An interesting case study
With the verbal commitment of No. 19-rated center Carl Hulick of Esperanza High yesterday, UCLA now has five solid offensive line verbal commits - OG Lacy Westbrook, OT Alexandru Ceachir, OG Isaiah Folasa, OG Mario Yakoo and Hulick - and a sixth soft verbal, Hiva Lutui.
Only Westbrook and Lutui are highly rated. In fact, Folasa, Yakoo and Hulick are considered two-star recruits on Scout.com.
The question is...does it matter?
UCLA's current class and 2011 class of offensive linemen will be an intriguing case study on the merits of the star system, as the Bruins have assembled two classes worth of mainly three-star-or-below prospects. Most are considered "projects," simply unrefined or needing to put on weight or strength, but undoubtedly several of them will need to perform for UCLA at some point.
Programs such as Boise State, Oregon State and even Oregon have had incredible success recently despite bringing in class after class of unheralded offensive linemen, and I wonder if it's because there is really no way to tell how an 18-year-old 300-pounder will look at 22. Will he be 300 pounds and cut? Will the 275-pounder bulk up?
UCLA, which had a pretty good run in 2009-10 on the offensive line, will be very interesting to watch up front for the next few years. Is there a diamond in the rough?
Here's a video on UCLA's newest offensive line recruit, Hulick, who flipped from SMU on Sunday:
Good point of discussion, Jon. The star system is only a basic guide, something 'would-be' pundits can hang their hats on to predict future success. I like the way Coach Jim is approaching the recruitment agenda...look at the players, objectively evaluate their potential, and then make an offer if deemed to be merited...regardless of the number of stars. Once in the program, coach 'em up and play them at their best positions.
Here’s the two deep from the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Media Guide. I added their Scout.com recruit stars in parentheses:
WT: Jeff Baca (3*** ) Brett Downey (walk-on)
WG: Greg Capella (3***) Wade Yandall (3***)
C: Kai Maiava (2**) Greg Capella
SG: Alberto Cid (2**) Wade Yandall
ST: Mike Harris (3***) Brett Downey
That’s 4 three star players, 2 two star players, and one walk-on.
You can even look at Stanford. Their O-Line was talked up alot this year. However, since 2007 they have only recruited two guys that were considered 4-star or higher (and both were 4-star guys) and one of them was in the 2011 recruiting class (they have two more coming in this class). BUT the rest of the guys were 3-star guys. So with XSF, Westbrook and hopefully Hiva, that would give UCLA three 4-star guys to work with. Now hopefully we can find a QB like Luck to play behind them.
One recruiting service had Duval Love as a TWO star player/recruit....
As a USC fan with no UCLA ties I think this is a pretty smart move on UCLA's behalf. All of the recruits will more likely redshirt so they have a year to bulk up and learn the new offensive blocking schemes. In the short term it will impact depth but in the long run if they are properly developed they could be the starting O-line for a couple of years.
The star ratings is flawed consider that USC lost Henderson a couple of years ago and yet he is not considered a significant lost based on his performance at Miami. Clay Matthews was a walk on at USC and now he is a one of the best defensive players in the NFL.
Yakoo is rated higher than Lutui by ESPN. 6 of the top 10 OG (according to CBSSPORTS) in the NFL draft last year were 2 stars coming into college and 2 were 3 stars. Only 1 4 star and 1 5 star. Offensive linemen are the hardest to predict.
Kellen Moore of Boise State was a low 2-star. Ranked the 162nd QB according to ESPN in his class. Richard Brehaut was a top 10 QB in his class. How did that work out? Lineman even harder to rate as they are developed through strength training programs as well as coaching technique. Their bodies change a lot from 18 to 22 years of age. Some guys in high school are simply bigger and stronger but never improve. That's why depth is so important and SC's probation issues may not surface until the next 3 years with only 15 scholarships a year instead of 25. They can afford few mistakes.