I didn't analyze depth charts but I would look over number of starts and yards/catches/tackles. My overall belief is that competent coaches will find a role for talented athletes. Tech converted several "slow" defensive linemen into all-star offensive linemen over the years. Logan Thomas was a decent QB who was converted into an excellent TE.

I counted Kirven as a contributor and I didn't make a determination on whether he was over/underrated. It's true that a player that goes to a top-tier program will face tougher competition but I would expect them to shine at their next school. My analysis shows that five stars are the real deal but the 3 stars on the top 25 have outperformed the 4 stars over the four years that I reviewed. When I reviewed the top VT recruits list attached below, I found a similar attrition rate of roughly 40% for both the 3 and 4 star recruits.