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For what its worth, ESPN has a pretty good track record when they rate guys highly that the other services rate as 2 star players. The 5 on the roster last season were McCarty, Hyder, Evan Brown, Pope, and Epley

The players in this class they rated highly who are 2 stars on Scout and Rivals:
- McNeil - They believe he was a P5 quality guard who would provide depth immediately at a P5 school.
- Wilds - P5 tackle who will provide depth immediately.

They also think Kevin Thomas would be a stud at high level P5 schools...

JasonB wrote:For what its worth, ESPN has a pretty good track record when they rate guys highly that the other services rate as 2 star players. The 5 on the roster last season were McCarty, Hyder, Evan Brown, Pope, and Epley

The players in this class they rated highly who are 2 stars on Scout and Rivals:
- McNeil - They believe he was a P5 quality guard who would provide depth immediately at a P5 school.
- Wilds - P5 tackle who will provide depth immediately.

They also think Kevin Thomas would be a stud at high level P5 schools...

Let me know when they're right. Brown and McCarty are terrible. Pope was a stud but not that talented, just a great kid with a great motor. Hyder is unknown until he gets on the field (big ole boy though I'll give you that). Have no idea who Epley is. Of course, I see him on the roster but has he even suited up?

ojaipony wrote:

JasonB wrote:For what its worth, ESPN has a pretty good track record when they rate guys highly that the other services rate as 2 star players. The 5 on the roster last season were McCarty, Hyder, Evan Brown, Pope, and Epley

The players in this class they rated highly who are 2 stars on Scout and Rivals:
- McNeil - They believe he was a P5 quality guard who would provide depth immediately at a P5 school.
- Wilds - P5 tackle who will provide depth immediately.

They also think Kevin Thomas would be a stud at high level P5 schools...

Let me know when they're right. Brown and McCarty are terrible. Pope was a stud but not that talented, just a great kid with a great motor. Hyder is unknown until he gets on the field (big ole boy though I'll give you that). Have no idea who Epley is. Of course, I see him on the roster but has he even suited up?

Epley and Hyder haven't played, but both are frosh and Hyder really does look the part. Brown and McCarty both started as true frosh on the OL, that is pretty impressive over other players who were ranked highly by all of the services across the board. Both Brown and McCarty improved significantly as the season went on. McCarty in particular I was willing to write off but he had a really good game against UCONN. Pope started for us on both sides of the ball two years in a row. For a kid that was considered a bad recruit by the other services, that isn't bad at all.

ESPN sucks. They don't even have Castile ranked, and it the consensus among pretty much everyone that McNeil is our least impressive recruit. He's not an FBS player. He's probably not an FCS player. When Billy, king of the sun shiners, even thinks so, it's probably true.

They are the clear #4 behind Rivals, 24/7, and Scout. I've had ESPN insider 15 years since before they even started ranking high school kids, and it's just not an area they're that good at.

I don't get the love that Jason has for them, but whatever.

blackoutpony wrote:ESPN sucks. They don't even have Castile ranked, and it the consensus among pretty much everyone that McNeil is our least impressive recruit. He's not an FBS player. He's probably not an FCS player. When Billy, king of the sun shiners, even thinks so, it's probably true.

They are the clear #4 behind Rivals, 24/7, and Scout. I've had ESPN insider 15 years since before they even started ranking high school kids, and it's just not an area they're that good at.

I don't get the love that Jason has for them, but whatever.

I just think it is another perspective. I think the best picture is always painted by the number of perspectives you get on it. I also like that they have much more detailed evaluations (partially because they evaluate a lot fewer prospects). Their rate of hitting when they rate someone highly and the others don't is actually much higher than the other services when they stand alone.