RECRUITING HISTORY

HOW THE DATA WAS GATHERED Using Rivals and 247Sports data, the Draft classes from were evaluated on a Star and Player rating value.Using Rivals and 247Sports data, the Draft classes from were evaluated on a Star and Player rating value. Using the Ourlads website, a 2 Deep depth chart was created for each school. No duplicates were counted. For example, if the 2 nd string Right & Left Guard was the same person he was only counted one time not to skew the average of the data.Using the Ourlads website, a 2 Deep depth chart was created for each school. No duplicates were counted. For example, if the 2 nd string Right & Left Guard was the same person he was only counted one time not to skew the average of the data. Players that were walkons or transfers all counted on the 2 Deep as a 0 value as this study is designed to look at recruiting classes and how they can be compared.Players that were walkons or transfers all counted on the 2 Deep as a 0 value as this study is designed to look at recruiting classes and how they can be compared.

LOOKING AT THE DATA (RECRUITING) OVERALL ( ) R-STARSR-RATING247-STARS247-RATING BAMA OSU FSU OREG PSU OVERALL ( ) R-STARSR-RATING247-STARS247-RATING BAMA1112 OSU2221 FSU3333 OREG4444 PSU5555 Bama has acquired the top prospects over the past 5 years. Bama is over ½ star better than PSU on Rivals and 247Sports. Although OSU beats FSU in every category, the numbers are extremely close.

LOOKING AT THE DATA (2 DEEP) OVERALL ( ) R-STARSR-RATING247-STARS247-RATING BAMA OSU FSU OREG PSU OVERALL ( ) R-STARSR-RATING247-STARS247-RATING BAMA1312 OSU3233 FSU2121 OREG4444 PSU5555 FSU has the highest rated prospects contributing for them. Bama has the highest Stars. FSU is about a full star better than PSU on Rivals and 247Sports. Overall Bama, OSU and FSU are on a different level as far a 2 Deep goes.

LOOKING AT THE DATA (DIFFERENCE) OVERALL ( ) R-STARSR-RATING247-STARS247-RATING BAMA OSU FSU OREG PSU OVERALL ( ) R-STARSR-RATING247-STARS247-RATING BAMA3332 OSU2223 FSU1111 OREG4444 PSU5555 FSU may be 3 rd in recruiting (2 slides earlier) but they play their better prospects. Bama, FSU and OSU average on the plus side for star ratings. A positive correlation says that they are playing their highest rated recruits.

WIN PERCENTAGE RECORD ( ) WINSLOSSESWIN %Rank OREG %1 BAMA %2 FSU %3 OSU %4 PSU %5

LOOKING AT ALABAMA POS Rival STARS Rival RATING 247 STARS 247 RATINGTotal RB Avg DB Avg ATH Avg DE Avg LB Avg Over Avg WR Avg OL Avg QB Avg TE Avg DT Avg K Avg POS Rival STARS Rival RATING 247 STARS 247 RATINGTotal RB Avg TE Avg LB Avg DS Avg DE Avg CB Avg DT Avg WR Avg OL Avg Over Avg FB Avg QB Avg DEEP Recruits Alabama has done well with finding and playing RB talent. Alabama has done well with finding and playing RB talent. In the 2 Deep, 5 out of the 7 top spots are on the defensive side. In the 2 Deep, 5 out of the 7 top spots are on the defensive side. QB has not been a priority for Bama as much as other positions. With a FSU transfer backing up, they grade low on the 2 Deep as well. QB has not been a priority for Bama as much as other positions. With a FSU transfer backing up, they grade low on the 2 Deep as well. 8 positions average 4 star or better according to Rivals on the 2 Deep. 8 positions average 4 star or better according to Rivals on the 2 Deep. Non-Kicker Recruits average better than 3.5 stars on Rivals & 247Sports. Non-Kicker Recruits average better than 3.5 stars on Rivals & 247Sports.

LOOKING AT FLORIDA STATE 2 DEEP POS Rival STARS Rivals RATING 247 STARS 247 RATINGTotal WR Avg RB Avg DB Avg LB Avg DE Avg Over Avg DT Avg QB Avg TE Avg ATH Avg OL Avg K Avg Recruits POS Rival STARS Rival RATING 247 STARS 247 RATINGTotal RB Avg DT Avg LB Avg CB Avg QB Avg WR Avg Over Avg DS Avg DE Avg OL Avg FB Avg TE Avg Florida State has done an exceptional job of playing top caliber RBs as shown in their Deep average. Florida State has done an exceptional job of playing top caliber RBs as shown in their Deep average. Florida State has recruited the WR position well (4.20 Rivals), however those WRs seeing action rate much lower on average. Florida State has recruited the WR position well (4.20 Rivals), however those WRs seeing action rate much lower on average. On Rivals & 247Sports, FSU only has 1 position (WR) with a star rating of at least 4, but they boast 5 positions of 4 stars or more on the 2 Deep. On Rivals & 247Sports, FSU only has 1 position (WR) with a star rating of at least 4, but they boast 5 positions of 4 stars or more on the 2 Deep.

LOOKING AT OREGON Recruits 2 DEEP POS Rival STARS Rival RATING 247 STARS 247 RATINGTotal RB Avg WR Avg ATH Avg TE Avg QB Avg DT Avg Over Avg DE Avg OL Avg LB Avg DB Avg K Avg POS Rival STARS Rival RATING 247 STARS 247 RATINGTotal RB Avg DE Avg DS Avg TE Avg DT Avg CB Avg LB Avg Over Avg WR Avg QB Avg OL Avg Continuing the RB trend, Oregon’s highest recruited position is RB and on the 2 Deep RBs are ¾ of a Star ahead of the next highest rated position. Continuing the RB trend, Oregon’s highest recruited position is RB and on the 2 Deep RBs are ¾ of a Star ahead of the next highest rated position. As you might think, Oregon’s top prospects are offensive skill players with RB, WR, TE and QB all beating the overall average. As you might think, Oregon’s top prospects are offensive skill players with RB, WR, TE and QB all beating the overall average. Ironically, when looking at the 2 Deep, Defense is very strong with every position rating higher than the avg with the exception of LB’s rival star. Ironically, when looking at the 2 Deep, Defense is very strong with every position rating higher than the avg with the exception of LB’s rival star.

LOOKING AT OHIO STATE POS Rival STARS Rival RATING 247 STARS 247 RATINGTotal DB Avg LB Avg DE Avg ATH Avg RB Avg Over Avg DT Avg WR Avg QB Avg TE Avg OL Avg K Avg Recruits 2 DEEP POS Rival STARS Rival RATING 247 STARS 247 RATINGTotal DT Avg RB Avg LB Avg DS Avg CB Avg TE Avg Over Avg WR Avg OL Avg QB Avg DE Avg Play defense & run the ball. The top 5 spots on Recruits & 2 Deep belong to all defensive players & a running back. This seems to be OSU’s motto. Play defense & run the ball. The top 5 spots on Recruits & 2 Deep belong to all defensive players & a running back. This seems to be OSU’s motto. QB 2 Deep is reflective of the 2 major injuries from the season, but after the two 4 Star QBs went down Jones (3) and a freshman (3) were left. QB 2 Deep is reflective of the 2 major injuries from the season, but after the two 4 Star QBs went down Jones (3) and a freshman (3) were left. OL is at the bottom of both lists for OSU, and on Rivals star rating the position was an exact match at 3.5 (even though Bama is the only higher rated OL). OL is at the bottom of both lists for OSU, and on Rivals star rating the position was an exact match at 3.5 (even though Bama is the only higher rated OL).

LOOKING AT PENN STATE Recruits 2 DEEP POS Rival STARS Rival RATING 247 STARS 247 RATINGTotal QB Avg DE Avg TE Avg WR Avg OL Avg ATH Avg Over Avg LB Avg RB Avg DT Avg DB Avg K Avg POS Rival STARS Rival RATING 247 STARS 247 RATINGTotal QB Avg WR Avg RB Avg CB Avg TE Avg OL Avg Over Avg LB Avg DT Avg DE Avg DS Avg FB Avg0.00 PSU’s QB stats got a huge boost from Hackenberg with his 5 star rating in both Recruiting and the 2 Deep. PSU’s QB stats got a huge boost from Hackenberg with his 5 star rating in both Recruiting and the 2 Deep. Although the Defense was the backbone of the team, many contributors were not top tier players. Every position is 3.00 or lower on the 2 Deep. Although the Defense was the backbone of the team, many contributors were not top tier players. Every position is 3.00 or lower on the 2 Deep. PSU has one position at 4.00 or higher (QB) on the 2 Deep. WR is 2 nd at 3.75, then RB at 3.50 making PSU the only team with the top 3 on offense. PSU has one position at 4.00 or higher (QB) on the 2 Deep. WR is 2 nd at 3.75, then RB at 3.50 making PSU the only team with the top 3 on offense.

4 PLAYOFF TEAM AVERAGES Recruits 2 DEEP POS Rival STARS Rival RATING 247 STARS 247 RATINGTotal RB Avg WR Avg ATH Avg LB Avg DB Avg DE Avg Over Avg DT Avg QB Avg TE Avg OL Avg K Avg POS Rival STARS Rival RATING 247 STARS 247 RATINGTotal RB Avg DT Avg CB Avg LB Avg DS Avg WR Avg Over Avg DE Avg TE Avg OL Avg QB Avg FB Avg Even though there is a high emphasis on RB in the 2 Deep, 5 out of the top 6 spots are on the defensive side of the ball. Even though there is a high emphasis on RB in the 2 Deep, 5 out of the top 6 spots are on the defensive side of the ball. In regards to recruiting, skill players are key (RB, WR, ATH, LB, DB). Runningbacks are over ½ star higher than OL on Rival stars. In regards to recruiting, skill players are key (RB, WR, ATH, LB, DB). Runningbacks are over ½ star higher than OL on Rival stars. QBs rank low in recruiting and even lower in 2 Deep. TE and OL also fall below average on both charts. QBs rank low in recruiting and even lower in 2 Deep. TE and OL also fall below average on both charts. Overall averages netted a 0.01 difference, as did the National Champs. Overall averages netted a 0.01 difference, as did the National Champs.

PSU VS. 4 TEAM AVERAGES RECRUITING With the exception of QB, PSU has some work to do to catch up to the Top 4.

PSU DIFFERENCE VS 4 TEAMS RECRUITS POS Rival 247 Total STARSRATINGSTARSRATING ATH Avg DB Avg DE Avg DT Avg K Avg LB Avg OL Avg Over Avg QB Avg RB Avg TE Avg WR Avg DEEP POS Rival 247 Total STARSRATINGSTARSRATING CB Avg DE Avg DS Avg DT Avg FB Avg LB Avg OL Avg Over Avg QB Avg RB Avg TE Avg WR Avg * In the Recruiting, DBs are kept together with no separation between Corner and Safety. * On the 2 Deep, DBs are specified as Corner and Safety.

SUMMARY As mentioned throughout the study, RBs have been the highest recruited and highest rated position in the 2 Deep across the board. As mentioned throughout the study, RBs have been the highest recruited and highest rated position in the 2 Deep across the board. Of the Top 4 teams OL, TE and QB were positions that were consistently low. On the flipside, skill players on both sides of the ball in recruiting held the highest priority. Of the Top 4 teams OL, TE and QB were positions that were consistently low. On the flipside, skill players on both sides of the ball in recruiting held the highest priority. On the 2 Deep, after RB, Defensive players need to dominate the top rated positions. On the 2 Deep, after RB, Defensive players need to dominate the top rated positions. Although emphasized, a QB may be over-valued in college. The team around the QB, especially those handling the ball seem to be a better indicator of success than QB ratings. Although emphasized, a QB may be over-valued in college. The team around the QB, especially those handling the ball seem to be a better indicator of success than QB ratings. The model for making it to the NCAA playoff is a top tier RB accompanied with a top tier defense. The model for making it to the NCAA playoff is a top tier RB accompanied with a top tier defense. From there is only 1 current NFL starting QB (Cam Newton) that played in a BCS national championship game yet there are 9 NFL starting RBs. From there is only 1 current NFL starting QB (Cam Newton) that played in a BCS national championship game yet there are 9 NFL starting RBs.

PENN STATE GOING FORWARD Negatives Positives The gap is real. The sanctions hit hard and in order to close the gap we have to get and hit on big time players in abundance. The gap is real. The sanctions hit hard and in order to close the gap we have to get and hit on big time players in abundance. Our recruiting strengths vs the 4 playoff teams has been at the OL, TE, and QB, 3 positions that inversely show a negative correlation in success for the Top 4 in the NCAA playoff. Our recruiting strengths vs the 4 playoff teams has been at the OL, TE, and QB, 3 positions that inversely show a negative correlation in success for the Top 4 in the NCAA playoff. In the 2 Deep, CB is the only position on defense that on average the difference between PSU and the 4 teams is less than a full star (-0.80). In the 2 Deep, CB is the only position on defense that on average the difference between PSU and the 4 teams is less than a full star (-0.80). We have a chance: Our development of the defensive end has out-shined our recruiting over the past 5 seasons. Although we don’t have the model history in recruiting, our pieces add up in the end. We have a chance: Our development of the defensive end has out-shined our recruiting over the past 5 seasons. Although we don’t have the model history in recruiting, our pieces add up in the end. We are already headed down the right path: The 2015 class is loaded with 4 stars at skill positions and a stud RB (by ratings). We are already headed down the right path: The 2015 class is loaded with 4 stars at skill positions and a stud RB (by ratings). Best of both worlds: This study showed you can get to the playoffs with great pieces around a decent QB. Here we have a next level QB & are beginning to get the pieces around him that will elevate the entire program. Best of both worlds: This study showed you can get to the playoffs with great pieces around a decent QB. Here we have a next level QB & are beginning to get the pieces around him that will elevate the entire program.