5 Star 2013 NFL Draft Report: SEC

Chad Wilson

How much can be told about a program based on their recruits’ migration to the NFL?  Some would say a lot , others will say not that much.  I would say it says something. How much is open for debate.

I did some research and began with the Southeastern Conference, better known as the SEC.  I went back and looked at all of the draft eligible classes for this most recent NFL draft and counted up the number of 5 star recruits obtained by each school in the SEC.  Then I researched how many of them were drafted, made free agency or were not drafted at all.  To quantify the results,  I assigned point totals in a sort of a reward system.  Here’s how it went:

3 points:  If 5 star recruit was drafted in rounds 1 or 2

2 points: If 5 star recruit was drafted in rounds 3 or 4

1 point: If 5 star recruit was drafted later than the 4th round

0 points: If 5 star is still on the school’s roster or if he transferred or dismissed from the team

-1 point: If 5 star recruit was a free agent or undrafted

That data I obtained about the classes came from Rivals.com.

I struggled with giving 0 point if recruit transferred or was kicked off the team as that could be a reflection of the health or lack of health of the program.  Ultimately, I chose zero as too many times transfers and dismissals come from situations out of the coaching staff’s control.

What stood out to me was the number 5 stars that were hauled in over the time period I researched. 43 five star recruits is a big number and I fully expect that to be the highest of all the conferences I will study. What also stood out for me was the failure rate of 5 stars.  Of those 5 star recruits, less than half (20) were drafted.  Now, mind you, some are still on the rosters of the college teams that recruited but not that many.  Many of those recruits transferred or were dismissed from the team and many other flamed out quickly.

Florida led the way with 11 five star recruits from 2008-2010.  Despite that,  they ended up fourth overall in my point system.  It should be noted that the Gators do have two very highly thought of 5 stars still on the roster in Ronald Powell and Dominque Easley and they did produce a pair of 1st rounders in the 2013 draft with DT Shariff Floyd and S Matt Elam.

Alabama blew away the field in my point system with 15.  Not only has Alabama had the most players drafted (6) over this period of time, they have also had the most 1st round picks with five.  The fact that they lead should come as no surprise but the distance of that lead was a bit of a surprise.  It seems 5 stars become first rounders in Tuscaloosa.

The best hit rate goes to Missouri. From 2008-2010, the Tigers have had two 5 star recruits (Blaine Gabbert and Sheldon Richardson).  The Tigers hit home runs with both you could say as both players were 1st round picks in the NFL draft.

Below is the table with the data I found from the SEC schools eligible draft classes from 2008, 2009 and 2010.

SEC 2013 NFL Draft Report
2008 2009 2010 Total 5s Drafted Points
Alabama 3 4 1 8 6 15
Missouri 1 1 0 2 2 6
LSU 2 4 1 7 3 5
Florida 4 3 4 11 3 4
Texas A&M 0 1 0 1 1 3
Auburn 1 0 3 4 1 2
Mississippi 1 1 0 2 1 2
South Carolina 0 0 1 1 1 2
Georgia 2 1 0 3 1 1
Tennessee 0 2 1 3 1 -1
Arkansas 0 1 0 1 0 -1


Draft class data compiled from Rivals.com  

Tomorrow, I will have information posted on the ACC 5 star draft classes.

 

 

 

SEC Florida Football Signees in 2013

Chad Wilson

For those of you who care, the state of Florida has been called the hotbed of recruiting in college football and the SEC is widely regarded as the top conference in the game.  So draw your own conclusions from the following information.  The SEC had a total of 359 signees for the class of 2013.  Of those 359, 64 of them were from the state of Florida.  That’s roughly 18% of the SEC signees coming from the Sunshine State.  Obviously, the Gators led the way with 19 of their 30 signees coming from the state of Florida.  Behind the Gators was Kentucky with 10 of their 23 signees coming from Florida.  Remove Florida from the equation and 13.6% of the SEC signees were from Florida.  A complete table of each schools’ total signees and Florida signees is included below:

SEC State of Florida Signees
School Fla. Signees Total
Florida 19 30
kentucky 10 23
Georgia 6 33
Auburn 5 23
South Carolina 4 22
Vanderbilt 4 27
Tennessee 3 23
LSU 3 27
Alabama 2 25
Mississippi 2 28
Missouri 1 20
Mississippi St. 1 23
Texas A&M 0 32

Jesse House added to Gridironstuds.com Recruit Watch List

Chad Wilson

Cartersville, Georgia HS 2014 linebacker Jesse House is the latest addition to the Gridironstuds.com Recruit Watch List.  House gets to the ball fast and brings the pain when he gets there.  He plays with intensity and a low pad level.  It’s the kind of things that coaches love.  House does not yet have an offer which makes him a diamond in the rough so to speak.  He’s definitely someone who will be getting or should be getting more attention during this upcoming summer and off-season.  He has the tools to be a successful football player this senior year and at the next level.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Chris Taylor – WR – North Broward Prep – Coconut Creek, Fl has committed to the Duke Blue Devils.  Taylor becomes the first WR commit and the 7th commit overall for the Blue Devil’s 2014 class.

The University of Miami has received a commitment from California’s Chaminade Prep HS QB Brad Kaaya.  Kaaya becomes the 2nd QB committed and 8th recruit committed to the Hurricanes overall in the 2014 class.  Kaaya also has an offer from San Diego St. University.  Check out Kaaya’s highlights on YouTube, click here.

Dolphins 2013 Draft to Do List:

Chad Wilson

I spoke about this on The Gridiron Studs Show yesterday.  Shame on you if you didn’t listen but I forgive.  Here’s what I think the Dolphins should do in the draft this weekend:

1. Trade out of of the #12 spot.  Move to the lower 3rd of the 1st round and pick up an additional mid round pick.

2. With that late first round pick DRAFT: Jonathan Banks CB out of Mississippi St. Banks brings to the table what the Dolphins need in their secondary and that is playmaking.  Dee Milliner and Xavier Rhodes are solid cover guys but Banks shows up on the stat sheet.  15 Career interceptions with 3 or more every season for four seasons (4 as a freshman). Double digit passes defensed his last three seasons. 321 career interception return yards with 3 for TDs and 5 forced fumbles. Milliner and Rhodes don’t come anywhere close to those numbers.  Dolphins need turnovers and playmaking in the secondary ASAP.

3. With the 42nd pick in the 2nd round, go after the top offensive lineman still left on the board if you have not secured what you need through a trade at that position.  Get a guy you can mold into what you want.  He has other good guys around him.

4. With the 54th pick in the 2nd round draft either RB Stepf Taylor (Stanford) or RB Andre Ellington (Clemson). Running backs who have displayed a resume of production in college are the way to go.  Three years or more of getting it done is the recipe. Maybe they get old fast for your organization because they had too many carries in college but they got the ball because they produced.  When their end comes in the NFL, you have to go find another one.  Taylor had over 1,000 yards rushing for three straight years.  Had over 25 catches for three straight years and had over 1,400 yards from scrimmage three straight years. That’s a proven product.  Ellington’s numbers not as impressive as Taylors but he had production as well.  600 yards as a sophomore and then back to back 1,000 yard seasons as a junior and senior.   These two backs compliment Lamar Miller’s skill set quite nicely.

5. With the 77th pick in the 3rd round DRAFT: Kawann Short DT Purdue. Yep, you’ve never heard of him but I can guarantee you opposing coaches in the Big 10 knew who he was before and after they played the Boilermakers.  Dolphins don’t need another pass rushing end more than they need some pressure from the interior of their defensive line.  Short lived in opponent’s backfields while at Purdue.  His resume displays this.  Three straight years of six sacks or more. Three straight years of double digit tackles for loss including 49 for his career. On top of that, he batted down 17 career passes, intercepted two and forced two fumbles.  You can work on getting a superstar edge rusher opposite Cam Wake next year not many in this year’s draft.

6. With the 6 to 7 remaining picks (considering the extra they should get for trading down in the first round), the Dolphins should go after the best players on the board.  Their picks are scattered from rounds 3 through 7.   They should also consider drafting a QB in that 4th or 5th round where they have three picks.  Getting a Landry Jones (if available) or a Zac Dysert, guys who showed a history of production but lost favor because of their senior year could be a gold find.  Dolphins don’t know what Tannehill will do.  Never know what one of these guys may be able to pull out if put in position.  They have shown that they can put up numbers and lead a team.  Outside of that, the mid to late rounds are about picking up good football players and not so much about filling some need.  Players are like collateral.  If you have good ones you can leverage them later to fill your needs.  The goal should be getting good football players at this point.

For College Football Players, Meals Are Just One More Advantage

Chad Wilson

What’s in a meal? Some college coaches would say everything.  In this fast moving world of college football, the championships and the glory seem to go where the money is and one of the increasing places where money is spent is in training table.

For those of you new to the game, training table is the dining service provided for the athletes at major universities.  With football being the sport on campus that contains the largest amount of participants, training table gains most of it’s exposure through it’s assistance with the football team.

Through the years, training tables have evolved into a dining experience that would put P.F. Chang’s or Ruth Chris Steakhouse to shame.  Players at the major college football programs are enjoying well cooked meals to delight the palate but it’s more than that.  Most teams employ a nutritionist to carefully plan meals for all of the members of a team.  It is typical for players on a team to be separated into three categories: gainers, maintainers and weight losers.  Player’s meals are constructed for them based on the categories they fit in and they are provided with a number of choices based on those goals.

The meals they enjoy will far surpass what most of them experienced while in high school.  It is yet another tool in player development that is being used by schools to gain a competitive advantage over their opponent on the field.  It is also a factor not to be overlooked by potential recruits as they make their college choice.  The end game for prospects is to choose an institution that will allow them to grow and improve the most four to five years from now.  Training table is a part of that equation.

Florida State’s Training Table Program: