Hits & Misses
Hit: T.J. Graham (WR) — Originally ranked 746. Outcome: NFL Drafted. Graham significantly exceeded expectations as a low-ranked recruit, making his mark at the professional level.
Miss: Sam Jones (OT) — Originally ranked 12. Outcome: Bust. As a high-ranked recruit, Jones did not fulfill the expectations associated with his ranking.
Miss: Brandon Barnes (S) — Originally ranked 153. Outcome: Bust. Barnes, despite being a ranked recruit, failed to make a significant impact on the program.
Miss: Marty Everett (DL) — Originally ranked 382. Outcome: Bust. Everett did not meet the expectations set by his ranking, contributing minimally to the team.
Development Story
The 2008 recruiting class for NC State presented a mixed bag of outcomes. While the original class rank was 26, the S2S rerank reflected a slight decline to 32, indicating that the recruits did not progress as anticipated in terms of their development and overall impact on the program. The blue chip percentage of 20 suggests a moderate level of high-talent recruits, yet the outcomes revealed that many of the expectations placed on the higher-ranked players were not met.
Among the recruits, T.J. Graham stood out as a hit, transitioning from a lowly ranked prospect to an NFL Drafted player, showcasing the potential that sometimes goes unnoticed in recruiting evaluations. Conversely, several highly ranked recruits, including Sam Jones, Brandon Barnes, and Marty Everett, did not meet their projected potential, resulting in bust outcomes for each of them. This pattern emphasizes the unpredictability of recruiting, where even top-tier prospects can fail to secure significant roles within the program.
Outcome Summary
Overall, the class met expectations to some extent, particularly with the emergence of Graham as a successful player. However, the presence of multiple busts among the higher-ranked recruits indicates that the class did not fully capitalize on its potential. The S2S rerank moving down suggests that the expectations for development were not realized as many recruits failed to achieve noteworthy outcomes. In summary, while the class had notable successes, the failures of several ranked recruits ultimately detracted from its overall performance.