plaidtiger Wrote:http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/.../marists_taylor.html
Quote:Stephenson’s Route changing directions?
Stephenson cornerback Destin Route appears to be on the verge of backing out of his commitment with Marshall.
“I’m leaning toward Memphis,” Route said late Wednesday. “I like Memphis a lot. I’m trying to get in touch with them.
“And I’ve got another couple of options like Southern Miss.”
Route admitted that he hasn’t communicated with the Marshall coaching staff recently. He went on to say he’s been in touch with a recruiting coach at Memphis to make the Tigers aware of his interest.
“I plan on going to some of the games at Memphis this fall,” Route said.
“I’m not decommitting with Marshall yet. Let’s just say I’m a soft verbal.”
5'8"...that's pretty short for a corner...4.4 speed though...that's not bad
He wants to play ball here give him a scholly.
4.4 speed. and he is just a 2 star?
it would seem that a true 4.4 speed would be ranked higher.
maybe idaho or someone else who follows recruiting closely could explain this.
roachman48 Wrote:4.4 speed. and he is just a 2 star?
it would seem that a true 4.4 speed would be ranked higher.
maybe idaho or someone else who follows recruiting closely could explain this.
roachman48,
These comments are just my personal opinion, so feel free to disagree with them.
1. Fans have been arguing with the reruiting services for decades over stars, 40 times, and the like.
2. Being fast doesn't make a player good at covering receivers. He might just be running faster to the wrong place. Ability to change direction and move your feet are often bigger factors. Size doesn't necessarily help you, either, although it can. But lack of size can make a tougher to cover tall receivers. Recruiting services certainly don't do enough to measure change of direction skills, foot and hand movement, football instincts, and "football speed".
3. The circumstances under which these 40 times are being recorded is also hotly disputed. Was the recruiting analyst running the watch? The high-school coach? The kid's father? A technician from Boeing? A street person living in a Sony TV box down the street? Where was it done? Was the field frozen, muddy, or in good condition? Was the wind blowing? Under scientifically controlled conditions? Etc. etc. Some say that unless the times are being recorded indoors under scientifically controlled conditions that they're basically useless. I don't necessarily agree with that; I think there's a difference between "track speed" and "football speed". Running a good 40 time on a muddy field and showing good closing speed so you can be in position to make a play can reveal a lot.
One other thing: in most of the major recruiting services, they give one star if they've haven't evaluated a player, and two if they have. Some of them see a two-star as being a back-up player in his conference, a three-star as a solid contributor, and the four- and five-stars as All-Conference and All-American types. There is huge disagreement among coaches, fans, recruiting services, and the media in general over this policy.
This particular kid is from a powerhouse Georgia HS program, and it sounds as if he is looking to get more offers. Whether he has a 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 or whatever, coaches are still going to be looking at his football instincts and productivity, along with things like attitude and coachabilty. Like anyone selling someone on his abilities, it certainly doesn't hurt to mention the speed; you have to emphasize your best qualities. It's just that coaches and the recruiting services are not going to be very impressed by that alone.
![[Image: 104-03626.jpg]](http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g175/hhcougar/104-03626.jpg)
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IdahoTiger Wrote:[quote=roachman48]
4.4 speed. and he is just a 2 star?
it would seem that a true 4.4 speed would be ranked higher.
maybe idaho or someone else who follows recruiting closely could explain this.
2. Being fast doesn't make a player good at covering receivers. He might just be running faster to the wrong place. Ability to change direction and move your feet are often bigger factors. Size doesn't necessarily help you, either, although it can. But lack of size can make a tougher to cover tall receivers. Recruiting services certainly don't do enough to measure change of direction skills, foot and hand movement, football instincts, and "football speed".
3. The circumstances under which these 40 times are being recorded is also hotly disputed. Was the recruiting analyst running the watch? The high-school coach? The kid's father? A technician from Boeing? A street person living in a Sony TV box down the street? Where was it done? Was the field frozen, muddy, or in good condition? Was the wind blowing? Under scientifically controlled conditions? Etc. etc. Some say that unless the times are being recorded indoors under scientifically controlled conditions that they're basically useless. I don't necessarily agree with that; I think there's a difference between "track speed" and "football speed". Running a good 40 time on a muddy field and showing good closing speed so you can be in position to make a play can reveal a lot.
So true on both 2 and 3 Idaho. I ran 4.4 to 4.5 and even a couple of 4.3 40s. But I was 5'7 and 125. All my speed was straight ahead. I had no lateral moves and my start-stop time was not great. I played with a kid a year younger who ran the same speed but he had all the other tools to go along with it. That's why he got the ball more than I did and I specialized as a Dback.