Oregon State 2004 — Recruiting Outcomes

Hits & Misses

Hit: Andy Levitre (IOL) — Originally ranked 994. Outcome: NFL Pro Bowl. Levitre's career trajectory clearly exceeded the initial rankings, highlighting the potential for overlooked talent to thrive. Hit: Keenan Lewis (CB) — Originally ranked 995. Outcome: NFL Starter. Lewis is another example of a low-ranked recruit who defied expectations, making significant contributions to the team. Miss: Bryan Payton (CB) — Originally ranked 173. Outcome: Contributor. Despite his high initial ranking, Payton's contribution was less than anticipated, indicating a possible miscalculation in his recruitment. Miss: Brian Hildebrand (QB) — Originally ranked 216. Outcome: Bust. Hildebrand's outcome as a bust, despite a relatively high ranking, underscores the unpredictability of player development.

Development Story

The 2004 Oregon State recruiting class presented a mixed bag of results. The class had its fair share of hits and misses, highlighting the unpredictable nature of college football recruitment. The successes of low-ranked recruits like Andy Levitre and Keenan Lewis demonstrate the Beavers' strong development program and a knack for spotting undervalued talent. However, the underperformance of higher-ranked recruits such as Bryan Payton and Brian Hildebrand give cause for concern. One noticeable trend is the discrepancy between the original ranking and the S2S rerank. The slide from 19 to 22 suggests that while the class had potential, the outcomes did not fully align with the initial expectations. The development story of Oregon State in 2004 serves as a reminder of the inherent challenges in translating high school success to a college environment.

Outcome Summary

Considering the performance of the 2004 class, it is fair to say that expectations were not fully met. The class had its moments of success, primarily through the unexpected rise of lower-ranked recruits, but also suffered disappointments with some higher-ranked players underperforming. The S2S rerank moving down from the original ranking is indicative of the class's overall performance. Despite the high original ranking and a respectable blue chip percentage, the outcomes were not as high as initially expected. In conclusion, while the 2004 Oregon State recruiting class had its high points, it generally underperformed against original expectations.