Rivals and Scout are notoriously inept in their analysis of Oregon State prospects. Because of their laziness and obtuse eye for talent, Mike Riley is often heralded as a genius who unearths hidden gems. That myth needs to end.
My goal with these ranking is to have the most objective and accurate Beaver rankings on the net. There is no fancy system or methodology; you either trust my eye for this, or you don't. What I do is watch film and analyze the players' (a) athleticism, speed, etc (b) skill set (c) attitude/motor/heart/fight for extra yards/etc (d) the athleticism and talent of his opponents, and (e) "other"/"it" factor/etc.
After doing so, I feel the Beavers have landed 8 elite prospects (the first 8 on the list). The next 5 are complimentary players, and rest are projects. The players are ranked in order, so Tyler Trosin is, in my opinion, the top prospect in this class. Conversely, Harrah is the worst prospect. Fifita was listed last/unranked because I could not find film.
| Tyler Trosin |  |
| Richard Mullaney | |
| Tyrequek Zimmerman | |
| Brandin Cooks | |
| Jabral Johnson | |
| Darryl Jackson |  |
| Dylan Wynn | |
| Storm Woods | |
| LaVonte Barnett | |
| Malcom Agnew | |
| Akeem Gonzales | |
| Larry Scott |  |
| Na'Alii Robbins | |
| Rusty Fernando | |
| Peter Ashton (As a QB) | |
| Kellen Clute | |
| Desmond Collins | |
| Jashwa James | |
| Justin Addie | |
| Blake Harrah |  |
| Rudolf Fifita | No Film |
I liked Larry Scott’s film… he plays real physically like James Rodgers. Not sure if he is a DB or WR though.
He’s going to begin his career at CB. I like his film, too. He’s my highest ranked 2-star for a reason…he’s on the cusp. That he’ll be learning a new position knocks him down a peg in my book.
Speaking of Rodgers…if he can’t go, I think Cooks might get a look at split end.
yeah and he could be solid. I just like Scott’s film because his instinct is to initiate the contact. That is what I love about James Rodgers. I need to watch the Cooks film again does he brign the phsicality or is he more a pure speedster. That is what made James so great he was more than just a speedster.
Ashton was the toughest to grade…he has a surprisingly good motion/delivery for someone who isn’t asked to throw a lot. He reminds me of a Jake Plummer/Colt McCoy hybrid in terms of arm, wheels, and pocket savvy. He raised his completion percentage 8 points as a senior, so despite labeling him a two star, he has quite a bit of potential upside. What do you guys think of Ashton? Watch his film; it’s tough to tell.
http://peterashton.com/FootballHighlights.aspx
I watched Ashton’s film, and I like him. Looks like he’s a superior athlete and a tough kid. He doesn’t seem to be a kid who has been coached up to peak as a good HS QB with no further growth potential. I think he can get better as a QB. And perhaps he has upside potential at other positions, too (unsure whether he has the size and speed to play defensive back at OSU; he could perhaps be switched to wide receiver at OSU, but we already have enough depth at WR).
Jake Plummer is an assistanct coach for Sandpont High School…it’s kind of cool to see him on the sideline!
This random moment brought to you by: GWH
Film aside they offered him on the spot when he camped at OSU over the summer. If there’s one thing Riley’s been abover average at, it’s finding QB projects that turn into quality performers. I like his upside a lot! I reckon the coaching staff thinks they can make him into a quality QB down the road. The dude brings it on every play. It’ll be fun to see him fight for a spot in two or three years.
I think he’s a 3 star. Good timing on pass delivery, great mobility and athleticism. I was pleadantly surprised by his film. I think he’ll improve as a passer and will adapt to throwing more ofren than he did in h.s. He’ll gain weight and needed arm strength, but he doesn’t have to throw fastballs all the time. I bet he winds up starting before he’s through.
I’m not sure what to make of this seemingly unprecedented positivity and support of Riley. I wasn’t sure if you were just being sarcastic, but it seems you are stating that the recruits we get are actually underrated and not just that they are rated correctly and we are getting complete crap?
You are scaring me and boggling my brain Angry. But I like the angle.
What I am saying is recruiting services seem to overlook guys with OSU offers and focus on the 4-5 star kids with big-school offers. They can’t (or don’t) put in the time to watch every player. This becomes clear with a guy like Trosin. He was bumped to a 3-star (still too low), but started as a 2-star. There is no way anyone could watch his film and in good faith draw that conclusion.
Same with Quizz. Once you watched his film, you knew he was a 4 or 5 star, but he was ranked a 3-star by Rivals. James was a 2-star. So, these services get the rankings wrong, and then people say, “Riley is a genius!” Why, because he can see James Rodgers is clearly better than recruiting services ranked him? We all could see that.
Nobody mentions Riley’s whiffs. It’s just frustrating.
Anyway, the list is meant to be more accurate than rivals and scout’s list. I’m an objective Beaver fan who spent hours watching these players film. I bet the services spent ten minutes total going through this film. If Riley can turn guys like Collins, Addie, and Jashwa James into all-conference players then I’ll buy into the myth that he sees something the rest of us don’t.
word of caution on Addie… his film is from his junior season and I hear he is a lot leaner now.
Regarding him being leaner: Is that good or bad?
I heard he had a broken hand or something or other that kept him out most of his senior year. His junior year film is pretty horrible.
I think he kept his weight the same but just leaned out so that would be a good thing. Still not sure if he is going to ever contribute though. I was thoroughly underwhelmed by the film and disappointed by the commit but if he lifts for 2 years that will be 3 straight years of lifting and he could pan out at that point.
Heard a rumor that Craig Robinson just signed a player. Anyone know anything about him?
yeah angry posted it on the other thread. A 6’2″ PG out of Sweden named Charles Barton. Not much has been written about the kid in English though.
There’s a thread in the forums re: Barton
http://angrybeavs.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=209
from what I saw he’s good, but not great. He averages 7.7ppg and 2.7 dimes with the Swedish U-18 team (17.6minutes in 7 games). He’s not their starting PG.
More info here: Fiba Europe
Trosin looks legit. Good speed and hands and looks like he plays with a lot of heart. Not to be a nit-picker, but the film made the competition look kind of weak? I know Folsom is near Sacramento, so maybe he is just good enough to make the competition look slow/small. Or he plays schools that are not actually Sacramento schools?
Mullaney looks pretty darn slow out of the blocks, but picks up speed as he goes. Looks to have good hands and solid fundamentals. Good size too which helps him offset his speed. Big receivers with good hands and average speed are just as valuable, or more so than those who are faster smaller guys in my book. Although, James Rodgers did you good.
Couldn’t find much on Tyrequek Zimmerman.
I’d put Jabral at #2 on your list – for what it’s worth.
I don’t like it when people call James a speedster. He is a all around receiver. The dude was easily the most physical receiver in the Pac-10 last year.
Yeah, I guess Folsom pummeling Grant (8 catches for 93 yards and 2 TD’s) and going on to represent NoCal by obliterating Gardena Serra (4 catches for 87 yards and 3 TD’s) in the D II championship is small time stuff. :)
Come on now Jack, I admitted he looked great and it was possible that he made everyone else look slow. Watch the film with your eyes, not what you know and tell me he doesnt look make the competition look a little low. I say that makes him that much better of a score.
LOL UofDuck I’m not hating at all. I appreciate your comment. Took no offense to it at all. Seemed like your honest assessment, but why are you here? What interests you in this site. I ask because I can’t identify with the impulse to troll around opposition sites interjecting my voice. Nothing wrong with it, as I’m sure many Beavers do it too (be they positive or negative re-enforcers). I’d just like to hear it from the horses mouth. Spill the bean meng!
Alright, I’ll give KC – My fetish over college football is a self destructive behavior. Couple that with my distaste for some it’s fandom and I need psych help. Admittedly, my group is as bad as any – but really no worse either, whether or not you believe me on that. To be perfectly honest, I can’t stand most beaver fans, it is just the nature of things being a Duck fan. This here is a bit different though. I stumbled on to Angry’s site by accident and found this lot of beaver fans to be “almost” normal and was intrigued. The best part is you guys have an actual sense of humor about your team which I find very funny and insightful at times. I guess it is just a refreshing change that draws me like a moth to the flame.
I try not be be disrespectful to you all because you seem like pretty normal weirdos, but its hard not appear to be disrespectful when you are have a scarlet/green D sewn on your chest. For instance, in this case, I have no idea of the teams Folsom plays. I am not into recruiting enough to even have a clue of the competition in that area of California. The kid’s film DOES make the competition seem low. So the honest question was, is he so good that he makes the competition seem low? or is the competition being low make him seem all world. I honestly don’t have a clue. But, with my Green D sewn on, it comes off like a shot to the kid.
Furthermore, if this were a Duck blog, I might chime in on our recruits – but you guys could care-less about my take on Duck recruits. For instance; my take on DaT is that he is over-rated. When I watched his film… yawn. What I like about him however is the shot to the fruit basket we gave to USC when we took him from their back-yard. The kid played for Compton High for heaven’s sake and he was their highest rated recruit. That alone makes me love the grab.
As far as GreatWhiteHunter goes, that bro has issues that only a straight-jacket can contain.
Like I said, I’m a moth to the flame and I’m going in. Tell my wife and kids that I love them.
“As far as GreatWhiteHunter goes, that bro has issues that only a straight-jacket can contain.”
What? Sooo…I don’t even make the “normal weirdo” rank?
And here I was just starting to like you…Straight Jacket, really? At worst, I’m a rabid fan with just a touch of ADD…but most of the time I can at least manage to navigate my way through a complete, comprehendible thoug…Hey anyone wanna go ride bikes later?
That’s not what is sounded like you meant…more like “he looked fast because he was playing against slow midgets.”
But nice back-track.
And what’s your problem with slow midgets? Asshole.
I’m just kidding. I wish you were more inflammatory like 99% of your duck comrades…it makes you easier to hate. So quit being sensible…you have a reputation to uphold.
I’m a failure on so many levels
You forgot to end your sentence with a period. Grade – F
Sincerely,
The Grammar Police
:)
I see. You were complimenting him. I guess I can see that now. It follows that if he can make all those four and five star recruits from the traditional power football schools of both Northern and Southern California look slow that he can do so on the next level… where he will be seeing all those same players over and over again.
I don’t know if I would go so far as to call players like George Farmer, Marquise Lee, James Sample and Shaq Thompson “slow/small”. Beat handily? Yes. But slow and small… even perceived?
Everyone looks slow compared to the Ducks, so your point of comparison is skewed. He set California WR receiving records. End of story.
Speed isn’t too important at WR, anyhow. Steve Largent and Ed Mccaffrey were two of the best ever…both slow and white.
Also Jerry Rice ran a 4.7 and he was a pretty good player.
I’ve always heard that, but I don’t buy it. I think he sandbagged with the stop watches.
He one of my favorite pro’s of all time…except the ONE time I saw him dance in the end zone…embarrassing…it was like he was white for 5 seconds. Wait…maybe that’s what happened when he ran his timed 40?!
He didn’t sandbag it. The 49ers did. I think the story was that they wanted to time him on grass, so they measured out 40 meters and had him run it. He ran a 4.71, which is an excellent time…
… for 40 METERS. They knew this, and they publicized his 40 time for the world to know. They still almost did not get him because Tom Landry wanted him badly. Except for the determination of Bill Walsh, Rice would have been a Cowboy. That was an interesting time in Dallas. I think that S&L/oil buffoon who owned them for three or four years micro-managed that team into the ground. I don’t remember him having anything good to say about that team.
That is just what I was saying Angry. Big, strong, good hands…etc is awesome. Speed is just one part of the equasion. All I am saying is his first step seems a bit slow, which is something – just not everything – but fast seperation certainly helps, especially when a rush is on the QB.
Good list angry, I don’t know if I’m alone on this, but I think Jaswha James may turn into a good linebacker, just with the swagger he plays with and his motor, I think he is the best project type player we signed…
I think Dylan Wynn should be a four star on your list, I really think he will be a star and surprise many people with his abilities! He has a nice quick first step, and he has great technique. Bill Swancutt part II type of player.
Agreed. I think he will be a beast for us in a couple years. I’m stoked about this sign.
Angry,
I like your system. What does it say about the players that rivals and scout rank as 4 and 5 star? Are they over ranked because big schools are after them?
I think it says they need more manpower or regional eyes on some of these kids. I doubt anyone looked at Trosin’s film when they slapped the 2-star tag on him. It was probably just based on measurables. That they bumped him up to a 3-star means someone probably looked at the first 10 seconds of film. If USC had offered, people would watch the entire clip and he’d be at 4-stars, where he belongs. Of course, it could mean whoever gave the rating simply doesn’t think he’ll be good, but I don’t see how that’s possible.
Crap! Angry you beat me to the (” If USC had offered, people would watch the entire clip and he’d be at 4-stars, where he belongs.”) USC line before I could post it, lol. I started my post down below before dinner, then finished it, and posted it afterwards. I wasn’t trying to copycat your line.
Also, someone who is compared to Inoke Breckterfield, being ranked only a two star is way too low for my taste! That someone is Na’Alii Robbins. Inoke Breckterfield was a beast and one of the best ever to don the Orange & Black!
McCants was compared to Steven Jackson (over and over and over). Enough said. I have Robbins as one of my higher 2-stars…I have hope for him, but he’s not Breckterfield.
That is true McCants was compared to Steven Jackson, although I think it came more from the fans, rather than the coaches.
Angry, I appreciate you ranking the recruits this way, I think you’re correct about the recruiting services. I remember watching Quizz’s stars increase after watching his offers increase, as soon as Texas A&m was interested he gained another star!
I also think what possibly hurt OSU’s recruiting rankings was that many of their recruits committed to OSU early, and some schools moved on after that on some of the recruits. If USC went after anyone of our recruits they’re an automatic 4 star. There is a saying that if College Football Coaches recruited based on stars alone, they’d be out of a job real soon! But, having more 4 and 5 stars is better than having more 0 and 2 stars. Personally I’d rather an OSU recruit be a 5 star by the time they leave, than to have already peaked before they become a starter for OSU.
McCant’s for OLB. I’d like to see him play – that big body has got to be good for something…gunner on KO?
Quizz never gained another star at rivals–he remained a 3. He went up from 5.6 to 5.7 on rivals I believe, and Scout had him at a 4-star all along.
It’s not true that everyone USC offers gains a star. Wheaton had a USC offer yet remained at 3-stars (though it was clear he should have been at least a 4).
I think the reality is they have x number of employees and thousands of players to evaluate, so they mess up a lot. I guess I’m here to prove that with youtube and a set of eyes you too can become an “expert” evaluator!
…I wager the angrybeavs ratings, when all is said and done, will be more accurate than rivals or scouts. We’ll see in a few years!
It would interesting to see some kind of study on attrition for three star ranked and higher football recruits. For all of the ratings hype, “x” numbers of players drop out due to academics, have injuries that prevent them from reaching their potential or cannot adjust to D-1 competition. If it is around 20% that is a significant percentage.
I think one of the greatest disservices made by recruiting services is that they don’t account for the person as a whole when they rate them. I thought last year that Gio Bernard should have been rated a mid-level three star RB. He has high four star talent, high character and good academics. But none of it matters if he never sees the field. He showed that his running style made him injury prone, and that was proven his frosh year yet again.
For that reason, kids like Molesi and Iona should not have been rated as highly either.
It’s easy to look at a kid and say whether or not he’s a good football player. A true service would be telling us if they were good prospective college football players instead of vicariously reliving their own high school fantasies over and over again.
Would be nice to see some follow up accountability from the recruiting services each year on whether they hit a home run or struck out or got something just about right and why they think that happened.
Robbins is one of the guys in this class I’m having a hard time getting behind…he looks as “two-star” as they come. I hope I’m wrong, but to crown him the next Inoke is a little hasty…
I made a few three pointers in a high school basketball game, but that doesn’t make me Larry Bird.
why the hell is Jaswha James a low 2-star but a three star everywhere else? His swagger and size makes him a 3-star in its self. So what the hell angry?
JJ = 3-star. Angry is wrong about this one. He will be a starter by his Junior year. I actually like how this kid looks.
And Clute will be All-World at OSU. Clute! Clute! Clute!
F you guys and your “Clute’s Corner” bull shit. This kid is going to crack heads. Maybe “All-World” is a stretch, but he’s going to bring a chip on his shoulder be ready to do work at OSU.
The more I look at these guys, the more I like this class. Cognitive Dissonance? Maybe…but maybe not. I don’t know, I got a C- in psychology so I’m not the best reference for self-psycho-analysis, but I’m content with this class right now.
Haha, you’re content with the class because you have no choice but to be. The class is set in stone and we all have to deal with it. USC won’t be swapping classes with us.
We have to fool our brain into thinking this class is better than what it really is just to make ourselves feel better.
Thanks! I think?
Charles Barton Highlights via @pnbuker
just realized that should have gone in the forum. My bad.
http://lemancoaching.se/hu18/video/charlesbarton/highlights_charlesbarton.mov
How about those already enrolled in school (Welck, Thompson, Ward, et al). Would be nice to see some ratings for them. Did you rate them last year?
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