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Full Version: Why the 2014 NFL Draft is the 2011 College Recruiting Class all over again.
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*This is not a biased look at either Clowney, Teddy, or Johnny. PLEASE don't make this thread another Johnny vs Teddy argument. It's not that. 
This is a thread about college recruiting, and anyone familiar or interested in that topic, I'd love to hear your opinion on this seeming case of 'de-ja-vu'.
 
Read this headline for me:
"Jadeveon Clowney is the concensus number 1 prospect, Teddy Bridgewater may be the best QB in the nation, and Manziel won't make it as a QB at the next level".
No, this is not a headline from last week, this is a quote from 2011 college football recruiting. Yes, history does repeat itself it seems.
 
In 2011, Teddy Bridgewater was the star 4-star quarterback of powerhouse Northwestern High School in Miami. By his senior year, he was already garnering offers from the very best programs, including Miami, Florida, LSU, Georgia, Auburn, and Alabama. He was considered one of the very best young QBs who could start almost immediately in college. Teddy eventually commited to his hometown Miami, but when head coach Randy Shannon was unexpectedly fired, made the surprise move to Louisville, and was automatically seen as the Cardinal's savior(which he was). After 2 seasons, Bridgewater has proven everything everyone thought he was, growing up from a skinny 6'2"-180, to a 6'3"-205 pounds NFL-caliber talent. Perhaps the best QB the Cardinals have ever had. And now, much like his 2011 recruiting grades, is considered by many as one of the best, if not the best NFL quarterback prospect of 2014.
 
 
Another QB was also making his way into college football in 2011, and his name was Johnny Manziel, a virtual unknown at the time. He was ranked as the "393rd" best recruit in the country. The two hardest knocks on Manziel was that 1)he was too short to play QB in college football, and 2)his skill-set didn't fit many schemes. And on a much lower level was a question about his 'dedication'(he had got into some trouble in highschool, etc). It's public knowledge that Manziel wanted to go to Texas, but that Texas only wanted him as an athlete/cornerback. And eventually recruited the taller, heavier, and more pro-set David Ash over Manziel(6'3" compared to 6 foot even). No other major school in college football recruited Johnny as a quarterback, except for Texas A&M. Even then he was still a gamble. Being redshirted his first year, and only after the entire A&M coaching staff were all fired, and a new coach(Sumlin) came in, it wasn't even until fall practice, just weeks before the first game that Johnny became starting QB. He went on to win the first heisman as freshman, and bring A&M to unparalleled heights. And now, much like his 2011 recruiting grades, is considered by many too be short to play QB in the NFL, with questions about his dedication and how his skill-sets will fit into NFL schemes in 2014.
 
 
Oh, and I assume you already guessed who was the consensus No. 1 player in 2011 college recruiting? Jadeveon Clowney. The current concensus No.1 player in the 2014 NFL draft.
 
Yes, history does indeed repeat itself. 
Quote:Oh, and I assume you already guessed who was the consensus No. 1 player in 2011 college recruiting? Jadeveon Clowney. The current concensus No.1 player in the 2014 NFL draft.


Yes, history does indeed repeat itself.
I follow high school recruiting and remember when Clowney came out. I wanted him at UF soo badly
Manziel is one of those guys that has been told he can't do stuff his whole life......and he keeps proving them wrong.
Clowney had a better high school highlight tape than any player I've ever seen. This include high-light tape phenoms like Noel Devine, Terrelle Pryor, Arhur Brown, Reggie Bush, etc. Clowney was literally unblockable in high school. In his senior season, He scored 7 touchdowns on defense from the defensive end position. That is crazy. Take a look.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTkmiBdoBDc

I already said it. I'd like to see us get Clowney in RD1 and Boyd in RD2. If we struggle a tad bit at QB in 2014, but get our DE that finally hits double-digit sacks. That's fine by me. The 2015 QB class probably has better QB prospects. At least Mariota would be around with another year of experience under his belt, etc.

Quote:Clowney had a better high school highlight tape than any player I've ever seen.
:yes: yeah, I remember some back then even saying that he was one of the few players ever, that could have probably jumped from highschool to the NFL immediately