I posted this a few pages back. Clemson's Average Star Rankings Per Recruiting Class Scout 2002 -- 2.85 (#35) 2003 -- 2.83 (#24) 2004 -- 2.26 (#46) 2005 -- 2.96 (#22) 2006 -- 3.20 (#21) 2007 -- 3.13 (#26) 2008 -- 3.35 (#15) Rivals 2002 -- 3.04 (#29) 2003 -- 2.82 (#32) 2004 -- 2.38 (#50) 2005 -- 3.08 (#19) 2006 -- 3.40 (#14) 2007 -- 3.22 (#18) 2008 -- 3.42 (#12)
I don't think these are always the best indicator of pure overall talent. I need to look at some of the last couple of drafts to see the overall talent level. The NFL talent evaluators are the ones I trust more than these recruiting gurus.
Here is an excellent article on how star ranking convert to the NFL draft that concludes "recruitings ranking really do matter." http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/13422/nfl-stars-how-recruiting-translates-to-the-draft
Now just looking at the Tigers in the pros from both schools' website. LSU has 11 defenders (not including practice squad or inactives) and Clemson has 11 defenders in the pros as well. I would say as far as defensively the two teams have similar talent levels. If you consider both sides of the ball, LSU has the advantage. We have a lot of skill position players in the last couple of years, but in the past prior to Saban and Miles we put a lot more impact type OL of Faneca and Mawae.
The thing about looking at the NFL is you have to somehow factor in the college coaches development of them as compared to what they started out from in high school. With a lower ranking from high school, it can show how the coaches are better at developing talent. Of course its all subjective...
Here is Clemson's draft history: http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?abbr=C&collegeName=Clemson&abbrFlag=0&type=school VK came to Clemson for the 2005 season, which was after the 2005 NFL Draft. Here are the defensive guys that got drafted that played for VK: 2009 ???? 2008 2nd Round DE (Rivals 3-star) Philip Merling 2007 1st Round DE (Rivals 3-star) Gaines Adam 3rd Round LB (Rivals 3-star) Anthony Waters 5th Round S (Rivals 3-star) CJ Gaddis 2006 1st Round CB Tye Hill 7th Round DE Charles Bennett
You can't just compare the best 11 players from each team the last 5 or 6 years. Like I said Clemsom gets some talented individuals but over all talent from top to bottom each year there is no comparison.
