110 High School seniors from Louisiana have signed FBS football scholarships with at least two virtually-sure FBS signees remaining, maybe more.
At least another 115 signed up for scholarships with FCS schools. (Really hard to track)
More Louisiana players received at least one three-star rating from the recruiting services than signed FBS scholarship papers. Talk about "grade inflation."
ESPN rated 89 players as 3 stars or higher out of the 93 kids they rated (95%). 247 had rated over 100 players with three stars or better out of 115 or so about two weeks ago. Since then, they've dropped a number of "three stars" to two stars who signed with "lesser program" (including a couple of ours) and virtually everyone who did not get signed by an FBS program. And, they gave two stars to another 50 or so who signed but they either hadn't rated or didn't have in their data base. In the end, for what it's worth, 114 players received 3-stars from at least one of the services, including 12 of Tulane's 15 Louisiana signees. I would suggest this "grade inflation" puts in doubt the value of the "stars system." Yet, when the services come to a consensus, I think that adds some credibility.
48 players received at least three stars from all four services. All received at least one P5 offer and only three signed with G-5 schools. LaTech, ULL, and UCF had one each. None signed with Tulane. 41 of the 48 were also included in Jimmie Smith's "Nifty 50." And, of those 41, only two (Garrett Thomas to Texas, who went 6-7, and Brandon Singleton who went with California, 5-7), signed with teams who had losing records in 2014. Only one player, Brandon Scott, who signed with UCF, went the G5 route among these 41.
In my opinion, anyone who receives a football scholarship to a school at any level deserves congratulations and admiration for their athletic accomplishments. But, despite my personal misgivings with the "stars system," I think these 41 players are legitimately considered the "elite" in the state. By position, these 41 included one QB, five RB's, 12 WR's, 2 OL's, one TE, 3 DT's, 5 DE's, 4 LB's, and 8 DB's.
If you count the number of services who awarded at least three stars and included Smith's "Nifty 50," the 41 previously mentioned received recognition from all five sources. Nine more were included by four of the five. Fifteen, including three Wave recruits, received recognition from three of the five. Nine more (two from Tulane) received two. And, 40 kids (including eight future Tulanians) were recognized once, almost always by either ESPN or 247, both of whom give them out in bundles. In the end, our highest ranked recruit, based on these criteria, was Nigel Anderson (#61 in the state).
79 Louisiana high schoolers received at least one offer from a P5 school. 16 signed with G5 schools, five of them with Tulane, the most of any G5 school. Several more, with apparent academic issues, signed with FCS schools or junior colleges.
Almost half of the FBS signees stayed "home" in Louisiana: Tulane (15), LSU (13), LaTech (11), ULM (8), and ULL (7). The University of Arizona signed the most for an out of state school-- 5 . A couple of years back, more than 60% stayed "home" in Louisiana. Out of state competition is getting tougher.
Twenty-Six out-of-state P5 schools signed Louisiana players this year. Only a few years ago, that number was more like a dozen.
At least another 115 signed up for scholarships with FCS schools. (Really hard to track)
More Louisiana players received at least one three-star rating from the recruiting services than signed FBS scholarship papers. Talk about "grade inflation."
ESPN rated 89 players as 3 stars or higher out of the 93 kids they rated (95%). 247 had rated over 100 players with three stars or better out of 115 or so about two weeks ago. Since then, they've dropped a number of "three stars" to two stars who signed with "lesser program" (including a couple of ours) and virtually everyone who did not get signed by an FBS program. And, they gave two stars to another 50 or so who signed but they either hadn't rated or didn't have in their data base. In the end, for what it's worth, 114 players received 3-stars from at least one of the services, including 12 of Tulane's 15 Louisiana signees. I would suggest this "grade inflation" puts in doubt the value of the "stars system." Yet, when the services come to a consensus, I think that adds some credibility.
48 players received at least three stars from all four services. All received at least one P5 offer and only three signed with G-5 schools. LaTech, ULL, and UCF had one each. None signed with Tulane. 41 of the 48 were also included in Jimmie Smith's "Nifty 50." And, of those 41, only two (Garrett Thomas to Texas, who went 6-7, and Brandon Singleton who went with California, 5-7), signed with teams who had losing records in 2014. Only one player, Brandon Scott, who signed with UCF, went the G5 route among these 41.
In my opinion, anyone who receives a football scholarship to a school at any level deserves congratulations and admiration for their athletic accomplishments. But, despite my personal misgivings with the "stars system," I think these 41 players are legitimately considered the "elite" in the state. By position, these 41 included one QB, five RB's, 12 WR's, 2 OL's, one TE, 3 DT's, 5 DE's, 4 LB's, and 8 DB's.
If you count the number of services who awarded at least three stars and included Smith's "Nifty 50," the 41 previously mentioned received recognition from all five sources. Nine more were included by four of the five. Fifteen, including three Wave recruits, received recognition from three of the five. Nine more (two from Tulane) received two. And, 40 kids (including eight future Tulanians) were recognized once, almost always by either ESPN or 247, both of whom give them out in bundles. In the end, our highest ranked recruit, based on these criteria, was Nigel Anderson (#61 in the state).
79 Louisiana high schoolers received at least one offer from a P5 school. 16 signed with G5 schools, five of them with Tulane, the most of any G5 school. Several more, with apparent academic issues, signed with FCS schools or junior colleges.
Almost half of the FBS signees stayed "home" in Louisiana: Tulane (15), LSU (13), LaTech (11), ULM (8), and ULL (7). The University of Arizona signed the most for an out of state school-- 5 . A couple of years back, more than 60% stayed "home" in Louisiana. Out of state competition is getting tougher.
Twenty-Six out-of-state P5 schools signed Louisiana players this year. Only a few years ago, that number was more like a dozen.
