat meager WVU recruiting in Florida to the belief that the state doesn't produce D1 players anymore. That, of course, is untrue. Glad to see that the Mountaineers are finally refocusing some efforts down here. Would like to see more...with results to match. Incredible talent at the high school level in the state.

 

[Mtneer001]

seems like we should be focusing some of our efforts in charlotte

 

[CAJUNEER]

New Orleans: 40 (LSU-20, Texas A&M-4, Georgia Tech-3, Florida-2, Mississippi State-2)

Are you sure Alabama hasn’t pulled more 4’s and 5’s out of NOLA than A&M?

 

[Rootmaster]

The point is...Florida continues to be the Mother Lode but the Mountaineers, under DH, moved away from it for some unimaginable reason.

 

[Vernon]

Are you sure Alabama hasn’t pulled more 4’s and 5’s out of NOLA than A&M?

Not sure, Rivals did the numbers.

 

[Vernon]

The point is...Florida continues to be the Mother Lode but the Mountaineers, under DH, moved away from it for some unimaginable reason.

The reasoning, which I understand but don't totally agree with, is that SFL kids are so hard to recruit because they string you along and decommit at the last minute.

 

[Rootmaster]

so hard to recruit because they string you along and decommit at the last minute.

That is baloney. Kids here are no different than other places. Fact is, the Mountaineers, who used to do very well down here for skill players, stopped coming around. Instead of excuses perhaps buying a plane ticket and showing up would be a better idea lol.

 

[WVUALLEN]

The point is...Florida continues to be the Mother Lode but the Mountaineers, under DH, moved away from it for some unimaginable reason.

During Don Nehlen years he always recruited Florida players for their speed. He always seemed to have 20 or more Florida recruits. Rod probably didn't have as many but he had some really talented Fla. players. Bill Stewart got a few. All 3 had other coaches with Fla. connections. Holgorsen doesn't really have a coach connected to Fla. anymore. He did early on but nobody is connected with Florida now. Hopefully we find somebody with a connection.

 

[CAJUNEER]

Not sure, Rivals did the numbers.

I went back and looked. Alabama has actually recruited Baton Rouge better than New Orleans. It's always such a big story here when a top local recruit goes to Bama it makes it seem like they're more effective than they really are I guess.