Ranking the incoming class (2012)... over/under achievers?
A bit of a different perspective on the incoming class. What do you guys think?
Amidst the surge in 2013 recruiting, class of '12 feels a bit lost in the shuffle before they even get on-campus. Certainly worth a look even if only for a refresher on the stellar incoming class.
Also, Willie Henry over RJS is a bit...odd.
http://fergodsakes.blogspot.com/2012/04/reasoning-our-recruiting-rankings-class.html
What guys do you see being over/under achievers, based on their rankings coming into the fall?
April 21st, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
In one interview (which I can't find) Chris said that he was offered by LSU and Alabama but never reported it. I am very excited to watch this young man play football.
I think it's not a good idea to do these kinds of things, especially when some of these guys may redshirt, like Richardson, who would surely add bulk.
It's ok to have expectations, but it just seems odd to start projecting players to be under-achievers when they haven't even gotten on campus yet.
It's not so much about projecting underachievement as it is about tempering expectations. Certainly it'd be phenomenal if he bulks up and lives up to his Guru rankings, but the post is about contextualizing his ranking (based on film & seeing Terry in person) and offering some perspective therein.
Do you think that we'll take both Deshone Kizer and Chance Stewart next year?
There was one point in this recruiting cycle that the coaches thought about taking a 2nd QB..but didn't to appease Shane. So I think we'd take both next year. I'm still not sold on Stewart being a Michigan-caliber QB, though.
ok, they got me sold on Norfleet
I'm sober and I had the same problem. I feel like I'm Dutch trying to read Afrikaans. Die Latress op die menjay?
Holy sea sickness.... It might be the fact that I'm still working on the first cup of coffee, but that was a real struggle to read, and I think I now have vertigo.
As far as RJS goes; I've always considered Ross in a different league. I'm no expert, but the technique and instincts that Ross showed on the film I watched...months ago now... was far and away better than what I saw watching RJS film. I always figured that the high rankings for RJS were due to pure athleticism, and long term upside. Here's to hoping they all pan out!
...If you're not sold on his evaluation, the ever-skeptical Magnus loves his upside as well. So there's that.
I think I'm going to wait a few years before "ranking" this or any class. It's still a crapshoot because you never know who is going to pan out and who isn't. Sometimes a guy is a star in HS but it doesn't translate to major college football. Sometimes a guy is steady in HS and turns out to be a very good player as a senior in college.
I think plenty of these guys will make major contributions before it's all said and done; they just might not be the ones anyone expected.
April 21st, 2012 at 10:06 AM ^
April 21st, 2012 at 10:13 AM ^
Look, the dude was a stupid twit, but he was a pretty good college football player. The guy, with help from talent around him, had a great college record, was relatively consistent, won a Rose Bowl and a Rose Bowl MVP.
This, all while being in a system that by no means fit his strengths. In a spread system, Pryor could have been phenomenal. Still a complete idiot, but far from not working out at his position. I have no qualms about him being a 5-star recruit.
April 21st, 2012 at 11:05 AM ^
Rivals five star skill players (in ranking order) from 2008:
Terrelle Pryor
Julio Jones
Darrell Scott
AJ Green
Blaine Gabbert
Mike Roudolph
DeVier Posey
DeAndre Brown
Dayne Crist
Jonathan Baldwin
Michael Floyd
He fits in with the top of this list based on his college career, which is pretty high praise. Jones could possibly edge him out if someone went back and re-ranked, but Pryor would probably stay ahead of Gabbert and Green for second place. Plus he's nowhere near a Darrell Scott-like bust.
April 21st, 2012 at 10:36 AM ^
I have absolutely no basis for this ... just a hunch.
Sione Houma ... numbers: 3-stars, 6'0", 211lbs, 4.5 40 fullback.
I can't explain it ... there's something about the backstory here that intrigues me. Here's a kid from Utah of all places, with offers from Utah schools and Washington as well as Georgia Tech (that's interesting).
He was recruited by Dan Ferrigno and Jerry Montgomery. I wonder what they saw in this kid from way yonder in Utah?
I was watching Dan Gruden's show with Andrew Luck. They were reviewing video for a particular play ("Y Banana") and Gruden kept asking Luck: "Who's your #1?" Luck kept answering, "Fullback." Houma's got decent speed for a 211 pounder. If his hand skills match his blocking skills, we might have ourselves an under-the-radar guy here.
There's all sorts of bigger names in the 2012 class, but for some odd reason my eyes keep coming back to Houma.
April 21st, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
April 21st, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^
You're right ... my bad. Wasn't thinking ... too lazy to make sure.
April 21st, 2012 at 11:06 AM ^
April 21st, 2012 at 11:17 AM ^
We have that play in our west coast playbook. Love to see Spider 2 spider 3 on plays. That play as Luck said is almost always open especially with the way we like to run power. That Luck session with Gruden was very eye opening.
As someone earlier said, just dont force the venus on the backside.
April 21st, 2012 at 11:35 AM ^
Maybe it's just me, but I would never try to force Venus on anybody's backside.
April 21st, 2012 at 11:07 AM ^
I have no real argument or basis for these opinions (i.e., I have watched zero film, and have just read some recruiting posts here and elsewhere), but I've always been excited about Jeremy Clark and Sione Houma. A speedy 6'4" safety with a record of pick-sixes? Amazing. And Houma seemed to be racking up some gaudy numbers in HS.
Also, lately every time I read something about Norfleet, I get more excited about him. Unless he's returning kicks, it'll probably be a while before he gets worked into the offense, but it shoulds like he's got the potential to be a real threat with the ball.
April 21st, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^
Since you have linked to this site multiple times in other posts, it's clear that you're the writer/owner of this website. Why don't you just come clean instead of trying to fish for comments?
April 21st, 2012 at 11:55 AM ^
....but all I could really find noteworthy is this sentence, which might be worthy of the next Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest:
"It's tough to figure out just exactly how much one should put into a recruit's measurables, but Terry's smaller than your average broski in the English 125 class from freshman year because you have to get through those f*$#@ng LSA requirements."
For those unfamiliar, the 2011 winners - yes, at least these people were intentionally writing awful sentences. http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/2011win.html
April 21st, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
Writing like you speak is generally a very bad idea.
There may be interesting information or opinion in that blog post, but it's almost impossible to find in what one commenter aptly called "negligent manslaughter of the English language."
Based on "It's tough to figure out just exactly how much one should put into a recruit's measurables, but Terry's smaller than your average broski in the English 125 class from freshman year because you have to get through those f*$#@ng LSA requirements," i assume that Joe attended the University of Michigan. I hope i'm wrong. If i'm not, then i must reconsider my previous assumption that the University of Michigan produces superior products of education.
April 21st, 2012 at 12:12 PM ^
the pads before we start picking winners and losers.
April 21st, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^
Norfleet reminds me of Eric Metcalf only more rugged. Look out for him.
April 21st, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^