Hits & Misses
Hit: Niles Paul (TE) — Originally ranked 102. Outcome: NFL Starter. Paul was a significant contributor to the program, demonstrating performance that exceeded his recruiting expectations.
Hit: Prince Amukamara (CB) — Originally ranked 434. Outcome: NFL Starter. Amukamara's development into a starter reflects a successful transition from a low initial ranking to a key player.
Hit: Jared Crick (EDGE) — Originally ranked 555. Outcome: NFL Starter. Crick's emergence as a starter indicates strong development beyond his initial ranking.
Hit: Roy Helu (RB) — Originally ranked 759. Outcome: NFL Starter. Helu's success as a starter showcases how he outperformed his low recruitment ranking.
Miss: Jaivorio Burkes (IOL) — Originally ranked 133. Outcome: Contributor. Burkes did not meet the expectations set by his national ranking, resulting in a minimal impact at the college level.
Miss: Patrick Witt (QB) — Originally ranked 509. Outcome: Bust. Witt's performance fell short of expectations associated with his original ranking, leading to a designation as a Bust.
Development Story
The 2007 recruiting class for Nebraska has shown a mix of outcomes that highlight both successes and disappointments. The class, originally ranked 26th, saw a notable increase in its S2S rerank to 17th, indicating a net positive development in player performance. The blue chip percentage of 15 suggests that while the class had a lower concentration of elite recruits, many players still managed to develop well within the program.
Several recruits, particularly those who were initially low-ranked, emerged as NFL starters, which is a clear indicator of the program's ability to develop talent. Niles Paul, Prince Amukamara, Jared Crick, and Roy Helu all represent significant successes, each achieving an outcome of NFL Starter despite their lower recruiting rankings. This trend illustrates a successful player development strategy that can yield high returns even from less heralded recruits.
Conversely, the class also included ranked recruits who did not meet expectations, particularly Jaivorio Burkes and Patrick Witt. Their outcomes reflect the challenges inherent in recruiting, where not all highly-ranked players translate their perceived potential into actual performance on the field. This duality of outcomes suggests that while Nebraska had notable successes, there were also significant misses that impacted the overall effectiveness of the recruiting class.
Outcome Summary
Overall, the Nebraska 2007 recruiting class can be classified as having outperformed expectations, especially considering the strong development of several low-ranked players into NFL starters. The S2S rerank increased significantly, which is indicative of the successful coaching and player development within the program. The presence of both hits and misses highlights the complex nature of college football recruiting, where potential does not always align with performance.
Takeaway: Nebraska's 2007 class exemplifies effective player development, turning several low-ranked recruits into high-performing players, despite some disappointing outcomes among higher-ranked recruits.