Florida State Football Recruiting: 3 Most Underrated Recruits of 2014 Class
Usually, when recruiting season rolls around, all eyes are focused on the big namesโthe 5-stars and ranked players.ย
This is completely understandable, if not even expected. Of course, you want to know where the elite are going. There are good odds that, one day, they'll be the stars of college football.
However, Johnny Manziel was considered a 3-starย prospect by Rivals.com and look how that went.ย
Every year, there are players who are overlooked and eventually go on to be great. Here are three such players that are currently in FSU's 2014 class.
Unless otherwise noted, recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.com.
Jacob Pugh
1 of 3
It might be a bit of a stretch to say that a player who played in the Under Armour All-American Game is underrated, but Pughโaย 6'4", 221-pound outside linebackerโhas been overlooked by recruiting sites almost entirely throughout the recruiting process.
Now a 4-star recruit, Pugh's rating has steadily increased since his junior year, going from a 90 to currently being ranked a 97.ย
A Tallahassee, Fla., native, Pugh earned offers from 21 schoolsโamong them areย names like Florida and Alabama. He may not be a big name on most radars, but when it comes time for Pugh to take the field, that'll change.
JJ Cosentino
2 of 3
Florida State is set on its quarterback situation for the immediate future, so it's understandable if one overlooks the signal-caller recruits.
However, J.J. Cosentino is going to have something to say about the Seminoles' starting QB job whenever Jameis Winston moves on to the NFL.ย
Standing at 6'4", 224 pounds, Cosentino hails from Pittsburgh, Pa. Jimbo Fisher is known as one of the best talent evaluators in the country and his specialty is quarterbacks.
The 4-starย QB has a huge arm and can make plays when the situation calls for it. Interestingly enough, he can also punt the ball, if that remains a concern of some Seminole fans.
Rick Leonard
3 of 3
If you want the definition of an underrated player, look no further than defensive end/tight end Rick Leonard from Middletown, Md. A 3-star prospect, Leonard earned offers from 15 schools, with Clemson and Nebraska among the big names.ย
Leonard possesses the ability to shed blocks with ease and, at 6'7", 260 pounds, Leonard has the ideal height for a dominant end. It isn't likely that he makes the switch to tight end, so the focus is on him as a defensive end. One glance at hisย highlight tapeย shows his athletic ability and football smarts.
Ranked the No. 21 strong-side defensive end on 247Sports and much lower on other websites, Leonard has every characteristic one could want in an underrated player.
