I'm thinking it's close, but has to be a hanful #1
Just because it wasn't allowed like the NBA doesn't mean there aren't or weren't a select few, especially back in the day......
You're right there Jake, and that's kind of what I mean I suppose.
They would bring them along slowly like the NBA does when they drafted kids right out of high school....
I agree that Peterson was a 5 star stud coming out of highschool. But going directly into the pros would have probably been a hard lesson for him. The OU coaches had to change his style of running a little because he was getting himself hurt so often in his first year. He's not quite as upright with his running now. And he's learned to not take quite as many head on hits that he doesn't have to take like when he was a freshman... He's still a tough bruising runner, but I think he's learned quite a bit from his freshman year. He's also better at catching the ball coming out of the backfield and blocking. Those are things that many times are learned in college more than highschool.
Here were Rivals.com's top 3 HS players by year to show you how guys turned out. Top-ranked listed first.
2002
Vince Young
Haloti Nagata
Lorenzo Booker
2003
Ernie Sims
Reggie Bush
Whitney Lewis
2004
Adrian Peterson
Ted Ginn
Early Doucet
2005
Derrick Williams
Pat Turner
Eugene Monroe
Lots of 1st round NFL draft picks after some college. The top HS players usually pan out for what it's worth.
2002
Vince Young
Haloti Nagata
Lorenzo Booker
2003
Ernie Sims
Reggie Bush
Whitney Lewis
2004
Adrian Peterson
Ted Ginn
Early Doucet
2005
Derrick Williams
Pat Turner
Eugene Monroe
Lots of 1st round NFL draft picks after some college. The top HS players usually pan out for what it's worth.
I think it's tough to evaluate talent, period. Even for college coaches.. Just look at Ian Johnson. I believe he was just a 2 star recruit coming out of highschool. And look how he turned out. As for Texas Tech, I think Crabtree is probably going to end up being the real deal. He is a very physical WR that is very hard for even the best corners to cover. Just what the pro scouts are looking for. As for QB Harrell, I think the jury is still out on him. He's a very smart kid though.
Yeah Crabtree is legit but he may have screwed himself trying to run that 40. Speaking of 40 times, Ian freakin killed at the combine somehow. That dude has been training hard and it showed. He was never that fast at BSU. Not even close.
I have no clue on Harrell. Guy has borderline NFL size and smarts. How is his arm strength>?
Arm strength is the question. I'm not really sure what it is since the job of a Texas Tech QB seems to be a lot of dinking and dunking. One thing I do like is his maturity. Very few QB's play a full 4 years as a starter. So if he fails to make it, it probably won't be because of the space between his ears.
