Recruiting flashback: Booms and busts of the 2013 Class (SEC West)
Earlier we looked at the SEC East’s and West’s recruiting booms and busts of the 2012 class, so now we spin ahead to 2013. There was a little apprehension with this class because a lot of the prospects are still in their respective programs and their stories haven’t been fully written.
There are a few ground rules:
* If the player is still in the program they can’t be a bust … yet
* I will acknowledge junior college recruits as well.
* If all things are equal players that are dismissed for disciplinary reasons trump those that just transferred for playing time.
Now that that’s settled. Here is the SEC West.
ALABAMA
Boom: Derrick Henry, RB – He won a Heisman Trophy and a national title and broke Herschel Walker’s SEC’s single-season rushing record. In a class that was stacked with talent, Henry’s accomplishments rise above the rest.
Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Bust: Darius Paige, DT – Paige made more news about a questionable high school transfer than he did with the Tide because he was medically disqualified before his eligibility started.
ARKANSAS
Boom: Alex Collins, RB – Three 1,000-yard seasons in three years allowed Collins to join some elite SEC company (Herschel Walker and Darren McFadden). Collins was a SEC Freshman of the Year and a All-SEC second-team performer during his time at Arkansas.
Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Bust: Korliss Marshall, RB – Marshall’s development was riddled with disciplinary problems until he left the program after the 2014 and ended up at Eastern Illinois.
AUBURN
Boom: Nick Marshall, QB – I had to look at this class up and down, and the bottom line is Marshall, coming from Georgia and out of junior college, was the star. He led the program to a BCS Championship Game and put up good numbers. And he’s still better than any Auburn QB since then.
Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Bust: Elijah Daniel, DL – Daniel was a promising player after two seasons and then he got arrested and kicked out of the program. He was planning to transfer to FCS Youngstown State but ended up at Murray State.
LSU
Boom: Tre’Davious White, DB – In a class that has more misses than hits White has proven to be a solid performer that will play for the Tigers in 2016 despite having a late first-round NFL grade for the past draft. White was on the All-SEC Freshman team in 2013 and the second team in 2015.
Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Bust: Jeryl Brazil, DB – This one annoys me a little because I saw Brazil absolutely bust his behind as a rising senior to go from a decent prospect to a top 100 talent. Then he let disciplinary issues ruin his opportunity. He was booted from LSU in 2013 after multiple arrests and ended up at Louisiana Lafayette but was dismissed from that program after a year as well.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Boom: Chris Jones, DT — It was going to be hard for this five-star prospect to live up to the expectations, but he wasn’t bad and finished his three-year career with the Bulldogs with over 100 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Jones was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Bust: B.J. Hammond, WR – Hammond came into the program as a wide receiver and left as a tight end with two games under his belt after three years. Hammond left the program early in the 2015 season.
OLE MISS
Boom: Laquon Treadwell, WR – There are a few options here, but Treadwell recovered from a major injury and didn’t have disciplinary problems or cause an NCAA investigation, so he gets the nod. Plus Treadwell was pretty solid with 2,400 yards receiving and 21 touchdowns during his three season. He will be catching balls for the Minnesota Vikings this fall after they drafted him 23rd overall.
Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Bust: Ryan Buchanan, QB – Four-star prospect played slim minutes as a reserve and decided to end his football career after the 2015 season to focus on academics and a post-football career.
TEXAS A&M
Boom: Daeshon Hall, DE – The bad outweighs the good in the Aggies class but Hall has done well for himself with over 100 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks through three seasons. He will be on a few All-SEC preseason teams before the 2016 season begins.
Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Bust: Sampler Platter, All Positions – The Aggies 2013 class was bad enough that I couldn’t pick just one. Wide receivers Sebastian LaRue and Laquivonte Gonzalez? Maybe. Justin Manning? Injury-riddled career ended after three seasons and five games. Isaiah Golden and Darian Claiborne have a lot of problems. Kenny “Trill” Hill peaked with the 500-yard performance at the start of the 2014 season and had a big drop. Kameron Miles barely lasted a season before being booted and ending up at Boise State. Outside of a few exceptions this recruiting class would be best described as straight garbage.
