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Florida Football: Cam’Ron Jackson proves star ratings aren’t everything

By Benjamin Henderson

DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 27: Cooper Legas #5 of the Utah State Aggies is sacked bye Cam'Ron Jackson #10 of the Memphis Tigers in the first half of the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on December 27, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 27: Cooper Legas #5 of the Utah State Aggies is sacked bye Cam'Ron Jackson #10 of the Memphis Tigers in the first half of the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on December 27, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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There are ten future members of Florida football in Orlando this week to take part in the annual Under Armour All-America Game. These players are all some of the highest rated high school prospects in the country and they have earned the right to be in Orlando to showcase their talents.

But the newest member of the Florida Gators is a reminder that there are talented players that exist that aren’t thought of very highly coming out of high school.

Florida Football: Star gazing

If you were to poll most Florida fans on who was the defensive MVP for the Gators this past season, a good number of fans would say Ventrell Miller. Yet when Miller signed on with the Gators in 2017, not many fans would have projected that. Miller was a three-star recruit, and not a highly rated one at that.

Now yes, Miller is 23-years old now and is old enough to be a three-year veteran in the NFL, but it’s proof guys can develop.

Meanwhile Florida football had on its roster to start its 2021 Spring camp one of the highest rated running backs in the country in 2020. Demarkcus Bowman wound up transferring to UCF, his third school in as many years.

These are anecdotal of course and in general the percentage of five-star prospects that pan out are going to be higher than the percentage of three-star prospects. But Jackson’s commitment to Florida is a reminder that with proper development, three-stars can become four-stars.

Jackson was undersized to play DT in the SEC coming out of high school at 6-5, 270 pounds. He has since bulked up the 340 pounds and is an absolute menace along the line of scrimmage. As the 649th rated player coming out of high school, no one would have projected that he would become an SEC lineman.

Too often we get caught up in thinking signing day is the be all, end all of a successful college football team. Yes, part of Georgia’s dominance these past couple of years can be attributed to their signing classes. But Georgia had consistent top 10 classes prior to this run, so it’s not like they were brining in bottom level talent.

Plus Miami, Auburn, Texas A&M, Texas, Nebraska and Stanford have all had recruiting classes the last four years that would indicate a talent level far better than the product they put on the field.

Of Florida’s seven losses this year, only two (Georgia and LSU) had a better talent composite rating than the Gators.

TCU is about the play for the national title and hasn’t had a top 20 recruiting class in forever.

So if you watch the All-America Game tomorrow, certainly cheer on the future members of Florida football. Just keep in mind some key contributors for the Gators’ future success are not in Orlando and are not players you have heard of.

Yet.

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