I don't know why I'd never really thought of it this way before, but had this thought this morning: Recruiting rankings are BOTH important and not important at all. Here's what I mean:
I think class rankings are important. If you consistently rank in the 40s, if 90% of your classes are two and low-three star kids, your chances of winning big or of being a major conference champion are very low. It happens, but it's the exception that proves the rule. But that doesn't mean that a two or a three-star kid can't become a star.
I think rankings are good as a big picture evaluation tool. The more highly ranked kids you get, the better your class ranking, the better chance you have to be a good team. But on the small scale, as it relates to any individual player, I think rankings are worthless. Five-stars bust and two-stars excel. Happens every year.
So in the big picture, rankings are important. And those that bemoan a class ranked in the low 40s (or two or three in a row), I think you're right and have a point. But as it relates to any individual player, I think it's a waste of time to freak out when your team takes a two-star or misses on a four-star. Individual rankings are probably accurate no more than about half the time. But class rankings I would venture to guess are pretty accurate 75% of the time or more.
I think class rankings are important. If you consistently rank in the 40s, if 90% of your classes are two and low-three star kids, your chances of winning big or of being a major conference champion are very low. It happens, but it's the exception that proves the rule. But that doesn't mean that a two or a three-star kid can't become a star.
I think rankings are good as a big picture evaluation tool. The more highly ranked kids you get, the better your class ranking, the better chance you have to be a good team. But on the small scale, as it relates to any individual player, I think rankings are worthless. Five-stars bust and two-stars excel. Happens every year.
So in the big picture, rankings are important. And those that bemoan a class ranked in the low 40s (or two or three in a row), I think you're right and have a point. But as it relates to any individual player, I think it's a waste of time to freak out when your team takes a two-star or misses on a four-star. Individual rankings are probably accurate no more than about half the time. But class rankings I would venture to guess are pretty accurate 75% of the time or more.
