This is my latest attempt to show that recruiting rankings are not reliable and should only be reviewed five or six years later. I reviewed the 2015 top 25 VA HS players according to 247 Sports to determine which players contributed to their teams and which players were overrated. It may not be fair or accurate to label a kid as overrated when he couldn't get playing time at a top-tier football program.

Of the eleven four stars, four were overrated and an additional two of them retired due to medical issues. That means only 45% of the four stars contributed to their programs.

Of the thirteen three stars in the TOP 25, all but three were contributors. That means that 77% of the three stars from the TOP 25 contributed to their teams. A lot of the three stars were underrated. The three stars that I thought should have been in the top ten include Tremaine Edmunds, Felton Davis, Juan Thornhill and Gary Jennings. I probably missed a few lower-tier players that played bigger than their rankings. I attached the 247 list for everyone's enjoyment.

2015 247 Sports Top VA HS FB Recruits

FIVE STARS

1. Josh Sweat - Put up big numbers as a DE at FSU for three years. Fourth round NFL pick

FOUR STARS

2. Ricky DeBerry - LB graduated with Oklahoma degree but didnt play much. Played a bit at Towson State. OVERRATED
3. Tim Settle - DT played two super seasons at Virginia Tech. Fifth round NFL pick
4. Matthew Burrell - OL played sparingly at OSU.Went to Sam Houston State. OVERRATED
5. Clelin Ferrell - All-star DE at Clemson. Three big seasons. !st round NFL draft pick
6. Garrett Taylor - Three solid seasons as DB at PSU. Undrafted. Possibly overrated at 6 but still top 15
7. Jahvoni Simmons - LB didn't contribute at UVA and transferred to Hampton. OVERRATED
8. Darvin Taylor II - DT shoulder injury led to medical retirement at FSU.
9. Jason Lewis - RB spent a year at ASU before playing sparingly at EKU. OVERRATED
10. Chad Smith - LB played four seasons at Clemson. Big senior year. Undrafted
11. Darrell Taylor - DE played four seasons at Tennessee. Two big years. 2nd round NFL pick
12. Austin Clark - OL medical retirement at Virginia Tech

THREE STARS

13. Brandon Polk - WR played five seasons at PSU as a role player. Transferred to JMU and had 1k receiving yds.
14. A.J. Turner - RB played at South Carolina for four years with less production each year.
15. Trevon Hill - DE played three seasons at Virginia Tech before transferring to Miami. Solid player
16. Tremaine Edmunds - LB played three seasons at Virginia Tech. 1st round NFL draft pick. UNDERRATED
17. Aaron Crawford - DT played four seasons at UNC and put up decent numbers. Was on NFL practice squad
18. Felton Davis III - WR put up big numbers for three seasons at MSU before achilles injury. Earned Super Bowl ring on KC IR. UNDERRATED
19. Deshawn McClease - RB played four seasons at Virginia Tech. Solid player. Undrafted
20. A.J. Alexander - OSU medical retirement but he played at a couple smaller schools after OSU graduation
21. Jacque Alleyne - DB didn't do much at Virginia Tech for two years but had two big years at FCS Montana State.
22. Juan Thornhill - UVA DB with three good seasons.2nd round NFL draft pick. UNDERRATED
23. Chance Hall - OL played three seasons at Tennessee and medically retired.
24. David Eldridge - WR played two years at UVA. Transferred to JMU for more playing time.
25. Blake Camper - OL started multiple years for South Carolina.

30. Justin Skule - OL three year starter at Vandy. 6th round NFL draft pick. UNDERRATED
35. Gary Jennings - Played WR 4 two huge yrs at WVU.4th round NFL pick. UNDERRATED
40. R.J. Proctor -Played OL four years at UVA. Played one year at Oklahoma. UNDERRATED
56. Isaiah Davis - Played LB four seasons at UMD. Solid career. UNDERRATED



[Post edited by Flanker at 12/12/2021 8:33PM]