Decided I had some time to go back and examine our 4 star signees to see how well we’ve done with them. Figured we could tell when looking at the classes, who were hits, and who were misses.
I went back 10 classes. And I’ll say this before sharing the data. MAN – that 2011 class was OUTSTANDING. And was ranked 29th overall. But I’d kill to have that kind of class every year.
2019 – 0 four stars signed
2018 – 4 four stars signed.
Marlon Character - DB
Chandler Jones - DB
Terrell Troutman - DB
Marcus Riley – ATH (is he still on the team? Don’t remember him)
Too early to tell although 2 kids are giving us solid minutes at least.
2017 – 6 four stars signed
Mehki Becton – OL (home run hit here)
Russ Yeast – DB (solid player for us so far – I’d call this a hit)
Colin Wilson – RB (struggled with injury- left the team – this is a miss)
Justin Marshall – WR (little production so far – he’s a miss right now)
Corey Reed – WR (see Marshall above. He’s a miss for me)
Malik Cunningham – QB (this is a hit for me. I expect improvement too)
I’d say we’re batting 500 in this class.
2016 – 3 four stars signed
Dez Fitzpatrick – WR (a big hit here)
Jawon Pass – QB (he’s more miss than hit for me)
Chris Taylor-Yamanoha – WR/DB (he never really caught on. Miss)
1 out of 3 … our batting average is dropping.
2015 – 3 four stars signed
Devante Peete – WR (he’s a miss in my book)
Devonte Fields – DE – (transfer from JUCO, after TCU kicked him off team. He’s a HIT for me, despite never making the NFL).
Lamar Jackson – QB – Duh. Obvious hit.
2 out of 3 …. Batting average improving!
Look at these 3 stars in that class though:
Jonathon Greenard – 5.5 3 star – DL (didn’t have a committable offer from UK tho. Certain to be an NFL draft pick)
Cole Hikutini – 2 star TE – (couple of years in the NFL; dated 5-star Katie George.)
Geron Christian – 3 star 5.6 OL – (3rd round pick in NFL – still getting paid)
2014 - 0 four stars signed
2013 - 2 four stars signed
James Hearns – LB – (I’d call him a hit … maybe a double.)
James Quick – WR - (He’s a hit in my book, but never lived up to the insane expectations locally)
2 for 2. Not bad.
2012 – 3 four stars signed
Nick Dawson – LB (I remember the name. But not the player. Miss??)
Keith Brown – LB (ditto Dawson. Miss?)
Gerod Holliman – DB (he’s a HIT. But this is his second appearance on our signees list. Only counting him once. NCAA interception leader. NFL Draft pick. – enough said.)
1 for 3 ….
But check out these 3 star kids we signed this year:
Sheldon Rankins – 3 star 5.7 – DL – 1st round NFL pick, still in league
James Burgess – 3 star 5.6 – LB – Undrafted free agent, bounced around, but still in league.
2011 – 4 four stars signed
Gerod Holliman – counted him above.
Andrew Johnson – CB - (I remember him blocking a kick at WVU, and returning it for a TD. That makes him a HIT for me.)
Eli Rogers – WR – (Definite HIT. A very good slot receiver. Still in NFL)
Teddy Bridgewater – QB – (Duh part two. The first QB of the century for us. Home Run)
3 for 3.
But look at all these 3 star kids in this class:
Devante Parker – WR – 5.6 1st round pick - Still in NFL
Jamon Brown – OL – 5.6 - 3rd round pick - Still in NFL
Deiontez Mount – DL – 5.6 6th round pick - Couple of years in the NFL
John Miller – OL – 5.6 3rd round pick – couple of years in NFL.
Calvin Pryor – DB 5.7 1st round pick – several years in the NFL.
Lorenzo Mauldin – DE 5.6 3rd round pick – several years in the NFL
Charles Gaines – DB 5.7 - 6th round pick
BJ Dubose – DE 5.6 - 6th round pick
DAYUM. WHAT A CLASS.
2010 – 3 four stars signed
DeAntre Rhodes – DT – (who?? Has to be a MISS. Never heard of him)
Dominique Brown – ATH – (Hit for me … solid double)
Michaelee Harris – WR – (Injuries robbed him … he opened the Miami Northwestern pipeline, but he’s a miss on the field).
1 for 3 ...
Also in that class:
Josh Bellamy – 3 star 5.6 WR – STLL in the NFL. Amazing.
Marcus Smith – 3 star 5.6 ATH – 1st round draft pick. Washed out of the NFL this year. But got paid pretty well with stints in Philly, Seattle and Washington.
Preston Brown – 3 star 5.6 LB - 3rd round draft pick … Still in NFL (Bengals still count as NFL, right?)
Brandon Dunn – 3 star 5.5 DL – started out with the Bears, now with the Texans. Still in the NFL.
Senorise Perry – 3 star 5.5 RB – made the NFL as undrafted free agent, and is STILL in the NFL. Amazing.
So ... to re-cap .... (not counting 2018 or 2019 cuz it's too early to truly judge):
13 four star kids were hits
10 were misses.
A little over half of them panned out.
Of note ...
18 two or three star kids in this time period were drafted, or played significant time, in the NFL. Showing just how much you can build a team around 3 star kids.
I went back 10 classes. And I’ll say this before sharing the data. MAN – that 2011 class was OUTSTANDING. And was ranked 29th overall. But I’d kill to have that kind of class every year.
2019 – 0 four stars signed
2018 – 4 four stars signed.
Marlon Character - DB
Chandler Jones - DB
Terrell Troutman - DB
Marcus Riley – ATH (is he still on the team? Don’t remember him)
Too early to tell although 2 kids are giving us solid minutes at least.
2017 – 6 four stars signed
Mehki Becton – OL (home run hit here)
Russ Yeast – DB (solid player for us so far – I’d call this a hit)
Colin Wilson – RB (struggled with injury- left the team – this is a miss)
Justin Marshall – WR (little production so far – he’s a miss right now)
Corey Reed – WR (see Marshall above. He’s a miss for me)
Malik Cunningham – QB (this is a hit for me. I expect improvement too)
I’d say we’re batting 500 in this class.
2016 – 3 four stars signed
Dez Fitzpatrick – WR (a big hit here)
Jawon Pass – QB (he’s more miss than hit for me)
Chris Taylor-Yamanoha – WR/DB (he never really caught on. Miss)
1 out of 3 … our batting average is dropping.
2015 – 3 four stars signed
Devante Peete – WR (he’s a miss in my book)
Devonte Fields – DE – (transfer from JUCO, after TCU kicked him off team. He’s a HIT for me, despite never making the NFL).
Lamar Jackson – QB – Duh. Obvious hit.
2 out of 3 …. Batting average improving!
Look at these 3 stars in that class though:
Jonathon Greenard – 5.5 3 star – DL (didn’t have a committable offer from UK tho. Certain to be an NFL draft pick)
Cole Hikutini – 2 star TE – (couple of years in the NFL; dated 5-star Katie George.)
Geron Christian – 3 star 5.6 OL – (3rd round pick in NFL – still getting paid)
2014 - 0 four stars signed
2013 - 2 four stars signed
James Hearns – LB – (I’d call him a hit … maybe a double.)
James Quick – WR - (He’s a hit in my book, but never lived up to the insane expectations locally)
2 for 2. Not bad.
2012 – 3 four stars signed
Nick Dawson – LB (I remember the name. But not the player. Miss??)
Keith Brown – LB (ditto Dawson. Miss?)
Gerod Holliman – DB (he’s a HIT. But this is his second appearance on our signees list. Only counting him once. NCAA interception leader. NFL Draft pick. – enough said.)
1 for 3 ….
But check out these 3 star kids we signed this year:
Sheldon Rankins – 3 star 5.7 – DL – 1st round NFL pick, still in league
James Burgess – 3 star 5.6 – LB – Undrafted free agent, bounced around, but still in league.
2011 – 4 four stars signed
Gerod Holliman – counted him above.
Andrew Johnson – CB - (I remember him blocking a kick at WVU, and returning it for a TD. That makes him a HIT for me.)
Eli Rogers – WR – (Definite HIT. A very good slot receiver. Still in NFL)
Teddy Bridgewater – QB – (Duh part two. The first QB of the century for us. Home Run)
3 for 3.
But look at all these 3 star kids in this class:
Devante Parker – WR – 5.6 1st round pick - Still in NFL
Jamon Brown – OL – 5.6 - 3rd round pick - Still in NFL
Deiontez Mount – DL – 5.6 6th round pick - Couple of years in the NFL
John Miller – OL – 5.6 3rd round pick – couple of years in NFL.
Calvin Pryor – DB 5.7 1st round pick – several years in the NFL.
Lorenzo Mauldin – DE 5.6 3rd round pick – several years in the NFL
Charles Gaines – DB 5.7 - 6th round pick
BJ Dubose – DE 5.6 - 6th round pick
DAYUM. WHAT A CLASS.
2010 – 3 four stars signed
DeAntre Rhodes – DT – (who?? Has to be a MISS. Never heard of him)
Dominique Brown – ATH – (Hit for me … solid double)
Michaelee Harris – WR – (Injuries robbed him … he opened the Miami Northwestern pipeline, but he’s a miss on the field).
1 for 3 ...
Also in that class:
Josh Bellamy – 3 star 5.6 WR – STLL in the NFL. Amazing.
Marcus Smith – 3 star 5.6 ATH – 1st round draft pick. Washed out of the NFL this year. But got paid pretty well with stints in Philly, Seattle and Washington.
Preston Brown – 3 star 5.6 LB - 3rd round draft pick … Still in NFL (Bengals still count as NFL, right?)
Brandon Dunn – 3 star 5.5 DL – started out with the Bears, now with the Texans. Still in the NFL.
Senorise Perry – 3 star 5.5 RB – made the NFL as undrafted free agent, and is STILL in the NFL. Amazing.
So ... to re-cap .... (not counting 2018 or 2019 cuz it's too early to truly judge):
13 four star kids were hits
10 were misses.
A little over half of them panned out.
Of note ...
18 two or three star kids in this time period were drafted, or played significant time, in the NFL. Showing just how much you can build a team around 3 star kids.
