Before this thread gets buried with excitement on the Spring, I thought I'd throw some comments out there.
1. I had hoped for better, but
2. I was pleased with getting some good players in targeted need areas.
We lose some big shoes to fill, but the talent and potential is overall better than what we're losing.
Just talent coming in, from a star perspective
- Sean vs. Patrick, Douglas ---> Sean's a clear out front winner
Scott, Vernon vs. Barnes,Smith,Alls ---> Scott as a WR was really valuable, Vernon turned out way better than the 2 star leading the ACC hx for catches and yards, but this band of WR is the best group we've recruited in one year in who knows when. Plus, we'll get Braxton back as a Wideout and by some websites, Barnes is our top recruit. He was considered unstoppable at one of the camps. That praise wasn't coming from Coach Cut. So, perhaps as a suprise, this one is close to me, I call it a draw, but in the first year I favor the production of Scott and Vernon, but over the next 4 years the production of this trio will likely exceed the duo. Hope so... 
that'll mean Wins for Duke if they do.
Kurunewune vs. Ajeigbe ---> I know, why not compare to Scott as he was a RB for 3 years, true, but we lost a WR from a bowl team and the RB production from Scott has already been replaced. So Kurunwune gets the comparison and for that Ajeigbe has more potential/star rating.
Gamble vs. McDonald ---> Um...no offense to Gamble, but even with McDonald getting hurt, he's got much better potential and star rating from every site. Big upgrade.
Canty, Butler, Byas, Foster, Tavarez vs. Cash, Edwards, Fields, Holmes, Kite, Borders, Man, Carter ---> Even if you take away the volume factor, the upside of this group far and away beats the first group. Canty was a 3 star recruit and great for us. He wasn't quite as good as Daniels, but he was a playmaker. Tavarez had potential, but the acting career who knows on that one, he played, but wasn't so good that he was yet out there on every play. On the other hand, Cash was a 4 star recruit that originally chose Ohio St., Holmes is a 3 star recruit on every site, and Kite and Carter are other projected safties that have 3 star ratings depending on the site you view. Edwards was lauded by Saban as the best corner he'd seen. Who knows when he said it, but if Saban's giving that type of praise, he's got some potential.
Anderson vs. no one, but his replacement is already on the roster and so we should be okay here, but it is a loss.
Moore, Irwin, Gibson, Force vs. Davis, Korona, Bradner ---> Moore was legit good and realistically, we won't see a true picture of Davis, Korona, and Bradner for another 2 years. But...outside of Moore, Irwin filled a role, but wasn't on the same level as most of our line. Davis is seen as one of our top recruits by a couple of sites. Star for star, that probably equals Moore for potential production. So the question is will Korona or Bradner go on to offer more than a frequent sub and two others with limited playing time. I think they will, Korona has 3 stars on one site and Bradner had an offer from Clemson, that's more than the other 3 could say, so I'd say the line is better off going forward with the newbies.
So, to recap, 2 down, 1 draw, and 5 position upgrades.
QB - down
WR - draw - little down, but maybe not...again we are talking potential
RB - up
O-line - up
LB - up
Safeties - up
CB - up
If you look consider what else the team has....We have an experienced QB and talent waiting...Sean was good, but he was a bit turnover prone. We'll probably pass a little less next year and we've still got a sure thing in Jamison, so the relative loss of Vernon and Scott would seem to be compensated by the improved running attack. Our O-line has been getting better every year. If you're talking next year, you have to decide if the R-So guys can fill in better than what we lost. If you're comparing them, I think the comparison is even better. Patrick, Robinson, Apprahamian, Skura were all 3 star guys. Even without Ajeigbe we've got something good in our top 3 current RBs. We are getting Braxton back on offense and TE will also get upgraded. I gotta say, I think we'll be fine on offense even with the loss of some great players. Yet, its the defensive side I'm most pleased with as we definitely made upgrades at every spot. Keilin Rayner, a redshirt from last year that was a high 3 star recruit from the previous year will also be ready to add depth to the D-line. Annunike will be back. If Edwards is as good as advertised, we've got something really good going on at the corners with some talent at all 3 safety spots. Oh and Norman was pretty effective last year as a true freshman.
Defense was our issue, and by every account I see, we got better.
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