Of the 32 players drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, four were rated as five-star recruits out of high school -- just one more than the total of players rated as two-star players taken among the first 32 picks Thursday night.
Being a freakishly good athlete out of high school often translates into success in college -- like for Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2011 and the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft -- but it hardly guarantees a player being a first-round draft pick. A look back at where this year’s first-rounders stood coming out of high school certainly proves that point:
1. Jadeveon Clowney: 5 stars, No. 1 overall player (2011)
2. Greg Robinson: 4 stars, No. 90 overall player (2011)
3. Blake Bortles: 3 stars, No. 44 quarterback (2010)
4. Sammy Watkins: 5 stars, No. 15 overall player (2011)
5. Khalil Mack: 2 stars, no national, positional or state ranking (2009)
6. Jake Matthews: 4 stars, No. 48 overall player (2010)
7. Mike Evans: 3 stars, no national, positional or state rankings (2011)
8. Justin Gilbert: 4 stars, No. 26 cornerback (2010)
9. Anthony Barr: 4 stars, No. 50 overall player (2010)
10. Eric Ebron: 3 stars, No. 21 tight end (2011)
11. Taylor Lewan: 4 stars, No. 194 overall player (2009)
12. Odell Beckham Jr.: 4 stars, No. 43 overall player (2011)
13. Aaron Donald: 3 stars, No. 37 defensive tackle (2010)
14. Kyle Fuller: 3 stars, no national, positional or state rankings (2010)
15. Ryan Shazier: 4 stars, No. 14 outside linebacker (2011)
16. Zack Martin: 4 stars, No. 22 offensive tackle (2009)
17. C.J. Mosley: 4 stars, No. 56 overall player (2010)
18. Calvin Pryor: 3 stars, No. 31 safety (2011)
19. Ja’Wuan James: 4 stars, No. 55 overall player (2010)
20. Brandin Cooks: 4 stars, No. 240 overall player (2011)
21. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: 5 stars, No. 7 overall player (2011)
22. Johnny Manziel: 3 stars, No. 14 dual-threat quarterback (2011)
23. Dee Ford: 3 stars, No. 62 outside linebacker (2009)
24. Darqueze Dennard: 2 stars, no national, positional or state rankings (2010)
25. Jason Verrett: 3 stars, no national, positional or state rankings (2011)
26. Marcus Smith: 3 stars, no national, positional or state rankings (2010)
27. Deone Bucannon: 3 stars, No. 45 safety (2010)
28. Kelvin Benjamin: 4 stars, No. 60 overall player (2011)
29. Dominique Easley: 5 stars, No. 7 overall player (2010)
30. Jimmie Ward: 2 stars, no national, positional or state rankings (2010)
31. Bradley Roby: 3 stars, no national, positional or state rankings (2010)
32. Teddy Bridgewater: 4 stars, No. 113 overall player (2011)
Five-star players: 4 (Jadeveon Clowney, Sammie Watkins, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Dominique Easley)
Four-star players: 13 (Greg Robinson, Jake Matthews, Justin Gilbert, Anthony Barr, Taylor Lewan, Odell Beckham Jr., Ryan Shazier, Zack Martin, C.J. Mosley, Ja’Wuan James, Brandin Cooks, Kelvin Benjamin, Teddy Bridgewater)
Three-star players: 12 (Blake Bortles, Mike Evans, Eric Ebron, Aaron Donald, Kyle Fuller, Calvin Pryor, Johnny Manziel, Dee Ford, Jason Verrett, Marcus Smith, Deone Bucannon, Bradley Roby)
Two-star players: 3 (Khalil Mack, Darqueze Dennard, Jimmie Ward)