Lost Sheep to Shepard

Tomorrow is the day. D-day, J-day…what ever you want to call it, Thursday’s the day that will define Tennessee’s off-season for many a fan. Jesse Scroggins will announce tomorrow his commitment to the university of his choice and, for Vol fans, it seems that the decision will make or break the 2010 recruiting class. Scroggins is good, and many in the know tell us that he’s even better than his ratings with the major recruiting services. Still, to base the season on a 6’2” 191-pound young man that’s been knocked for lacking a deep ball seems a little myopic, even by SEC standards.

 Jesse Scroggins may be the next coming of Donavan McNabb, but he also might be the next Jonathan Crompton, we just don’t know. Here’s what we do know:

• He’s the 7^th ranked QB according to scout.com in a class that has been called the worst in a decade by more than one expert
• Scroggins has pretty good size (again, 6’2” 191) for a pro-style QB, but nothing exceptional. Nick Stephens was 6’2” 208-pounds and also a 4-star performer coming out of high school
• As a junior he completed 57% of his passes for 2, 462 yards with 23 TD’s and 10 INT’s
• His teammate Dion Bailey has already committed to USC
• He’s choosing between USC, Florida, and Tennessee

That’s it. What does any of this tell us? No one really knows right now if he’s got the goods or not. Recruiting’s a crap shoot and, as often as not, quarterbacks come up box cars and you’re left calling your parents to wire you money so that you’re knuckles don’t get broken. Here’s a look at the top 10 QB’s in college football according to Lindy’s and their rating coming out of high school:

1. Tim Tebow, Florida- 5 star
2. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma- 4 star
3. Colt McCoy, Texas- 4 star
4. Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State- 2 star
5. Jevan Snead, Ole Miss- 4 star
6. Todd Reesing, Kansas- 2 star
7. Max Hall, BYU- 2 star
8. Dan LeFevour, C. Michigan- 2 star
9. Jeremiah Masoli, Oregon- 1 star
10.  Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State- 5 star

That’s four 2-star players, three 4-star players, two 5-star players, and a 1-star player.

 To make it at an elite level a college QB doesn't have to have an NFL arm or elite size. Remember what Georgia did with David Greene? That guy's selling insurance now.  If Scroggins does decide to come to Tennessee then the Vols have answered their QB question for at least one class. If he chooses to go to school elsewhere, there are plenty of other girls at the mixer. More than one unknown QB will break’em off something proper in his senior year and the Vols will be in a very enviable position. If I’m Lane Kiffin I star calling Munchie Legaux the 4-star kid out of Louisianna. Either that or wait and see. Lots of quality QB's transfer during their careers (Ravens starter Joe Flacco for one), plenty more don't get a shot before their senior season.