4 Reasons Why "Stars" Do Not Matter

by:  Hannah Page

I’m feeling particularly energetic today. In other words, I’m about to throw down a rant.

When I started blogging, I worried that I would run out of ideas. I quickly learned that as long as there are twitter feuds between rivals (*cough* Marshall/MTSU) and spunky WKU fans, then I would always have something to talk about. National Signing Day was destined for greatness – at least in the social media realm. WKU, Marshall, and MTSU, you did not disappoint. The argument:  Do recruiting star ratings mean anything? Obviously, I am on #teamWKU.

@Phillips4WV @MoonShineTD @TheTitanTopper @TheHerdZone wku has been beating yall with 3 stars or less #youcankeepthestars #welltaketheWINS

— cole murphy (@12colemurphy) February 3, 2016

@TheHerdZone as long as we have a better class than WKU

— Brian Galford (@BrianG_NC) February 3, 2016

@BlueRaiderDJ Good Luck in upcoming season. Here's hoping we both smash WKU. Their recruit rankings were behind both of us I hear.

— RDstud (@RDstud16) February 4, 2016

When I talk about stars, I am not talking about celebrities or the Super Star from Super Mario; however, it seems that some fans think of their recruits’ stars as such. 

Recruiting star ratings are a quick estimation for recruiting services to convey the “talent” level of a specific athlete. For example, Marcus Mariota was a 3-star quarterback prior to his playing career at Oregon. Mitch Mustain was a 5-star quarterback prior to his playing career at Arkansas and USC. The more stars, the more supposed talent the athlete possesses.

Using recruits’ star rating as validation for a future season – a season that has not even occurred – is like bringing a knife to a gun fight. Here is why:

1. Fate is NOT written in the stars

What if athletes only played as their star rating indicated? Say what you will about their professional career – I am speaking only about college – but what if Russell Wilson (QB) only ever played up to his 3-star rating? What if Eric Fisher (T) only played like the 2-star rating he was given? Need I remind you that Fisher was the first overall pick in the 2013 draft?

Let's go back to Mr. Mustain. Mr. 5-star QB. At Arkansas, Mustain started 8 games and went 69-132, 894 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions before he was replaced by Casey Dick. Then, he transferred to USC where altered between second and third-string QB. He went 52-89, 505 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Simply put, Mustain was a "bust":  a 5-star who never quite lived up to his potential and praise. 

Being a 5-star recruit is not a right or a free-pass. For lower rated recruits, the star is not a limitation…it is a challenge. 

2. Talent vs. Skill

Actor Will Smith once said “The separation of talent and skill is one of the greatest misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel, who have dreams, who want to do things. Talent you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.” 

Let’s be honest. For recruiting purposes, ratings are based on talent. If you worship at the feet of 4 and 5-star recruits, answer the following question:  have your 4/5-star recruits skilled and perfected their game? At the ripe, young age of 17/18, I highly doubt so. Talent comes first, then skill.

3. For WKU, stars mean nothing

Dear Marshall, MTSU, and any other teams' fans who touted their recruiting class based on stars, I give you two names:  Brandon Doughty and Tyler Higbee. Doughty was a 3-star while Higbee was a 2-star. Both, Doughty and Higbee, ended up being nationally recognized and the best in their respective positions in C-USA.

Then we get into class rankings, scores, and so on. People will search high and low for reasons why they are the best. If an entire season, nay, the entire program's future, is indicative upon some silly star-rating system, why did WKU win the C-USA Championship? Why did WKU go 8-0 in conference? This is a school who still had Sun Belt recruits on the team.

Citing a rating system as a measure of future success is, also, fatuous as most freshmen redshirt (go to class, practice with the team, dress for play, but not compete). A LOT can happen between "senior in high school" to "senior in college." Not everything is sunshine and rainbows. Unfortunately, some of those highly praised recruits will transfer, some will become academically ineligible, and some will be injured. It can happen to any recruit no matter the rating.

4. Coachability

A high rating means absolutely nothing if the athlete is difficult to coach. No matter how talented an athlete is, they will always need feedback in order to polish their game. If the athlete is not coachable, they will never develop. Then, a 2/3-star kid might come along, hungry and determined, who is extremely coachable. Bam! The 2/3-star kid just replaced the 4/5-star, cocky kid.  And there you wasted an entire pre-season convinced that 4/5-star kid was the next 1st round draft pick. Likewise, a high rating means nothing without the support of a stellar coaching staff. 

____________________

Judging a class based on the recruits' ratings has always bothered me. Doing so, you marginalize the value, dedication, and talent of the "lower rated" athletes. Here at WKU, we do not care about "stars." We trust our coaches' decisions. We have faith that the athletes will develop their skill-set. It is not about some gold star. It is about playing the game. You do not automatically win the game because you have a class of higher-rated recruits. Save the gold stars for kindergarten. 

WR Chris Cotto: "You can have five stars and not play at a high level. Sometimes kids with no stars are the ones with the bigger heart."

— Zach Greenwell (@zach_greenwell) February 3, 2016