50 SEC players who excelled as three-star recruits

[King_Cock]

Originally Posted by gamecock88

Honestly, I think they've had 5* moments but have overall played like 3* guys, excluding Manziel. Taylor and Wilson probably got the best out of their ability and maxed out but both gave 5* effort. Shaw still has upside and DJ struggled fundamentally at times.

I actually can agree with this.

[cockthehammer]

Originally Posted by BuCockyfan

Because Marcus and Jadeveon tumbled out of the rankings right? The whole "if x commits to us he loses a star" argument is only used by those programs that don't recruit well. WE got some solid kids this year, but we didn't recruit well.

On rivals Marcus started out as the overall #1 in rivals 100, but when it became apparent that we led, he dropped to #10.

JC Sherburt said Clowney was the best prospect in the last 10 years at any position, no way they were dropping him.

[Gamecockfanatic4]

the LSU punter is a bit of a stretch when is the last time you saw a 4* punter? not a bad list though

[Go Carolina]

Stars sell website clicks, nothing more.
I'm sure they try to get it right, but they are attempting the impossible. They are attempting to quantify every aspect of a teenager's potential when there are SOOOOO many unquantifiable metrics that will determine success. Not to mention mother nature, and her damned penchant for developing boys into men.
The top end is relatively easy. These kids dominate their HS competition. It's the middle and below that make it impossible to accurately rate these kids.
I think you can rate performance, but you can never quantify potential.

[Talon1]

Thought this was telling... They only had Thompson as a two star. Too funny.

[Emery]

These discussions always come up and are just sort of sad. The reason we talk about 3 star potential etc. is because we don't get the five star and many four stars consistently.

Also, it's a function of numbers...the percentage of 5 stars who perform well is higher than the percentage of 3 stars because the overall total are different. I will take a 50% chance that a five star player will perform well than a 10% chance on a 3 star.

[PageUSC]

Originally Posted by Goofyboy

"Coach 'em up" is an oft-used phrase that can be a huge overstatement. The biggest factor set in a player's further development at the next level is that player's motivation, dedication, work-ethic. Coaches can lead, push, cajole, teach, encourage, and threaten, and trashtalk. Whether any of that sticks and helps a player to develop depends greatly on the player's own attitudes and behavior. A strong program certainly creates the platform for a player's development - and team culture is a strong contributor. The ultimate outcome, however, is mostly in the payers own hands. I would bet most Cocktalk posters could give examples (plus and minus) of players they have followed who grew or shrank under the same "coaching."

This! You HAVE to have talent and the more you have the better, but coaching only goes so far. It's how bad a player wants it, how hard they work, study, learn, workout and eat right, and their internal motivation.

[Rh Gamecock]

The recruiting services have said themselves that they sometimes determine a prospects ranking by who offers them. Also like they say talent determines star ranking but its mostly how physically ready they are for college football, so some players develop in college while others did a lot of developing in high school.

[Rh Gamecock]

Originally Posted by lakefire

I was under the understanding that stars were how likely the recruit could play as a freshman, not potential.

IE, a 5* is going to be starting his freshman year, and a 3* or 2* will likely need to RS.

This is a factor in the rankings along with talent/height/weight/offers/competition

Originally Posted by gamecock88

Honestly, I think they've had 5* moments but have overall played like 3* guys, excluding Manziel. Taylor and Wilson probably got the best out of their ability and maxed out but both gave 5* effort. Shaw still has upside and DJ struggled fundamentally at times.

Dj Swearinger (and a good bit of those players on that list) easily played like a mid-high four star. There are 100-150 four stars each year i believe? and hes getting drafted this April. So let's say including rs soph/Rs Juniors/ juniors & seniors 130 players get drafted before him out of like (a guess) 400four star players between all those classes.

[cack]

The stars don't work for everyone, because you always have late bloomers. Some people hit the spirts/peaks earlier than others. These people are called "busts". A kid that's bigger and faster than everyone in HS takes over and has killer numbers will be a high star because of his advantages over everyone else. Once he steps up to the college level and he's on an even playing field ... what does he do then.

Or you have someone that's about average size in HS and is a really good player. He doesn't shatter records, but is good enough to get to the next level. Once he gets there he starts to grow, lifts more, and learns how to take care of himself ... then he excels at the college level and booms through the NFL. Look at guys like Jerry Rice and TO that played at tiny colleges. They were both over looked by every D1 school in the nation, but once they grew ... they passed everyone.

[JTsecSC]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

The biggest misconception in the world of recruiting is that a 3 star is an average player. I typically stay out of the star discussion, but that is the one thing that irritates me sometimes.

But of course, average players don't typically play division 1 football period. Recruiting rankings are a headache.

[usc1]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

The biggest misconception in the world of recruiting is that a 3 star is an average player. I typically stay out of the star discussion, but that is the one thing that irritates me sometimes.

Another misconception is how all 4 and 5 stars are prima donnas who don't work hard. It's usually the opposite, that's how they get to be 4 and 5 stars is because they work hard. It's also kind of an excuse our fanbase uses when we miss on the 5 star and get the 3 star.

[USCremedy]

Been looking back at how many stars some of the NFLs best rookies of '12 had. Interesting
RG3 - 4 stars
Andrew Luck - 4 stars
Doug Martin - 2 stars
Alfred Morris - 2 stars
Chris Givens - 2 stars
Ty Hilton - 2 stars
Russell Wilson - 2 stars
Ryan Tannehill - 3 stars

Just goes to show how stars don't mean a whole lot.

[usc1]

Originally Posted by USCremedy

Been looking back at how many stars some of the NFLs best rookies of '12 had. Interesting
RG3 - 4 stars
Andrew Luck - 4 stars
Doug Martin - 2 stars
Alfred Morris - 2 stars
Chris Givens - 2 stars
Ty Hilton - 2 stars
Russell Wilson - 2 stars
Ryan Tannehill - 3 stars

Just goes to show how stars don't mean a whole lot.

25% of the players you picked out were 4 stars. About 12% of D1 recruits are 4 stars.

[Jleo]

Sidney Rice