Evaluating the 2007 Recruiting Class

We are evaluating how close the recruiting services were with their ratings of the 2007 incoming class. This includes all the guys signed by Clemson in 2007. DeAndre McDaniel was counted in 2006, though he failed to qualify and spent a semester at Hargrave and could be counted here, we have chosen to leave his evaluation with the 06 class. 

The class was ranked #16 overall (with McDaniel) by Rivals (#23 by Scout, #18 by ESPN) and was highlighted by Byrnes QB Willy Korn and DE Kourtnei Brown who was talked away from Mike Shula and the Crimson Tide.

This signing day had its own unique drama. Shrine Bowl MVP Markish Jones of Broome HS signed a LOI to Clemson on NSD and never faxed it in. He called the FSU coaches to inform them, and then later signed a LOI to FSU and faxed it in. We may never know what was said or promised him. Tom Bowden called up the family and the Broome coach, who found the unfaxed LOI and petitioned the NCAA to rule. They ruled his commitment to Clemson was legal since it was signed first, and he was sent to Tigertown, yet he never academically qualified for enrollment and never made it into Clemson.

My interpretation of the various star ratings are: 5-star -- starter by Soph year, contributor as true freshman; 4-star -- solid starter, All-Conf type player as upperclassman; 3-stars -- by upperclassman should be starting; 2-star -- contributor, possibly a starter by Senior year. I think that is fair to both sides.

Again, ESPN did not use a "star" rating but rather a point system, and i've converted that into an equivalent based on their newer system.
 

What if?

Its not surprising to me that our question marks are indicative of busts and losses from this class.

Markish Jones, if he had his head on right, probably would be starting or getting significant PT right now at WR. I won't criticize the services for his rating. Dye should've been doing more than he has. Brandon Clear never produced. Linthicum would be helpful right now at TE.

Will Korn would probably be starting if not for the shoulder, as there may not have been the same pressure on KP to come back or he may not have even won the starting job against a healthy Korn, you never know. Why do we use local hack doctors?

Stanley Hunter would be a definite contributor on the 2-deep at LB and Scotty Cooper has never been the same since his injuries and quit football. Brandon Maye was a freshman AA and has now transferred. Branch was recruited out of HS as a LB and moved to DE. Chad Diehl was moved to FB almost immediately after arrival.

I don't see a reason to say the recruiting services got these totally right, if anything they appear more wrong to me. A 3-star rating is a "safe" rating that you could say goes either way. Out of 22 signees, 2 were NFL picks so far with another 1 or 2 possible. Two of the 4 OL start and another plays a lot and should start, so that has turned out OK.