SoFla game watchers - How good is this year's crop, really?

[TheSwagger1]

Based on everything I had been hearing, it was one of those once-a-decade miracles that only South Florida can bang out. The class was littered with 5 stars and high 4 stars. But it seems like the more we get into spring, the shine is coming off to some degree.

Ferman commented on this a little after the Rivals camp this weekend, that the Rivals guys "were not impressed yesterday" and mentioned that there is a lot of talent depth this year but not a lot of elite guys, which is counter to what has been said on the boards prior to now. He mentioned that the Rivals guys commented that they didn't see the hunger there, which is part of what used to make SoFla different for me as a fan.

Cole is getting the "well.... he's good, but maybe not a 5 star guy" stuff from some, Ridley all of a sudden is likely not to qualify (other people's words, not mine), Cronkite is solid but not elite, Irvin is tiny, Jaquan ran a 5.0 40 (forgive me for I have sinned), and even Phillips is getting questioned a bit with his top-end speed. The line class seems relatively down on both sides with no real 5 star types. These are things OTHER people are saying, not me, to clarify... obviously I'm not there to see them or I would be.

So you guys who see them - is there some truth to the notion that perhaps all of these kids were getting overhyped a little bit early or is there something else at play here and this is bogus?

 

[FG305]

 

[Bennubird]

So you guys who see them - is there some truth to the notion that perhaps all of these kids were getting overhyped a little bit early or is there something else at play here and this is bogus?


It's always the case that kids are overhyped. Like with many things in life the correct view is probably somewhere between the two extremes. That said, I'd still take an SF kid over one of his peers from another part of the country because I think even if you swing for the middle in SF you're still more likely to strike gold than elsewhere. And don't get me started on entitlement and kids today....

 

[kperez4446]

last years class 2014 and the 2008 classes were the most potential I could ever remember

 

[Peter Ariz]

The "hunger" thing is BS. The Rivals camp is just another fabricated event to boost rankings and I feel like there have been more camps than usual this year. For the bigger prospects like Irvin, Cronkrite, SBB, etc. they have nothing to prove at these camps so a lot of them either don't show up (which will drop their rankings) or just don't perform with much added incentive if they already have the big offers.

A recruit said it best yesterday when he tweeted, "Rankings can't save you on Friday nights."

 

[AllAboutTheU]

LOL. Let's take the word from Rivals guys who saw these kids for the first time in t-shirts and shorts yesterday. Great.

 

[grover]

Peter, how would you compare talent levels versus last two years? Is it fair to say that this year's DBs are the best, but 2014 WRs, DTs, and DEs were better, and the 2013 LBs were better? I know you're high on Scarlett, but is his talent level equal to or better than the last 4 5-stars in Collins, Sony, Yearby or Cook?

 

[TheSwagger1]

The "hunger" thing is BS. The Rivals camp is just another fabricated event to boost rankings and I feel like there have been more camps than usual this year. For the bigger prospects like Irvin, Cronkrite, SBB, etc. they have nothing to prove at these camps so a lot of them either don't show up (which will drop their rankings) or just don't perform with much added incentive if they already have the big offers.

A recruit said it best yesterday when he tweeted, "Rankings can't save you on Friday nights."

So these guys are as good as has been previously advertised relative to most years?

 

[TheSwagger1]

LOL. Let's take the word from Rivals guys who saw these kids for the first time in t-shirts and shorts yesterday. Great.

Maybe they have an axe to grind for some bizarre-o reason, but they're seeing the same thing from all the other areas they're going to. Obviously that would lead to small sample size which can cause a lot of variance and inaccuracy, but it's interesting that they chose to make those particular comments.

 

[Token cane]

I was at the Nike event and the Rivals event and speaking with a lot of these kids many of them don't care for these events so the excitement isn't as high but what they all do is compete once the 1 on 1s start. Many of the kids do feel they have to show up to get the bigger invite such as the opening but for The Rivals camp their 5 star showcase isn't as hyped so most kids don't care. Let's not forget that many kids already know who is getting these invites so no need to kill yourself out there for an invite you are not going to get.

I personally do not put any stock into these Rivals guys due to the fact that they speak about a kid like Irvin playing RB which he only did for that camp because he isn't a great cover safety so why look bad there when he can go catch passes as a RB against LBs who are at a disadvantage and can't cover at all. People put too much stock into this and not what is done on the field on Friday nights and what's not on a highlight tape.

 

[ThePlant]

Cook, Rudolph, Chad were all considered solid but not "elite" at this time last year.

Let the crop develop before you judge it.

 

[AllAboutTheU]

LOL. Let's take the word from Rivals guys who saw these kids for the first time in t-shirts and shorts yesterday. Great.

Maybe they have an axe to grind for some bizarre-o reason, but they're seeing the same thing from all the other areas they're going to. Obviously that would lead to small sample size which can cause a lot of variance and inaccuracy, but it's interesting that they chose to make those particular comments.

Don't think they have an axe to grind, per se. Maybe they do? But I haven't seen any other recruiting/scouting service refer to the 2015 in this manner. Especially SLFA guys who see these kids every week in during the season and at 7v7s, as well as these camps. I'll take there word on it. Same guys who made Ridley a 5 star, no the elite talent isn't there?

 

[canefordays]

In my opinion and observations this SF class is loaded with skill position players (RB's, WR's, DB's.) Last years class had better interior lineman on both sides of the ball.

 

[TheSwagger1]

Hope everyone can avoid getting defensive and see that I'm just asking the question, not suggesting it's true. I'd love to live over there and see these guys play myself so I wouldn't have to listen to other folks, but I don't. Why I'm lookin' for clarification from those who see the games.

 

[DMoney]

2014 was a rare class. You had ten D1-caliber quarterbacks, three All-American OL and three All-American DTs. And the RB and WR groups -- which are typically strong in South Florida-- were loaded beyond belief. It was crazy. Just look at the videos posted on my Top 35 list tacked to the top.

2015 is more of an average class down here. But the upside is the DB position is loaded. Last year's crop was relatively weak.

As far as Miami is concerned the class is fine. We need WR and DBs and we should be in tremendous shape there. I don't see any prospects as sure-fire as my Top 4 last year but Gibson, SBB and Ridley are pretty special athletes.

 

[Cans4life]

Cook, Rudolph, Chad were all considered solid but not "elite" at this time last year.

Let the crop develop before you judge it.

Not true. Cook and Chad were always considered elite, Rudolph is the one who made a HUGE jump.

 

[GlassHalfFull Guy]

Hope everyone can avoid getting defensive and see that I'm just asking the question, not suggesting it's true. I'd love to live over there and see these guys play myself so I wouldn't have to listen to other folks, but I don't. Why I'm lookin' for clarification from those who see the games.

Nope, it's too late. We're burning you at the stake already

 

[Token cane]

I find it funny when people say that a kid is not elite and always wonder off of what basis they go by. Some say look at the talent they play with or against while others say look at what schools have offered. There is no specific science to this but if a kid has offers from just about every top tier program in the country I think saying the kid is solid is a safe way of getting by on an observation but most of these observations are coming from people who have never coached or had to evaluate talent. All these are are just opinions as is my post.

 

[ThePlant]

Cook, Rudolph, Chad were all considered solid but not "elite" at this time last year.

Let the crop develop before you judge it.

Not true. Cook and Chad were always considered elite, Rudolph is the one who made a HUGE jump.

Yes true Chad was a borderline 3-4* and ended up a 5*. Go to his 247 page he wasn't in top 250 this time last year.

Cook wasn't in top 150 when committed to Clemson if I recall correctly.

 

[FreePawn]

Cook, Rudolph, Chad were all considered solid but not "elite" at this time last year.

Let the crop develop before you judge it.

Not true. Cook and Chad were always considered elite, Rudolph is the one who made a HUGE jump.

Actually the PLant is absolutely right. Rudolph made the biggest jump, but Chad was considered solid and Cook was not nearly as hyped as he was by the end of the season.