First off, I totally disagree with the silly notion that Capel can't bring in "impact" players... that's obviously ridiculous.
But I do have a few comments:
But I don't really consider him a big impact player like the OP was referring to about OSU recruits. I know he is a good defender but anytime a point guard has more turnovers than assists that is never a positive impact.
It probably depends on how you define "impact"...
From my perspective, Gulley is an impact player because he is starting as a true freshman. It's true that he's only starting because Penn was injured, but he was playing a good amount before the injury, and it's not like Ford has to start him.
He could easily start both Moses and Pilgrim and have Page run the point.
Point being that Ford sees reason to have Gulley start, and so he is adding value to the team, mostly with his defense, which I won't discount.
Of course, the other big "impact" players are Penn, Pilgrim, and (to a lesser extent) Roger Franklin.
All of those guys have been or are major contributors to the team's success in their first season.
That, to me, is the definition of "impact."
Ford isn't going to have any more of Sutton's five star talent to carry his team (Eaton, Obi and James were all elite talents) similar to those that are arguing what has Capel done without Blake.
But doesn't Capel
still currently have 5-star talent on the team?
There are many on this very site who argued all last year that Willie Warren was superior to James Anderson.
If that were the case, shouldn't he have been "carrying" the OU team earlier in the season, the way that Anderson is "carrying" this OSU team?
I don't think anyone can deny that TMG and Gallon are 5-star talent, even if they are freshmen.
As for OSU next year, I think you will see Penn and Pilgrim become a formitable inside/outside combination.