5 star players in Texas-overrated?

[utisdabomb12]

5 star players from Texas-overrated?

In the last 7 classes I would say the '14 class might be the only class that's lived up to expectations in terms of the 5 stars (it's still early to make determinations on the '14 class too). 
According to 247 composite. 

2014: 

Myles Garrett-Very good player. Big production in one year. 

Tony Brown-Didn't do a lot at Alabama in his freshman year. 

Solomon Thomas-RS at Stanford. 

KD Cannon-Great year at Baylor. 

Jamal Adams-Pretty good year at LSU. 

-It's early but it looks like in the '14 class Garrett, Adams and Cannon will be very good players. Not so sure on Thomas and Brown. 

2013: 

Keith Ford-He's essentially been a bust. 134 and 392 yards rushing in 2 years. 

RSJ-I won't call him a bust but he certainly hasn't lived up to the hype based on his recruiting ranking. 

Robbie Rhodes-Total bust so far. Transferred to Bowling Green. 

A'Shawn Robinson-He's been good at Alabama. 

Darius James-Total bust so far. 

-Out of the '13 class the only player that's lived up to expectations is Robinson. I would say 3/5 are total busts and RSJ has underachieved based on the hype. 

2012: 

Mario Edwards-Drafted in the 2nd round, had a good career at FSU. 

Johnathan Gray-I won't call him a bust but he's certainly underachieved. 

Malcom Brown-Good career at Texas 

Trey Williams-I won't call him a bust but he certainly underachieved at A&M. 

Thomas Johnson-Total bust, don't even know where he is now. 

-Out of the '12 class Brown and Edwards are the only two players that have lived up to expectations. 

2011: 

Brandon Williams-Bust, A&M has moved him to cornerback. 

Malcolm Brown-I won't call him a bust but he certainly underachieved based on his recruiting ranking.

Trey Metoyer- Total bust.

Steve Edmond-I won't call him a bust but certainly underachieved based on his recruiting ranking. 

-Out of the '11 class there's not a single player that's lived up to expectations. 

2010: 

Jackson Jeffcoat- Not a great career at Texas but certainly not a bust. He really only had 1 productive season at Texas in '13. 

Mike Davis-Not a bust but certainly underachieved based on recruiting ranking. 

Reggie Wilson-Total bust. 

Darius White- Total bust. 

Lach Seastrunk-Good career at Baylor. 

-Out of the '10 class Seastrunk is probably the only player that has met expectations based on their recruiting ranking. 

2009: 

Russell Shepard-Bust. 

Craig Loston-Had a decent career at LSU but nothing spectacular. Went undrafted. 

Garrett Gilbert-LOL

Mason Walters-Good career at Texas but I wouldn't say he was spectacular. I think he probably underachieved based on his recruiting ranking. 

Christine Michael-Good career at A&M but nothing spectacular. 

Jamarkus McFarland-Bust. 

-Out of the '09 class I'm not sure there's a player that met expectations. Walters, Loston and Micahel had decent careers in college. 

2008: 

Jermie Calhoun-Total bust. 

RJ Washington-Bust. 

-Out of the '08 class not a single 5 star that amounted to a thing.

 

[streettopeschel]

I've said forever that star rankings didn't matter and this helps back it up.

Think about it. NFL scouts working on this all year round with access to college film and other info and only have to evaluate a few hundred players screw up their draft picks frequently.

So, some guy at Rivals is going to sort thru thousands of Hudl tape and determine amongst thousands of players who is a 5,4,3...yeah. Whatever. Once a year or so, there's a VY or AP that any idiot could label can't miss. The other 99%, who knows?

It's a crapshoot. The only thing goofier is adult fans getting their panties in a twist over recruiting.

 

[utisdabomb12]

I've said forever that star rankings didn't matter and this helps back it up.

Think about it. NFL scouts working on this all year round with access to college film and other info and only have to evaluate a few hundred players screw up their draft picks frequently.

So, some guy at Rivals is going to sort thru thousands of Hudl tape and determine amongst thousands of players who is a 5,4,3...yeah. Whatever. Once a year or so, there's a VY or AP that any idiot could label can't miss. The other 99%, who knows?

It's a crapshoot. The only thing goofier is adult fans getting their panties in a twist over recruiting.

Agreed. I think recruiting rankings matter but they certainly aren't the end all be all. 

Like you said, it's a crapshoot. I don't think that's necessarily a criticism of recruiting analysts either. Some players develop differently or end up at better fits. 

 

[streettopeschel]

Agreed. I think recruiting rankings matter but they certainly aren't the end all be all.

Like you said, it's a crapshoot. I don't think that's necessarily a criticism of recruiting analysts either. Some players develop differently or end up at better fits.

of course, but fans who swear by recruiting analysts might as well swear by Todd McShay. Take it all with a grain of salt.

 

[HornNdriftwood]

I see a lot of head-cases among those labeled as "busts."

Perhaps a product of the pampered, entitled atmosphere surrounding Texas HS football?

I like those hungry Fla players.

 

[utisdabomb12]

of course, but fans who swear by recruiting analysts might as well swear by Todd McShay. Take it all with a grain of salt.

true

 

[echeese]

Excellent stuff.

Did you post this on OB?

Would you if you haven't?

 

[echeese]

I see a lot of head-cases among those labeled as "busts."

Perhaps a product of the pampered, entitled atmosphere surrounding Texas HS football?

I like those hungry Fla players.

VERY valid observation

 

[streettopeschel]

I see a lot of head-cases among those labeled as "busts."

Perhaps a product of the pampered, entitled atmosphere surrounding Texas HS football?

I like those hungry Fla players.

the majority of players he listed weren't 'busts' they just didn't live up to recruiting hype, which is more on the evaluation id say. MB the RB is a good kid, he just wasn't what he was billed to be.
But curiously which of the busts in your mind were head cases and how many bust does FLA produce ? I would guess their recruiting evaluators miss the same amount but I don't know.

 

[echeese]

Upon further review,

Malcom Brown DT at TEXAS. . .

Hardly "under achieved" . . .

Finalist for Nagurski and Outland awards

All American

1st Round NFL pick

as a 3 year player. .  .

I'd say he lived up to hype.. . .

Unstoppable as a Junior. .. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

Upon further review,

Malcom Brown DT at TEXAS. . .

Hardly "under achieved" . . .

Finalist for Nagurski and Outland awards

All American

1st Round NFL pick

as a 3 year player. .  .

I'd say he lived up to hype.. . .

Unstoppable as a Junior. .. 

I said Malcolm Brown the RB under achieved.  I said Malcom Brown the DT had a "good career". For sure Malcom lived up to the hype, Malcolm the RB was a pretty big disappointment. 

 

[Agmaniacmike]

Most of these "busts" aren't hard to figure out if you follow the recruiting process.

Quite a few of those guys were 5-stars based off of size/speed combo and their projection at a position they didn't play. Some weren't mentally tough enough to handle the rigor of collegiate football, others were injury prone throughout their career, while some only stood out above small,mediocre competition.

The guys who were undoubtedly studs from that list include Garrett, Adams, Gray, T Williams, Malcom Brown, Jeffcoat, Michael, McFarland, Gilbert,and Loston.

The others had some attitude issues keeping them from being sure-fire contributors(Robinson, Seastrunk), although most generally have panned out. Others were men amongst boys in high school (B Williams, RSJ, Edmond),or possessed superior physical/genealogical attributes (Edwards Jr., RSJ, Metoyer, Tony Brown).

It is probably a bit premature to judge the 2013 or 2014 classes as busts yet. Some of those 5-stars were projections based off of physical traits and they have only been on campus for 2-3 years.

 

[streettopeschel]

I said Malcolm Brown the RB under achieved. I said Malcom Brown the DT had a "good career". For sure Malcom lived up to the hype, Malcolm the RB was a pretty big disappointment.

based on some recruiting expert expectation. Had he come in as a 3 or 4, he would have met expectations. Is that on him or the evaluators?

 

[utisdabomb12]

Most of these "busts" aren't hard to figure out if you follow the recruiting process.

Quite a few of those guys were 5-stars based off of size/speed combo and their projection at a position they didn't play. Some weren't mentally tough enough to handle the rigor of collegiate football, others were injury prone throughout their career, while some only stood out above small,mediocre competition.

The guys who were undoubtedly studs from that list include Garrett, Adams, Gray, T Williams, Malcom Brown, Jeffcoat, Michael, McFarland, Gilbert,and Loston.

The others had some attitude issues keeping them from being sure-fire contributors(Robinson, Seastrunk), although most generally have panned out. Others were men amongst boys in high school (B Williams, RSJ, Edmond),or possessed superior physical/genealogical attributes (Edwards Jr., RSJ, Metoyer, Tony Brown).

It is probably a bit premature to judge the 2013 or 2014 classes as busts yet. Some of those 5-stars were projections based off of physical traits and they have only been on campus for 2-3 years.

I don't think anyone in the '13 class will pan out except Robinson. RSJ might be a decent player but he's soft as hell. Not to mention he's entirely too slow to play WR, A&M needs to move him to TE. I don't think Rhodes, James or Ford will ever amount to much. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

based on some recruiting expert expectation. Had he come in as a 3 or 4, he would have met expectations. Is that on him or the evaluators?

True. When I use the words like "bust" and "underachieved" I'm referring to recruiting rankings. Maybe they weren't "busts" and just evaluated incorrectly. 

 

[Agmaniacmike]

There is still plenty of time for Ford, James, and RSJ. All 3 have had injury issues in their young careers and at least two of them will get a shot somewhere else. RSJ is quite the enigma, he was an extremely physical player in high school, but hasn't regained that instinct with the dislocated kneecap in high school and then the re-injury his true freshman year. He's entering his 3rd year coming off of a nearly 500 yard, 4 TD season, so he hasn't been completely unproductive. I felt like RSJ would have made a better pass rusher out of high school, but he and damn near every coaching staff projected him to WR.

 

[Duke C #11]

The star system is for our entertainment only. Fans who take this seriously are deluding themselves. As for comparing Texas 5 stars to others, the stars at the elite high school programs in Texas may not have as much "upside", simply because they've already had access to college level support systems, so many reach their peaks before leaving high school.

 

[echeese]

I said Malcolm Brown the RB under achieved.  I said Malcom Brown the DT had a "good career". For sure Malcom lived up to the hype, Malcolm the RB was a pretty big disappointment. 

Sorry inverted the 2 in my mind. . . .

But I still say "good career" is damning by faint praise.

MB DT was OUTSTANDING and lived up to hype.

Otherwise, good work. . .. and as I said, would you post it to OB or allow me to (crediting you of course)

 

[tejasrulz]

MB DT was OUTSTANDING and lived up to hype.

Otherwise, good work. .

Agree with both comments.