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January 2026 Recruiting thread



Do stars matter in recruiting? The age-old debate is certain to be amplified by Indiana's historic run.

Here's my take from someone who has worked at the crossroads of college coaches and media for 30 years:

Yes, because the math is empirical -- crystal clear. In last year's draft, 69% of 5-stars were drafted, and 65% over the last 3 drafts. **** Simply put: a 5-star is 19 times more likely to be drafted than a 2-star or unranked player ... 4 stars are 7 times more likely. Over the past three decades, recruiting rankings have been an excellent predictor of a high school player's success leading to the draft, and that is not up for debate.

Yes, because much of the data that goes into rankings and ratings comes from college coaches. There has been a 3-decade mutual information exchange among ranking scouts, college assistants, and now GMs. The entire coaching community provides valuable feedback during the discovery and slotting process. The argument that the rankings are generated from a bunch of non-former players sitting behind computers is simply not true. This repository of data is the work of an entire ecosystem -- the reason it has been so accurate over the years.

Yes, because it matters to the teams that most often win the title. Teams like Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, LSU, etc. have consistently been the teams over the past decade that have won titles and annually place in the top 3-5 in recruiting rankings. Also, while Indiana's historic team is not built on the foundation of Blue Chips, we are already seeing the Hoosier staff target 4-5-star recruits and TP on the heels of their success.

No, it is not everything. It's not even close. It may not even be the most important thing, but it is extremely valuable. No one in the recruiting industry believes that 2, 3, or unranked players are destined to failure -- not playing at a P5 or ultimately drafted. Grit, hard work, ball skills, "mental as to physical as 4:1" (aka Bobby Knight) are huge factors -- it's not just about raw talent. Admittedly, our industry struggles to measure intangibles, and we are no different than colleges and pro scouts.

The system is not perfect. Despite all the data, testing, and recommendations from college coaches, performance on the field, the scouting process remains heavily subjective. Additionally, there will be players every year who don't get seen—get noticed. There are late bloomers and outliers.

But what the system has proven since it started is that the math doesn't lie. There are only 32 five stars every year, around 350 4-stars out of thousands of high school football players, and more than 65% of those 5 stars get drafted.

That is an amazing success rate year after year, and that is why the very system that is often challenged is so heavily relied on. Not to mention, college programs are throwing millions at these selected 32 "prospects" each and every year before they ever play a down at the college level.

@Rivals

on3.com/nfl/draft/2025…
 

Nebraska moves into top spot for 4-star DL Dylan Berymon after official visit​

Sam Spiegelman-3
by: Sam Spiegelman

Nebraska has been making a run for 4-star DL Dylan Berymon for weeks.

Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers’ staff extended an offer to one of the top unsigned 2026 prospects amid a strong senior campaign for Monroe (La.) Ouachita Parish.

Berymon finally made it to Lincoln over the weekend for his first official visit since reopening his recruitment.

Nebraska has moved into the top spot for the touted 4-star target.

“Man, it was crazy. It was everything,” Berymon told Rivals upon returning back to The Boot.

“I feel like after finally getting down there, seeing how everything was … they’re the leader right now until the other visits,” he continued.

Berymon will officially visit Kentucky next weekend (January 17) and is trending to hit Oklahoma State (January 24) after.

The Huskers set the bar moving forward after rolling out the red carpet during this official visit.

“The environment around the school,” Berymon said of the highlights. “The School, riding through the town and seeing Nebraska on everything, you know. Flying into Omaha, it was crazy.”

“I fit in pretty well, especially with the new defensive front they’re gonna be running,” he went on. “I feel like I’ll fit in really well.”

The Nebraska coaching staff has been after Berymon for weeks and is setting the pace in his recruitment.

The 4-star DL loves the direction of the Huskers’ program.

“They made a good impression. They kept it real with me,” he said. “I feel like they’re gonna turn Nebraska up another notch. From the previous years they spent at other schools, they’re gonna turn this program around.”

“They’ve been recruiting me hard and what excited me was finally getting down there and seeing them,” Berymon added. “The facilities were crazy.”
 

Nebraska moves into top spot for 4-star DL Dylan Berymon after official visit​

Sam Spiegelman-3
by: Sam Spiegelman

Nebraska has been making a run for 4-star DL Dylan Berymon for weeks.

Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers’ staff extended an offer to one of the top unsigned 2026 prospects amid a strong senior campaign for Monroe (La.) Ouachita Parish.

Berymon finally made it to Lincoln over the weekend for his first official visit since reopening his recruitment.

Nebraska has moved into the top spot for the touted 4-star target.

“Man, it was crazy. It was everything,” Berymon told Rivals upon returning back to The Boot.

“I feel like after finally getting down there, seeing how everything was … they’re the leader right now until the other visits,” he continued.

Berymon will officially visit Kentucky next weekend (January 17) and is trending to hit Oklahoma State (January 24) after.

The Huskers set the bar moving forward after rolling out the red carpet during this official visit.

“The environment around the school,” Berymon said of the highlights. “The School, riding through the town and seeing Nebraska on everything, you know. Flying into Omaha, it was crazy.”

“I fit in pretty well, especially with the new defensive front they’re gonna be running,” he went on. “I feel like I’ll fit in really well.”

The Nebraska coaching staff has been after Berymon for weeks and is setting the pace in his recruitment.

The 4-star DL loves the direction of the Huskers’ program.

“They made a good impression. They kept it real with me,” he said. “I feel like they’re gonna turn Nebraska up another notch. From the previous years they spent at other schools, they’re gonna turn this program around.”

“They’ve been recruiting me hard and what excited me was finally getting down there and seeing them,” Berymon added. “The facilities were crazy.”
Well since he’s still taking other visits I’m gonna assume #hegone
 

Nebraska moves into top spot for 4-star DL Dylan Berymon after official visit​

Sam Spiegelman-3
by: Sam Spiegelman

Nebraska has been making a run for 4-star DL Dylan Berymon for weeks.

Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers’ staff extended an offer to one of the top unsigned 2026 prospects amid a strong senior campaign for Monroe (La.) Ouachita Parish.

Berymon finally made it to Lincoln over the weekend for his first official visit since reopening his recruitment.

Nebraska has moved into the top spot for the touted 4-star target.

“Man, it was crazy. It was everything,” Berymon told Rivals upon returning back to The Boot.

“I feel like after finally getting down there, seeing how everything was … they’re the leader right now until the other visits,” he continued.

Berymon will officially visit Kentucky next weekend (January 17) and is trending to hit Oklahoma State (January 24) after.

The Huskers set the bar moving forward after rolling out the red carpet during this official visit.

“The environment around the school,” Berymon said of the highlights. “The School, riding through the town and seeing Nebraska on everything, you know. Flying into Omaha, it was crazy.”

“I fit in pretty well, especially with the new defensive front they’re gonna be running,” he went on. “I feel like I’ll fit in really well.”

The Nebraska coaching staff has been after Berymon for weeks and is setting the pace in his recruitment.

The 4-star DL loves the direction of the Huskers’ program.

“They made a good impression. They kept it real with me,” he said. “I feel like they’re gonna turn Nebraska up another notch. From the previous years they spent at other schools, they’re gonna turn this program around.”

“They’ve been recruiting me hard and what excited me was finally getting down there and seeing them,” Berymon added. “The facilities were crazy.”
#notcommitted
 
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