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re: Which schools best convert elite signees to top pro prospects?

Posted on 4/27/23 at 1:56 pm to
Posted by DawginSC
Member since Aug 2022
4304 posts
Posted on 4/27/23 at 1:56 pm to
quote:

I wholeheartedly support Georgia signing nothing but 2 star recruits from here on out. Because those two statistical anomalies you provided prove that all you really need is a roster full of 2 star recruits.


It's actually more of an issue of being able to identify 2 and 3 star recruits who are not highly regarded who UGA coaches are able to see are better than the recruiting service think. Richt was pretty good at that. Smart is pretty good too.


UGA takes a relatively small number of 3 stars and almost no 2-stars. But when we have given those guys scholarships, we have a real high hit rate... not because they're better, but because the coaches are particularly good at identifying low ranked contributors.

It's tough to grade more recent classes, but let's start with 2022 (RS Sophs mostly).

4 players with 3-star or worse rankings.

Javon Bullard - Starter at Safety. Knocked out Marvin Harrison Jr.

Jared Wilson - Contributor on OL. Played minutes in 7 games.

Jackson Meeks - Contributor at WR and in special teams. Been on the field in 14 of 15 games.

Marlin Dean - Scout team then Transfer portal.

UGA hit 75% with those guys. 3/4 are contributing to the success of UGA as 3-stars.

2020? Had Ladd McConkey (UGA's #1 WR), Jared Zirkel (starting K this year), Devin Willock (would have been starting this year if not for a car accident). 3 others transferred. 50% hit rate.

2019? Stetson Bennett (2 time NC starting QB), Tramel Walthour (starting DT) and a transfer. 66% hit rate.

2018? Jordan Davis (1st round pick), Jake Camarda (Starting punter, drafted), and a transfer. 66% hit rate.

UGA is really good at finding 3-star and below players who are being overlooked that are really good players. Can they find a team full? Probably not. But it does help a lot when more than half of those "bottom of the roster" guys are good enough to help on the field. It shows strength in terms of player evaluation and development to go along with just finding guys with lots of stars.

Though UGA does that too.
Posted by SneezyBeltranIsHere
Member since Jul 2021
2483 posts
Posted on 4/27/23 at 2:11 pm to
People always attack Texas about developing top talent. One name that almost always gets brought up is Jackson Jeffcoat. He was a 5* Def End and the son of an NFL legend. He was one of the highest rated recruits to ever sign at Texas. he went undrafted.

It is really a curious case. His senior year, Jackson Jeffcoat had 13 sacks. He was the Big 12 defensive player of the year. He won the Ted Hendricks award as the nation's best Defensive End. Still, somehow, he went undrafted.

He bounced around 3 NFL teams over 3 seasons. He would play well in preseason but teams would never give him a shot to start because they hadn't invested anything in him. He has since had a long run with 1 team in the CFL.

Still, can anyone else name a player who won their conference player of the year award and also won the national award for being the best player at their position who went undrafted?
Posted by Tornado Alley
Member since Mar 2012
26551 posts
Posted on 4/27/23 at 2:11 pm to
quote:

Mississippi State



Fo sho.

Fletcher Cox
Chris Jones
Jeffrey Simmons
Denico Autry

Ole Miss can't sign one good dadgum in-state defensive lineman.

I can go on.
This post was edited on 4/27/23 at 2:17 pm
Posted by BigBinBR
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2023
4241 posts
Posted on 4/27/23 at 3:15 pm to
quote:

First, if it is a given that 5 star prospects will be top NFL draft picks, why is LSU only seeing that happen once out of every seven 5 star prospects?


First where did I say a 5 star being an NFL prospect is a “given.”

Second if you don’t understand that a 5 star being a top NFL pic isn’t necessarily the school coaching the kid up then I don’t know what to tell you. While being a 5 star guy doesn’t guarantee you the NFL, no one is surprised when one makes it to the top rounds.

Those lower rated kids consistently making it to the top rounds of the NFL can show much more development by coaching staffs.
Posted by captdalton
Member since Feb 2021
8160 posts
Posted on 4/27/23 at 3:52 pm to
quote:

First where did I say a 5 star being an NFL prospect is a “given.”


Sorry, my mistake. You didn’t say it was a given. You said it should be expected. Kind of the same thing in my book. But anyway, since you asked me to show you, here ya go.

quote:

Yeah this is stupid. “Converting” a 5 star to a top NFL draft pick should be expected. Tell me who “converts” 1, 2, and 3 stars.
This post was edited on 4/27/23 at 3:54 pm
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