Of course there is bias, poor information and plain odd misinformation out there. However, as I have argued a few months back, the advent of HUDL tape for virtually all D1-D3 level recruits nationwide is really a game changer. Its harder for Randy to have hidden gems both near and from afar with so much tape out there. Plus, after 10+ years of watching tape, the services are getting better at this overall. I can't say I watch many tapes right now and say WTF on the grading. Yes, maybe a couple, but most of the time no.
What will always be absent from film however will be i) heart and passion for football and winning, ii) academics, iii) a good sense of where the kid is in his physical development, room to grow or dominating as a 17 year old because he already has a 21 year old's body, iv) coachability, and v) did local scheme issues mask/limit potential (some HS programs under use or miss use players).
We can talk circles on this, but nothing will change the fact that the next rise of UConn football will be on Randy's diamonds again. Any other way is very unlikely.
PS - watch 10 HUDL tapes from GA, TX and FL and then watch local stuff. Its night and day. I know I am stating the obvious, but just saying.
The talent arbitrage is still there. The P5 programs are going to go after developed football players. They will take very few if any 265 lb OL like William Beatty, DL like 220 lb Kendall Reyes, or CB like 165 lb Blidi Wrey-Wilson or 152 lb Jasper Howard. Or undersized skill players like Nick Williams, Larry Taylor, Jordan Todman, or Terry Caulley. Or Canadian players. Those players wouldn't have been helped by HUDL as they were passed over based on size and development.
Look at Todman. He was very well known in Massachusetts as he rushed for over 2000 yards his JR and SR seasons averaging over 10 yards per carry and 61 TDs. But he was a 5'10" 180 lbs RB, so he was somewhat overlooked. BC offered him, but to play DB and he wanted to play RB.
This is from Larry Taylor's Wikipedia page:
"Taylor's speed—measured at 4.3 seconds on the 40-yard dash—made him an attractive target for Division I football programs;
[5] his diminutive size—5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) and 157 pounds (71 kg)—caused that interest to abate.
[6] Schools such as
Tennessee and
Mississippi State evaluated Taylor but eventually declined to offer a scholarship. In the end
Connecticut,
Eastern Michigan, and
Middle Tennessee State made scholarship offers. After making his only official visit to Connecticut, Taylor opted to sign with the Huskies."
Look at our starting DL in the Fiesta Bowl:
Kendall Reyes 220 lb recruit to 298 lbs.
Shamar Stephen 260 lb recruit to 300 lbs.
Twyon Martin 260 lb recruit to 292 lbs.
Jesse Joseph 230 lb recruit to 255 lbs.
They weren't recruited because they were undersized and not developed.
The Fiesta Bowl team is full of undersized and undeveloped players like:
Scott Lutrus 196 lb recruit to 245 lbs.
Ryan Griffin 220 lb recruit to 243 lbs.
Zach Hurd 260 lb recruit to 325 lbs.
Blidi Wrey-Wilson 165 lb recruit to 191 lbs.
Many of the kids in GA, TX, FL are highly developed in high school, so they do deserve their recruiting ratings. There are lots of good players in those areas, but you have to project how good will they be in 4 years. Many are already fully developed based on being redshirted in high school and advanced high school training programs.
