North Texas 2004 — Recruiting Outcomes

Hits & Misses

Hit: Jermiah Chapman (EDGE) — Originally ranked 1262. Outcome: All Conference. Chapman, despite his low initial ranking, became a key player in the North Texas defense, earning All Conference honors. Hit: Jamario Thomas (RB) — Originally ranked 273. Outcome: All Conference. Thomas was a reliable and consistent performer for North Texas, becoming a respected All Conference player. Miss: T.J. Covington (CB) — Originally ranked 1. Outcome: College Starter. Covington, despite being the top-ranked recruit in the class, did not achieve beyond a college starter's level. Miss: Thomas Pratt (RB) — Originally ranked 854. Outcome: Bust. Pratt was a significant underperformer, failing to contribute significantly despite his relatively high original ranking.

Development Story

The 2004 North Texas recruiting class demonstrated a mixed bag of development outcomes. Despite a low original ranking of 109, the class outperformed expectations to a certain extent, reflected in the improved S2S rerank of 91. The program notably managed to turn lower-ranked recruits into valuable contributors on the field, with players like Jermiah Chapman and Jamario Thomas exceeding their original expectations. However, the misses were significant. T.J Covington, the star recruit, did not reach the anticipated heights, underperforming as a college starter when much more was expected. It indicates that while North Texas showed capability in developing less-heralded recruits, it struggled to maximize the potential of its top-ranked talent.

Outcome Summary

Overall, the 2004 North Texas recruiting class met expectations, albeit with some underperformance from its top-ranked recruits. The improved S2S rerank reflects the program's ability to develop talent beyond their original rankings, particularly for players originally ranked lower. However, the underperformance of top recruits such as Covington and Pratt prevented the class from truly exceeding its initial ranking. Takeaway: The North Texas 2004 class demonstrated the program's ability to develop overlooked talent, but also exposed difficulties in maximizing the output of its top recruits.