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re: HOF level players that slipped through the cracks in big time college recruiting?
Posted on 7/6/26 at 8:19 am to FAT SEXY
Posted on 7/6/26 at 8:19 am to FAT SEXY
Marshall Faulk
quote:
Faulk was heavily recruited by several major colleges, but due to his standout performance on defense, most of them recruited him to play the cornerback position. However, Faulk strongly desired to play the running back position in college. "I didn't love playing cornerback, so I knew I wouldn't be as successful in that position," Faulk told Sports Illustrated Kids. "You have to really love what you do to be a star." Ultimately he accepted an athletic scholarship to attend San Diego State University, because they were the first team to offer him a scholarship to play running back.
This post was edited on 7/6/26 at 8:23 am
0
Posted on 7/6/26 at 8:35 am to FAT SEXY
Jerry Rice
Posted on 7/6/26 at 8:36 am to 0
quote:
Brett Favre went to USM to play safety
Favre ran the wishbone in high school and very rarely threw the ball. His dad was his HS coach and knew his son had major arm talent, but still ran the wishbone because they had a good FB and good option RB but a poor defense (apart from Favre). He basically chose team success over promoting his son, which I suppose is somewhat admirable.
Fortunately, a local S. Miss assistant saw him throwing in practice and said, "holy crap".
.
Posted on 7/6/26 at 8:48 am to FAT SEXY
John Stallworth, HOF 2002. He was from Tuscaloosa and went to Tuscaloosa Central high school. Granted he would have been at Alabama only a year or two after they integrated, and he went to Alabama A&M, but what a miss.
The NFL almost missed him as well. The only time Stallworth was looked at by scouts was on a rainy day. His 40 time wasn't great and with the rain, catching the ball was tough. Bill Nunn, the Steelers scout hung around an extra day because he didn't like scouting players in the rain and was the only one left from the day before. Once he got the 40 time on a dry day and saw Stallworth catch, he acquired all the game film of him to ensure that it couldn't be released to any other team. Because of that no team had interest and the Steelers took Stallworth in the 4th round.
The NFL almost missed him as well. The only time Stallworth was looked at by scouts was on a rainy day. His 40 time wasn't great and with the rain, catching the ball was tough. Bill Nunn, the Steelers scout hung around an extra day because he didn't like scouting players in the rain and was the only one left from the day before. Once he got the 40 time on a dry day and saw Stallworth catch, he acquired all the game film of him to ensure that it couldn't be released to any other team. Because of that no team had interest and the Steelers took Stallworth in the 4th round.
Posted on 7/6/26 at 8:51 am to FAT SEXY
Calvin Johnson ended up at a program running the option still
Posted on 7/6/26 at 9:06 am to Tiger in NY
marshal faulk
Posted on 7/6/26 at 9:06 am to Tiger in NY
quote:
Calvin Johnson ended up at a program running the option still
He was rated as the #5 overall receiver nationally and #1 player in GA coming out of high school. He was a 5 star on scout and a 4 star on Rivals. He didn't slip through the cracks. He had offers from a lot of big programs, including Georgia. He said he didn't enjoy his visit at UGA. He also grew up just south of Atlanta
Posted on 7/6/26 at 9:06 am to FAT SEXY
Kevin Greene was a walk-on at Auburn and ended up a HOFer.
Also, close to Auburn. Both Osi Umenyiora and Demarcus Ware were at Auburn High School at the same time and ended up playing at Troy. Osi became a 2x Pro Bowler and 2x Super Bowl Champion. Demarcus Ware won a Super Bowl and is in the Hall of Fame.
Can you imagine missing these two guys at the same time in your backyard? Ooooof! Of course other teams missed as well.
Also, close to Auburn. Both Osi Umenyiora and Demarcus Ware were at Auburn High School at the same time and ended up playing at Troy. Osi became a 2x Pro Bowler and 2x Super Bowl Champion. Demarcus Ware won a Super Bowl and is in the Hall of Fame.
Can you imagine missing these two guys at the same time in your backyard? Ooooof! Of course other teams missed as well.
Posted on 7/6/26 at 9:16 am to teke184
quote:
According to lore, he only got that scholarship because a different player pulled out of signing with that school. That player was Maherbashazza Ali (spelling likely butchered), the Best Actor winner.
Sorta true Mahershala Ali actually played for two years … Nash was his teammate
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:02 am to H-Town Tiger
quote:
This thread essentially assumes players are born as great players..
"Maybe he flourished late"
Already covered that with one simple sentence in the OP, playa
This post was edited on 7/6/26 at 11:03 am
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:19 am to FAT SEXY
quote:
"Maybe he flourished late"
In which case he really did not really
quote:
slip through the cracks in big time college recruiting?
As much as just developed late
Randle was in HS in the mid 80s, recruiting was no where near as sophisticated back then. He’s from podunk town at what I’m sure was a 1A or maybe 2A school and was he even good in HS, no idea.
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:20 am to FAT SEXY
Does Randy Moss count? He went to Marshall because FSU rescinded their offer due to a parole violation
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:26 am to FAT SEXY
John Randle was way undersized for a D1/NFL DT . I'm assuming that's why.
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:38 am to H-Town Tiger
It's just a thread for HOF guys that went to smaller colleges. I know there's a lot of nuance to these things. I agree with your points
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:46 am to Splackavellie
quote:
Steph Curry
Good one
Only three scholarship offers out of HS: Davidson College, Winthrop, and VCU
Posted on 7/6/26 at 12:07 pm to Christopher Columbo
quote:
only HOF punter went to Southern Miss. Crazy in a state with 2 SEC schools
Ray Guy was from Thompson,Georgia and his academics were an issue. Southern Miss was one a few schools he could get in to.
Posted on 7/6/26 at 12:22 pm to FAT SEXY
HOF'er Jared Allen.
quote:
Jared Allen
Allen with the Minnesota Vikings in 2009
No. 69
Position Defensive end
Personal information
Born April 3, 1982 (age 44)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight 270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school Los Gatos (Los Gatos, California)
College Idaho State (2000–2003)
NFL draft 2004: 4th round, 126th overall pick
Career history
Kansas City Chiefs (2004–2007)
Minnesota Vikings (2008–2013)
Chicago Bears (2014–2015)
Carolina Panthers (2015)
Awards and highlights
4× First-team All-Pro (2007–2009, 2011)
5× Pro Bowl (2007–2009, 2011, 2012)
2× NFL sacks leader (2007, 2011)
PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team (2004)
Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
50 Greatest Vikings
Buck Buchanan Award (2003)
2× first-team I-AA All-American (2002, 2003)
3× first-team All-BSC (2001–2003)
Idaho State Bengals No. 41 retired
NFL records
Most career safeties: 4 (tied)
Most safeties in a season: 2 (tied)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles 648
Sacks 136
Forced fumbles 32
Fumble recoveries 19
Pass deflections 57
Interceptions 6
Defensive touchdowns 2
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Jared Scot Allen (born April 3, 1982) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. A five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro selection, he recorded 136 career sacks. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025.
Allen played college football for the Idaho State Bengals and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL draft. After four years with the Chiefs, Allen was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for three draft picks, including a first rounder. He spent six years with the Vikings before joining the Chicago Bears as a free agent in 2014. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers during the 2015 season, with whom he played in Super Bowl 50. After retiring from the NFL, Allen took up curling and formed a team with other former NFL players.
Posted on 7/6/26 at 12:26 pm to FAT SEXY
College qualifications used to matter. I'm sure lots of potential HOF players never stepped foot on a college campus. Sad but true
Posted on 7/6/26 at 12:32 pm to ChatGPT of LA
Damn what did sugar71 get banned for
Posted on 7/6/26 at 12:44 pm to Sun God
Skenes and Misiorowski. Not HOF yet but two under-recruited/ranked guys who are the top of their sport at the moment.
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