IMO, recruiting seems to improving based on some of the athletes ISU is getting on the field and recent moderate draft success. However, I don't see ISU getting over the "hump" (7-6, 8-5) without consistently putting together top 30 recruiting classes. Is this possible at ISU?, IDK, but I believe this staff can get it done.
We can say all day long, "according to 247 this is our highest ranked class ever, we can only improve on the field" but IMO individual prospect rankings seem to increase year after year, so we're really not making up any ground. A prospect ranked .885 today was a .845 3 years ago. Is this a fact? No, but by looking at prospects and their interest/offers they receive it seems likely. I may be wrong here but, it seems like there are more and more blue chip prospects, which bumps up the rest of the rankings. Scouts are becoming more generous.
I believe in ISU, and what it has to offer, especially this coaching staff, but these school's classes compared to ISU doesn't allow me to get my hopes up.
According to 247.
Georgia Tech (3-9) 19 spots ahead of ISU
Northwestern (3-9) 7 spots
Colorado (5-7) 8 spots
Kansas (3-9) only 4 spots below ISU
I know there are more factors in recruiting classes like the size of the class, new infrastructure, new coaches and all but c'mon.