Florida State 2004 — Recruiting Outcomes

Hits & Misses

Hit: Gary Cismesia (K) — Originally ranked 698. Outcome: All Conference. Despite his lower initial ranking, Cismesia managed to perform at a high level, earning an All Conference recognition. Hit: DeCody Fagg (WR) — Originally unranked. Outcome: All Conference. Fagg exceeded expectations, rising from an unranked recruit to an All Conference performer. Miss: Xavier Lee (QB) — Originally ranked 5. Outcome: Contributor. A top-5 recruit, Lee's career fell short of expectations as he only managed to contribute without significant distinctions. Miss: Aaron Jones (DL) — Originally ranked 64. Outcome: Bust. Ranked 64th in the nation, Jones' outcome was disappointing with his classification as a "Bust".

Development Story

The 2004 Florida State recruiting class showed mixed results, with a significant number of blue-chip recruits not living up to their high rankings. Despite having the top-ranked recruiting class, many players failed to achieve the expected level of performance. However, the development story was not entirely negative. The class featured players like Gary Cismesia and DeCody Fagg, who exceeded their initial rankings to become key contributors. This class also provides an important lesson in the unpredictable nature of player development. Several high-ranking recruits, such as Xavier Lee and Aaron Jones, did not meet expectations, while lower-ranked or unranked recruits like Gary Cismesia and DeCody Fagg excelled. This suggests that raw talent and high school performance, while important, does not always translate to college success.

Outcome Summary

Based on the outcomes, it's clear that the 2004 class underperformed relative to their initial recruiting expectations. The S2S rerank dropped significantly from the original ranking of 1 to 62, indicating a vast discrepancy between initial expectations and actual performance. While there were certainly bright spots within the class, the overall picture shows that a high recruiting class ranking does not guarantee success on the field. This class serves as a reminder that successful player development and achieving potential are key elements of a successful recruiting class.