EDIT NUSS: This is a fantastically thorough and comprehensive look at just what the heck happened with our recruiting during those last Doba years that has left the program so talent poor. It really is astounding. I bumped it to the front page because it's that good. Enjoy.

Some folks have downplayed the effect past recruiting has had on our current roster.  Kids that were recruited from 04 to 09 are the players that should be giving us our stars, our starters and our depth.  The vast majority of our playing time right now is made up of 08 and 09 recruits, so I'll leave them out of the picture, so we can focus on the classes Wulff inherited, which is where his biggest contributors should be coming from.

I figured I'd do some research and share it to see "What happened to our depth?"  As I looked at the numbers, it became incredibly illuminating to look at this information.  We've heard it was bad, but I doubt you know exactly how bad.  You will.

Disclaimer:  While scouting service rankings are inherently flawed, we'll use them because the information is easily available, and should help illustrate a pattern, even if the numbers aren't perfect.  So let's look at the rankings Scout.com has given our recruits over that stretch of time, both nationally, and in the Pac10.

Year - Nat Rank - Pac10 Rank

2004 -   21   -  3

2005 -   47   -  8

2006 -   45   -  9

2007 -   54   -  10

2008 -   74   -  10

2009 -   43   -   7

We'll see who the players were that make up those rankings, and how much they've contributed after the jump.  Buckle up, it's a long one.

Position  -  Name  -  Star Rating  -  Year Left Roster - Team Impact

Class of 2004

21st Nationally, 3rd in the Pac 10

Of the 25 signees, 20 made it to campus, and only 15 didn't flunk out, transfer or drop out due to injury 2 years later.  In fact, only 11 players remained for the 2007 season... 56% attrition (including graduation) in 2 years.  Only 4 players were left on the squad that Wulff took over, none are on the current team.  I've striked out the players that never showed up, or never contributed and were gone within 2 years.  I've bolded the players still on the squad with Wulff.

WR - 4*- Michael Bumpus - 2007 - Played 4 years as a big impact player

DB - 4* - Randy Estes  - Never made it to campus

CB - 4* - Tyrone Brackenridge  - 2006 - JC transfer, played 2004 and 2006 as a big impact player

RB - 4* - Jerome Harrison - 2005 - JC transfer, played 2004 and 2005 as a big impact player

OL - 3* - Jacob McKinney - 2007 - RS'd, then on the roster 3 years, little impact

QB - 3* - Gary Rogers - 2008 - On the roster 5 years, injured senior season

OL - 3* - Andy Roof - 2006 - RS'd in 04, nagging injuries in 05 and 06, suspended in 07, expelled in 08

RB - 3* - J.T. Diederichs - Never made it to campus

DL - 3* - Matt Eichelberger - 2008 - Contributed on 2 deeps

TE - 3* - Jed Collins - 2007 - Played 4 years as an impact player

LB - 3* - Alex Hamill - 2007 - Lots of injuries.  Played some special teams, never cracked 2 deep.

OL - 3* - Dan Rowlands - 2008 - Solid contributor 3 years

DE - 3*- Jason Roberts - 2005 - RS'd then transferred to Fresno State

RB - 3*- Ian Bell - 2007 - never cracked 3 deep

DE - 3* -Latrell Meyers - Never made it to campus

K  -  2* - Loren Langley - 2007 - Struggled with injuries, 1st string kicker

DE - 2* -Lawrence Ball - Never made it to campus

OL - 2* -Colin Donovan - 2006 - Done in by injuries, never cracked 2 deep.

TE - 2* -Bryan Baird - 2006 - Done in by injuries, never cracked 2 deep.

OL - 2* -Eddie Vickers - 2005 - Flunked out

WR - 2*-Charles Dillon  - Went JC route, resigned in 06

LB - 2* - Steffan Blume - 2005 - No info available

DE - 2* - Mike Graise - 2008 - 4 year contributor

LB - 2* - Tyson Kirksey - Never made it to campus

WR - 1* -Greg Prator - 2005 - JC transfer, contributed 2 years.

Class of 2005

47th Nationally, 8th in the Pac 10

Of 24 signees, 20 (eventually) made it to campus.  12 made it past their first year, and ended up playing under Wulff.  50% attrition in 2 years.  (53% of the players in the 2004 and 2005 classes are no longer with the team by the time Wulff takes over.)  5 players on the CURRENT team, 3, sometimes 4 are among the starters.  I'll bold and  italicize players on the 09 squad from here out.

QB - 4* - Arkelon Hall - 2006 - RS'd then flunked out, transferred to JC.  Plays for Memphis.

DL - 4* - Fevaea'i Ahmu - 2008 - Played 4 years - Solid contributor

DL - 4* - Bryan Tarkington - initially failed to qualify, then came in the 06 class, played 1 year before flunking out

DB - 3* - Shelton Danzy  - qualified, but left before playing

DB - 3* - Xavier Hicks - RS'd, played 4 years -Solid contributor

OL - 3* - Kenny Alfred  - RS'd, played 4 years - Solid contributor

WR - 3*- Brandon Gibson - 2008 - played 4 years - Impact player

WR - 3* -Lorenzo Bursey - 2005 -  RS'd then transferred

DB - 3* - DeWayne Patterson - 2005 - played 1 year then flunked out

DB - 2* - James Bradley - Failed to qualify

QB - 2* - Cole Morgan - 2007 - Never cracked 2 deep, transferred to WWU

DL - 2* - Joseph Townsend - Failed to qualify

DB - 2* - Lamar Brumfield - 2005 - RS'd then transferred

WR - 2* -Michael Willis - 2008 - Minimal impact 3 years, kicked off team before 2009 season

LB - 2* - Cory Evans - 2008 - Solid contributor 4 years

RB - 2* - Dwight Tardy - Current starting RB

RB - 2* - DeMaundray Woolridge - 2006 - Played some as FR, then flunked out, now at Idaho

WR - 2* -Benny Ward - 2008 - Played 4 years, no impact

LB - 2* - Jason Stripling - On current 2 deep

LB - 2* - Greg Trent - 2008 - Played 4 years, solid contributor

WR - 2* -Greg Walker - 2008 - No impact 3 years, no longer with team

DB - 2* - Courtney Williams - 2006 - Played some special teams as FR, then flunked out.

DB - 2* - Nehemiah Mundy - Never made it to campus

OL - 2* - Derek Hunter - 2006 - one year, flunked out.

Class of 2006

45th Nationally, 9th in Pac 10

24 commits, 21 made it to campus, 16 played at some point, 9 players remained after 2 years.  7 players are on the current team, 12, including class of 05.  61% attrition in two years.  52% of commits from previous 3 years are NOT with the team by the time Wulff coaches his first game.

LB - 4* - Andy Mattingly - Played 4 years, current impact player

WR- 4* -Charles Dillon - 2007 - JC transfer - played 2 years, impact player

RB - 3* - J.T. Diederichs - Never made it to campus

WR - 3* -Anthony Houston - RS'd hasn't made an impact, recently switched to DB

TE - 3* - Trevor Mooney -  2007 -RS'd, played one year and left the program

DL - 3* - Toby Turpin - RS'd, current contributor

RB - 3* - Skylar Jessen - 2007 - RS'd, medical problems forced early retirement

RB - 3* - Marcus Richmond - RS'd, currently with team, plays paringly, little impact

WR - 3* -Keith Parr, Jr. - 2008 - RS'd, injuries limited playing time, transferred to BSU

OL - 3* - Grady Maxwell - 2007 - RS'd, medical problems forced early retirement

RB - 3* - Derrell Hutsona - 2007 - Played two years as backup RB and KOR

WR - 3* -Finas Rabb - 2007 - Played two years as backup WR

DB - 3* - B.T. Walker - 2007 - Played two years as backup DB and PR

DL - 2* - Kevin Kooyman - RS'd, current contributor

DL - 2* - Preston Brooks - 2006 - RS'd, left the team

DL - 2* - Asly Jean-Jaques -2007 - RS'd, left the team

DB - 2* - Kerry Maddox - 2005 - Left team in first year due to family illness

OL - 2* - Chris Bush - Never made it to campus

RB - 2* - Chris Ivory - 2008 - Played 3 years, kicked off team due to violation of team rules

OL - 2* - Joe Eppele  - On current 2 deep as a backup

OL - 2* - Micah Hannam - Starter on current team

WR - 2* -Greg Walker - 2007 - RS'd, played some special teams, transferred

TE - 2* - Jason Price - Never made it to campus

DB - 2* - Brian Williams - 2007 - JC transfer, contributed two years.

2007

54th Nationally, 10th in Pac 10

28 commits, 25 made it to campus, 15 players still with team after 2 years, 27 including previous classes.  40 % attrition by this season from 2007,

DB - 5* - Terry Mixon - Injured, quit team during first fall camp

RB - 3* - Logwone Mitz - solid current contributor

OL - 3* - Steven Ayers - current contributor sometimes starter, hampered by injuries

QB - 3* - Kevin Lopina - started most of 2008, current backup QB

OL - 3* - Andrew Roxas - current contributor, redshirting 2009 due to illness

DB - 3* - Romeo Pellum - 2008 - played 2 years, kicked off team for disciplinary reasons

DB - 3* - Eric Block - currently with team, hampered by medical condition

LB - 3* - Deon Ford - RS'd, sat out 2008 with injury, no significant contribution

WR - 3* -Jeshua Anderson - 2008 - contributed in 07 and 08, quit during 09 season to focus on track

DB - 3* - Cornorris Atkins - never made it to campus

TE - 3* - Devin Frischknecht - 2008 - JC transfer significant contributor in 07 and 08

DL - 3* - Jesse Feagin - JC transfer, RS'd, current contributor

OL - 3* - Vaughn Lesuma - 2008 - JC transfer, significant contributor in 07 and 08

LB - 2* - Marshal Pirtz - 2008 - RS'd, no significant contribution, transferred to Idaho

LB - 2* - Halston Higgins - RS'd, current contributor

OL - 2* - B.J. Guerra - RS'd, current starter, hampered by injuries

OL - 2* - Kevin Freitag - RS'd, not listed on 2 deeps

QB - 2* - J.T. Levenseller - 2008 - Played in a few games during 08 season, transferred to Eastern.

QB - 2* - Marshall Lobbestael - RS'd, current backup QB

WR - 2* -Daniel Blackledge - Current contributor on 2 deep

DB - 2* - Aire Justin - Current starter at CB

DB - 2* - Chima Nwachukwu - Current starter at S

DL - 2* - Oga Fuamui - never made it to campus, currently at Idaho

LB - 2* - Wyman Alexander - never made it to campus

DB - 2* - Devin Giles - 2008 - played 2 years, kicked off team for discipline before 09 season

OL - 1* - Reed Lesuma - currently on team, not listed on 2 deeps

LB - 1* - Kendrick Dunn - 2008 - played 2 years as solid contributor

DB - 1* - Alfonso Jackson - 2008 - played 2 years as solid contributor

Summary of 08 and 09 classes

The class of 08 was thrown together in a very short window, and was ranked 74th nationally, 10th in the Pac 10 with 26 players.  1 of those players never made it to campus.  2 left after 1 year, and a 3rd's career was ended by injury (Mackay).  One is suspended for the season, and 3 others have had season ending injuries.  There were 6 JC players in this class.  That leaves 19 from this class to contribute in 2009.

The class of 09 was one of our more highly rated classes, and has generated a lot of excitement.  It was ranked 43rd nationally, and 7th in the Pac 10.  Of the 23 players signed, 2 never made it to campus, 1 left immediately after getting here and 3 are grayshirting, 12 are redshirting leaving 5 to contribute from this class in 2009.

There's also Hoffman-Ellis, Montgomery and Jones who transferred in without signing and have contributed this season.

Out of the 75 total scholarship athletes (we've only got 75 of 85 possible due to APR issues and attrition), 27 are Doba holdovers.  64% of our current players are from the 08 and 09 recruiting classes.  More than half of Doba's 36% (15) come from Doba's lowest rated class in 2007.  That leaves 12 from better rated classes in 05 and 06, and 5 from the higher rated class of 09, meaning we have 17 players from our "higher" ranked classes on the field this season.

More evidence to support the argument that the talent is JUST NOT ON THE FIELD.