Will Claussen be the top player according to Rivals, Scout

[loweND]

Got to thinking last night, and I have a feeling that the recruiting services will probably rank other players higher than Claussen. For two reasons:

1) Because he's so hyped up, choosing him might make it seems as though they're just going along with what everybody else is saying, but choosing another player will make it look like they were able to see through all the hype.

2) Because he's already committed to ND.

I have a feeling Austin will be #1 and Claussen will be in the top five. Austin makes a lot of sense as the top guy. After all, he'll probably wait until signing day and he has a long list of favourites.

 

[SillyIrish]

LND you may very well be right, but he will definately be the #1 QB barring injury or a poor season, and I doubt he will have a poor season. IMO these rankings are way overrated and shouldn'g be taken too seriously, although it is nice to be able to say you got the number one guy. A few years ago Rivals had Ernie Simms rated number one followed by Reggie Bush and we all know how that turned out.

 

[jiggafini19]

Also consider Chris Leak and some WR Mike Mason were rated ahead of Mario Williams in the state or North Carolina.

Tight ends rated ahead of Vernon Davis included Tony Hills Jr (Texas), Greg Olsen (ND/Miami) and Louis Irizarry (Ohio State).

This stuff isn't exact science, but they get it pretty close. Ernie Sims was a stud on both sides of the ball in high school and he'll play every down on defense in the NFL as he did in college. Reggie Bush will get plays off just as he did at USC.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

LND you may very well be right, but he will definately be the #1 QB barring injury or a poor season, and I doubt he will have a poor season. IMO these rankings are way overrated and shouldn'g be taken too seriously, although it is nice to be able to say you got the number one guy. A few years ago Rivals had Ernie Simms rated number one followed by Reggie Bush and we all know how that turned out.

yup...both Top 10 picks in the 06' NFL draft

not to shabby

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

I don't think he'll be number 1 because there is a bias against ND. It's not just bitching, it's really true this time. They want to keep subscribers happy and if that means giving Clausen a small nudge down to #2, they'll do it.

From the videos i've seen of Clausen and Austin, Clausen comes off far more impressive, which isn't saying so much about Austin's talents as it Clausen's. He's really that good.

 

[SillyIrish]

I know where Sims was drafted but if you look at college careers I think you would prefer Bush coming out of high school. The point is it really doesn't matter where some paid service ranks players, if Austin is number 1 and JC is number 2, but JC wins a heisman trophy is it a big deal that Austin was #1.

 

[jiggafini19]

You are correct, though, without question. These overall rankings don't mean much. I'd rather group guys that play the same position and evaluate from there.

Position rankings are far more valuable. LenDale White was 9th and Lawrence Maroney 18the behind Bush in the 2003 RB rankings. When SC went for it on 4th down against Texas and the game on the line, White got the ball. Maroney has carried the load in college and is capable of doing so in the NFL. All of them fit into the systems they committed to and thus were able to be first round draft choices.

Who knows whatever happened to some of the others. Maybe they switched positions, got injured or fell into trouble with the law. No way for the pay sites to predict that. They do what they do and you take from it what you will.

 

[irishfox]

I personally don't care where Jimmy is ranked, he is coming to ND and that's all that matters. On players and rankings, I trust CW is going to get the best players he feels will help win the NC not the best players at a given position. I really don't think having a squad of superstars is going to produce come Saturdays compared to a team of players willing to give everything they have day in and day out. Look at the the Lakers of a few years ago with Shaq, Kobe, the Mailman and the glove and compare them to the Pistons. The Lakers have proven that big names don't win games teamwork does.
Also, I dont know about anyone else but I could careless where players are drafted. I love Saturday football a lot more that Sunday football.

 

[stan5545]

I feel ya on that note, it's all about Saturdays when it comes to football. I used to never watch college football, but when I saw the emotion and intensity I got hooked. The kids love to play, and I love watching it.

 

[jiggafini19]

Look at the the Lakers of a few years ago with Shaq, Kobe, the Mailman and the glove and compare them to the Pistons. The Lakers have proven that big names don't win games teamwork does.

I think a comparison to college football is Florida State. They annually grab these top flight kids and lately they haven't been as successful. Think of all the factors that would go into the success of a college football team:

Attitude, coaching, scheme, schedule, injuries...that's just a handful.

You bring these guys in and hope for the best. 4-5 years is a long time. Anything can happen. Two years ago, were we to have counted on Joey Hiben making the decision he did?

 

[Indydomer]

I personally don't care where Jimmy is ranked, he is coming to ND and that's all that matters.

Exactly

 

[Indydomer]

There was someone on Jim Rome the other day that was talking about Clausen, cant remember his name, but he said that Jimmy works out 4 times a week at Golds Gym. He said that Jimmy is really working hard to come in a start for four years and go pro from there. Sounds promising fellas.