College Football Recruiting: The 20 Worst 5-Star Recruiting Busts of the 2000's
While the 2000's brought the rise of recruiting thanks to the Internet, message boards and dramatically increased media coverage, the spotlight got bigger for recruits to produce which meant busts were exposed.
With this piece, we're going to focus on the players who were rated the coveted 5 stars, which only makes them being a "bust" even worse. Some of the players on the last may be obvious, while others may be a shock. Being a bust can be a result of several factors, but the players on this list did not or have not produced as was expected.
Let the debate begin!
20. Craig Chambers, WR: Washington
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I remember a time when Washington fought long and hard to keep Reggie Williams home for the Huskies. Williams was a national prime recruit and all of the national big boys were after him hard. For awhile, it looked like he would not stay home, but down the home stretch Williams committed to U-Dub and became a first-round draft pick.
Craig Chambers was hailed in the same regard as Williams, a big national wide receiver recruit that Washington convinced to stay home. His 6'5", 200-pound frame was even comparable to Williams'. Yet, Chambers never enjoyed any of the same success as Williams did.
Husky fans claim Chambers came in with a sense of entitlement and lacked a true work ethic to earn a starting spot. He asked Tyrone Willingham for a release after his sophomore year, and wound up at Montana, where he suffered a career-ending injury before his senior season.
19. Bryce Brown, RB: Tennessee/Kansas State
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Brown's hype may been due to his brother Arthur being one of the very top players in the 2008 class, but Brown had his own acclaim.
He was hailed as the top running back prospect in the 2009 class, and some had him as the top player regardless of position. A 6'2", 200-pound running back, Brown was seen dominating the Kansas high school football scene.
He got more hype and buzz because his recruitment became a bit of a soap opera. He committed to Miami as a junior to follow Arthur to Coral Gables, but in his senior year, Bryce decided to reopen himself up to recruiting. He postponed signing his letter of intent, instead of signing on National Signing Day.
He and his "advisor" both began to charge people to read up on his recruiting updates, which irked fans and coaches, and even got the attention of the NCAA.
Calling him a bust may also be premature, but I've always felt Brown was highly overrated and he didn't flash any "Wow" factor during his brief time at Tennessee.
18. Will Hill, DS: Florida
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I remember hearing about Hill as a sophomore and thinking about how he would become a dominant college player wherever he wound up. The hype didn't stop as Hill was regarded as the most athletic player in the country in his senior season in 07-08.
At 6'2", 210 pounds, Hill played QB, RB, WR, CB, FS, KOR, PR and OLB for his high school team in New Jersey. He signed with Florida and Gainesville dreamed of what Hill would do at The Swamp in huge anticipation of his arrival.
Hill wound up at free safety for the Gators, but just never stood out. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman squad, but Hill never lived up to the hype that came with him to Florida. He was not good in coverage, reacted late to fill run alleys and had poor tackling technique. He entered the 2011 NFL draft early as a junior.
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17. Arthur Brown, LB: Miami/Kansas State
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Arthur Brown came in the 2008 class. Some had Brown as the top overall recruit, but many had him at least as the top linebacker. His play speed was incredible and his film displayed him dominating his Kansas competition.
At 6'2," 220 pounds, I even thought Brown could have played strong safety in a pinch for a defense, as he was the ultimate chase linebacker. Brown's range, quickness and instincts jumped off the screen at you and his name was everywhere. His hype partly came from his peculiar recruitment, as Brown and his "advisor" did things a bit differently.
Brown eventually signed with Miami, where he was expected to play as a true freshman. But sources have told me Brown struggled to both digest and comprehend the Canes' defensive playbook, while also struggling to adjust to better competition. He and his brother Bryce have both transferred to Kansas State.
16. Jason Gwaltney, RB: West Virginia
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Gwaltney had the size, speed and strength to become a dominant college runner. And he did not lack the hype either. From Long Island, New York, Gwaltney was once briefly committed to USC, yet ended up signing with West Virginia. The 6'0", 235-pound rock-toter was a big back with little-back speed and quickness.
Morgantown was buzzing over his anticipated arrival, as he was destined to win a Heisman, lead the nation in rushing and become a first-round draft pick. Yet he ran into off the field issues rather quickly, and appeared in just six games in his first season with the Mountaineers.
Gwaltney was thrown off the WVU squad by Rich Rodriguez as the off-the-field and character issues began piling up too high. He skipped classes and team meetings and was even arrested for alcohol and speeding charges. He finished his career at D-III Kean.
15. Thomas Herring, OL: USC
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6'6", 320 pounds, Herring actually played tight end for Fremont HS in Los Angeles, CA and had amazing athleticism. He was ranked the No.1 overall offensive tackle prospect in the 2004 class.
He came to USC with the 5-star label and was viewed as a future first round pick at left tackle. It never happened. Herring rarely ever saw the field and barely was seen among the 2-deep on the Trojan depth chart.
Whether it was injuries or academics, Herring never lived up to the hype.
14. Demetris Summers, RB: South Carolina
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Back before the Palmetto State had even heard of Jadeveon Clowney, Alshon Jeffery and Marcus Lattimore, Demetris Summers was the man. The 6'1", 210-pound Summers was not only the best player in the state, but the top running back prospect tin the country in 2001. He had blazing speed, home run ability, instincts and vision.
When he chose South Carolina, the Gamecock program was overcome with joy and he was looked at as a player that could single-handedly put South Carolina in the thick of the SEC title race immediately. Yet, Summers battled several failed drug tests during his stay in Columbia.
He never came close to playing like the phenom that everybody saw him as, and was dismissed from the team in 2005. Not knowing what to do, he did not enter the draft until 2006 and went undrafted. Summers signed a free-agent contract with the Cowboys, but was released shortly after. He plays for the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL currently.
13. Chris Galippo, LB: USC
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I hate to put Galippo on this list but...
Galippo was considered the top linebacker in the 2007 class, and committed to USC right after his junior season. He was self quoted at saying he patterned his game after Brian Urlacher, and his pledge to Troy early really set the tone for what would be the top recruiting class in the country.
At 6'2", 230 pounds, what made Galippo big time were his instincts and play recognition, as he could read and react quickly and beat running backs to holes. Galippo took great angles in pursuit, did not back down from blockers and made play after play.
Today he is returning for his senior season at USC, in what has been an up and down tenure. He has battled back injuries and lost out to Devon Kenard for the starting MIKE spot in 2010.
12. Jeff Schweiger, DE: USC/San Jose State
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6'5", 245 pounds, Schweiger had all the tools to be a dominant DE in college. He was ranked No.9 prospect overall in 2004, and the third best DE in the country.
Pete Carroll was in love with his talent, but Schweiger just never did anything. He ended up transferring to San Jose State, even then I thought he would end up dominating for the Spartans like expected at USC, but nothing really shook out from Schweiger.
11. Marcus Vick, QB: Virginia Tech
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The younger brother of Michael Vick, some said Marcus had more talent than his older brother and it actually showed on the field for the Hokies.
6'0", 185 pounds, Vick had a great arm, quick feet and great speed. He made plays, but he routinely was in the midst of off-field problems. He never really seemed to improve and stomping Elvis Dumervil in the 2006 Gator Bowl was among the most ugly displays seen in the decade of college football.
10. Maurice Clarrett, RB: Ohio State
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We all know the story of Maurice Clarett: He came to Ohio State and dominated as a true freshman, tried to go pro as a sophomore, lost, and got drafted in the third round by the Broncos and eventually flamed out of the league and did prison time for an alleged conspired robbery.
Yet before all of that, Clarett was uber-hyped coming into Ohio State. A 6'0", 220-pound running back, he was the 2001 USA Today National Offensive Player of the Year and Ohio's Mr. Football.
People considered him the top running back in his class, and some even said he was the best player and one of the top prospects in recent memory.
Today Clarett plays for the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL
9. Whitney Lewis, WR: USC
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Lewis never wanted to go to USC, so he came to his first fall camp as a freshman with a chip on his shoulder. He was regarded as the top receiver prospect in the country and the 6'1", 215-pounder also had the skills to play running back. He was a like a bigger version of former Arizona State player JR Redmond.
He argued with his parents on signing day because he wanted to go to Florida State, but they wanted him at USC. Norm Chow looked at Lewis to become a jack-of-all-trades revolutionary player, where he would see time at receiver, running back, receiving fullback and in the slot.
Lewis didn't want any of that and didn't want to be at USC. He became overweight and lacked a work ethic. Eventually he transferred to Northern Iowa and flamed out
8. Kyle Wright, QB: Miami
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Wright came to Coral Gables billed as a futuristic version of Ken Dorsey, the former Hurricane signal caller that led Miami to a 34-game winning streak and two BCS title game appearances. At 6'3", 220 pounds, Wright, who chose Miami over USC the summer before his senior season, had a cannon arm, escapability, field vision and accuracy.
He was the 2003 Gatorade Player of the Year and top QB recruit in the country. But he never put it together on the field. He was benched several times for backup Kirby Freeman, and his best season was in 2007 where he tossed for just over 1,740 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Wright also battled rumors of lack of focus and other campus distractions while at Miami. He has been on practice squads for the Vikings and 49ers in years pas
7. Mitch Mustain, QB: Arkansas/USC
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His recruiting saga ended with him sticking with his commitment to Arkansas, after de-committing because he felt Houston Nutt's offense was too run-oriented. Nutt hired Mustain's high school coach, Gus Malzahn, to secure Mustain's pledge to the Hogs.
Mustain started eight games as a true freshman and went 8-0, but left the program because he still was not sold on Houston Nutt. He wound up at USC, and never won a starter's job in Los Angeles.
Mark Sanchez, Aaron Corp and Matt Barkley all kept Mustain on the bench. When Mustain did see time, he never truly flashed the skill set that made him the No. 1 QB recruit in the country in 2006.
Rumor also has it that Mustain actually wanted to go to Notre Dame, but Charlie Weis held off on offering Mustain to ensure he would get Jimmy Clausen in 2007.
Mustain was recently busted for alleged drug possession in Los Angeles and is not expected to be drafted in April.
6. Darrell Scott, RB: Colorado/South Florida
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Scott is a relatively young bust, but a bust anyway you slice it. He had all the hype in high school and was the No.1 rated high school running back in 2008 and had more than 40 offers. 6'1", 200 pounds at the time, he had a combo of size, speed and strength to be a elite runner. He committed to Texas, only to back out when Longhorn running backs coach Ken Rucker was replaced. He announced for Colorado on NSD.
Yet when he arrived Boulder, he never really produced. He had 343 yards on 87 totes in his freshman year. When he did get in the game, you didn't see anything that wowed you. He complained for carries and playing time and announced a transfer in the middle of his sophomore season. He wanted to go to UCLA, but the Bruins didn't want him.
He's now at South Florida and has two more years of eligibility left to revive his career.
5. James Banks, QB/WR: Tennessee
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Banks was one of the biggest QB recruits in the country in 2002, as he was a signal-caller who could do it all.
Highlights of Banks displayed his incredible athleticism, speed, arm strength, savvy and instincts. He committed to Tennessee, where the Vols expected him to take Rocky Top by storm.
Well, Banks had other things in mind, including becoming a receiver.
He actually led the team in receiving his sophomore year in Knoxville with 42 grabs and 621 yards with six touchdowns.
The 6'2", 295-pounder also had reported attitude issues, clashed with coaches and fell behind in his academics. In the spring of 2004, former Vols coach Phil Fulmer suspended Banks for the rest of the spring and finally dismissed him from the squad in December of that year.
Banks transferred to small-school powerhouse Carson-Newman and caught 22 passes for more than 300 yards and six scores in his last season with the Eagles.
He decided to bolt for the NFL early and has not been able to land on a pro squa
4. Ben Olson, QB: BYU/UCLA
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Olson shot up recruiting boards during the spring evaluation period going into his senior year. He is a 6'5", 225-pound lefty with a cannon for an arm who could move well in the pocket. He had offers from every major program in college football.
Olson, of Mormon faith, chose to head to BYU where he took his Mission. Upon returning back from his religious work, he decided that he wanted transfer and ended up at UCLA. Bruin nation was beaming with hope as Olson was destined to be the next big thing in Westwood. It never happened.
If he wasn't battling injuries, Olson was battling rust and poor play. The years he took off for his Mission hindered his development, and he never came close to materializing his potential from high school at UCLA.
3. Ryan Perrilloux, QB: LSU
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Perrilloux had a high school career to remember, totaling nearly13,000 yards of offense. At 6'2", 220 pounds, he was considered the next Donovan McNabb. He could throw, he could run and he claimed he'd win the Heisman as a true freshman.
I remember him saying "LSU needs a QB, and I'm the guy," when the Tigers had JaMarcus Russell and Matt Flynn on the roster. His arrogance proved to be his downfall. Perrilloux routinely broke team rules, rubbed teammates the wrong way and lacked focus and drive to get better. Then he even became involved in a federal investigation and a fight at a nightclub.
He was finally dismissed from the team by Les Miles in 2008 and transferred to Jacksonville State, where he was suspended again for breaking team rules. He went undrafted in 2010, signed with the Hartford Colonials of the UFL and signed as a reserve/futre player for the New York Giants
2. Willie Williams, LB
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Williams was a linebacker who committed to Miami, yet was discovered to have a very dark and disturbing past. He had been arrested over a dozen times in his life and was also going to be unable to qualify to get into Miami. He was then arrested during a recruiting visit to Florida.
6'2", 225 pounds he had the potential to become an all-world linebacker but never did. He did get into Miami, but ended up transferring to West Los Angeles CC. Then he went to Louisville, got arrested for drug possession, tried unsuccessfully to transfer to Glenville State before landing at an NAIA school Union College.
He had the size, speed, quickness and strength to become a great outside 'backer, but he never had the stability and focus to put it all together.
1. Fred Rouse, WR: Florida State
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Rouse was a receiver that was supposed to be the next Randy Moss. Blessed with a 6'5" frame and 4.4 speed, there was nothing that Rouse couldn't do on the field. He was rumored to have felt that he was ready for the NFL out of high school.
He arrived on Florida State's campus with a sense of entitlement and infuriated Bobby Bowden with his lack of focus. He played one season as a 'Nole through the Orange Bowl in 2006. Rouse then transferred to UTEP after the season, ran into off the field problems and ended up at Concordia College, an extremely small school with an enrollment of less than 500.
He's one of the biggest flame-outs of the decade as we never got to see what he could do on the big stage.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
