Hello: Taylor Upshaw

There is alot of wiggle room when you talk about being really underrated. Moreover , it is only their second year, so we are still a ways away from saying anyone was over or underrated in that class. However, metellus in the 730's in the composite rankings. So it feels like Metellus has already out preformed his ranking because guys in that range are not really expect to see starting time and play pretty well until further along in their careers. I think as a second year safety he us playing like you would expect from a lower/mid 4 star The sample size on spanellis is very small so it is more speculative for sure. However, he has looked pretty good at mailing dudes in the run game for a second year dude ranked in the 700's. Uche is another I listed who has even less snaps but has looked way better than the 707 rank. McKeon was even lower rated, despite showing having good film. Sure, it was against crap competition (unlike the 3 other guys listed above), but his route running, speed and athleticism was clear on tape. Not to say he looked like an elite te coming out, however he looked close to a top ten team than a 45th ranked one. In his second year, he is playing like a guy that could be one of the top te drafted in a few years (this is assuming he continues to improve and has does not get a bunch if injuries). Hudson was the one that really made me scratch my head though. He had the tape and measurables making his 390ish ranking crazy. Especially after the all Star game. With all that said, we can only judge them on what they have done in their second years. I think all the starters I mentioned have already out preformed their ranks and I think metellus is the only one that can be argued against because McKeon and Hudson have vastly out preformed theirs. While the others have shown flashes that they will likely out preform theirs.

I am the last to argue that recruiting ranking don't matter, and realize the more high 4stars and 5 stars matter. And you are absolutely right about the rate they get drafted. I think harbaugh is really good at finding guys that are overlooked and seeing something in him. I don't know what his % was at Stanford for taking 3 stars and lower and getting them to the NFL compared to the % of five stars that make it, but it has to be a lot higher than most coaches. I also say I agree with our basic premise in the second paragraph. However, I would not choose those 2 guys as examples. Gil was a safety in highschool and was far to slow to play that position in highschool but had the height and frame to gain the weight needed to play backer. The recruiting sites just saw him at safety, which I thought was crazy because it was clear to me that a slow safety that is a big hitter and spent a bunch if time in the box is pretty likely to play backer in college. He has had very little time on defense but has looked like he could be a pretty good backer if he continues to gain weight. And he has made some good hits in ST this year. Although, he has a bunch of studs in the 17 class that may pass him up, so you may get right to list him. But, brown did mention he was excited to see him and the 17 backers next year when asked about the young guys he is excited about for next year. Uche was a 212 de in highschool that had a bunch of fast twitch stuff you like to see... But he was 212!!! That is alot of weight you need to get up to playing weight, even for a stand up edge rushing in exotic passing downs - which I don't think the recruiting sites took that into account and rated him as a wde that was very undersized and needed a few year to gain the weight needed. Anyways, he has started to get playing time in the last few games in passing down packages and has looked really good in that role. The dude has NFL upside. He needs to continue to gain weight, but he can straight up fly when asked to strictly rush the QB and not worry about the rush. Basically, I think there are examples of 3 stars that don't pan out in that class but I don't think those guys are good examples.

Not one person has ever said Ulizio would be developed into a first round pick.  Ever.  

He was a late-cycle grab by necessity in Harbaugh's first class, and universally recognized as such.  Clearly not ready in year 3, we'll see about next year.  

Should have, anyway.