Givens Upgraded to 3 Stars

[Stallion]

for about the 9th time in 3 years an SMU commit's rating on Rivals was raised to a 3 star after his commitment to SMU. Obviously, Rivals is not aware of Stampede's theory of a GRAND CONSPIRACY AGAINST SMU!!!!!!!!!! Are we sure Recruiting Guru doesn't work down there?

[ThadFilms]

So does this make six three star recruits?... Who are they?

Besides Givens-
Cox, Makinde, who else?

[PK]

So does this make six three star recruits?... Who are they?

Besides Givens-
Cox, Makinde, who else?

Look here:

http://www.dallasnews.rivals.com/commit ... School=182

BTW: Givens has a rating of 5.5 which makes him and Willis the top rated recruits we have gotten.

Another interesting note...Rivals has us at 23 and that still includes Tim Monroe. So their list may be current with Givens on there, but they are missing some.

[mustangswillwin]

I saw the same thing, Stallion. Givens went from a 5.4, two star player to a 5.5, three star player overnight. Maybe they really think that much of SMU and Coach Bennett's ability to evaluate talent.

More probable is tht afact it simply shows recruiting is VERY subjective and just how every coach and fan in America can get up on signing date and say.... "We knew going into the recruiting season what our needs were and , man-oh-man, we really filled our needs....almost across the board".

To continue ..."I am very happy with the job my assistant coaches did in recruiting and this class is full of players that want to be here at this school!"

P. S. Then you have some "fans' that, not recognizing the subjective nature of the business, ...say they hope certain players turn out to be better than some relatively unknown "recruiting expert" predicts. It is all meaningless...we'll find out who the players are in each class in two to three years.

[Stallion]

the NFL and NBA draft is subjective too but that doesn't mean that there are not historically verifiable trends that can't be interpreted from the the draft.

[MUSTANGFOREVER69]

Stallion you sure do know your stuff. What does history say about these guys: Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Cade McNown, Ryan Leaf, Jim Druckenmiller, Lawrence Phillips, Tim Biakabutuka, Ki-Jana Carter, Kerry Collins, Dan Wilkinson, Heath Shuler, Rick Mirer, and Steve Emtman?

[PerunaPunch]

I'm the first to jump down Stallion's throat about his unwaivering devotion to those bozos who run Rivals and Insiders. In many cases, their reporters are less informed than many of the posters on this site – and that's a fact.

However, the Ryan Leaf's of the NFL are the 'exceptions that prove the rule'. Except in the case of the Cowboys, generally speaking, higher draft choices translate to better talent.

High school talent evaluation is a heck of a lot more difficult than the pros IMHO. First off, there's 100 times more teams and players to look at. The level of talent across the board varies unmeasurably (which can skew how good or bad a kid looks on film). The kids are usually not anywhere near grown to their ful potential. And parents and coaches promote their favoriates shamelessly.

So when you catch a 4- or 5-star, blue-chipper, you probably have a player you can bank on. From there on down, the ratings get much more subjective. Since we're not going to grab any 5-star kids this year, the trick becomes how to find the ones that will grow into players. I believe Bennett's staff has a talent for this. They certainly don't get all the kids they want (given the current state of the program), but they do seem to get kids with the ability to produce (and an occasional gem). So we're headed in the right direction.

[Ponymon]

Before the season started, Lemming's Summer 2004 PREP FOOTBALL REPORT rated Givens 3 stars and the 7th best quarterback in the State -ahead of Casey [deleted] of Allen, who is headed to Arkansas. Lemming said,"Rather small for the QB position, but if given the chance, I believe he can get the job done.
On Film-Columbus shows exceptional quickness, a pretty good arm, and does a good job of reading defenses. Very instinctive, he is a talented athlete, who can beat you with his arm and legs.
Stats-Threw for 1,100 yards and 14 TDs and rushed for 900 yards and 12 TDs last season despite the fact that he was injured for 2 games."

Folks, if he stays qualified, we have a PLAYER!

[ThadFilms]

Wow. Didn't realize Willis was a three star... that makes me feel a little better about him. Even though his only offer was from Tulsa, I believe...

[ThadFilms]

Givens is 6'1", so is Casey [deleted]... hmmm...


I assume, those stats you put down were from his junior season, am I right Ponymon?

Also, what's the likelihood he's under center for the Ponies say three four years from now?

[Mike Damone]

Stallion you sure do know your stuff. What does history say about these guys: Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Cade McNown, Ryan Leaf, Jim Druckenmiller, Lawrence Phillips, Tim Biakabutuka, Ki-Jana Carter, Kerry Collins, Dan Wilkinson, Heath Shuler, Rick Mirer, and Steve Emtman?

Don't ask that question unless you're prepared to answer what history says about these guys:

YOU sure do know you're stuff. And I didn't go back nearly as far as you did, smart guy. And since when was Kerry Collins a bust. Hasn't he been a starting QB in the NFL for about 10 years? Hardly a bust.

Faulk, Marshall
McGinest, Willie
Dilfer, Trent
Young, Bryant
Adams, Sam
Glenn, Aaron
Johnson, Joe
Taylor, Aaron
Johnson, Charles
Steussie, Todd
Bowens, Tim
Morton, Johnnie
Ford, Henry
Floyd, William
Boselli, Tony
McNair, Steve
Westbrook, Michael
Collins, Kerry
Carter, Kevin
Mamula, Mike
Galloway, Joey
Brady, Kyle
Stokes, J.J.
Sapp, Warren
Fields, Mark
Brown, Ruben
Johnson, Ellis
Douglas, Hugh
Wheatley, Tyrone
Stewart, James
Poole, Tyrone
Law, Ty
Stringer, Korey
Brooks, Derrick
Brockermeyer, Blake
Johnson, Keyshawn
Hardy, Kevin
Rice, Simeon
Ogden, Jonathan
Glenn, Terry
Dudley, Rickey
Anderson, Willie
Upshaw, Regan
Harris, Walt
George, Eddie
Mobley, John
Clemons, Duane
Brown, Reggie
Kennison, Eddie
Harrison, Marvin
Gardener, Daryl
Moulds, Eric
Mayberry, Jermane
Lewis, Ray
Pace, Orlando
Springs, Shawn
Boulware, Peter
Jones, Walter
Hilliard, Ike
Farrior, James
Naeole, Chris
Dunn, Warrick
Gonzalez, Tony
Wilson, Reinard
Lang, Kenard
Holmes, Kenny
Glenn, Tarik
Rudd, Dwayne
Wynn, Renaldo
Smith, Antowain
Scott, Chad
Pryce, Trevor
Manning, Peyton
Wadsworth, Andre
Woodson, Charles
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Turley, Kyle
Ellis, Greg
Taylor, Fred
Starks, Duane
Thomas, Tra
Spikes, Takeo
Dyson, Kevin
Simmons, Brian
Edwards, Robert
Holliday, Vonnie
Moss, Randy
Jones, Tebucky
Collins, Mo
Darius, Donovin
Faneca, Alan
Riley, Victor
McQuarters, R.W.
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James, Edgerrin
Williams, Ricky
Holt, Torry
Bailey, Champ
Boston, David
Claiborne, Chris
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Woody, Damien
Stinchcomb, Matt
Petitgout, Luke
Winfield, Antoine
Edwards, Antuan
Bryant, Fernando
Gibson, Aaron
Kerney, Patrick
Wilson, Al
Arrington, LaVar
Samuels, Chris
Warrick, Peter
Lewis, Jamal
Simon, Corey
Jones, Thomas
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Urlacher, Brian
Taylor, Travis
Ellis, Shaun
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Smith, Justin
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Carter, Andre
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Stroud, Marcus
Walker, Kenyatta
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Backus, Jeff
Hampton, Casey
Archuleta, Adam
Clements, Nate
Allen, Will
McAllister, Deuce
Middlebrooks, Willie
Mitchell, Freddie
Fletcher, Jamar
Bennett, Michael
Gibson, Derrick
Pickett, Ryan
Wayne, Reggie
Heap, Todd
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Peppers, Julius
Harrington, Joey
Williams, Mike
Jammer, Quentin
Sims, Ryan
McKinnie, Bryant
Williams, Roy
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Jeff Faine
Rex Grossman
Willis McGahee
Dallas Clark
William Joseph
Kwame Harris
Larry Johnson
Andre Woolfolk
Nick Barnett
Sammy Davis

[Ponymon]

Yes PonyExpress83, those were his stats for his junior year. I haven't seen his senior year stats yet, but they must have been good!

[ThadFilms]

Sweet.

[MUSTANGFOREVER69]

Mike Damone, you can dislike me and my comments if you want. My point to Stallion was simply aimed at his typical bold, unsubstantiated assertion that there are historical, verifiable predictions which can be made from past NFL drafts. You may agree with him. Obviously, all of the players you list, and I could add to your list as well, have been successful (thankfully for their respective NFL franchise owner's concerns). The point is, however, that, at least insofar as I believe, contrary to Stallion's bold hypothesis, there is no proven, historical, verifiable predictor which can be drawn from prior NFL drafts. You know as well as I do and everyone else on this board that NFL franchises spend tons of $$ year-round aimed towards selecting players in the draft who will prove to be "good gambles." And that's all it is. Wouldn't you have liked to have selected Tom Brady in the 6th Round or Johnny U in the 16th Round?

[MUSTANGFOREVER69]

Mike Damone, you can dislike me and my comments if you want. My point to Stallion was simply aimed at his typical bold, unsubstantiated assertion that there are historical, verifiable predictions which can be made from past NFL drafts. You may agree with him. Obviously, all of the players you list, and I could add to your list as well, have been successful (thankfully for their respective NFL franchise owner's concerns). The point is, however, that, at least insofar as I believe, contrary to Stallion's bold hypothesis, there is no proven, historical, verifiable predictor which can be drawn from prior NFL drafts. You know as well as I do and everyone else on this board that NFL franchises spend tons of $$ year-round aimed towards selecting players in the draft who will prove to be "good gambles." And that's all it is. Wouldn't you have liked to have selected Tom Brady in the 6th Round or Johnny U in the 16th Round?