Five Star Follies: Part III

This is the third article in the on-going series of features evaluating the Rivals.com five-star recruits over the last five years...

The college football recruiting recruiting class of 2008 may go down as one of the best in recent time.

Unless of course you are a Miami Hurricanes fan.

Many of the National experts determined that in 2008 the University of Miami was to have landed the #1 recruiting class. But in the end it was simply not to be for various reasons and issues.

That was due to players like five-star DL Marcus Forston (seen above with OcalaCane and his wife) who's career was plagued by injury and five-star LB Aurthur Brown (seen below with Cat5 Cane) who could never break into the starting lineup and would later transfer to Kansas State.

What had looked so promising and good coming in to Coral Gables on National Signing Day in 2008 did not appear as successful or productive coming out on 2011. So goes the the game of love and war known as college football recruiting.

According to Rivals.com there were 30 five star players in the class of 2008. At least 10 of them would go on to be major impact players. Two of them were Hurricanes (DT Forston, LB Brown).

Yet both five star recruits for UM in 2008 were soon to be surpassed by another lesser-known and lower ranked player named Sean Spence (seen below with Aldarius Johnson, Brandon Harris and Blake Ayles).

Here are the 2008 five star impact players by rank, school and performance:

Rivals Class of 2008 Five Star Player Quick Facts:

• Total Players: 30
• Number of Impact players: 10
• Percentage of Impact Players: 30%
• Number of Players Who Transferred: 5
• Number of Injured Players: 5

The 10 impact players and their rankings from the 2008 class were:

• (1) QB; Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
• (2) DE DeQuan Bowers, Clemson
• (4) WR Julio Jones, Alabama
• (5) CB Patrick Peterson, LSU
• (9) WR A.J Green, Georgia
• (11) OL Matt Kalil, USC
• (14) QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
• (15) OL Tyron Smith, USC
• (26) WR Jonathan Baldwin, Pitt
• (27) WR Michael Floyd, ND

The 5 players who transferred from their original LOI to another school:

• (6) RB Darrell Scott (from Colorado to USF)
• (19) RB Jermie Calhoun (from Oklahoma to FCS school Angelo State)
• (23) LB Authur Brown (From Miami to Kansas State)
• (25) QB Dayne Christ (Notre Dame to Kansas)
• (28) ATH Burton Scott (Alabama to South Alabama)

The 5 players who were impacted by major injuries:

• DT Marcus Forston, Miami
• OL Matt Patchan, Florida
• WR Deandre Brown, Southern Miss
• ATH Richard Samuel, Georgia
• OL Tyler Love, Alabama

In summary the 2008 class was above average in terms of impact players (10). The class was also average in the number of transfers (5) and in players who were impacted by major injury (5).

Comments

[SlingBlade]

Uno

[roachcane77]

Nice job SlingBlade... the early bird...

Dude, the articles on "THE Space" here lately are UNMATCHED anywhere on the web!

Bravo!

Gotta go...

Let's Go Canes!

[TJL]

nice read-great info thanks

[Old Skool]

good info gracias

[LB]

Killer reads. Nice job. Let's go, EE's!

[WindyCane-Forecast1]

Great article!

[IraqiCane]

Great article, thanks Soup.

[Sean Spence is a Beast!!!]

NSD baby!

[Ohio_Cane]

Lady Canes lose Morgan Stroman for the season (Torn ACL)

[Willie Will in Nashville]

Sorry to be late to the party but I couldn't pass on this one.

If jacory Harris threw a ball thru a car wash that ball would get the ultimate cleaning package, the best that the car wash has to offer, with armor all and everything lol

[3G Cane]

Great read about a sore subject!

[]_[] GO CANES []_[]

[3G Cane]

Papa Cane-

Update: 2012 CB Larry Hope will enroll early and start classes at Miami tomorrow. Huge news. Was injured most of 2012 season.

[Ohio_Cane]

Canes will end up with 9 EE's. Holiett is enrolled now, and Hope will be soon.

[SOUP]

New photo is up with Spence, AJ#4, BH#1 and Blake Ayles from the UAAA game in 2008.

[Ohio_Cane]

^^^ Question: With 9 EE's, does that mean the Canes can sign a max of 34 recruits this year?

[SOUP]

Ohio...I believe the answer to your ??? is YES. Nine EEs that count towards the 2011 class and 25 schollies for 2012 = 34 recruits.

[Ohio_Cane]

SOUP, thanks! I thought so, but there's so many ins and outs I get confused sometimes lol

[Hassan]

I have been reported Hope days ago lol

[3G Cane]

Any word if Lockhart is going to make it in as an EE??? I think tomorrow is the last day.

[Ohio_Cane]

3G, from what I'm reading, Hope and Holiett would be the last 2 in addition to the previous 7.

Doesn't look like he will.

[UMike]

Does a certain amount of players need to leave the program for the EE's or can their be an unlimited amount of EE's?

[SOUP]

FROM PHIL STEEL:

Miami lost six players to the draft which was two more than any other school and clearly HC Al Golden has some rebuilding to do in Coral Gables on and off the field. The Canes lost leading rusher Lamar Miller who ran for 1,272 yds (5.6) and 9 TD’s, their leading receiver in Tommy Streeter who had 46 rec (17.6) and 8 TD’s and their best OL in Brandon Washington while also losing some talented defensive players who were suspended parts of this past year. Golden looks like he is bringing in a solid recruiting class to help but it will be tough to replicate the type of production the offensive players had this year.

[Texascane]

For all of you "Stars don't matter" folks...here is an extremely in-depth article rating stars vs draft rank. In addition, it shows the development of talent by the schools...Miami, as we all have noted, is not very good at developing their talent...

http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2011/4/30/2143688/the-best-and-worst-college-programs-and-conferences-at-developing

[Ohio_Cane]

Does a certain amount of players need to leave the program for the EE's or can their be an unlimited amount of EE's?

Posted by: UMike | January 24, 2012 at 10:42 AM
-----------------------------------------------

EE's go towards last year's 25 max, so it's not unlimited. I think we had 14 last year, so max EE should be 11 for this year.

[SharkJordan]

Angelo State?? Haha never heard of it
Nice stats, 30% is a very low number wow

[Ohio_Cane]

Yuri Wright has committed to Colorado. See what tweeting can do to U, recruits?!?! WATCH WHAT U TWEET!!

[Old Skool]

It will be interesting to see what kind of signs will show up at the away stadiums in which Colorado plays. Fortunately, Yuri's most tweeted word can't necessarily be repeated.

I wonder if Colorado plays Stanford. If so, the Stanford band would have a very easy target.

[Old Skool]

In other bizarre news, PETA wants to buy OJ's house to create a murder exhibit.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/os-oj-simpson-peta-home,0,7526713.story

Can't wait to see the bloody glove room.

[Texcane]

I read somewhere 9 EE's is the max that can count towards last years class. Then anyone more that you have count toward the current yr's class.

[Ohio_Cane]

Scout.com actually has Tracy Howard as the #4 CB in the nation? Lol, seriously?

[3G Cane]

^^^Right across the street from Killian HS

[Texcane]

Typing while driving
*Then anymore that you have..

[Ohio_Cane]

Canes offered 2013 DT Deadrin Senat 6'1, 311, and he's thinking about committing.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/florida/football/recruiting/player-Deadrin-Senat-129381

[Ohio_Cane]

Canes also offered Louisiana TE DeSean Smith, 6'4, 222. One of the top TE's in the country.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/rutgers/football/recruiting/player-Desean-Smith-124312

[Hassan]

Darrius White Canceled his visit to UM this weekend. lets see Iowa State or UM? lol WOW these kids are crazy, must be afraid to compete. Here's Kiper's take on some of our guys.

Jorge Milian (PB Post) spoke to ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. on a conference call on Thursday afternoon regarding the draft prospects of quarterback Jacory Harris and UM’s quintet (not counting Aldarius Johnson) of underclassmen.

Here is what Kiper had to say:

….UM hasn’t had a quarterback chosen since Ken Dorsey was selected in the seventh round of the 2003 draft and that doesn’t figure to change this year. Kiper said he has Harris ranked as the No. 22 draft-eligible quarterback. As a comparison, only 12 quarterbacks were taken in the 2011 draft. “I don’t see a scenario where he is selected,” Kiper said. “There’s too many quarterbacks rated ahead of him.”

….Kiper said that Lamar Miller, Tommy Streeter and Brandon Washington made the right decision by leaving early, but questioned whether defensive linemen Marcus Forston and Olivier Vernon were wise in choosing to leave UM. “I’ve talked to kids in past years, it’s not about being a first-round pick, it’s about feeling they accomplished what they can and if they go in the fourth or fifth round, they’re satisfied,” Kiper said. “If they’re not going to be satisfied with it, it’s a different ballgame entirely.”

….Regarding Miller, who Kiper projects going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the 21st overall pick: “I have him in the first round right now, at worst a second-round pick. I think people are going to be looking at him very favorably as we move through the draft process. I think Lamar Miller is a very good prospect.”

….While many UM fans questioned Washington’s wisdom in skipping his senior season after a so-so junior campaign, Kiper is not among them. “His versatility will be a plus,” said Kiper, who has Washington as the third-best guard prospect in the draft. “He’s played guard, he’s played tackle. He struggled this year in that role, but I see him as a guy that’s going to be assisted by the fact that there’s going to be a few teams that see him as a versatile guy who can help you at two positions. He can end up going a little higher than he’s graded. I can’t necessarily argue with [him coming out].”

….On Streeter: “Has some size, made some big plays this year, did some good things. Not as seasoned as some other wideouts. He didn’t have a ton of catches going into the year…but he stepped up and averaged almost 18 yards a catch and [scored] nine touchdowns. If he tests out well from a speed standpoint, he could be a second-round pick.”

….Kiper had Forston going in the first round before the season. But with the injury-prone Forston missing most of 2011, Kiper said he was “surprised” that the defensive tackle chose to bolt Miami. “Another guy that’s going to drop significantly further down the board than you would have thought two or three years ago,” Kiper said of Forston.

….The UM underclassman that really had Kiper scratching his head was Vernon, who sat out six games in 2011 as part of an NCAA-imposed suspension in connection with the Nevin Shapiro case. “I was obviously surprised that he was in this mix,” Kiper said. “He [is] way down the line as far as the defensive ends.”

[SOUP]

I wonder if Colorado plays Stanford. If so, the Stanford band would have a very easy target.

Posted by: Old Skool | January 24, 2012 at 11:53 AM

One can only hope, right? LOL

[Ohio_Cane]

OK, so the announcements I have that could pick the Canes, in order, go:

Tyriq McCord: Jan 26, no time/channel yet
Darius Hamilton: Jan 31, 8pm, no time/channel
Eddie Goldman: Feb 1, 10:30am, ESPN
Avery Young: Feb 1, 2pm, ESPN

Any others I'm missing?

[CGNC]

CGNC the Pens are hot. I saw them when they played the Panthers.

Posted by: canesteeler | January 23, 2012 at 10:38 PM

Lucky! and we still don't have Staal back yet. The lines that Bylsma has look like they are coming together finally

[SOUP]

"Kiper said that Lamar Miller, Tommy Streeter and Brandon Washington made the right decision by leaving early, but questioned whether defensive linemen Marcus Forston and Olivier Vernon were wise in choosing to leave UM."

What Mel Kiper doens't know is that...well, let's just say that Mel just doesn't know what he doesn't know. U know what I mean?

[Hassan]

Umm yeah Tracy Freakin Howard lol 8:30 espn Feb 1st. Dequan Ivery Feb 1st...

[Ohio_Cane]

Thanks, Hassan! Need more if they pop up!

[SOUP]

“I’ve talked to kids in past years, it’s not about being a first-round pick, it’s about feeling they accomplished what they can and if they go in the fourth or fifth round, they’re satisfied,” Kiper said. “If they’re not going to be satisfied with it, it’s a different ballgame entirely.”

VERY INTERESTING!

That really changes everything IF a player is just happy or satisfied with being drafted in the 4-7 rounds.

U go from several MILLION and a BIG signing bonus to $1.5 M over three years and a minimal if any signing bonus.

Now that I think about it $1.5M over 3 years doesn't sound so bad after all?

[SOUP]

Shark and Tex...welcome to The Space!

Post here, post often.

[Ohio_Cane]

PS - Hassan, is that 8:30 am or pm?

[SOUP]

Can somebody (TonyCane?) do some research on the average salaries for 2010, 2011 or projected for 2012 in the NFL for each round of the draft?

I was just guessing at numbers above.

[TheWhat]

Miami was on the bottom of that list yet still sent 6 to 8 players to the nfl last year alone. Players weren't being developed
In the Coker or Shannon era but that will change with the golden era.

[Texascane]

Recruiting Stars
Percent drafted
Average draft position

★★ 4.9% 143 (5th rd)

★★★ 8.1% 124 (late 4th)

★★★★ 16.7% 107 (early 4th)

★★★★★ 38.0% 81 (3rd rd)

[Ohio_Cane]

Interesting, only 2 rounds difference in the draft between 5* and 2*

[Hassan]

8:30 AM. I think as his school.

[Texascane]

Ohio,

Of course, this only speaks to draft rank...not how long or successful a career in the League they will have...Ray Lewis.

It is amazing, however, that the average "must have" Five Star recruit will be drafted 81st...

Better get that degree boys...

[j.w.]

Very interesting, Ohio. Soup, the $$ figures per round should be different with the new CBA, and should be lower per round. In the NBA when they did something similar it had a counter-intuitive effect- more people left early because they wanted to get the initial contact signed, get past it, then sign the big contract. I thought it would encourage kids to stay in school since they wouldn't be signing the mega-contacts.

[Texascane]

...and that only 38% of all five star recruits are drafted at all...three or four years later...

[Ohio_Cane]

Golden transcript from Dan Sileo show:

http://sportsradiointerviews.com/2012/01/24/al-golden-joe-paterno-death-penn-state/

[SOUP]

Better get that degree boys...

Posted by: Texascane | January 24, 2012 at 01:08 PM

There IT is right there.

[Ohio_Cane]

Canes Baseball ranked #18 by Baseball America heading into the season.

[UMike]

Just a word of advice...NEVER do a website for your wife's business!!! lol

[herbieibis]

It just goes to show, that if you play in a gimmick offense, most times it will affect your draft status. Yes in a spread, if you are a WR, you can make a name for yourself but being a running back or even a QB, you generally struggle with consistency once you go pro. The same could be said if you are a cb in the big 12, with all the opportunities you have to defend the pass, you could make a name for yourself. The USC's & the other teams that run a pro-style offense, prepare you better for the pro game. In our case, even though we have been a pipeline to the pros for the last 25 or so years, we had stopped developing our talent like we used to. We stopped recuiting pro-style QB's, which in my opinion has crippled our ability to remain relevent. We stopped developing our DT's, which in turn has crippled our run & pass defense. We also stopped developing marquee LB's. We've had depth problems at certain positions the last 5 or 6 years and that has hurt our ability to reshirt kids that need to get bigger & stronger. Golden is trying to change this & will but it will take a couple more years of recruitng and getting the depth we need at CB, DT & LB, to get us up to par. We also need to get a few more quality players that are difference makers. In some ways stars do matter. In general the teams that are at the top of the heap, have remained there because of the quality of recruits they are bringing in. The flip side of not bringing in a bunch of 4 & 5 star players is Va, Tech. They're coaching staff, for the most part, has been together over 15 years and they develop talent. Teams rise & fall, they all go through that at one point in time or another, but coaching is the key. I doubt Ala. would be where they are today, if they hadn't hired Saban. Winning breeds excitement and makes it a little easier to recruit the big dogs. You also have to have quality assistants who can recruit.
Shannon & Dopey, had some talent but they just got lazy and the end result is they both are gone and Golden has to face the reprocutions of their lameness, not to mention impending sanctions. I like this class, I'm not in love with it but if he continues the course he will develop what we have and getting us back to 8 or 9 wins regularly for a couple years straight, will go a long way on bring Saint Bernards back to play for us instead of Bassett Hounds.

[calGary Cane]

I read somewhere 9 EE's is the max that can count towards last years class. Then anyone more that you have count toward the current yr's class.

Posted by: Texcane | January 24, 2012 at 12:03 PM

Just read the NCAA bylaws...15.5.6.3...

Seems to indicate that 25 is the magic number...

In particular 15.5.6.3.2 Recruited Student-Athelete Entering After Fall term, Aided in First Year seems to be the section pertaining to EEs.

"shall be an initial counter for either the current academic year (if the institution's annual limit has not been reached) or the next academic year".

[Hassan]

Is this thing working?

[Ohio_Cane]

Can someone tell me why Tyriq McCord committed to UM on Jan 7th, is taking an OV to USC on Jan 27th, but is announcing his college choice on Jan 26th?

Am I missing something?

[Texcane]

Mini vacation???

[UMike]

Ohio...prolly for some attention..a free trip..cant really blame a kid for that..from all his twitter stuff he seems pretty solid to Miami

[SOUP]

Hassan...I was having problems with Typepad also. had to close my browser and restart my computer to get it to work again.

[Ohio_Cane]

I understand it's a trip out West, and he should take that visit. I'm just curious as to why he's announcing twice, and why wouldn't he wait till after the USC visit to announce? Seems odd.

[UMike]

I agree its odd, normally only uncommitted players have an announcement date lol

[herbieibis]

Same could be said for Darius Hamliton. He has Florida & Rutgers as his final 2 then why visit Miami? Why, it's a mini vacation on our dime. I mean what kid wouldn't want to come down here and visit?

[SOUP]

TEST: So only 4 out of 10 five star recruits wind up being drafted and on average they go in the third round?

[Texascane]

TEST: So only 4 out of 10 five star recruits wind up being drafted and on average they go in the third round?

Posted by: SOUP | January 24, 2012 at 02:54 PM

Amazing...huh?

[Ohio_Cane]

Same could be said for Darius Hamliton. He has Florida & Rutgers as his final 2 then why visit Miami? Why, it's a mini vacation on our dime. I mean what kid wouldn't want to come down here and visit?

Posted by: herbieibis | January 24, 2012 at 02:51 PM
-------------------------------------

I understand that. I guess what I'm trying to say is why have 2 different announcements? One at the Army game, then one on TV?

[herbieibis]

Ohio,
It's look at me time & this one makes it official.

[SOUP]

Texas...yes, it is amazing! Thanks for finding that and sharing the info here on the blog.

If everyone here scoured all 6 of the Internets (LOL) and found just ONE nugget of info like that per day for the blog then that would REALLY be great.

I'm jus sayin...

[Ohio_Cane]

Duke Johnson said he'd give up #3 to Tracy Howard if he comes to Miami.

[Hassan]

I hate typepad lol it never works no matter what i do

[Canesteeler]

Great article!

[LB]

It does seem a little odd about McCord, free trip or not. I'll bet Chickillo is consistently in his ear.

The more I hear about Duke, the more I love. Unselfish. A really nice guy. Family-oriented. Diehard.

[LB]

Tracy Howard would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath. UM has had one really good corner since Jennings graduated in 2005 (Harris). It would be nice to get another.

[Texascane]

Posted by: SOUP | January 24, 2012 at 03:19 PM

Thanks...here's one more as of last Sunday...in case you were wondering...notice...no SEC teams...

"There are a combined 11 former Hurricanes playing for New England, Baltimore, San Francisco and the New York Giants, followed by five colleges represented by seven players each: Ohio State, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Texas." CBS Sports

[Texascane]

LB...problem is that evidently we had some pretty good corners (NFL starter quality)...we just didn't know it...Shields and DVD...

[CGNC]

Texascane - nice touch from the lonestar state with all the stars - LOL

[herbieibis]

LB,

Think how long it's been since we had a great D-lineman (Wilfork) & LB (Vilma & Williams. It's been along time for a lot of things!

[Sean Spence is a Beast!!!]

New photo is up with Spence, AJ#4, BH#1 and Blake Ayles from the UAAA game in 2008.

Posted by: SOUP | January 24, 2012 at 10:18 AM

So blake has always liked Miami, you can never under estimate the power of playing close to home, USC was the hometown team.

This is why i'm confident Tyriq is staying put and Howard will sign with us in the end.

[j.w.]

LB,

Think how long it's been since we had a great D-lineman (Wilfork) & LB (Vilma & Williams. It's been along time for a lot of things!

Posted by: herbieibis
You answered your own question, herbie. Unless you consider Bailey and Spence to both have been great last year.

[Sean Spence is a Beast!!!]

LB,

Think how long it's been since we had a great D-lineman (Wilfork) & LB (Vilma & Williams. It's been along time for a lot of things!

Posted by: herbieibis | January 24, 2012 at 04:59 PM

Spence is a great LB, he just happened to be in a bad canes team. lol

[Sean Spence is a Beast!!!]

Duke giving up no.3 is very selfless, i wish this kid all the success in life and i'm not just talking about football.

[herbieibis]

Well J.W. Bailey didn't play for us this year & Spence, the judgement will be determined later on. I'm talking A-A quality and Spence did play close to that.
If we don't land Howard or any of the the other big dogs left, who will we get with those 2 or 3 ships we have left?

[CoCane]

Good question Herbie

[j.w.]

Understand that herbie, that's why I said Last Year (should have made it more clear I was talking about 2010). FWIW, I didn't think either of them were great last year, I would say Spence was this year.

[loucane]

Everyone that has facebook write something on Tracy Howards wall! Canes are murdering his wall! Let's keep it going!

[CoCane]

As long as they are athletic & have a relentless work ethic, I don't give a f**k if they're a 5* or 1*. Bring'em to the "U"...

[Brevardcane]

Manny has a new article up on Kirby

[Brevardcane]

^He asked his coach his height and weight and said Kirby is more 6-2 220

[herbieibis]

I just got to thinking about next year but aside from Chick, who in the hell can we rely up front to stop anybody. That's a scary thought. I know Porter, Robinson, Pierre & Grimble plus King. You have 2 coming off injury, who haven't played a whole lot (Porter & Robinson) 2 former DE's (Pierre & Grimble) who played some as true freshmen & King, who I don't think played at all. Ricardo Williams will be a redshirt freshman. Our LB's better be good.

[LB]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I like Porter. See the difference he made when returning from injury.

[CoCane]

Darius Smith looked good last year. I think he'll start at DT along with Porter...

[SOUP]

Herbie...write it down and repeat after me:

Worry is like a rocking chair.

It keeps U busy, but gets U nowhere.

[Ohio_Cane]

UM sent 3 coaches to Miramar today, including Golden, to talk to Malcolm Lewis and Tracy Howard

[LB]

Nice.

[Six]

Why is anyone sweating what McCord is doing

Also, why is anyone really sweating what these 17 or 18 year old kids are doing

They're going to do what they do

Don't worry about a lot of them, believe me. Esp. the kids from Tampa Bay area

[Ohio_Cane]

I, for one, am not sweating or worrying what they're doing. Just thought it was odd and don't remember anyone having 2 separate live announcements.

[mi@mic@ne]

I was hoping by now to hear they had to order extra weights because the kids were maxing in their lifts ... lol