Alabama Football: Revisiting the Lower Rivals Ratings of the 2008 Signing Class

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) In an article from Monday, it was discussed which 5-star players recruited by Nick Saban were best or bust. (You can see that here)

It occurred to me that if Rivals missed on two of the players that they rated 5-stars, did they miss on some of the lower star picks? After all, Alabama has had players with no stars (Javier Arenas) and walk-ons (Rashad Johnson) that became huge stars and NFL picks.

So read below and see who turned out to the zeroes and who turned out to be heroes.

So of the 2008 signing class, there was a pair of 2-star and eight 3-star recruits. The days of Alabama having no star and 1-star recruits ended with the Nick Saban run of top national signing classes.

But someone always has to be on the bottom and these were the bottom of the barrel in that recruiting class according to Rivals. It is interesting now to look back and see if they had it right by making them 3-stars or less.

Let's see if it really was written in the stars what these players would turn out to be and  actually rate out once they got on campus and got some time behind them.

2-Stars:

Wesley Neighbors: This 2-star recruit has been a bust since he came here and was injured this spring and couldn't compete. Rivals may have gotten this one right. He's got one hell of a pedigree but this Neighbors just didn't live up to the family standard, and with the other studs at his position, he never will.

Corey Smith: Who? This guy never kicked a ball in a game wearing a Crimson uniform. He transferred to West Virginia hoping to make it as a starter there. The jury is still out on him there, but he may still have earned his 2-star rating.

3-Stars:

Undra Billingsly: This is a guy that can be an NFL pick, but he needs a big year. Many think this could be his breakout year. So far, Rivals seem to have this one pegged about right, but in the end, they may have undervalued him. At least many Bama fans sure hope so.

Terrance Cody: Boy, did Rivals blow this one. This guy had 5-star impact from the first game to the last. Now playing in the NFL and a staple in Bama's glorified past players, Mt. Cody was sure undervalued by Rivals.

Marcel Dareus: Can you say first round NFL pick? Can Rivals say uh-oh (or worse)? Rivals greatly undervalued this player, as you can well imagine.

Chris Jackson: This wide receiver never made any headway breaking into any playing time. He saw some time on special teams, but saw the writing on the wall and ended up transferring to Georgia Tech. Rivals had him rated about right though.

Ivan Matchett: A running back that was lost in the sea of good running backs until an injury forced him to step out of the team. He never showed a lot promise that the coaches hoped he could show and he was probably overrated.

Jermain Preyear: Another running back that saw the likes of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson ahead of him and left and transferred to Alabama State where he hasn't done anything of note. Maybe overrated by Rivals, Preyear can only hope for a killer senior season.

Brad Smelly: A general workhorse for the Tide, so far he's played right along with his 3-star rating; not that bad, not spectacular, just a steady performer. I look to see Smelly finish out career in this same manner. Rivals had this pick pretty much dead on.

Damion Square: Saw a starting role early on, then got injured and has found it tough to reclaim his starting job since. This may the year he nails it back down, but when he's healthy, he's a force to be reckoned with, so you'd have to say that Rival's undervalued Square with just 3-stars. On any other SEC team, he would be a sure starter.

Put your comments below on your opinions of the ratings of one or more of the players listed above.