🏈 Rivals Mike Farrell: Rivals' Biggest Busts: Top five No. 1 prospects who busted out (Hand @ #4?)

[bradenob]

NO. 1 - BYRON COWART, AUBURN
NO. 2 - BRYCE BROWN, TENNESSEE
NO. 3. RONALD POWELL, FLORIDA
NO. 4. DESHAWN HAND, ALABAMA

The skinny: Michigan was considered the leader for a good portion of Hand’s recruiting process, while Alabama and Florida continued to play catch-up. The Crimson Tide finally surpassed the Wolverines after his official visit to Tuscaloosa in late October, which resulted in his commitment in November. Fighting for playing time on the always deep Alabama defensive line, Hand only managed to total 44 tackles and six sacks in his first three seasons. After picking up five tackles this season, the Crimson Tide seem to be in the process of transitioning Hand from the defensive line to linebacker.


Farrell’s take: We had a split vote pretty much between Hand and Garrett for No. 1 overall and I’ll take the blame for this one. We saw both guys as can’t-miss prospects, but I felt Hand could do more as a potential linebacker, defensive end or defensive tackle. He ended up at Alabama and was stuck behind NFL guys for years and this year, his supposed breakout year, hasn’t started off as well as expected. If he busts out, it will be back-to-back defensive ends with Hand in 2014 and Cowart in 2015 as wash-outs. Ouch

5. DERRICK WILLIAMS, PENN STATE

Rivals.com - Rivals' Biggest Busts: Top five No. 1 prospects who busted out

Kind of interesting to include Bryce Brown, as well. Didn't have an amazing impact in college, but has certainly played in the NFL. I guess considering how highly ranked he was, that's still considered a bust?

 

[UAgrad93]

I wouldn't call a kid a bust until their career is over. Let's say Hand continues to do his job, that is take on 2 blockers and allow our LBs to make all of the tackles and he gets 3 tackles a game, with a QBH or 2. Is that a bust should he be drafted? I would say no! I consider a kid a bust like Duron Carter!! Remember that name? The great WR that came to UA but never made it onto the field.
Are Hands numbers underwhelming? Yes, but they must be taken in context with the scheme in which he is being asked to play like @TerryP said. He hasn't been able to pin his ears back and get to the QB.

 

[JoshB]

Kind of interesting to include Bryce Brown, as well. Didn't have an amazing impact in college, but has certainly played in the NFL. I guess considering how highly ranked he was, that's still considered a bust?

His NFL career was damn near identical to his college. Had a decent rookie year (like he had a decent freshman year) then didn't do jack shit the next 2-3 years, bounced around 3-4 teams and hasn't been in the NFL since 2015.

 

[TerryP]

As far as this debate goes someone above nailed it saying Hand is a bust relative to expectations. He has not played anywhere near No. 1 player in the country levels... especially at DL. When I think No.1 player in the country at DL I expect Robert Nkemdiche type production/talent/impact. There is certainly a difference between the 32nd ranked five star, and the No.1 player in the country. Hand would probably not rank in the top 75 of his class now.

(Using this post as an example, not "calling you out" here...but, definitely calling for several to answer this question.)

"He's a bust when compared to Myles Garrett the #2 ranked player in that class." [sic]
"I expect Robert Nkemdiche type production/talent/impact..."

Please, some of you guys step back from that tree you're staring at and look at the forest for a minute.

Nkemdiche. Who was ahead of him on the depth chart at Ole Miss when he arrived?
Garrett. Who was ahead of him on the depth chart at A&M when he arrived?

Were either of those two facing a challenge their frosh year for playing time? No.

Now, assume Hand signed with A&M or Ole Miss. Can you sit there and honestly say he wouldn't have been making an impact for their teams as a true frosh?

If we go with the premises mentioned here and Hand is a bust--relative to expectations--because of his contributions to date that also means this:

• As a true frosh Hand was expected to beat out Pettway for playing time.
• As a true frosh Hand was expected to beat our Reed for playing time.
• ...Hand was expected to beat our Robinson for playing time.
• ...and again, Hand was expected to beat our Reed for playing time.
• ...and Hand was expected to beat our Tomlinson for playing time.

 

[TerryP]

Just to throw another wrench out here...

If you take 247 rankings, .985 is the mark for a five star. Jerrell Harris was ranked .975 or something around that...just a hair under that five star ranking we see bantered about so often.

Was Harris a bust? We didn't see much out of him at all during his career but you can be rest assured that Harris was one of the primary keys to beating LSU in New Orleans for the '11 BCSNC. Harris, holding the edge for the option type approach LSU and Jefferson were taking was one of the main reasons they didn't cross the 50 until late in the fourth.

I'd say a lot would say, "he was a bust based on expectations" leading into his senior year.

 

[Tidestalker]

(Using this post as an example, not "calling you out" here...but, definitely calling for several to answer this question.)

"He's a bust when compared to Myles Garrett the #2 ranked player in that class." [sic]
"I expect Robert Nkemdiche type production/talent/impact..."

Please, some of you guys step back from that tree you're staring at and look at the forest for a minute.

Nkemdiche. Who was ahead of him on the depth chart at Ole Miss when he arrived?
Garrett. Who was ahead of him on the depth chart at A&M when he arrived?

Were either of those two facing a challenge their frosh year for playing time? No.

Now, assume Hand signed with A&M or Ole Miss. Can you sit there and honestly say he wouldn't have been making an impact for their teams as a true frosh?

If we go with the premises mentioned here and Hand is a bust--relative to expectations--because of his contributions to date that also means this:

• As a true frosh Hand was expected to beat out Pettway for playing time.
• As a true frosh Hand was expected to beat our Reed for playing time.
• ...Hand was expected to beat our Robinson for playing time.
• ...and again, Hand was expected to beat our Reed for playing time.
• ...and Hand was expected to beat our Tomlinson for playing time.

Again... Tomlinson, after 2 knee surgeries beat out Hand. Hand had and now has no excuses.

He's just hasn't been any type of special... Which is exactly what anyone outside of this message board (apparently) expects from a #1 recruit. To be special.... Not a role player.

If Jarrell Harris was a #1 overall he would have been on the bust list too. Instead his career (as a whole) would just be considered underwhelming... As T&B explained, that's the difference.

 

[TerryP]

Again... Tomlinson, after 2 knee surgeries beat out Hand. Hand had and now has no excuses.

He's just hasn't been any type of special... Which is exactly what anyone outside of this message board (apparently) expects from a #1 recruit. To be special.... Not a role player.

If Jarrell Harris was a #1 overall he would have been on the bust list too. Instead his career (as a whole) would just be considered underwhelming... As T&B explained, that's the difference.

How often do we hear the knee is stronger after surgery? I'd say more often than hearing about a player that never makes me back: mentally or physically.

Let's flip the context a bit, for shits and giggles, shall we?

Myles Garrett comes to Bama. Or, Nkemdiche. Where are they today? I'll tell you where they would have been as I see this.

Backing up guys like Reed, Robinson, et. al.

Do you think Garrett is better than say...Robinson or Reed? What about Nkemdiche?

We never heard a lot about Harris when he was on the field because he did his job. I encourage you. Go back and watch that '11 NC game again. Watch his containment. It was an All-SEC, if not All-American performance in that game (in the same fashion people looked at Norwood.)

 

[Tidestalker]

How often do we hear the knee is stronger after surgery? I'd say more often than hearing about a player that never makes me back: mentally or physically.

Let's flip the context a bit, for shits and giggles, shall we?

Myles Garrett comes to Bama. Or, Nkemdiche. Where are they today? I'll tell you where they would have been as I see this.

Backing up guys like Reed, Robinson, et. al.

Do you think Garrett is better than say...Robinson or Reed? What about Nkemdiche?

We never heard a lot about Harris when he was on the field because he did his job. I encourage you. Go back and watch that '11 NC game again. Watch his containment. It was an All-SEC, if not All-American performance in that game (in the same fashion people looked at Norwood.)

Harris played a great game and had a solid senior season. To be expected from a 5 star, isn't it? Most of us see a 5 star as a guy that can do that for multiple years.... You must not.

Nkemdiche ain't sitting at Bama bro... C'mon now. Also have to take into account what our staff would have done for him. He would have been a monster (Only argument against would be suspensions IMO... But Saban has straightened out plenty of dudes.

Garrett I haven't seen as much of... Not gonna lie. If he couldn't make an impact before his senior year he'd be considered a bust at that point too.

 

[T&B]

Nkemdiche was a three and out no matter where he committed to play.

On a side note my niece went to high school with Nkemdiche. She (Bama fan obviously) spoke with him from time to time about where he was going. Not only did she tell me that he wore Bama gear all throughout h.s., but he also told her he was going to Bama. The head football coach at the time was former Bama player Mickey Conn who I do believe was stunned when Nkemdiche took the $ffer from reverend freeze.

BTW Mickey Conn is now an on field coach at Clemson I believe.

 

[TerryP]

. The head football coach at the time was former Bama player Mickey Conn who I do believe was stunned when Nkemdiche took the $ffer from reverend freeze.

Clemson had multiple offers out to a few of his teammates... So it was a shock to the people at Clemson.

The staff at Bama thought he was sure lock his junior year until he started seeing other offers...