Been saving this post in case they actually pulled it out, and they did.

Over the last 5 years (players comprising Clemson's current NC team), Clemson has an average recruiting rank of 13.4 in the 247 composite. That includes the 2015 and 2016 classes in which they finished 11th and 9th. When you look at just the 3 previous classes that comprise the upper classes (3rd, 4th, and 5th year guys in the program who comprised probably 80% of the 2-deep), they were barely top 15. Those are both probably the lowest composite recruiting averages for any national championship team since such rankings have been established, and by a significant margin. And it throws a little bit of cold water on the theory that you have to be a Top 5 or Top 10 recruiting program over multiple years to compete for a NC.

The big question, as it relates to MSU, is can we ever be a consistent top 15 recruiting program? If so, can we do it under the current staff / head coach? Because it appears that is the new Mendoza line, if you will, for having a shot to win the big one.