re: Shea says to not be surprised if Cai Bates doesn't end up in this class

No one can argue the validity of your point. We have been heavily dependent on the state over the years and our classes have been ranked accordingly based on the strength year to year. The strategy has worked to get us where we are in the pantheon of college football.
Wasn't the point of hiring Kelly, an established coach lacking only the big prize at the highest level, to improve from the norm? It's been proven lesser coaches can win here using that strategy. Why pay 100 mil over 10 years to remain at status quo when an up and comer would've sufficed at a much lower price tag? Fair or not the bar is Bama and UGA. Sustained dominance. Status quo doesn't accomplish that. It's been proven. Common sense says adjust the recruiting footprint. LA dominated classes supplemented from Texas and the SE isn't getting us where we want to be. Not for the price we are paying.