OT: Hakeem Butler

Submitted by BernardC on December 28th, 2018 at 11:43 PM

Someone please explain to me how this happens?  The kid has the measurables, and plays amazing.  He was a flipping 2 star?

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Frank Chuck

December 28th, 2018 at 11:47 PM ^

How this happens?

A lot of taller WRs (6'5"+) end up doing nothing.

Don't think so?

Alabama has a top 100 overall, 4 star 6'6" WR from the class of 2017 you've probably never heard of: Tyrell Shavers.

Shavers has 0 receptions, 0 yards, and 0 TDs in 2 seasons (one redshirt) thus far in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

https://247sports.com/Player/Tyrell-Shavers-84668/high-school-146603/

Ask yourself this:

How many productive 6'5" - 6'6" WRs are there in the NFL out of all the WRs in the NFL?
There are a few like Mike Evans. Vincent Jackson was another but he retired.

TennesseeMaize

December 28th, 2018 at 11:49 PM ^

Watching the game as well. Butler is truly a phenomenal talent. Glad for him and love the 2star kids who develop into nfl talent. It keeps hope alive for all high school players 

andidklein

December 29th, 2018 at 7:37 AM ^

It’s not an exact science. Where was Baker Mayfield in the ranking? He had to walk-on to two programs. Hand was a 5*, played nowhere near it and wasn’t drafted first day. There are too many HS kids to properly evaluate every year, some slip through the cracks for whatever reason. 

I think saying it’s not an exact science is dead on. 

UofM626

December 29th, 2018 at 12:10 AM ^

How about the podcast going around w Ron English and his stories how we had DeMarco Murray and Desean Jackson wrapped up but was told no at the last minute.

DHughes5218

December 29th, 2018 at 12:32 AM ^

I didn’t hear that, but I did read the story about Zach Harrison’s best friends creating the livestream for his announcement. The night before the announcement he told them he was going to OSU and they were shocked because they watched The Game with him and he was wearing UM gear for it and wore more UM gear the next weekend also. I think it’s safe to say if Urban doesn’t retire, he’s picking the good guys. That’s a trade off I would make every time and I for some reason feel better about losing out on a top 5 recruit.

Midukman

December 29th, 2018 at 7:09 AM ^

As much as I’d like to have him, I think he made the right decision for his family. Could you imagine what they’d go through, if they chose to reside in that shithole on a daily basis? I heard the phrase “fuck Michigan” no less than a dozen times while visiting my grandfather who was battling cancer in a Columbus hospital. All I was carrying was my Michigan lanyard/keychain. The fuckers sniffed that thing out from a mile away. 

Clarence Beeks

December 29th, 2018 at 12:12 AM ^

I would imagine that a big part of something like that (ie being under the radar as a recruit) is that he moved halfway across the country during the crucial recruiting period for his class (and to a recruiting hot bed, at that, in which much of the recruiting was surely already baked in).

uminks

December 29th, 2018 at 12:43 AM ^

I think his 40 and 100 were slower then the top WR. But he was good rout runner and has the ability to get open. Just goes to show there are sleepers all over the country.

amitrx

December 29th, 2018 at 1:11 AM ^

Jerry Rice

Terrell Owens

Antonio Brown

 

They didn't have star ratings for all these guys, but I am pretty sure based off their college they would be 2 star guys.

michymich

December 29th, 2018 at 1:38 AM ^

How does this happen? It happens because there are suckers out there who believe that recruiting services are infallible. Sort of like people who don't believe Tom Brady can't be great because he was a 6th round draft pick.

 

That's how.

LabattsBleu

December 29th, 2018 at 2:27 AM ^

it happens because you a projecting what a 16/17 year old is going to be in 3 years.

it happens because there's tens of thousands of kids playing football every year...

Recruiting rankings aren't the gospel; they are a guide...

not sure why this is endlessly debated... there are 25 kids ranked as 5 stars every year. 300 as 4 stars... everyone else is 3* or less... what is that? 2500 other kids?

at a macro level, stars matter. Offers matter.

the fact that there are outliers doesn't change that fact.

if you can recruit a class of all 5/4 stars, you do that because it is more likely that those kids are more likely to pan out...that's what Bama, OSU year in year out. Of course coaching matters, but some kids just have higher ceilings built in

seth just put out a jimmystats article detailing this

bluepalooza

December 29th, 2018 at 6:12 AM ^

Often kids who are lower rated don't camp.  By not attending camps, kids don't get the exposure against other talented kids.  Ratings are not an exact science as you can see with some of Michigan's 2019 recruits.  Look at the rankings between, 247, Rivals and ESPN.  Often there is a big disparity between recruiting services.

Magnus

December 29th, 2018 at 7:09 AM ^

Butler was very stiff in high school, and with that size, he looked like he might have to move to tight end. I'm surprised he was a 2-star, but I'm not surprised that he wasn't a highly ranked guy.

buddhafrog

December 29th, 2018 at 7:14 AM ^

Same questions. My son's high school has a senior RB who for the year has about 3000 yards and 40+TDs. 6k and 80+ for his career. North Virginia POY. Every team we played keyed on him because he was the only thing that brought us success. No one could stop him and the team had the best season in school history.

Set North Virginia record for yards gained. This is metro DC, a legit football region. Most rushes, yards, TDs in metro DC area. We have players on UM from this area. 

Great, humble, hard-working kid. Doesn't get into trouble. Acceptable grades. Also starts at CB. Never missed a game because of injury.

Best offer is Morgan State. He's not even ranked. I don't get how the rankings work and I'm not even saying it's wrong. But I just don't get it.

Senior highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2Auhkv

xtramelanin

December 29th, 2018 at 7:45 AM ^

interesting.  it lists that kid at 5' 8", 165 lbs, and that might be the reason?  says he has a 4.48 40, which would be lightning fast, but candidly looking at his tape for a minute i'd give that at least a few fakes.  regardless, i wish the kid well.  is great to see kids get to the next level and tear it up. 

buddhafrog

December 29th, 2018 at 8:49 AM ^

Yeah, I'm sure size is important here which is also why I mentioned he hasn't missed a game in four years. Size keeps him out of Power 5 maybe, but to be completely unranked confuses me.

4.48 was laser timed at a UA camp, so that's legit.

I think his plan is to go JUCO to get more exposure then transfer from there.

LabattsBleu

December 29th, 2018 at 10:45 AM ^

i was going to ask if he did camps; but the UA laser timing suggests that he did at least one..

its a bit surprising, cause sometimes kids don't get ranked due to lack of exposure, either geography or playing in a less competitive league or lack of camps...but it doesn't appear to be the case...surprised that Maryland hasn't offered something like a PWO at least based on what you have said

maybe he turns into one of those kids that turn up in the NFL and people say "how in the world did the colleges miss him"?

Again, tons of kids out there, services miss. Schools miss. The NFL however, will find you if you are good enough, i think that is demonstrable through the number of players in the NFL that are from "nowhere" colleges.

BoCanHam15

December 29th, 2018 at 8:16 AM ^

Recruiting Gurus, See Maizen.  He knows recruiting.  The guy is so complete and thoroughly gifted in recruiting acumen that he has qualified to hire and fire Harbaugh.  If he was coaching we would’ve had 10 Championships by now.  Also all, of his aliases are smarter than any Harbaugh alive.  I’d say that he’s better at calling plays than Pep and Jed Fisch, and more crafty than Greg Mattison teaching any defensive swim move.  We already have our coach in waiting.  Here’s to him or her showing up in today’s thread being as negative as possible.  GO BLUE!!!  Beat Flo Rida!!!

The Denarding

December 29th, 2018 at 9:29 AM ^

well you may have heard this before but he was actually a higher ranked basketball player than football player (or more highly regarded).   WRs, TEs and even offensive lineman who play basketball well tend to be under rated recruits.   Can be a gold mine for defensive ends as well.   

BroadneckBlue21

December 29th, 2018 at 10:20 AM ^

How did everyone miss on Khalil Mack!!?!!! Spoiler alert: humans are in no way fucking perfect. Instead of perpetually questioning how it happens, unless one is looking to solve the complex mathematical equation to make sure all humans are properly evaluated on their talent in every field, one should try and celebrate those humans who work hard enough to overcome the labels (because star ratings are simply labels imposed by other humans) and shine on like the five-star they work themselves into being. 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000963856/article/khalil-mack-was-technically-a-zerostar-hs-recruit