Smith is getting a lot of solid transfers, at least according to recruiting rankings. Around the same time they were getting boat-raced by us, it was announced that Tyjon Lindsey, a former 4-star recruit, had transferred there from Nebraska, joining two other former 4-star guys who transferred from Nebraska, Gebbia and Roberts. He also recently got former Oklahoma linebacker Addison Gumbs to transfer recently (another former 4-star guy).
More generally, from my own observations on recruiting, the "middle" is where it's tough. Right now, as a new, first-time head coach, Smith can sell a new and exciting future and a lot of PT opportunities. He also can associate himself with all of that success at UW. I'm sure he's claiming that he's going to have that place as "UW South" in a few years. It should actually be relatively easy for him to recruit right now, compared to what it might be in a few years, especially since he's coming from a program in the same geographic region and already has some relationships in the area.
It gets a lot tougher when you're in year 3, especially if the results haven't been great and your job status is questionable, and people can look at your actual record there instead of you going in with a clean slate and selling a dream. I think that's one reason why, as discussed at length here, Leach's 2014 class was disappointing overall. Leach made it through that -- with a ton of staff attrition over the years, too -- and things are clicking pretty well now. We'll see if Smith does, especially if the losses pile up this year and next.
