BYU will always be quirky when it comes to recruiting and player development. There isn't another major university with both the restrictions and unique culture of BYU. This automatically shrinks the recruiting pool by a substantial amount. There are lots of kids, LDS or not, who just don't want the BYU experience (and likely wouldn't do well in it if they came).

Add to that the fact that BYU has, by far, more returned missionaries on its roster than any other school. You can't underestimate the impact of that 2-year hiatus from sports, both mentally and physically, can have on a player's development. Some guys take a while to rekindle the athletic fire, some guys never regain it. It also leaves players more prone to injury as they try to work their way back into shape.

As to the draft, age is a definite factor for NFL teams. Sure, there are rare exceptions where age hasn't seemed to matter to a team, but for the most part, NFL execs seem to avoid, or at least draft lower, older players. This is a reality.

I think it's unreasonable to lay all this at Bronco and his staff's feet. He's playing the cards he's dealt. His employer expects him to create an environment where the spiritual is emphasized and where guys are not only allowed but encouraged to go on missions. He is expected to honor scholarships for returned missionaries, even if those missionaries let themselves go and come back woefully out of shape or unprepared to contribute. In spite of it all, he wins games, and lots of them.

I'm not saying Bronco and his staff can't improve in both recruiting and player development, they certainly can. I just think this seems like another case of CB overreaction and denial. Too many BYU fans want BYU to be something it's not, and something it can't be. I'm not asking for blue-goggled blind fandom, but at least some objectivity. BYU does pretty dang well in these areas, all things considered. Unless the church doubles or triples in growth in the US over the next decade, we won't be reaching Notre Dame or Texas levels in recruiting any time soon.