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Justin Jefferson always had it

Posted on 1/12/20 at 9:16 pm
Posted by easy money
Member since Feb 2005
15035 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 9:16 pm
If you don’t know, ratings are based on exposure (Younger the better...camps, visits, etc.). Justin Jefferson was great his whole high school career for one of the best offenses in the state. Here’s the deal, he camped at LSU. I don’t think he participated in a camp outside of the state. He shredded 4 and 5 star DB’s at several LSU camps. Speed, hands, jumping all measure above average and route running and agility has always been elite. You have to continue to drive and fuel yourself in a lot of ways, but I guarantee you Justin never doubted his ability for a second. I don’t think JJ ever bought it and the National recruiting rankings are lazy. There will always be countless examples like him.
This post was edited on 1/12/20 at 9:18 pm
Posted by Sluuuu
Boston
Member since Sep 2018
367 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 9:26 pm to
In fairness, the 'Cinderella' stories always will stand out in someone's mind. Statistically 4 & 5 star rated players have SIGNIFICANTLY better careers

We are very happy to have JJ our team though obviously

Also, some players just develop more late in their careers and there is nothing wrong with that
Posted by Chalkywhite84
New orleans
Member since Dec 2016
33717 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 9:27 pm to
I mean I agree with you
Grades were his problem
Same as players this year
Posted by easy money
Member since Feb 2005
15035 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 9:30 pm to
Yeah, he didn’t qualify academically until June. He signed about as soon after that as humanly possible. That also has a lot to do with rankings because they don’t want their reputation to take a hit for a kid who never qualifies.
Posted by LSUTiger2020
Member since Jan 2020
343 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 9:31 pm to
Correct! Don't know if you read the article where they asked the recruiters why they missed on Jefferson so bad. One "reason" they gave was "academic issues". Also, they mentioned that they assumed he would go to LSU. Psst, recruiting guys, you know right that NEITHER of those should matter in rating a guy. If he doesn't consider Alabama or whatever, he shouldn't be dropped. Unless his grades affect his talent, that shouldn't matter either. If he qualifies, he qualifies. Both of those EXCUSES were nonsense...just making up stuff to cover their asses on poor talent evaluation.
Posted by easy money
Member since Feb 2005
15035 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 9:34 pm to
I didn’t read the article. I don’t have any of those subscriptions anymore, but I look at rankings and go watch high school games and camps still.

7 on 7 camps are becoming big as well.
Posted by LSUTiger2020
Member since Jan 2020
343 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 9:37 pm to
Free article on 247. LINK
Posted by easy money
Member since Feb 2005
15035 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 9:39 pm to
They spent no time covering him. I can tell you, if they ever saw him in person, it would have been different. They do this a lot because there are just so many kids out there. Go to one camp and you would have seen him abuse kids or one high school game.

Without seeing kids in person, it’s hard to evaluate them accurately. I also think there are a lot of guys involved who don’t know how to really evaluate talent. It’s easy to just go by offer list, speed, size, etc.
Posted by easy money
Member since Feb 2005
15035 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 9:40 pm to
Cool, didn’t realize it was free. I’m from Destrehan so I know the coaches still and a lot of the families there.
Posted by LSUTiger2020
Member since Jan 2020
343 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 9:42 pm to
Well, I pretty much summarized it. Near the end of the article that one recruiter admitted that some guys just fall through the cracks and Jefferson was one of them. At least he admitted they screwed the pooch on him.
Posted by smash williams
San Diego
Member since Apr 2009
20906 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 10:26 pm to
Posted by arcalades
USA
Member since Feb 2014
19276 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 10:30 pm to
pretty informative excerpt


quote:

From the industry perspective, it’s important to remember our goal is to evaluate and rank FBS prospects,” Simmons said. “Within that process, if a kid is not being offered by colleges, be that for grades, off the field or him not being good enough, we’re rarely going to take the time to dig into what he is as a prospect. I kind of remember the name Justin Jefferson, because he was Jordan Jefferson’s younger brother. But because he was a guy with almost no recruiting interest to speak of, he was just a guy, at least from my vantage point, that we never dug into.”
Posted by easy money
Member since Feb 2005
15035 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 10:42 pm to
quote:

Good pickup. The kid can play...this late in the game, he's a kid that can add depth and realistically play in a couple of years for the tigers...that's pretty big.


Cool. This is what I posted years ago about JJ in that topic. Pretty funny to go back and read those comments.
Posted by coonasswhodat
Gonzales, Louisiana
Member since Dec 2013
4112 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 11:04 pm to
My bad
This post was edited on 1/12/20 at 11:07 pm
Posted by tFearIsReal
Death Valley
Member since Sep 2015
2605 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 11:09 pm to
I remember when he was a junior, a poster on here was talking about upcoming prospects and said he was going to be the best Jefferson. He was definitely well-respected by people who saw him play.
Posted by GumboPot
Member since Mar 2009
138911 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 11:23 pm to
Wasn’t he hurt his senior year and missed a lot of playing time? That with the grades and only camping at LSU, he flew way under the radar.
Posted by BayouBengal99
Crowley
Member since Oct 2007
9308 posts
Posted on 1/12/20 at 11:27 pm to
This happens more often than one would think or care to admit. If we had the resources and time to do it, LSU really could go into Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, find a class full of these type of players and field a championship team with them. These types of players would be more willing to take RS’s and take to coaching as well.

Of course LSU doesn’t need to do that. We can go get the best athletes in the country and field a championship team with those guys instead. But when LSU does spot these guys and they sign here it’s best to support the staff and trust what they see instead of doubting everyone of them. Sure we might miss on 1 or 2 but that can happen with any recruit not just the under the radar guys.

I think it’s more gratifying for a team and a prospect when he’s doubted or not looked at as a highly rated guy when they surpass all expectations. These guys tend to play with a chip as well. What’s great is when you can have even the highly rated athletes working hard as if they were overlooked or you have those 5* guys always wanting to get better even if they’re considered the best. Boy that’s when you field a truly special team and likely win multiple championships.

That will be our coaching staffs challenge going forward. That’s what will separate the men from the boys. Doing this consistently with elite players and or underrated players. I think they can do it. Go Tigers!!!
Posted by Tiger Ree
Houston
Member since Jun 2004
24563 posts
Posted on 1/13/20 at 6:34 am to
quote:

Grades were his problem


Yeah, that's what they say but I call bullshite.

Ty'kieast Crawford is a grades risk and he is a .9153 rated 4-star and the 19th overall OT.

Do grades not affect his rating? Or would he be the #1 player in the country if they thought he would qualify?



2017: Justin Jefferson
247Sports Composite Rankings: No. 308 WR, No. 2,164 overall prospect, No. 76 in Louisiana
Posted by TigerStripes30
Alexandria, LA
Member since Dec 2011
6401 posts
Posted on 1/13/20 at 6:36 am to
quote:

I mean I agree with you
Grades were his problem
Same as players this year




So i get grades may be his problem...but i dont see how this would affect his Star Grade on the field...if the star ratings are based on the field it doesnt matter what your grades are in school...unless they do take account for grades in the class room
Posted by Tiger Ree
Houston
Member since Jun 2004
24563 posts
Posted on 1/13/20 at 6:40 am to
quote:

That also has a lot to do with rankings because they don’t want their reputation to take a hit for a kid who never qualifies.


If a kid doesn't qualify, he doesn't qualify and everyone knows it. It looks bad for their reputation when they rate a guy

2017: Justin Jefferson
247Sports Composite Rankings: No. 308 WR, No. 2,164 overall prospect, No. 76 in Louisiana

And he does this in his junior year.

102 receptions 1,434 yards 14.1 average 18 TDs


They need to concentrate on grading HS players based on their talent ONLY and not try to determine how they are doing in the classroom and whether they will qualify or not.
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