Kenneth Walker, III, of Arlington, TN

[NighthawkVol]

Scored 5 TDs and rushed for 197 yards against Michigan yesterday. He’s a top Heisman candidate.

As a recruit, he was a low 3*, the #2164 player overall, the #143 RB, and the #57 player in Tennessee. He signed with Wake Forest, then transferred to Michigan State.

Sure wish Tennessee had him. This is why you pay coaches to be good evaluators instead of relying on website rankings created by guys who didn’t play the game. And it’s why a “good recruiting class” isn’t decided until it’s played out after 4-5 years.

 

[TAF]

Stop playing revolving door with head coaches for 15 years....win games...and a school will significantly reduce "misses' in recruiting like this.

Meanwhile, there will ALWAYS be a rare "miss" here or there...

Blame the coaches, evaluation services...or God...but it can happen.

 

[JRVOL11]

Literally nobody recruited him really, so everyone missed. The ones who took a loss with him is Wake forest.

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

I didn’t know he was from Arlington, very cool

 

[Zues1]

Not sure what happened at Wake that made him want to leave but currently Wake has their best team ever..

 

[TitanicVolz]

The dealer on 43rd down by the bank looks plenty fast..Had 3 police officers chasing him pass my car few days back and he was SMOKIN those dudes.I mean easy 4.4 speedno sh*t i should have made a video and been his handler Can't believe he ain't got any offers ...Must be grades haha

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

Scored 5 TDs and rushed for 197 yards against Michigan yesterday. He’s a top Heisman candidate.

As a recruit, he was a low 3*, the #2164 player overall, the #143 RB, and the #57 player in Tennessee. He signed with Wake Forest, then transferred to Michigan State.

Sure wish Tennessee had him. This is why you pay coaches to be good evaluators instead of relying on website rankings created by guys who didn’t play the game. And it’s why a “good recruiting class” isn’t decided until it’s played out after 4-5 years.

3* success stories are great and every year the recruiting gurus miss some.


However, they are right far more often than wrong and comsensus 5*s have a very high percentage rate of panning out.

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

3* success stories are great and every year the recruiting gurus miss some.


However, they are right far more often than wrong and comsensus 5*s have a very high percentage rate of panning out.

Almost as if people that get paid to rank recruits know more than random dudes on the internet

 

[NighthawkVol]

Stop playing revolving door with head coaches for 15 years....win games...and a school will significantly reduce "misses' in recruiting like this.

Meanwhile, there will ALWAYS be a rare "miss" here or there...

Blame the coaches, evaluation services...or God...but it can happen.

My point isn’t to point fingers at Tennessee on the “miss.” my point is, let’s not complain about signing guys who may not be highly rated until we actually see how they turn out. Similarly, let’s not celebrate the 4-5 stars until we see how they turn out. Rankings aren’t exact or scientific. They’re opinions (and yes, I realize we live in a country on which a huge swath of the population can’t distinguish opinion from data).

There are some 2-3 star recruits on this roster who look like some of its most promising or best players…Slaughter, Charles, McDonald, Bumphus, Jackson, Hooker, Velus, Payton, Small. And some 4-5 stars recently have been absolute busts…French, Eason, Peterson, and Crouch come to mind.

Point is, let it play out. The 1999 (I think) Miami recruiting class has been hailed as the greatest of all-time. It was ranked 10th or 11th in the country at the time. That’s a pretty bad mis-evaluation. It happens a lot.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Almost as if people that get paid to rank recruits know more than random dudes on the internet

I’ll take an actual coach’s eval over a guy who started a website or “recruiting service.” Especially considering the website guy is ranking generically, while the coach is considering how a player fits his culture and system.

If Tom Lemming were really that great at evaluations, he’d be working for an NFL or college program.

 

[Otis07]

Yes he is a good player, not sure what your complaint is

 

[Tnphil]

Last time I read almost all the teams who played for the BCS Championships over 16 years recruited in the Top 10......And the same that has played in the 4 team playoffs for the past 7 years recruited in the Top 10.....I'd say there is a pattern there.

Yes...there are good 3 stars that will turn out good/great because there are a lot more of them...But IMO if you are going to compete with the top dogs and play for championships you need to recruit in the ballpark with them....

 

[orangemadam]

Would rather have 4 5* players than 10 3 *s. I'll take my chances that we missed on 2 of the 5*

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

The dude is a awesome runner, he for sure has developed. GBO!!!!

 

[volfanhill]

My point isn’t to point fingers at Tennessee on the “miss.” my point is, let’s not complain about signing guys who may not be highly rated until we actually see how they turn out. Similarly, let’s not celebrate the 4-5 stars until we see how they turn out. Rankings aren’t exact or scientific. They’re opinions (and yes, I realize we live in a country on which a huge swath of the population can’t distinguish opinion from data).

There are some 2-3 star recruits on this roster who look like some of its most promising or best players…Slaughter, Charles, McDonald, Bumphus, Jackson, Hooker, Velus, Payton, Small. And some 4-5 stars recently have been absolute busts…French, Eason, Peterson, and Crouch come to mind.

Point is, let it play out. The 1999 (I think) Miami recruiting class has been hailed as the greatest of all-time. It was ranked 10th or 11th in the country at the time. That’s a pretty bad mis-evaluation. It happens a lot.

Your point is tired, old, and unoriginal.

 

[VFLCodyGBO]

Yea, 1 guy is a really good player who wasn’t rated a 5 star, great. It’s not the norm. Keep getting 4 and 5 star talent and offer the occasional 3* with upside. That’s how’s you win national titles.

 

[bpalmer28]

Yes he is a good player, not sure what your complaint is

Every post doesn’t have to be a complaint

 

[GoodlettsvilleVol]

Yes, we did pass on him but...

so did every other SEC team along with countless others.

Late bloomers come on all the time.

I wouldn't knock our evaluating over this one.

 

[stillavol]

My point isn’t to point fingers at Tennessee on the “miss.” my point is, let’s not complain about signing guys who may not be highly rated until we actually see how they turn out. Similarly, let’s not celebrate the 4-5 stars until we see how they turn out. Rankings aren’t exact or scientific. They’re opinions (and yes, I realize we live in a country on which a huge swath of the population can’t distinguish opinion from data).

There are some 2-3 star recruits on this roster who look like some of its most promising or best players…Slaughter, Charles, McDonald, Bumphus, Jackson, Hooker, Velus, Payton, Small. And some 4-5 stars recently have been absolute busts…French, Eason, Peterson, and Crouch come to mind.

Point is, let it play out. The 1999 (I think) Miami recruiting class has been hailed as the greatest of all-time. It was ranked 10th or 11th in the country at the time. That’s a pretty bad mis-evaluation. It happens a lot.

Which of your players are 2 stars? Hooker was a 4 star and the others were 3 stars and many close to being 4 stars.

 

[tennrich1]

So happy for the Arlington kid. They've had several good prospects over the years in several sports. As far as the 3* verses 5* conversation...surely we've beat that horse into submission by now...at least the regulars on this site for any length of time know we have....but carry on...

 

[m1al]

Scored 5 TDs and rushed for 197 yards against Michigan yesterday. He’s a top Heisman candidate.

As a recruit, he was a low 3*, the #2164 player overall, the #143 RB, and the #57 player in Tennessee. He signed with Wake Forest, then transferred to Michigan State.

Sure wish Tennessee had him. This is why you pay coaches to be good evaluators instead of relying on website rankings created by guys who didn’t play the game. And it’s why a “good recruiting class” isn’t decided until it’s played out after 4-5 years.

Not saying Walker isn't good, he may be a "late bloomer". That said, there's much more to MSU than just Walker. I don't think he look as good at UT, also a healthy Evans would probably be feasting on that team.

 

[Doberman]

My point isn’t to point fingers at Tennessee on the “miss.” my point is, let’s not complain about signing guys who may not be highly rated until we actually see how they turn out. Similarly, let’s not celebrate the 4-5 stars until we see how they turn out. Rankings aren’t exact or scientific. They’re opinions (and yes, I realize we live in a country on which a huge swath of the population can’t distinguish opinion from data).

There are some 2-3 star recruits on this roster who look like some of its most promising or best players…Slaughter, Charles, McDonald, Bumphus, Jackson, Hooker, Velus, Payton, Small. And some 4-5 stars recently have been absolute busts…French, Eason, Peterson, and Crouch come to mind.

Point is, let it play out. The 1999 (I think) Miami recruiting class has been hailed as the greatest of all-time. It was ranked 10th or 11th in the country at the time. That’s a pretty bad mis-evaluation. It happens a lot.

Crouch is not a bust.

My son played with Walker for two years in youth football. Ellendale Bears. I could see then that he was D1 talent. He was a tad undersized back when he was 11-12 but on a different level from the other kids. One man wrecking crew.

Back then he was Kenny “Thunder Shoes” Walker.

 

[rocytop2624]

My point isn’t to point fingers at Tennessee on the “miss.” my point is, let’s not complain about signing guys who may not be highly rated until we actually see how they turn out. Similarly, let’s not celebrate the 4-5 stars until we see how they turn out. Rankings aren’t exact or scientific. They’re opinions (and yes, I realize we live in a country on which a huge swath of the population can’t distinguish opinion from data).

There are some 2-3 star recruits on this roster who look like some of its most promising or best players…Slaughter, Charles, McDonald, Bumphus, Jackson, Hooker, Velus, Payton, Small. And some 4-5 stars recently have been absolute busts…French, Eason, Peterson, and Crouch come to mind.

Point is, let it play out. The 1999 (I think) Miami recruiting class has been hailed as the greatest of all-time. It was ranked 10th or 11th in the country at the time. That’s a pretty bad mis-evaluation. It happens a lot.

And also Michigan state was awful they went to the portal and got some players that's what Heupel needs to do.

 

[Tnphil]

And also Michigan state was awful they went to the portal and got some players that's what Heupel needs to do.

Yep...and get the right transfers.

 

[onevol74]

Almost as if people that get paid to rank recruits know more than random dudes on the internet

People who get paid to rank recruits get paid to name drop. Nothing else. I have seen too many 5 star bust to think any differently. Also it is funny when a 3 star visits Alabama and suddenly becomes a high 4 or low 5.

How many 5 stars do you think Michigan State or Wake Forest have on their rosters vs Clemson.