Looking back at the old recruiting rankings in football can be a fascinating exercise, as it allows us to reflect on the success stories and also the missed opportunities. It’s interesting to see how the highly rated five-star recruits, who were supposed to be the next big thing in the sport, have fared at the college and even the professional level. While many of these players have lived up to the hype and become stars, there are also cases where these top recruits turned out to be disappointments. And then, there are those hidden gems who were not highly sought after by big-time college programs but have gone on to make a name for themselves in the NFL.
One such talent is Miami Dolphins’ standout defensive end, Emmanuel Ogbah. Despite his impressive college career and current success in the NFL, Ogbah says he did not receive any significant offers from big-time college programs. This serves as a reminder that rankings and ratings are not always accurate indicators of a player’s potential and that some players simply need the right opportunity to shine.
Ogbah’s journey to the NFL was unconventional, to say the least. Born and raised in Nigeria, he did not start playing football until his junior year of high school. Despite his lack of experience, he caught the attention of college scouts with his raw athleticism and physicality on the field. However, he did not receive much interest from the powerhouse programs and ended up playing college football at Oklahoma State University. Even there, he was not a highly sought-after recruit and was ranked as a three-star prospect by most recruiting sites.
But Ogbah did not let his lack of big-time offers deter him. He worked hard and quickly established himself as a force on the field. In his junior year, he recorded a career-high 17 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, earning him first-team All-Big 12 honors. He followed it up with an even more impressive senior year, recording 17.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. It was no surprise when he was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.
Despite having ups and downs in his first few seasons in the NFL, Ogbah continued to work hard and improve his game. In 2020, he joined the Miami Dolphins and had a career year, recording 9 sacks and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. His transformation from an under-the-radar college recruit to a key player on a playoff-caliber team is nothing short of remarkable.
Ogbah’s journey serves as a reminder that rankings and ratings are not always the best measure of a player’s potential. While there are certainly players who live up to the hype, there are also those like Ogbah, who are not given the same opportunities but go on to prove their worth.
So, who are some of the other players who were not highly rated recruits but have gone on to have successful careers in the NFL? One name that comes to mind is Super Bowl champion quarterback, Tom Brady. Brady was considered a three-star recruit coming out of high school and had limited playing time during his college career at the University of Michigan. Fast forward to today, and he is arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Another notable example is two-time Pro Bowl running back, Chris Carson of the Seattle Seahawks. Carson was ranked as a two-star recruit and had only one offer from a major college program, Oklahoma State, where he went on to become an All-Big 12 player before being drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft.
The list goes on to include players like All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who went undrafted and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent, and three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Khalil Mack, who was a two-star recruit coming out of high school.
These players serve as a reminder that success in football is not solely determined by recruiting rankings, but also by determination, hard work, and opportunities. It’s always interesting to look back and see how these players have defied the odds and exceeded expectations.
In conclusion, the case of Emmanuel Ogbah highlights the importance of not underestimating players who may not have been highly rated recruits. Ogbah’s journey, along with others in the NFL, proves that rankings and ratings are not everything and that sometimes, it’s the underdogs who have the most to prove and the most to gain. So,
