There's a very difficult criticism to levy towards Lovie and the staff. To accurately judge our recruiting efforts, those efforts must be judged in relation to those of our peers. ASU may be a point of discussion but the other schools you have mentioned are most definitely not our peers.
They weren't intended to be, T, but the point I was making is that a handful of programs get the lion's share of difference makers, but teams with new coaches that are rebuilding assemble staffs focused on immediate recruiting results as well as on-the field momentum. Some coaches understand the necessary strategy to build a program, and some don't. Some HCs are incredible motivators, some are just technicians.
Take ASU for example. I follow the program since I live about a half hour away from Tempe and two of my kids are recent graduates from there from the WP Carey school of business.
Let's do a little "compare and contrast", shall we?
Head Coach
ASU-Herm Edwards-former NFL HC who took two NFL teams to the playoffs in his first year. No college coaching experience. Highly sought after motivational speaker. TV FB commentator.
UIUC-Lovie Smith-Former NFL head coach who took a team to the Super Bowl. No college coaching experience.
Notes: Equivalent HC experience, but Coach Edwards has the edge as a recruiter due to being an energetic speaker.
Offensive coordinator
ASU newly hired away Zak Hill, OC from high powered offense at Boise State. Young guy who worked his way up from Eastern Washington. Noted for developing passing games, balanced offenses and quarter backs.
IL Rod Smith who worked in the shadow of Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, Arizona and West Virginia with background at South Florida.
Notes: Both pretty good with experience. The big question here is how much of Rod Smith's success came from coach Rodriguez. That's still an open question.
Defensive Coordinator
ASU-Tony White also CB coach and previously passing game coordinator. Previously at San Diego State, a prime recruiting area for ASU. Impressive results improving defenses and secondary performance.
IL-Lovie Smith, also HC. Good at coaching for turnovers, but overall defensive performance and making key stops to win games questionable. Has not shown successful innovation or "coaching edge" in defense, and defenses have a lot of problems with technique an knowing assignments.
For the rest of the staff, ASU has Dave Christenson for OL and has 30 years experience including head coaching at Wyoming, Utah, Toledo and Texas A&M. Illinois has McClain who's in his first year of P5 position coaching At DL ASU has Jamar Cain who successfully coached at Fresno State, FCS champ North Dakota State. Illinois has Austin Clark in his first job as a P5 position coach. For LB ASU has former pro-bowler Antonio Pierce, who recruited all freshman team Merlin Robertson who we also recruited. IL LB coach is Lovie's son Miles in his first college coaching job.
WR/TE at ASU is still in flux for upgrading with the new OC.
It should be noted than none of Coach Edwards staff previously coached or worked for him. His approach is to hire the best talent available for the job.