They always seemed to be unanimous in that assessment. Holtz's recruiting time was when I was a kid and so I can't really speak to what he did.
The overall blue chip ratio is a bit lower than last year. That is correct. But the average rating per recruit this year is 91.41 per 247. In the entire time BK was here, he had an average rating per recruit that high only once (2013). It is balanced by position and they recruited the body types and athletic traits they've been recruiting specific to each position. This class stacks on top of the other classes he has which were also complete by position and with the body types and athletic traits he wants. So, I wouldn't say this is exactly a BK type class or recruiting operation.
I hear you about letting Angeli and Minchey battle it out. A big part of me feels that way as well. I think this is a crucial year for the program. This team is primed to make a run at it and if it does the whole program is going to elevate to another level. The talent is there at every position and the coaching staff from the OC and DC down are in place now. Both Denbrock and Golden are going to have really good units. The O should be every bit as good as the D was this year and the D should be at that level again. The whole world of CFB is being shuffled and there is a window of opportunity to position ourselves as high up in the CFB world before the dust settles. This year is important and he feels like Riley Leonard gives them the x-factor they need to do that and he has maybe the best OC in the country to get that out of Leonard. So I think Freeman is going for it.