So what kind of grade should we give Dan Hawkins for his latest recruiting effort at CU?
It sounds like “A” material, what with highly regarded Los Angeles-area running back Darrell Scott having turned down Texas to join all those other highly regarded prospects in Boulder.
But having thought about it for a sentence or two, the only appropriate grade for Hawkins is “Incomplete.” That’s his grade across the board. He gets an Incomplete for game-day coaching, for graduation rates, for recruiting, for everything. That’s only fair when a coach inherits a program with the issues CU has had in recent years.
You wondered when Hawkins arrived from Boise State whether he would be able to attract elite recruits to Colorado. While he has answered that question with an exclamation point — doesn’t he answer every question that way? — Hawkins has barely begun a long journey back to respectability.
They call it turning the corner. Sounds simple enough, but it will be at least another year, and probably two, before we can judge whether Hawkins has the Buffs headed toward the ranks of legitimate contenders in the Big 12 North.
Make no doubt, he’s doing great things on the recruiting trail. Take it from Adam Munsterteiger, ‘s CU recruiting analyst.
“They used to go against the Mountain West schools, maybe one or two from the Big 12,” said Munsterteiger. “Now they’re going against the Oklahomas of the world for kids who have 50 scholarship offers. They’re recruiting at a different level than they were three years ago.”
Sounds good, but let’s keep it all in perspective. Hawkins’ foray into the world of Top 25 recruiting classes is just another step in a complicated process. A big step, no doubt, but a step nonetheless.
Bringing in this kind of talent only lays the foundation. It gives Hawkins and his staff a chance to rebuild the program, not a guarantee that they can.
The grades on Hawkins will have to wait, but let the record show he just aced a major test.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s daily sports commentaries on The Jimmy Page during the week mid-day. And read his columns on Sundays at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
