Why didn't Graham Harrel of Texas Tech get picked?

[primetime21+]

Derrick Williams was the number 1 ranked player in high school and he was drafted in the 3rd round. Athletes develop as they go from 17 to 22 years of age. How a kid played when he was 17 is virtually irrelevant.

The only situation where it may make some difference is a player that has virtually zero college experience (Matt Cassel).

A player like Harrell and Daniels have hours upon hours of tape on them. The scouts pour through those tapes and apparently were not very impressed. It doesn't mean that these can never be good NFL QBs, but the odds are stacked against them. Even Matt Cassel was drafted.

 

[JakeT.]

No it does not. To what extent do you think NFL teams know what a college prospect has done in HS?

Matt Cassell played in a pro-style system at USC. He didn't play but he practiced every single day against a very good USC defense. He spent 4 years at one of the best football programs in CFB and he played behind one of the best QB's in college at the time. He also had the benefit of some of the best coaching around. Scouts have to take all of this into consideration and obviously they did. I'm still not convinced he's as good as he showed last year but time will tell.

The Texas Tech QB's have shown us time and time again they cannot perform in the NFL. Is it a coincidence or a trend?

I'd say there is a 100% chance they know what these guys did in HS. If playing behind a great QB on a great team gets you drafted, then how come it never happens? Cassell's high school excellent was taken into consideration absolutely. I know it almost never figures much into the final scouting report but to say the NFL scouts don't know about the HS stuff is crazy IMO. Those guys study the shit out of these guys. If the kid took a crap in the principal's office in 7th grade, odds are the NFL scouts know about it.

 

[Enfuego]

Derrick Williams was the number 1 ranked player in high school and he was drafted in the 3rd round. Athletes develop as they go from 17 to 22 years of age. How a kid played when he was 17 is virtually irrelevant.

The only situation where it may make some difference is a player that has virtually zero college experience (Matt Cassel).

A player like Harrell and Daniels have hours upon hours of tape on them. The scouts pour through those tapes and apparently were not very impressed. It doesn't mean that these can never be good NFL QBs, but the odds are stacked against them. Even Matt Cassel was drafted.

Very good points.

Also, we're not just talking about physical ability on the field but please take into consideration the maturation process from HS to the NFL. Some dudes develop mentally as well as physically faster.

 

[Enfuego]

I'd say there is a 100% chance they know what these guys did in HS. If playing behind a great QB on a great team gets you drafted, then how come it never happens? Cassell's high school excellent was taken into consideration absolutely. I know it almost never figures much into the final scouting report but to say the NFL scouts don't know about the HS stuff is crazy IMO. Those guys study the shit out of these guys. If the kid took a crap in the principal's office in 7th grade, odds are the NFL scouts know about it.

If I were an NFL scout I might watch a game or two of a player in HS but in all reality I just wouldn't give a shit. Now, watching them play down after down each Saturday in the SEC against the best of the best is where you really get some good information.

Are you saying if Cassell played HS QB and then didn't play for four years (didn't even attend college) you think the NFL scouts would watch his HS tape and draft him?

 

[JakeT.]

Cassell was drafted because he played QB at USC, not because of what he did in high school.

Enfuego is right; high school doesn't mean shit. Rivals.com has made a killing on thousands of idiots who think that high school stardom directly translates to college success. Trying to take high school success and translating to professional success is even more asinine.

High school scout rankings DEFINITELY translate into college success IMO. Not always, but usually.

Stafford was the #2 HS QB. Guys like Curry and Tyson Jackson were not top 10 talents but were still top-100 type guys. Sanchez was the #2 HS QB. Andre Smith the 3rd best OL in HS. Heyward-Brey a top 25 type HS talent. Monroe the top OL out of HS. Crabtree was actually a top 60 QB out of HS so it's hard to put him in this discussion.

It's not the end all but there is definitely a correlation.

 

[JakeT.]

Very good points.

Also, we're not just talking about physical ability on the field but please take into consideration the maturation process from HS to the NFL. Some dudes develop mentally as well as physically faster.

At the same time, Williams had to deal with a change of position in college. Just something to consider. Going from offense to defense or the other way around is generally not an easy transition. Williams is still learning his craft.

 

[JakeT.]

If I were an NFL scout I might watch a game or two of a player in HS but in all reality I just wouldn't give a shit. Now, watching them play down after down each Saturday in the SEC against the best of the best is where you really get some good information.

Are you saying if Cassell played HS QB and then didn't play for four years (didn't even attend college) you think the NFL scouts would watch his HS tape and draft him?

Being coached in college (whether playing or not) is obviously an important thing and I'm not sure what would happen if an elite talent like Peyton Manning took off a few years to go to Europe and play ball or some crap instead of going to Tennessee. Would be interesting.

I'll weigh in more. I have a fuck ton of Kentucky Derby articles to do before I get distracted.

 

[M.Saracen]

well of course there's a correlation for a lot of guys.

but there are just as many guys who were irrelevant in high school that become stars, and just as many high school guys with lots of attention that become major busts.

 

[Enfuego]

High school scout rankings DEFINITELY translate into college success IMO. Not always, but usually.

Stafford was the #2 HS QB. Guys like Curry and Tyson Jackson were not top 10 talents but were still top-100 type guys. Sanchez was the #2 HS QB. Andre Smith the 3rd best OL in HS. Heyward-Brey a top 25 type HS talent. Monroe the top OL out of HS. Crabtree was actually a top 60 QB out of HS so it's hard to put him in this discussion.

It's not the end all but there is definitely a correlation.

Should I name the best HS players that don't do shit in college or the NFL?

 

[texansfan]

For the most part picking a QB is a crapshoot when it comes to the NFL.

 

[RupertPupkin]

Only Texas Tech QB to ever start a game in the NFL was Billy Joe Tolliver ..who sucked dogshit.

Had 15-32 record , 59 tds 64 ints , 52 % completion