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.
QB Matthew Stafford
Class of 2006 ranking: No. 5 overall (No. 1 QB)
Georgia
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.
QB Joe Burrow
Class of 2015 ranking: No. 298 overall (No. 9 QB-DT)
Ohio State/LSU
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.
RB Cam Akers
Class of 2017 ranking: No. 9 overall (No. 1 RB)
Florida State
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.
RB Joe Mixon
Class of 2014 ranking: No. 53 overall (No. 6 RB)
Oklahoma
2021 stats: 1,205 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs; 42 receptions, 314 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs
High School scouting report: "He has really polished hands and receiving skills -- one of his better assets. Mixon shows strong blocking skills and is a three-down back who seems unselfish in doing whatever it takes to move the chains. He would be higher up the board with a bit more suddenness and lower running style."
The Freedom High School (Oakley, Calif.) running back was considered the highest-rated member of Oklahoma's 2014 class by our scouts but did not receive the five-star status he garnered from other recruiting services. He was suspended for the 2014 season after he was charged with a misdemeanor for punching a female student, then split duties with Samaje Perine (No. 220 in the 2014 ESPN 300) during the 2015 and 2016 seasons in Norman. Mixon's draft grades ranged from a first-round talent to a day-three prospect. The Bengals used the 48th pick on Mixon, who emerged as one of the top players at his position by his second season in the NFL.
WR Cooper Kupp
Class of 2012 ranking: Not rated
Eastern Washington
2021 stats: 145 receptions, 1,947 yards, 16 TDs
High School scouting report: N/A
Kupp (Yakima, Wash./A.C. Davis) signed with Eastern Washington as a no-star recruit in 2012, meaning every recruiting service and Pac-12 personnel department missed on the player who would become the all-time leader in FCS receptions (428) and receiving yards (6,464). Selected in the third round by the Rams, Kupp emerged as a reliable target as a rookie in 2017 prior to developing into one of the finest receivers in the NFL.
WR Ja'Marr Chase
Class of 2018 ranking: No. 269 overall (No. 42 WR)
LSU
2021 stats: 81 receptions, 1,455 yards, 13 TDs
High School scouting report: "Chase has good size and is thickly built with strength to ward off coverage. He is a savvy route runner who can work coverage and stem defenders -- very good from the slot. Chase comes off the line with purpose and knows how to get open. He has big hands and a wide catch radius."
Like Burrow, Chase (Metairie, La./Archbishop Rummel) was overshadowed in his LSU signing class by a five-star recruit at his position, Terrace Marshall Jr. (No. 10 in the 2018 ESPN 300). Chase, who was committed to Kansas and then Florida before landing with LSU, contributed as a true freshman and then became Burrow's premier go-to guy during their 2019 title run. Despite sitting out the 2020 season (COVID-19), the Bengals used the fifth pick to reunite the former Bayou tandem. Chase, who improved his 40 from 4.66 in high school to 4.34 (pro day) leading up to the draft, was the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
DT Aaron Donald
Class of 2010 rating: Three stars (No. 22 DT)
Pittsburgh
2021 stats: 84 total tackles, 19 TFLs, 12 sacks, 4 forced fumbles
High School scouting report: "Donald is a good prospect and a bit of a sleeper among the defensive tackles in this class. You wish he was a little bigger, but the kid plays the game well and is active."
Our scouts considered Donald (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) a high-quality Power 5 prospect despite only holding offers from Rutgers, Akron, Toledo and Pittsburgh. By year two, the Pitt signee was wreaking havoc in Big East backfields. A unanimous All-American, Donald collected the Nagurski, Bednarik and Outland Trophies, while posting the fastest 40 all-time for DTs at the combine (4.68). Donald has proved to be a steal as the 13th overall selection of the 2014 draft, as he immediately started building a first-ballot NFL Hall of Fame career.
DE Trey Hendrickson
Class of 2013 rating: Not rated
Florida Atlantic
2021 stats: 34 tackles, 12 TFL, 14 sacks, 3 forced fumbles
High School scouting report: N/A (Hendrickson was listed as a tight end recruit.)
Hendrickson (Apopka, Fla.) signed with Florida Atlantic over offers from New Mexico and Western Kentucky as an unheralded recruit in the 2013 class. As a senior, he was overshadowed by younger, more prominent recruits on his state championship team, including 2014 four-star QB Zack Darlington, who signed with Nebraska, and 2015 five-star OT Martez Ivey (No. 5 in ESPN 300), who started 44 games for Florida. At FAU, Hendrickson racked up 39.5 sacks in his final three seasons culminating with the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2016. After three quiet NFL seasons, he posted 13.5 sacks in 2020, which enticed the Bengals to sign him to a four-year, $60 million deal in free agency.
CB Jalen Ramsey
Class of 2013 ranking: No. 14 overall (No. 4 CB)
Florida State
2021 stats: 77 tackles, 9 TFL, 4 INTs, 16 PBUs
High School scouting report: "Ramsey is an impressive athlete and overall football player and could get recruited at multiple positions. He has a very good blend of size, speed and leaping skills out on the perimeter at corner, and it's likely the spot he will be recruited to play at the next level."
Ramsey (Brentwood, Tenn.), a state record-setting track athlete and combine monster, provided Jimbo Fisher with an immediate impact freshman in the secondary for Florida State's BCS Championship run. The consensus All-American was selected fifth overall by the Jaguars in 2016 and started all 16 games as a rookie to jump start his potential Hall of Fame career.
K Evan McPherson
Class of 2018 rating: Three stars (No. 2 K)
Florida
2021 stats: Made 28 of 33 FG attempts (84.8%) including a 58-yard and 46 of 48 XPA
High School scouting report: "McPherson is capable of making big kicks and has shown impressive consistency over the last year in many different events. He has the talent and confidence to play early in college." (via Kohl's Kicking)
Kickers don't get much love on the recruiting trail, but McPherson (Fort Payne, Ala.) was a coveted talent in the 2018 class. The Under Armour All-American collected eight scholarship offers, rare for a specialist, including Florida, Iowa State, Kentucky, Miami, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Rutgers and Army. After an initial commitment to Mississippi State, McPherson signed with the Gators. His production in Gainesville prompted the Bengals to use a fifth-round selection on him in the 2021 draft. Cincinnati received immediate return on its investment, as McPherson had a productive rookie campaign. Currently, he is having a record-setting playoff run with 12 made field goals on 12 attempts, including three from 50-plus yards, and game-winners against the Titans and Chiefs.