re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition

quote:

---

Ranking players is a combination of how good they are at the high school level, how much potential they have at the college level and how the project in some ways as NFL prospects. The last part always gets us some interesting feedback from fans until NFL Draft Day, when they love to point out the two-stars that go in the first round as failures on our part. But the NFL equation has to be in there, especially when it comes to measurables. Now, measurables change all the time. Russell Wilson was a two-star in 2007 because 5-foot-11 was a generous measurement, and he wasn't projected as an athlete by many. No one was clamoring to take 5-foot-11 quarterbacks, and the NFL certainly didn't want them. N.C. State and Duke both saw something in Wilson that no one else did, including us. Now we have a 5-foot-10 (and that's generous) quarterback in our national top 75, and I just mentioned Francois as a potential five-star, and he's about as tall as Wilson was, maybe a little taller. Times change and so do needs. That being said, there are a few players in this class I would call "rare."
What does "rare" mean? It means a player who is so physically gifted at his position that he ranks amongst the best I have seen in 15 years. This year I would say Marshall, James, McKenzie and Gustin qualify, with James being the most rare. He is the best and most athletic safety prospect I have ever scouted in high school, a smidge higher than Blanding last year because he's just more quick-twitch. But the highest ceiling probably belongs to Marshall, who is big, instinctive and has a chance to be an amazing cornerback at every level. McKenzie is one of the biggest players I've seen who can actually move and has light feet, while Gustin reminds me of Brian Cushing. All of these guys could be special. And I can't forget Rosen, who is probably the most poised and college-ready quarterback I've seen over the years. Maybe Jimmy Clausen was a smidge more ready, but he was older and didn't have the same size. Rosen has a bit of an attitude, and his cocky nature is a wildcard for success (it's apparently why Stanford didn't offer); but I kind of like that about him, and it works for him. He should be a star at UCLA if he keeps maturing.

---