Ticker

6/recent/ticker-posts

ADX728*90

Super Bowl 2022: What Matthew Stafford, Joe Burrow and other top players were like as college recruits

 The ink is dry from National Signing Day and a new chapter awaits the 2022 recruiting class. Many will go on to become college and NFL stars, and some may even realize their dream of playing in a Super Bowl. With the big game just days away, it's a perfect time to reflect on the recruiting journeys of the biggest stars of Super Bowl LVI.

2021 stats: 4,886 passing yards (67.2%), 41 TDs, 17 INTs


High School scouting report: "Stafford is likely the most 'ready-to-play-right-away' quarterback and most naturally gifted passer in this class. You don't see many weaknesses in his game, and he is only going to get better once he enters college."


Stafford, from Highland Park, Texas, is the epitome of a five-star recruit. A prospect with rare arm talent, he played as a true freshman at Georgia, earned All-SEC and All-American accolades during his three seasons in Athens, was selected first in the 2009 NFL draft and has been climbing up the NFL passing record books since entering the league. A Super Bowl victory is the missing piece from his potential Hall of Fame career.


2021 stats: 4,611 passing yards (70.4%), 34 TDs and 14 INTs


High School scouting report: "His athletic traits are outstanding for the position. He's the type of athlete under center that defenses must account for on every snap in the run game and once the initial play of the passing game breaks down. He should receive significant attention from top-tier programs in the top five conferences."


The Athens, Ohio, native arrived in Columbus as the second-most touted quarterback prospect in the Buckeyes' 2015 recruiting class, behind five-star athlete/dual-threat Torrance Gibson (No. 16). With J.T. Barrett (No. 262 in the 2013 ESPN 300) entrenched as the starter and future first-rounder Dwayne Haskins (No. 63 in the 2016 ESPN 300) ahead of him, Burrow sought a new home. Following a modest 2018 campaign at LSU, Burrow completed arguably the greatest season ever by a college quarterback in 2019, winning the Heisman and a College Football Playoff national championship, leading to his selections as the first overall pick by the Bengals in 2020.


2021 stats: Injured most of regular season; team-leading 151 rushing yards in playoffs


High School scouting report: "Akers, a wildcat QB, is a very dynamic prospect who could get recruited at multiple positions, but we feel he will most likely line up at running back with the versatility to get touches in the passing game as well. The game comes natural to him."


Akers (Clinton, Miss.), who originally committed to Alabama, is another former five-star prospect who didn't disappoint. Equipped with an elite, college-ready physical skill set (4.41 speed at 213 pounds), Akers broke Dalvin Cook's (No. 21 in the 2014 ESPN 300) Florida State freshman rushing record before landing with the Rams in the second round of the 2020 draft. The second-year pro made a miraculous recovery from a July torn Achilles tendon to return as the Rams' feature back for the playoffs.

Post a Comment

0 Comments