If you are saying what I think you’re saying, I have suspected this to be true.
Do you think we are not evaluating seniors well enough to fill our roster with talented players?
When I look at the way we have recruited, it seems we waste too much time on the guys everybody wants. They troll us, take the bag, and skip town.
Meanwhile, talented less heralded guys go ball out for scrub programs and we sit around complaining about depth while slow playing guys that want to be here.
It makes no sense.
Can you expand on your statement?
The way the system is moving, players begin testing at an earlier and earlier age. It benefits the player who grew to be 90% percentile in height, weight, speed by the 9th or 10th grade. They get on the radar sooner. They get more offers. They even may get more training opportunities.
Yet, by the time they're seniors, let's say Player A is 80% of what you project him to be at the college level. But, there's a "late bloomer" (I'm hesitant to use that term for a 17 year old), Player B, who grew late or even still has room to grow in their senior season and in college. Player B may have the same or even higher potential than Player A, but we're late to the offer party or never offer at all.
Sure, perhaps because Player B had a huge Senior season the Star Ranking system covered their asses by making him a late rising 4 star or leave him as a 3 star, but we (the Canes) didn't focus on that kid enough. I'm not saying you can make an entire roster this way, because of the risk involved, but there should be specific room made for these types. One of the first times I found this process bizarre was watching Texas "lock up" their recruiting classes almost a year in advance about 20 years ago.
Now, I see this process happening in Florida more often. Especially with early signing period playing a role in today's process. Zion Nelson is a positive example of us projecting out a kid. Even if he doesn't become a contributor this year, he projects as one next year or at least in his career.
If I were running a college player personnel department, I'd keep a database of guys who (a) switched sports late (especially basketball to football), (b) didn't test at a camp till late, (c) had some unusual growth spurt after 10th or 11th grade, (d) switched positions or project to a totally different position (e.g. Florida QBs who'd make better Safeties or WRs), etc., etc. I'd try to beat the bag teams by unearthing as many late blooming gems as I could find. Even if they don't become significant contributors till they're RS Sophomores, you can balance that out with the more polished recruits.
