Posted by SJSdude on 1/16/2008, 7:26 pm
71.139.197.191
Someone made the statement that they were concerned or disappointed that SJSU did not have commitments for 3-4-5 star recruits, as did many other schools (well, at least they weren't showing on the recruiting websites as having any). Maybe we should be thankful for that.
I pulled out my own database, which dates back to 2002, and took a look at those recruits that had signed with SJSU over the past six years that had 3 or more star ratings to see how they turned out. I'm talking about the ratings they received before their signing days. Lately, Scout and Rivals have been changing the ratings of players after signing day. That way they don't look so bad when someone takes a look to see how that NFL 1st Round Draft Pick was rated out of high school or JuCo just a few years earlier, only to discover they were given 1 star.
For SJSU, here are the recruits that had 3 or more star ratings prior to LOI day:
4-Star recruits:
2002
I'lario Vital - Never played a down of D1-A ball.
Trestin George - Solid 4 year starter at SJSU
Eddie Brown - Starter for SJSU. Did not live up to his billing.
Kendrick Starling - Had trouble catching the ball, but made it to NFL as a kick-returner due to speed.
Justin Arrington - Good lineman started two years.
2003
Jeff Ferrier - Spent 2 seasons as back-up PK before transfering out of SJSU and D1-A.
Leon Pinkey - Good TE, but he was one season and done.
2004
Brian Elledge - Converted from LB to TE. Still with team.
2005
Keith Jackson - Never played a down for SJSU, nor any other 4 year school.
2007
David Richmond - Starting WR in 2007, could earn his 4 star rating next year.
3-Star reruits:
2003
Katrell Collier - Played one season. Very good safety. Academics kept him out after that. Tragically committed suicide in 2006.
Tyson Thompson - Very good player, but only played 1 season, early NFL draft entrant. Signed with Dallas Cowboys as kick returner.
2004
Patrick Perry - Solid back, still with team. Injured in 2007
2005
Bernard Afutiti - Never enrolled. Was a JC standout in 2007.
2006
Sean Flynn - Back-up QB
David Lomu - Second string DL. Played a lot.
Jeff Clark - Good TE. Starter.
Dominique Hunsucker - Solid player on both sides of the ball.
2007
Joe Bates - Did not enroll in 2007
Kyle Flynn - #3 WR in 2007
John Harris - Deserving of his rating. Very good safety
Fred Koloto - Starter as true freshman in 2007.
Duke Ihenacho - Future All-WAC player.
And now for those players that weren't rated so high by the recruiting sites. These players were all rated with 1 or 2 stars, or none at all. Some were not even listed on the recruiting sites prior to LOI.
Roy Lewis - Started as true freshman for Spartans. Transferred to Washington and started there.
John Booker - All WAC
Dwight Lowery - All American
Cameron Island
Marcel Burrough
James Jones - All WAC - NFL
Adam Tafralis - Invited to NFL combine
Courtney Anderson - NFL
Jamall Broussard - NFL
Matt Cantu - All WAC
Yonus Davis - All WAC
Demetrius Jones
Scott Rislov - Arena League QB
Chris Vedders - All WAC
Rakine Toomes
Bryan Watje - All WAC
Matt Castelo - All WAC
James T. Callier
Amadeo Novello
Kevin Jurovich - All WAC
Christopher Owens - All WAC
Jacob French
Ailao Eliapo
Carl Ihenacho
Moe Ngatuvai
Basically, it's safe to say that high ratings does not guarantee success at the D1-A level. But, even more so, lack of a high rating does not mean squat. Some of the 3 and 4 star recruits were excellent players, and even made it to the NFL. But, more of SJSU's All-WAC players have been from the unheralded ranks.
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