I'm not concerned about the semantics of the rankings (I pulled the top Google hit and ran with it: https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/analysis/nfl-top-100-list/), as any top 100 list will have variations, but I figured this would give me a decent overview of what I wanted to see, which is, "Where were the top 100 NFL players ranked as HS recruits?". Obviously, this is just for shits and grins - all these kids/players develop differently and some bloom much later than others. This was just for fun - I'm one of those who isn't all that concerned with how a player is rated as a HS recruit and I'm ALL FOR a coaching staff that can identify players that fit their scheme well and that can project a recruit's development in their program to maximize their REAL rating.
Here's the breakdown of the results (using Rivals' rankings):
NR - 8
4.9 2* (apparently this used to be a ranking) - 3
5.0 2* - 0
5.1 2* - 0
5.2 2* - 4
5.3 2* - 1
5.4 2* - 5
TOTAL NUMBER OF 2* AND BELOW RECRUITS: 21
5.5 3* - 8
5.6 3* - 8
5.7 3* - 8 (I included Aaron Rodgers here, as he was rated a 3* recruit by Rivals, but didn't receive a numerical 5.5, 5.6, 5.7 rating)
TOTAL NUMBER OF 3* RECRUITS: 24
5.8 4* - 10
5.9 4* - 14
6.0 4* - 11
TOTAL NUMBER OF 4* RECRUITS: 35
6.1 5* - 20
TOTAL NUMBER OF 5* RECRUITS: 20
Here's the breakdown of the results (using Rivals' rankings):
NR - 8
4.9 2* (apparently this used to be a ranking) - 3
5.0 2* - 0
5.1 2* - 0
5.2 2* - 4
5.3 2* - 1
5.4 2* - 5
TOTAL NUMBER OF 2* AND BELOW RECRUITS: 21
5.5 3* - 8
5.6 3* - 8
5.7 3* - 8 (I included Aaron Rodgers here, as he was rated a 3* recruit by Rivals, but didn't receive a numerical 5.5, 5.6, 5.7 rating)
TOTAL NUMBER OF 3* RECRUITS: 24
5.8 4* - 10
5.9 4* - 14
6.0 4* - 11
TOTAL NUMBER OF 4* RECRUITS: 35
6.1 5* - 20
TOTAL NUMBER OF 5* RECRUITS: 20
- Patrick Mahomes – 5.7 3* - Texas Tech
- Justin Jefferson – 5.2 2* - LSU
- Jalen Hurts – 5.8 4* - Alabama
- Nick Bosa – 6.1 5* - Ohio State
- Travis Kelce – 5.2 2* - Cincinnati
- Joe Burrow – 5.6 3* - Ohio State
- Tyreek Hill – 5.9 4* - Oklahoma State
- Josh Allen – 5.4 2* - Wyoming
- Micah Parsons – 6.1 5* - Penn State
- Chris Jones – 6.1 5* - Mississippi State
- Aaron Donald – 5.7 3* - Pittsburgh
- Josh Jacobs – 5.6 3* - Alabama
- Davante Adams – 5.3 2* - Fresno State
- Trent Williams – 5.7 3* - Oklahoma
- Fred Warner – 5.8 4* - BYU
- Stefon Diggs – 6.1 5* - Maryland
- Maxx Crosby – 5.2 2* - Eastern Michigan
- Minkah Fitzpatrick – 6.1 5* - Alabama
- George Kittle – 5.5 3* - Iowa
- Myles Garrett – 6.1 5* - Texas A&M
- Austin Ekeler - NR
- AJ Brown – 6.0 4* - Mississippi
- Sauce Gardner – 5.5 3* - Cincinnati
- Roquan Smith – 5.9 4* - Georgia
- Derrick Henry – 6.0 4* - Alabama
- Jaire Alexander – 5.6 3* - Louisville
- TJ Watt – 5.6 3* - Wisconsin
- Dexter Lawrence – 6.1 5* - Clemson
- Nick Chubb – 6.0 4* - Georgia
- Derwin James – 6.1 5* - FSU
- Saquon Barkley – 5.9 4* - Penn State
- Justin Herbert – 5.6 3* - Oregon
- Matthew Judon – NR
- CeeDee Lamb – 6.0 4* - Oklahoma
- Christian McCaffrey – 5.9 4* - Stanford
- Jalen Ramsey – 6.1 5* - FSU
- Jason Kelce – NR
- Khalil Mack – 4.9 2* - Buffalo
- Ja’Marr Chase – 6.0 4* - LSU
- Quinnen Williams – 5.9 4* - Alabama
- Lane Johnson – NR
- Kirk Cousins – 5.5 3* - Michigan State
- Demario Davis – 4.9 2* - Arkansas State
- Jaylen Waddle – 6.1 5* - Alabama
- Cameron Heyward – 5.9 4* - Ohio State
- CJ Mosley – 5.9 4* - Alabama
- Cooper Kupp – NR
- Haason Reddick – NR
- Patrick Surtain II – 6.1 5* - Alabama
- Cameron Jordan – 5.2 2* - Navy
- Aaron Rodgers – 3* (no numerical rating on Rivals) - California
- Jonathan Allen – 6.1 5* - Alabama
- Mike Evans – 5.5 3* - Texas A&M
- Brian Burns – 6.0 4* - FSU
- Tony Pollard – 5.4 2* - Memphis
- Dak Prescott – 5.6 3* - Mississippi State
- Jordan Poyer – 5.4 2* - Oregon State
- Jeffery Simmons – 6.1 5* - Mississippi State
- Juston Simmons – 5.6 3* - Boston College
- Trevon Diggs – 5.9 4* - Alabama
- Deebo Samuel – 5.7 3* - South Carolina
- Bobby Wagner – 4.9 2* - Utah State
- Grady Jarrett – 5.5 3* - Clemson
- Aaron Jones – 5.4 2* - UTEP
- Darius Slay – 5.5 3* - Mississippi State
- Jared Goff – 5.9 4* - California
- Amon-Ra St. Brown – 6.1 5* - USC
- Zack Martin – NR
- Matt Milano – 5.7 3* - Boston College
- Joey Bosa – 6.0 4* - Ohio State
- DeForest Buckner – 5.8 4* - Oregon
- Lamar Jackson – 5.8 4* - Louisville
- Budda Baker – 6.0 4* - Washington
- Garrett Wilson – 6.0 4* - Ohio State
- Trey Hendrickson – 5.4 2* - Florida Atlantic
- Tariq Woolen 5.5 3* - UTSA
- Geno Smith – 5.9 4* - Alabama
- Talanoa Hufanga – 5.9 4* - USC
- Dre Greenlaw – 5.7 3* - Arkansas
- Mark Andrews – 5.8 4* - Oklahoma
- Christian Wilkins – 6.1 5* - Clemson
- Tua Tagovailoa – 6.0 4* - Alabama
- Terron Armstead – NR
- Za’Darius Smith – 5.8 4* - Kentucky
- Laremy Tunsil – 6.1 5* - Mississippi
- Justin Fields – 6.1 5* - Georgia
- Chris Lindstrom – 5.5 3* - Boston College
- Aidan Hutchinson – 5.9 4* - Michigan
- Marshon Lattimore – 5.9 4* - Ohio State
- Deandre Hopkins – 5.8 4* - Clemson
- Dalvin Cook – 6.1 5* - FSU
- Marlon Humphrey – 6.1 5* - Alabama
- Eric Kendricks – 5.6 3* - UCLA
- Terry McLaurin – 5.8 4* - Ohio State
- Jamaal Williams – 5.5 3* - BYU
- Trevor Lawrence – 6.1 5* - Clemson
- Harrison Smith – 5.8 4* - Notre Dame
- Tristan Wirfs – 5.8 4* - Iowa
- Demarcus Lawrence – 5.7 3* - Boise State
- DeVonta Smith – 6.0 4* - Alabama
