Just saw the 2027 recruiting year already has 15 blue-chip defensive linemen committed. That's a third of the top talent at the position already off the board before most schools have even started their major push.
This is the exact moment where the gap between the haves and have-nots becomes permanent. Programs with massive NIL war chests are locking down elite trench players two full cycles in advance, while everyone else is scrambling in the portal to patch holes.
For Wake Forest, the strategy has to be identification and development, NOT chasing stars. The Demon Deacons' average recruiting class ranking over the last five cycles is 54th nationally, yet they've consistently fielded a top-40 SP+ defense three of those years. That's a coaching win.
The data shows team talent composite correlates to wins, but the correlation isn't perfect. Wake's developmental model, especially on the defensive front, has to continue finding those three-star gems who become all-conference by thei...