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More and more prospects each cycle are given a three-star rating by the recruiting industry, so it stands to reason that many will end up being among the better players in college football.
That’s just how it works out.
Around the Southeastern Conference, there were seven defensive prospects who were rated three stars coming out of high school who earned first or second-team All-SEC honors (Associated Press) this past season.
Here’s a look.
Dominick Sanders, S, Georgia
Sanders earned an 0.8492 numerical 247Sports Composite rating by the recruiting industry (mid three star) in the Class of 2014, but was a first-team All-SEC selection (AP) this past season as a sophomore for the Bulldogs and is one of the better safety prospects in the league. He is an example of good evaluation and player development given the impact he’s had during a relatively short time in Athens.
Kentrell Brothers, LB, Missouri
Brothers was one of the best linebackers in the league this past season for one of the best defenses in the league and he’s been a big part of the success of Missouri football during his career. A classic great evaluation by the Tigers former coaching staff, Brothers earned a 0.8568 rating (mid three-stars) in the Class of 2011 out of Guthrie (Okla.) High. This past season, he was a first-team All-SEC selection (AP).
Cory Johnson, DT, Kentucky
The Wildcats plucked Johnson, a Pennsylvania native, out of ASA College in Brooklyn, N.Y. in the 2014 cycle, where he earned an 0.8786 numerical rating (high three star). This past season, Johnson earned second-team All-SEC honors from the AP.
Marquis Haynes, DE, Ole Miss
Haynes was one of the best evaluations that the Rebels have made under Hugh Freeze and they’ve made quite a few (as you will see below). The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder originally signed with North Carolina in the 2013 class out of University Christian in Jacksonville and was given an 0.8409 rating (mid three star). He spent a season at Fork Union (0.8800 rating- high three) before Ole Miss swiped him. He was a freshman All-American his first year and was second-team All-SEC (AP) this past season.
Skai Moore, LB, South Carolina
Moore, who has been among the Gamecocks leaders in tackles and interceptions in each of his first three seasons in Columbia, was rated 0.8786 (high three star) out of University School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for the Class of 2013. This past season, he earned second-team All-SEC honors at linebacker and will play some safety (his NFL position) this coming season (his senior year) for new South Carolin head coach Will Muschamp.
Mike Hilton, CB, Ole Miss
Hilton was a versatile athlete out of Sandy Creek High in Tyrone, Ga., for the Class of 2012 and was yet another great evaluation by the Rebels staff. Hilton was rated numerically as an 0.8432 (mid three star) by the recruiting industry and developed into a second-team All-SEC (AP) selection at cornerback this past year.
Trae Elston, S, Ole Miss
Elston signed with the Rebels out of Oxford (Ala.) High in the Class of 2012 and rated 0.8793 according to the recruiting industry. This past season for Ole Miss, Elston earned second-team All-SEC honors (AP) at safety.
The mother of all evaluations …
This is why former Missouri defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski (not retained by new coach Barry Odom and now coaching for Mark Richt at Miami) will be missed in CoMo — he could flat-out find players. Tigers defensive end Charles Harris didn’t even register with the recruiting industry (0.7000, which is the lowest two-star rating) coming out of Lincoln College Prep in Kansas City for the 2013 cycle. This past year, the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder was a second-team All-SEC selection for the Tigers. The stories like this as they relate to Kuligowski’s tenure at Mizzou are endless.
Recruiting writer for Saturday Down South
