A stroll down recruiting lane.....

[fpsduck]

I was bored and was looking at past Oregon classes....2002 was as far back as scout listed.

Anyway, I was amazed at the combination of players.....all of Oregon's signees were either unranked or 4-5 stars.


http://oregon.scout.com/a.z?s=128&p=9&c ... 32&yr=2002

[fpsduck]

Outside of Ngata and Solomona (both 5*), the unranked guys were far bigger contributors to the team.

4* Kellen Taylor = bust
4*Albert Toeaina = 3* would have been more fitting
4* James Finley = very disappointing senior season
4* Marques Binns = bench warmer to unranked Gipson
4* David Dixon = bust


From the Unranked:

Aaron Gipson
Terrence Whitehead
Enoka Lucas
Anthony Trucks
J. D. Nelson
Matt Toeaina
Junior Siavii

[pudgejeff]

Ummmm...not to be rude or anything...But Kellen Taylor was not a bust...he was great his junior year and then broke his wrist his senior year yet still went out and worked hard on special teams for us...James Finley was nowhere dissapointing...Albert Toenia never came here and was more of a 5* instead of more of a 3* star as he ended up as and AA tackle at Tennessee and a first day draft pick. And Marquess Binns transferred.

[fpsduck]

Ummmm...not to be rude or anything...But Kellen Taylor was not a bust...he was great his junior year and then broke his wrist his senior year yet still went out and worked hard on special teams for us...James Finley was nowhere dissapointing...Albert Toenia never came here and was more of a 5* instead of more of a 3* star as he ended up as and AA tackle at Tennessee and a first day draft pick. And Marquess Binns transferred.

Finley had 137 yards receiving his senior year.

KT.......injuries are part of the game. He didn't perform to his rankings.

Binns may have transferred, but he was backing up Gipson before he left (possibly why he transferred?).

While Binns gained experience during his three years at Oregon, it didn't always translate into more playing time. The Los Angeles native often struggled in man-to-man coverage and spent most of his time in a reserve role.

Toeaina, my bad.


I think you missed my point though.........some of the best recruits are the guys that no one has heard of.

[NCDucks09]

The 2002 recruiting class followed the 2001 Season's success. Just like the great 2008 recruiting class followed the success of the 2007 Season's success.

Which kind of makes me wonder, because Oregon had a pretty decent season this year, but the recruiting class isn't spectacular. However, we didn't get big time national hype like we did in '01 or '07.

[duckgrad99]

Taylor was a bust. The unranked from that list definitely outperformed the 4 star guys.

[fpsduck]

The 2002 recruiting class followed the 2001 Season's success. Just like the great 2008 recruiting class followed the success of the 2007 Season's success.

Which kind of makes me wonder, because Oregon had a pretty decent season this year, but the recruiting class isn't spectacular. However, we didn't get big time national hype like we did in '01 or '07.

It almost seems like 2008's success is pouring over into 2010 recruiting rather than 2009. I know it's early to be claiming 2010 as a great recruiting year, but all signs point to it.....



We can still rally on Feb 4th.

*crosses fingers

[Pontius]

Kellen Taylor I believe was either booted off the team, flunked out, or quit. He definitely didn't end his career in stand-up fashion.

[maxduck]

"Taylor was a bust. The unranked from that list definitely outperformed the 4 star guys."

And yet when a kid like Arden Taylor commits fans question the ability and judgment of our coaches.

I think 10 win seasons with a bunch on 2 and 3 star recruits: (a) demonstrates the weakness and bias of the recruiting sites and (b) reflects very well on the Oregon staff.

[ivegottabigduck]

Finley had more then the injury bug against him. Dixon and Leaf weren't exactly lighting it up that year.

[pudgejeff]

Did you guys that are bashing those players actually watch those seasons? Or are you just looking at the stats...Finley and Taylor were both very good as Juniors and then we're injury plagued there senior season...And Marquess Binns was thrown to the sharks with Aaron Gipson as true freshman as starting corners and both got torn up...It set them both way back...Binns transferred and it took Gipson until very late in his career to recover and regain confidence...And yes I will agree that those lower ranked players did some amazing things here...I wasn't trying to take away from that at all...Just trying to make sure you didn't take way from the players you were seeming throwing under the bus as busts without truly knowing.

[slammer]

I miss terrence Whitehead, he was a playmaker!! Lets bring him into coach the Duck RB's!!!

[akili1133]

Ummmm...not to be rude or anything...But Kellen Taylor was not a bust...he was great his junior year and then broke his wrist his senior year yet still went out and worked hard on special teams for us...James Finley was nowhere dissapointing...Albert Toenia never came here and was more of a 5* instead of more of a 3* star as he ended up as and AA tackle at Tennessee and a first day draft pick. And Marquess Binns transferred.

Kellen Taylor was kicked off the team. Had potential but was a head case. He never made it to a senior season.

[EggbertSouse]

The 2002 recruiting class followed the 2001 Season's success. Just like the great 2008 recruiting class followed the success of the 2007 Season's success.

Which kind of makes me wonder, because Oregon had a pretty decent season this year, but the recruiting class isn't spectacular. However, we didn't get big time national hype like we did in '01 or '07.

It almost seems like 2008's success is pouring over into 2010 recruiting rather than 2009. I know it's early to be claiming 2010 as a great recruiting year, but all signs point to it.....



We can still rally on Feb 4th.

*crosses fingers

I remember a discussion after our Fiesta Bowl win and the conclusion from the recruiting experts was that a great year of football means a good recruit class the next year. Most good recruits make their decisions early. Look at the start we have on 2010.

I don't remember ever having so many top tier recruits committed to us or seriously considering the Ducks. Is my perception correct?

[fpsduck]

Did you guys that are bashing those players actually watch those seasons? Or are you just looking at the stats...Finley and Taylor were both very good as Juniors and then we're injury plagued there senior season...And Marquess Binns was thrown to the sharks with Aaron Gipson as true freshman as starting corners and both got torn up...It set them both way back...Binns transferred and it took Gipson until very late in his career to recover and regain confidence...And yes I will agree that those lower ranked players did some amazing things here...I wasn't trying to take away from that at all...Just trying to make sure you didn't take way from the players you were seeming throwing under the bus as busts without truly knowing.

Yes, I've been watching Oregon football for 30+ years........

The point of this thread isn't to necessarily bash anyone. My point is that a lot of fans on this site seem to think we need to sign all of these 4-5 star guys to succeed....when the unranked and 3 star guys often become better players at the college level. In other words, recruiting rankings aren't THAT accurate.