Hits & Misses
Hit: Emmanuel Sanders (WR) — Originally ranked 1477. Outcome: NFL Pro Bowl. Despite his original low ranking, Sanders became a key player, reaching the height of the NFL Pro Bowl.
Hit: Thomas Morstead (P) — Originally unranked. Outcome: NFL Pro Bowl. Morstead exceeded all expectations by not only making a significant impact on the team, but also by achieving the impressive feat of an NFL Pro Bowl label.
Miss: David Allison (OT) — Originally ranked 778. Outcome: Bust. Allison failed to live up to his initial ranking, making little to no contribution to the team during his tenure.
Miss: Eric Johnson (QB) — Originally ranked 847. Outcome: Bust. Despite a promising start, Johnson underperformed expectations and did not manage to establish himself as a key player.
Development Story
The 2005 SMU recruiting class tells a story of unexpected outcomes and missed opportunities. The class was initially ranked 78, with no blue-chip prospects, which set modest expectations. However, the class had a few surprises that proved rankings aren't always accurate predictions of success.
Standout performances from players like Emmanuel Sanders and Thomas Morstead, who outperformed their initial rankings, helped push the class to a higher S2S rerank of 67. These players proved to be diamonds in the rough, exceeding expectations and making significant contributions to the team.
However, the class also had its share of disappointments, particularly among some of the higher-ranked recruits. For instance, players such as David Allison and Eric Johnson failed to meet the expectations set by their initial rankings, underperforming and contributing to the mixed performance of this class.
Outcome Summary
Overall, the 2005 SMU class slightly outperformed its initial expectations, as evidenced by its S2S rerank of 67, an improvement from the original ranking of 78. This can be attributed to the unexpectedly strong performances from lower-ranked and unranked recruits.
However, the lack of contribution from higher-ranked recruits prevented the class from making a more significant leap in the rerank. The class demonstrated that success isn't always found in rankings, and that each recruit, regardless of their initial position, has the potential to impact the team's performance.
In summary, the 2005 recruiting class for SMU is a case study in the unpredictability of college football, with unexpected hits and unfortunate misses shaping the team's future.