National Signing Day is Wednesday, and to some college football fans that's like Christmas in February.
We decided to take a look at the past five drafts and examine where the first-rounders were ranked as recruits coming out of high school.
There were 160 first-rounders in that span, and 29 of them were rated as five-star prospects (18 percent) by Rivals.com as high school seniors. That's an impressive ratio, considering FBS schools sign about 2,500 football players each season. There generally are about 30 five-star prospects annually, meaning less than 1.5 percent of the players signed are five-star guys.
Generally, there are about 275 to 300 four-star prospects annually, which means the great bulk of players who sign with colleges each season -- about 85 percent -- are two- or three-star guys.
In the past five first rounds of the NFL draft, there also were 64 four-star prospects, 43 three-star prospects, 21 two-star prospects and three unranked prospects. The unranked prospects were Brandon Weeden, who graduated from high school before Rivals had a ranking system, then played five seasons of minor league baseball; Clay Matthews, who was a walk-on at USC; and Ziggy Ansah, who went to high school in Ghana and arrived at BYU as a possible track athlete.
Also worth noting: Nine of the 21 two-star prospects who became first-round picks signed with schools in Conference USA, the MAC, the Mountain West and the WAC -- which means that "big" schools missed on them, too. (One of those nine was J.J. Watt, who signed with Central Michigan before eventually transferring to Wisconsin.) Six more of the two stars played in the Big East or ACC, and none of them played in the Big Ten or SEC.
Here is a look at the players drafted in the past five first rounds. Some of them played different positions in high school, and those are noted. If a player was considered a national top-100 recruit, that is noted, too.
1. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
Particulars: 2-star OT in 2009 recruiting class.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
Particulars: 4-star OT in 2010 recruiting class (national top-40 player).
3. Miami Dolphins: DE Dion Jordan, Oregon
Particulars: 4-star TE in 2008 recruiting class.
4. Philadelphia Eagles: OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
Particulars: 2-star TE in 2009 recruiting class (junior college recruit).
5. Detroit Lions: DE Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, BYU
Particulars: Unranked; did not play high school football (arrived at BYU in 2008 as a track athlete from Ghana).
6. Cleveland Browns: DE Barkevious Mingo, LSU
Particulars: 4-star OLB in 2009 recruiting class.
7. Arizona Cardinals: G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
Particulars: 3-star G in 2008 recruiting class.
8. St. Louis Rams: WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia
Particulars: 4-star RB in 2009 recruiting class.
9. New York Jets: CB Dee Milliner, Alabama
Particulars: 5-star CB in 2010 recruiting class (national top-25 player).
10. Tennessee Titans: G Chance Warmack, Alabama
Particulars: 3-star G in 2009 recruiting class.
11. San Diego Chargers: OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama
Particulars: 5-star OT in 2009 recruiting class (national top-five player).
12. Oakland Raiders: CB DJ Hayden, Houston
Particulars: 3-star S/CB in 2011 recruiting class (national top-50 junior college player).
13. New York Jets: DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
Particulars: 4-star DT in 2011 recruiting class (national top-five junior college player).
14. Carolina Panthers: DT Star Lotulelei, Utah
Particulars: 3-star DE in 2010 recruiting class (national top-50 junior college player).
15. New Orleans Saints: S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
Particulars: 4-star S in 2009 recruiting class.
16. Buffalo Bills: QB E.J. Manuel, Florida State
Particulars: 4-star QB in 2008 recruiting class (national top-50 player).
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
Particulars: 4-star DE in 2009 recruiting class (national top-75 player; signed with USC before transferring).
18. San Francisco 49ers: S Eric Reid, LSU
Particulars: 4-star S in 2010 recruiting class (national top-100 player).
19. New York Giants: G Justin Pugh, Syracuse
Particulars: 2-star OT in 2009 recruiting class.
20. Chicago Bears: G Kyle Long, Oregon
Particulars: 3-star OT in 2012 recruiting class (national top-30 junior college player; signed with Florida State to play baseball out of high school in 2008).
21. Cincinnati Bengals: TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
Particulars: 3-star TE in 2009 recruiting class.
22. Atlanta Falcons: CB Desmond Trufant, Washington
Particulars: 3-star CB in 2009 recruiting class.
23. Minnesota Vikings: DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida
Particulars: 5-star DT in 2010 recruiting class (national top-five player).
24. Indianapolis Colts: DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State
Particulars: 3-star DT in 2010 recruiting class.
25. Minnesota Vikings: CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
Particulars: 3-star WR in 2009 recruiting class.
26. Green Bay Packers: DE Datone Jones, UCLA
Particulars: 4-star DE in 2008 recruiting class.
27. Houston Texans: WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson
Particulars: 4-star ATH in 2010 recruiting class.
28. Denver Broncos: DT Sylvester Williams, North Carolina
Particulars: 3-star DT in 2011 recruiting class (national top-25 junior college recruit).
29. Minnesota Vikings: WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee
Particulars: 4-star WR in 2012 recruiting class (national top-five junior college recruit).
30. St. Louis Rams: LB Alec Ogletree, Georgia
Particulars: 4-star S in 2010 recruiting class (national top-40 player).
31. Dallas Cowboys: C Travis Frederick, Wisconsin
Particulars: 3-star G/C in 2009 recruiting class (an aside: went to Big Foot High School -- seriously -- in tiny Walworth, Wis.).
32. Baltimore Ravens: S Matt Elam, Florida
Particulars: 5-star S in 2010 recruiting class (national top-25 player).
1. Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
Particulars: 4-star QB in 2008 recruiting class (national top-70 player).
2. Washington Redskins: QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor
Particulars: 4-star QB in 2008 recruiting class.
3. Cleveland Browns: RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
Particulars: 5-star RB in 2009 recruiting class (national top-10 player).
4. Minnesota Vikings: OT Matt Kalil, USC
Particulars: 5-star OT in 2008 recruiting class (national top-15 player).
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
Particulars: 3-star WR in 2008 recruiting class.
6. Dallas Cowboys: CB Morris Claiborne, LSU
Particulars: 3-star ATH in 2009 recruiting class.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: SS Mark Barron, Alabama
Particulars: 4-star ATH in 2008 recruiting class (national top-60 player).
8. Miami Dolphins: QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
Particulars: 3-star QB in 2007 recruiting class.
9. Carolina Panthers: LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
Particulars: 3-star LB in 2009 recruiting class.
10. Buffalo Bills: CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
Particulars: 4-star ATH in 2009 recruiting class (national top-90 player).
11. Kansas City Chiefs: DT Dontari Poe, Memphis
Particulars: 2-star DT in 2008 recruiting class.
12. Philadelphia Eagles: DT Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State
Particulars: 4-star DT in 2009 recruiting class (national top-100 player).
13. Arizona Cardinals: WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
Particulars: 5-star WR in 2008 recruiting class (national top-30 player).
14. St. Louis Rams: DT Michael Brockers, LSU
Particulars: 4-star DE in 2009 recruiting class.
15. Seattle Seahawks: DE Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
Particulars: 4-star LB in 2010 recruiting class (national top-10 junior college player).
16. New York Jets: DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina
Particulars: 4-star DE in 2008 recruiting class.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
Particulars: 5-star CB in 2009 recruiting class (national top-15 player).
18. San Diego Chargers: DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
Particulars: 4-star LB in 2007 recruiting class.
19. Chicago Bears: DE Shea McClellin, Boise State
Particulars: 2-star DE in 2007 recruiting class.
20. Tennessee Titans: WR Kendall Wright, Baylor
Particulars: 3-star WR in 2008 recruiting class.
21. New England Patriots: DE Chandler Jones, Syracuse
Particulars: 2-star TE in 2008 recruiting class.
22. Cleveland Browns: QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
Particulars: Graduated high school in 2001, before Rivals.com recruiting rankings existed. Played minor league baseball for five years before signing with Oklahoma State in 2007.
23. Detroit Lions: OT Riley Reiff, Iowa
Particulars: 3-star DE in 2008 recruiting class.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: G David DeCastro, Stanford
Particulars: 3-star C in 2008 recruiting class.
25. New England Patriots: LB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
Particulars: 4-star LB in 2008 recruiting class.
26. Houston Texans: DE Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
Particulars: 3-star DE in 2008 recruiting class.
27. Cincinnati Bengals: G Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin
Particulars: 3-star G in 2008 recruiting class.
28. Green Bay Packers: DE Nick Perry, USC
Particulars: 4-star DE in 2008 recruiting class (national top-60 player).
29. Minnesota Vikings: S Harrison Smith, Notre Dame
Particulars: 4-star ATH in 2007 recruiting class.
30. San Francisco 49ers: WR A.J. Jenkins, Illinois
Particulars: 3-star WR in 2008 recruiting class.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Doug Martin, Boise State
Particulars: 2-star RB in 2007 recruiting class.
32. New York Giants: RB David Wilson, Virginia Tech
Particulars: 4-star RB in 2009 recruiting class (national top-40 player).
1. Carolina Panthers: QB Cam Newton, Auburn
Particulars: 5-star QB in 2010 recruiting class (national No. 1 junior college player; also was a five-star QB and a national top-30 player out of high school in 2007 class).
2. Denver Broncos: OLB Von Miller, Texas A&M
Particulars: 4-star DE in 2007 recruiting class.
3. Buffalo Bills: DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama
Particulars: 3-star DT in 2008 recruiting class.
4. Cincinnati Bengals: WR A.J. Green, Georgia
Particulars: 5-star WR in 2008 recruiting class (national top-10 player).
5. Arizona Cardinals: CB Patrick Peterson, LSU
Particulars: 5-star CB in 2008 recruiting class (national top-five player; known as Patrick Johnson in high school).
6. Atlanta Falcons: WR Julio Jones, Alabama
Particulars: 5-star WR in 2008 recruiting class (national top-five player).
7. San Francisco 49ers: DE Aldon Smith, Missouri
Particulars: 3-star DE in 2008 recruiting class.
8. Tennessee Titans: QB Jake Locker, Washington
Particulars: 4-star QB in 2006 recruiting class (national top-70 player).
9. Dallas Cowboys: OT Tyron Smith, USC
Particulars: 5-star OT in 2008 recruiting class (national top-15 player).
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
Particulars: 5-star QB in 2008 recruiting class (national top-15 player).
11. Houston Texans: DE J.J. Watt, Wisconsin
Particulars: 2-star DE in 2007 recruiting class (signed with Central Michigan before transferring).
12. Minnesota Vikings: QB Christian Ponder, Florida State
Particulars: 3-star QB in 2006 recruiting class.
13. Detroit Lions: DT Nick Fairley, Auburn
Particulars: 3-star DT in 2009 recruiting class (junior college recruit).
14. St. Louis Rams: DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina
Particulars: 4-star DE in 2008 recruiting class.
15. Miami Dolphins: C Mike Pouncey, Florida
Particulars: 4-star G in 2007 recruiting class.
16. Washington Redskins: LB Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
Particulars: 3-star DE in 2007 recruiting class.
17. New England Patriots: OT Nate Solder, Colorado
Particulars: 3-star TE in 2006 recruiting class.
18. San Diego Chargers: DT Corey Liuget, Illinois
Particulars: 4-star DT in 2008 recruiting class (national top-80 player).
19. New York Giants: CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
Particulars: 3-star ATH in 2007 recruiting class.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
Particulars: 4-star DE in 2006 recruiting class.
21. Cleveland Browns: DT Phil Taylor, Baylor
Particulars: 4-star DT in 2006 recruiting class (signed with Penn State before transferring).
22. Indianapolis Colts: OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
Particulars: 2-star OT in 2007 recruiting class (prep school recruit).
23. Philadelphia Eagles: G Danny Watkins, Baylor
Particulars: 4-star OT in 2009 recruiting class (national top-40 junior college recruit).
24. New Orleans: DE Cameron Jordan, California
Particulars: 3-star DE in 2007 recruiting class.
25. Seattle Seahawks: OT James Carpenter, Alabama
Particulars: 4-star OT in 2009 recruiting class (national top-40 junior college recruit).
26. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh
Particulars: 5-star WR in 2008 recruiting class (national top-30 player).
27. Baltimore Ravens: CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado
Particulars: 3-star ATH in 2006 recruiting class.
28. New Orleans Saints: RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
Particulars: 4-star ATH in 2008 recruiting class.
29. Chicago Bears: OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
Particulars: 3-star OT in 2006 recruiting class.
30. New York Jets: DT Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple
Particulars: 3-star G in 2008 recruiting class (prep school recruit).
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: DE Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
Particulars: 4-star DT in 2007 recruiting class.
32. Green Bay Packers: OT Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State
Particulars: 4-star OT in 2007 recruiting class.
1. St. Louis Rams: QB Sam Bradford, Alabama
Particulars: 3-star QB in 2006 recruiting class.
2. Detroit Lions: DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
Particulars: 4-star DT in 2005 recruiting class (national top-60 player).
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
Particulars: 5-star DT in 2006 recruiting class (national top-five player).
4. Washington Redskins: OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma
Particulars: 3-star G in 2006 recruiting class.
5. Kansas City Chiefs: S Eric Berry, Tennessee
Particulars: 5-star DB in 2007 recruiting class (national top-five player).
6. Seattle Seahawks: OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
Particulars: 3-star OT in 2006 recruiting class.
7. Cleveland Browns: CB Joe Haden, Florida
Particulars: 4-star ATH in 2007 recruiting class (national top-60 player).
8. Oakland Raiders: LB Rolando McClain, Alabama
Particulars: 4-star LB in 2006 recruiting class (national top-40 player).
9. Buffalo Bills: RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson
Particulars: 5-star RB in 2006 recruiting class (national top-10 player).
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Tyson Alualu, California
Particulars: 3-star DT in 2005 recruiting class.
11. San Francisco 49ers: OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers
Particulars: 4-star G in 2007 recruiting class (national top-70 player).
12. San Diego Chargers: RB Ryan Mathews, Fresno State
Particulars: 3-star ATH in 2007 recruiting class.
13. Philadelphia Eagles: LB Brandon Graham, Michigan
Particulars: 5-star LB in 2006 recruiting class (national top-15 player).
14. Seattle Seahawks: S Earl Thomas, Texas
Particulars: 4-star ATH in 2007 recruiting class.
15. New York Giants: DE Jason Pierre-Paul, USF
Particulars: 4-star DE in 2009 recruiting class (national top-10 junior college player).
16. Tennessee Titans: DE Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
Particulars: 4-star DE in 2007 recruiting class (national top-80 player).
17. San Francisco 49ers: G Mike Iupati, Idaho
Particulars: 2-star DT in 2005 recruiting class.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida
Particulars: 4-star G in 2007 recruiting class.
19. Atlanta Falcons: LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
Particulars: 2-star LB in 2006 recruiting class.
20. Houston Texans: CB Kareem Jackson, Alabama
Particulars: 4-star DB in 2007 recruiting class (national top-20 prep school player).
21. Cincinnati Bengals: TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
Particulars: 4-star TE in 2006 recruiting class (national top-35 player).
22. Denver Broncos: WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech
Particulars: 3-star WR in 2006 recruiting class.
23. Green Bay Packers: OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
Particulars: 4-star OT in 2007 recruiting class (national top-70 player).
24. Dallas Cowboys: WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
Particulars: 4-star WR in 2007 recruiting class (national top-60 player).
25. Denver Broncos: QB Tim Tebow, Florida
Particulars: 5-star QB in 2006 recruiting class (national top-25 player).
26. Arizona Cardinals: DT Dan Williams, Tennessee
Particulars: 3-star DT in 2005 recruiting class.
27. New England Patriots: CB Devin McCourty, Rutgers
Particulars: 2-star CB in 2005 recruiting class.
28. Miami Dolphins: DT Jared Odrick, Penn State
Particulars: 4-star DT in 2006 recruiting class (national top-40 player).
29. New York Jets: CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State
Particulars: 2-star CB in 2005 recruiting class.
30. Detroit Lions: RB Jahvid Best, California
Particulars: 4-star RB in 2007 recruiting class (national top-100 player).
31. Indianapolis Colts: DE Jerry Hughes, TCU
Particulars: 2-star DE in 2006 recruiting class.
32. New Orleans Saints: CB Patrick Robinson, Florida State
Particulars: 4-star CB in 2006 recruiting class.
1. Detroit Lions: QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia
Particulars: 5-star QB in 2006 recruiting class (national top-10 player).
2. St. Louis Rams: OT Jason Smith, Baylor
Particulars: 2-star G in 2004 recruiting class.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: DE Tyson Jackson, LSU
Particulars: 3-star DE in 2004 recruiting class.
4. Seattle Seahawks: LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
Particulars: 2-star OLB in 2004 recruiting class.
5. New York Jets: QB Mark Sanchez, USC
Particulars: 5-star QB in 2005 recruiting class (national top-10 player).
6. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Andre Smith, Alabama
Particulars: 5-star OL in 2006 recruiting class (national top-three player).
7. Oakland Raiders: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland
Particulars: 4-star WR in 2005 recruiting class.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
Particulars: 5-star OT in 2005 recruiting class (national top-three player).
9. Green Bay Packers: DT B.J. Raji, Boston College
Particulars: 2-star DT in 2004 recruiting class.
10. San Francisco 49ers: WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
Particulars: 4-star ATH in 2006 recruiting class.
11. Buffalo Bills: DE/OLB Aaron Maybin, Penn State
Particulars: 4-star DE in 2006 recruiting class.
12. Denver Broncos: RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
Particulars: 4-star RB in 2006 recruiting class (national top-75 player).
13. Washington Redskins: DE Brian Orakpo, Texas
Particulars: 4-star DE in 2004 recruiting class.
14. New Orleans Saints: CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
Particulars: 3-star CB in 2005 recruiting class.
15. Houston Texans: LB Brian Cushing, USC
Particulars: 4-star LB in 2005 recruiting class (national top-60 player).
16. San Diego Chargers: DE/LB Larry English, Northern Illinois
Particulars: 2-star OLB in 2004 recruiting class.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Josh Freeman, Kansas State
Particulars: 4-star QB in 2006 recruiting class (national top-100 player).
18. Denver Broncos: DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee
Particulars: 4-star ILB in 2004 recruiting class.
19. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
Particulars: 4-star WR in 2006 recruiting class.
20. Detroit Lions: TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State
Particulars: 2-star TE in 2004 recruiting class.
21. Cleveland Browns: C Alex Mack, California
Particulars: 2-star C in 2004 recruiting class.
22. Minnesota Vikings: WR Percy Harvin, Florida
Particulars: 5-star WR in 2006 recruiting class (national No. 1 player).
23. Baltimore Ravens: OT Michael Oher, Ole Miss
Particulars: 5-star OT in 2005 recruiting class (national top-50 player).
24. Atlanta Falcons: DT Peria Jerry, Ole Miss
Particulars: 3-star OT in 2005 recruiting class (national top-15 prep school player).
25. Miami Dolphins: CB Vontae Davis, Illinois
Particulars: 3-star CB in 2006 recruiting class.
26. Green Bay Packers: LB/DE Clay Matthews, USC
Particulars: Unranked LB in 2004 recruiting class (he walked on at USC and received a scholarship in 2006).
27. Indianapolis Colts: RB Donald Brown, Connecticut
Particulars: 3-star RB in 2005 recruiting class.
28. Buffalo Bills: C Eric Wood, Louisville
Particulars: 2-star OT in 2004 recruiting class.
29. New York Giants: WR Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina
Particulars: 4-star WR in 2006 recruiting class.
30. Tennessee Titans: WR Kenny Britt, Rutgers
Particulars: 4-star WR in 2006 recruiting class.
31. Arizona Cardinals: RB Chris "Beanie" Wells, Ohio State
Particulars: 5-star RB in 2006 recruiting class (national top-three player).
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: DT Evander "Ziggy" Hood, Missouri
Particulars: 3-star DE in 2005 recruiting class.
Follow Mike Huguenin on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
