Hits & Misses
Hit: Templeton Hardy (IOL) — Originally ranked 140. Outcome: College Starter. Hardy exceeded expectations, contributing significantly to the offensive line as a starter.
Hit: Josh Jackson (DL) — Originally ranked 438. Outcome: College Starter. Jackson solidified his role on the defensive line, providing valuable contributions as a starter.
Hit: Bo Walters (LB) — Originally ranked 682. Outcome: College Starter. Walters emerged as a reliable starter, fulfilling and exceeding his recruiting expectations.
Hit: Devin Jones (DL) — Originally ranked 941. Outcome: College Starter. Jones made an impact as a starter on the defensive line, showcasing his skills effectively.
Miss: Montario Patterson (RB) — Originally ranked 578. Outcome: Bust. Patterson failed to meet expectations as a highly ranked recruit, contributing minimally during his time.
Miss: John Paul Alford (IOL) — Originally ranked 752. Outcome: Bust. Alford did not fulfill his potential as a ranked recruit, resulting in a low impact.
Miss: Terrance Davis (ATH) — Originally ranked 793. Outcome: Bust. Davis did not achieve the expectations set by his ranking, leading to a lack of significant contributions.
Miss: Rashun Dixon (TE) — Originally ranked 1006. Outcome: Bust. Dixon's performance fell short of expectations, contributing very little to the team.
Development Story
The 2008 recruiting class for Mississippi State demonstrated a mixed bag of outcomes. With a total of 25 recruits, the class reflected a low blue chip percentage of 8, indicating a reliance on lower-ranked players. Despite this, several recruits emerged as college starters, indicating effective development within the program. Players like Templeton Hardy, Josh Jackson, Bo Walters, and Devin Jones were able to transition from their original rankings to starting roles, showcasing the program's ability to develop talent beyond initial expectations.
However, the class also featured several highly ranked recruits who did not perform as expected, leading to a number of "Bust" outcomes. Montario Patterson, John Paul Alford, Terrance Davis, and Rashun Dixon all failed to make a significant impact, which negatively affected the overall impression of the class. This pattern of development suggests that while the program succeeded in cultivating talent, it also struggled with some higher-profile recruits who did not fulfill their potential.
Outcome Summary
Overall, the 2008 recruiting class for Mississippi State met expectations with a mix of outcomes. The S2S rerank moved down from 41 to 53, reflecting the challenges faced by several players who did not reach their projected potential. The development of several lower-ranked recruits into college starters was a positive aspect of this class, but the number of ranked recruits who underperformed indicates that there were missed opportunities. In conclusion, while Mississippi State had success in developing some players, the class did not achieve the anticipated impact overall.