Last year the well known and frequently followed college recruiting service Rivals.com published an article in which they revealed the names of players that made the Rivals "five-star" football recruiting lists over the previous five years (2007-2011).
The story was written by the talented Steve Megargee, one of the National feature writers for Rivals who researched the football recruiting classes from 2007 to 2011 and gave a brief analysis of each players success or failure at the college level and in some cases also provided their NFLU draft status.
We thought it would be interesting to do a more in depth statistical analysis on his reporting so that we could try to get a "big picture" overview of just how good a predictor the five-star high school recruit designation was at predicting which players would be successful at the college level.
So we start off this series of five articles by framing the big picture around the lists of players that received the coveted five star label over the last five years. In the coming days we will examine each class more closely in our series of consecutive articles.
Here is what our initial summary analysis found:
- Between 2007 and 2011 a small and select group of only 144 players received the five star rating from Rivals.com.
- The 2009 class was the largest with 33 players making the list.
- The 2010 and 2011 classes were the smallest with 26 players each.
- In 2008 there were 30 players that received the five star label while in 2007 there were 29.
So out of the 1 million or so high school football players in the U.S. in any given year only around 28 players (144/5) earned the five star designation on average over the five year period.
Based on this fact alone one would assume that almost every player receiving the prestigious five star designation by one of the top recruiting services in the Country would be considered a "can't miss prospect" that was soon going to win national awards and National Championships, right?
And, as usual, you would assume wrong. In fact, you would be very, very wrong. Which is why it is usually foolish and at times even dangerous to make assumptions based on opinions instead of analyzing the facts.
Which is why we are here to debunk the myths and to provide you the facts. Here are some of the initial facts we found by studying the Rivals.com five star recruiting lists over five years (and we hope that you are sitting down as you read this!):
- Out of the 144 players designated as five star studs only 36 players or about about 25% went on to becomes what most people would consider to be stars or impact players at the college level.
- That means that approximately 108 players or about 75% of the five star recruits over the five year period were just solid, decent or average players who did not have a major impact on their teams success for various reasons.
- As of last count at least 19 players (13%) transferred from the original school they signed a LOI with on National Signing Day.
- From the list we found that 18 players (13%) suffered major injuries that had a significant negative impact on their careers.
So what that tells us is that only 1 out of every 4 five star recruits will go on to even bigger things in college or beyond that in the NFLU. It also shows us that 2 out of every 10 five star players will either transfer to another school or suffer a serious injury that impacts their college career.
So before you go counting all of your five star recruits before or after National Signing Day you should be cautious not to go predicting their individual success or their team's potential accomplishments.
Simply put, counting on five star recruits to be difference makers has been shown to not be such a good predictor of a team's success after all.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY hahaha I'm dying.
Posted by: kenyon19ypr | February 04, 2013 at 10:15 PM
*Clarification: To Ohio not The Dude
Posted by: kenyon19ypr | February 04, 2013 at 10:16 PM
Alvin Kamara has a beer gut.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | February 04, 2013 at 10:17 PM
Does anyone know if this is a 30 or 60 minute show? Thanks in advance!
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:17 PM
I swear recruiting gets worse every year...
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:20 PM
It's an hour long..damn if I stay up and he picks ARK or FSU gonna be pissed
Posted by: TJL | February 04, 2013 at 10:21 PM
Their twitter saying Collins up next now in front of Foster
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | February 04, 2013 at 10:21 PM
It's an hour long..damn if I stay up and he picks ARK or FSU gonna be pissed
Posted by: TJL | February 04, 2013 at 10:21 PM
LOL... same here
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:21 PM
Does anyone know if this is a 30 or 60 minute show? Thanks in advance!
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:17 PM
60 min
Posted by: ARCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:23 PM
This is like the Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults.
I hope it has a better ending.
Posted by: TonyCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:25 PM
Wow, okay. I'm done with this.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | February 04, 2013 at 10:25 PM
AC is next!
BTW 6000 people are watching that UStream link! That []_[] ratings boost never fails!
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:27 PM
Man, if this ever needed Manny to come and save this blog with a live chat, NOW IS THE TIME! Not watching BTW, just find these comment LOL worthy for all the wrong reasons.
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | February 04, 2013 at 10:27 PM
Kids need so much attention and forget about being humble and core values...Prima donnas...Any good kids out there like Duke Johnson and Mike James????????????????????
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | February 04, 2013 at 10:27 PM
Here we go, folks!
Alex Collins chooses...........
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | February 04, 2013 at 10:27 PM
Here we go....
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:27 PM
Could be me but tone when talking about []_[] doesnt sound good... talking a lot about Miami was only school he only knew growing up...
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:29 PM
Says its not all about the coaching staff WRT ARK
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:30 PM
Dragging... dragging... dragging... blah blah blah.... close to 7000 now logged in...
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:31 PM
This kid is relishing all this attention... working hard to not tip his hand...
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:32 PM
FRACK
Posted by: TJL | February 04, 2013 at 10:32 PM
Arkansas......
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | February 04, 2013 at 10:33 PM
At some point you gotta wonder if the recruiting shows and sites arent paying these kids....
here we go...
Dammit.. Arkansas
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:33 PM
He looks 30 years old anyway
Posted by: TJL | February 04, 2013 at 10:33 PM
The Randy, laying the smack down on Special K's favorite plushie at every turn.
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | February 04, 2013 at 10:34 PM
I hate to say I told you so..but...lol....Still lots of other targets out there
Posted by: UMike | February 04, 2013 at 10:34 PM
Seriously?
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | February 04, 2013 at 10:34 PM
Oh well... Best of luck to him... Seems like a really smart and articulate kid...
NEXT!
GO CANES!!!
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:34 PM
What a dumb ass... The kind of kid i don't like just like the other ass.... Keith Bryant
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | February 04, 2013 at 10:34 PM
I thought he was going to pick Arkansas. Why would a kid go to Atlanta to make this announcement? He probably didnt want anyone to sway him after making his decision.
Posted by: LatinCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:35 PM
:-(
Posted by: kenyon19ypr | February 04, 2013 at 10:35 PM
Good luck to him. I will be laughing my @ss off when he wants to transfer.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | February 04, 2013 at 10:35 PM
And there it is.....Go Canes!
O, and I'll bet the house that we win a championship before Arkansas.
Posted by: Da U N Houston | February 04, 2013 at 10:36 PM
...sway him "before" making his decision.
Posted by: LatinCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:36 PM
When you're choosing a college away from your own city, you know he is bound to choose another school.
Well, there goes that!
Posted by: Sean Spence is a Beast!!! | February 04, 2013 at 10:37 PM
Wow
Is all I can say
Posted by: Hassan | February 04, 2013 at 10:37 PM
WELCOME TO ARKANSAS WHERE THE MEN ARE MEN AND THE SHEEP ARE NERVOUS
Posted by: canezilla | February 04, 2013 at 10:37 PM
Good luck to the kid.
Doesnt want to share the spotlight with Duke.
Move on.
Posted by: Darby | February 04, 2013 at 10:37 PM
Monty, if you don't stop being negative you aren't going to like yourself. Besides, this one's for Keef, 100 times the recruiting troll that this Collins guy was.
Look at it this way, if The Pimp couldn't close the deal for Golden, Al wasn't doing it either on his own as Brissett's mom will tell you.
Hope getting Ice Harris 'in line' was worth it for the mutants from Philly.
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | February 04, 2013 at 10:38 PM
I agree Spence. That was definitely a sign.
Posted by: LatinCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:38 PM
Lets not bash the 18 yr old kid. He has a right to make the Wrong choic....I mean he has a right to make a choice!
You either ride or collide with the storm!
Posted by: Da U N Houston | February 04, 2013 at 10:38 PM
Best of luck to Collins. Very talented kid. Sad to see him get away.
ON TO THE NEXT ONE!
IF U AIN'T WITH US, U AGAINST US!
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | February 04, 2013 at 10:40 PM
Golden must have already known... I think thats why he offered Lockley...he got desperate for depth at RB... may more so since we could also not get the fullback.....
Posted by: jerry | February 04, 2013 at 10:40 PM
YOu got to love all the Razor backs in the superbowl..lol... what have the Razor backs done in the last 40 yrs? These kids make dumb decisions
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | February 04, 2013 at 10:40 PM
When do the Shannon boyz start demanding Shannons return?
Luke doing backflips.
Posted by: Dan | February 04, 2013 at 10:41 PM
Cannot fault AG for not trying to recruit the Collins and the rest of the S.Fla. prospects. Golden presented a great package - great NFL legacy, best college education in Florida and the highest graduation rate for football players in the country. Collins chooses Arkansas, which probably is in Arkansas, not school that will prepare you for a job a Florida and probably a low graduation rate for football players.
I predict will get rolled in the SEC West next year and beyond.
That decision just does not make sense.
Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | February 04, 2013 at 10:41 PM
If we can't get even get Collins.....it's going to be a long day on Wed.
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | February 04, 2013 at 10:41 PM
Collins, just remember these names:
Deonte Thompson
Jacoby Brissett
Matthew Patchan
Bryce Brown
Enjoy your time in Arkansas. All the best.
Posted by: TonyCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:42 PM
God I hope we play Arkansas in a bowl game soon and knock him out.
Posted by: The Dude | February 04, 2013 at 10:43 PM
Feels like a home loss...
Posted by: RBLCane | February 04, 2013 at 10:44 PM