I decided to look at the numbers from Napier's time in Louisiana. It is well known what he did at Alabama and Clemson somewhat, signing the likes of Cam Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, Tajh Boyd, Hootie Jones, Cam Simms, Trevon Diggs, and many others, but I wanted to focus on what he has done as a head coach.
In the 16 years before Napier was at Louisiana, their average national recruiting ranking was 99th, their average Sun Belt rank was 4th, and their average recruit rating was 77. In Napier's four classes from 2018 to 2021, the average national ranking was 83rd, the SBC ranking was 2nd, and the average recruit rating was 82.07.
Something else that should be noted is that Louisiana was on sanctions when Napier took over. Those sanctions were coming to an end but had included a reduction of 11 scholarships, two years of probation that ended in January 2018, and recruiting limitations. Napier overcame all of that to sign a transition class that was only six spots below their previous national average and an average recruit rating three points higher than their previous average.
After that initial transition class, Napier went on to sign three straight number one recruiting classes in the Sun Belt. The average national rank of those classes was 76th, 23 spots higher than their previous coach's national average. The average recruit ranking improved each year from 81.81 to 82.93 to 83.53, for an average of 82.76. That is 5.76 points higher than their previous average. And, of course, that #1 SBC average was three spots higher than their last conference average of 4th in the SBC.
Digging a little deeper into the recruiting, Napier is responsible for signing, or currently having committed 32 of the top 50 recruits in Louisiana recruiting history going back to 2002, which also includes 13 of their top 20 recruits and their top recruit overall during that timeframe.
In the 16 years before Napier was at Louisiana, their average national recruiting ranking was 99th, their average Sun Belt rank was 4th, and their average recruit rating was 77. In Napier's four classes from 2018 to 2021, the average national ranking was 83rd, the SBC ranking was 2nd, and the average recruit rating was 82.07.
Something else that should be noted is that Louisiana was on sanctions when Napier took over. Those sanctions were coming to an end but had included a reduction of 11 scholarships, two years of probation that ended in January 2018, and recruiting limitations. Napier overcame all of that to sign a transition class that was only six spots below their previous national average and an average recruit rating three points higher than their previous average.
After that initial transition class, Napier went on to sign three straight number one recruiting classes in the Sun Belt. The average national rank of those classes was 76th, 23 spots higher than their previous coach's national average. The average recruit ranking improved each year from 81.81 to 82.93 to 83.53, for an average of 82.76. That is 5.76 points higher than their previous average. And, of course, that #1 SBC average was three spots higher than their last conference average of 4th in the SBC.
Digging a little deeper into the recruiting, Napier is responsible for signing, or currently having committed 32 of the top 50 recruits in Louisiana recruiting history going back to 2002, which also includes 13 of their top 20 recruits and their top recruit overall during that timeframe.
