Growth is a huge part of becoming a football player. It starts at an early age, but the transition from high school to college and then to the NFL is where the most change occurs. The college recruitment process is usually a good indicator of football talent, but even those high school scouting reports are wildly incorrect sometimes. Once you make it to the NFL, none of the positional rankings matter, though.
With that being said, it’s still fun to look back at the high school reports for current Jets stars. Here’s what ESPN scouts got right and wrong about these Jets players.
Sam Darnold
There was a solid amount of fanfare for Darnold coming out of San Clemente High School in California in 2015. He was the eighth-ranked quarterback that year – behind guys like Blake Barnett, Josh Rosen and Drew Lock – and had the ideal size to be a solid pocket-passer and the next great USC quarterback. He flourished after becoming a starter in 2016 and the Jets traded up to take him third overall in 2018.
What the scouting report got right: “Can be very accurate when his feet are under him. … He can make difficult throws when off-balance, across his body or on the run to either side. He’s very consistent technically. … Has the arm strength to stretch the field vertically.”
What the scouting report got wrong: “He reminds us of Brock Osweiler when he was at Arizona State terms of style, measurables and athleticism.”
Le’Veon Bell
Bell was only a two-star recruit out of Groveport Madison High School in Ohio and ranked 211th at the running back position before going to Michigan State in 2010. He overachieved on that assessment in college and even more so at the NFL level.
What the scouting report got right: “Bell has the size for the running back position at the major level of competition. … It usually takes more than one tackler to bring him down; can move the pile and should be productive in goal-line/short-yardage situations.”
What the scouting report got wrong: “His playing speed will be a concern as he lacks the burst and 2nd gear necessary to break out of the pack for long gains. … Showing adequate quickness and vision approaching the line of scrimmage. … … Flashes limited receiving skills. … Bell does not project high at the BCS level of play.”
Jamal Adams
Before signing with LSU in 2014, Adams ranked as the second-best safety prospect in the country as a four-star recruit from Hebron High School in Texas. He developed nicely in Baton Rouge before becoming the Jets’ sixth-overall pick in 2016.
What the scouting report got right: “Has the good size and toughness you look for at the position and plays with a fast and physical style. … Smart and instinctive defender which leads to good production in zone schemes. … Strong run supporter who gets down into the box quickly and in attack mode.”
What the scouting report got wrong: Nothing. Evaluators scouted Adams pretty much flawlessly out of high school.
Quinnen Williams
Williams was a solid four-star recruit out of Wenonah High School in Alabama and ranked as the 31st defensive end recruit in 2016. He had a very successful career at Alabama before the Jets took him third overall in 2019.
What the scouting report got right: “Demonstrates outstanding playing strength with a good initial burst. … Strength could end up being against the run, but defender with good size and strength and when he stays low can push blockers back with power rush. … Demonstrates outstanding playing strength with a good initial burst.”
What the scouting report got wrong: “He likely won’t be the most dynamic presence along the front, but a prospect that displays the tools to be a good, tough productive Power-5 DL.”
Mekhi Becton
Becton possessed a lot of the same skillsets now that he did in high school, including his massive frame. He joined Louisville as a four-star recruit who ranked as the 34th offensive tackle with a 6-foot-6, 300-pound frame. He refined a lot of his raw ability thanks to a staff at Louisville that helped him become the Jets’ 11th overall pick in 2020.
What the scouting report got right: “Good size and length and demonstrates heavy hands and can deliver a nice shock with his punch, capable of knocking rushers off balance. … Can use size to wall off defenders and can do an adequate job of working to the second level and using angles to cover up targets.”
What the scouting report got wrong: Nothing. All of the negatives in the report were mitigated at Louisville. But time will tell if they translate to the NFL.
Denzel Mims
Mims will play a big role on the Jets in 2020, but he was viewed as purely a lanky speedster before he got to college. He ranked 34th at wide receiver and was a four-star recruit out of Daingerfield High School in Texas. He weighed just 180 pounds despite his 6-foot-4 frame, but luckily he put on 27 pounds during his four years at Baylor.
What the scouting report got right: “He has very good height on an ideal frame for a receiver. … He displays quick, strong and reliable hands. … Shows excellent focus in a crowd and is a terrific jump ball tactician. … He does not break tackles, but he does make defenders miss in space.”
What the scouting report got wrong: “Doesn’t always bolt to top speed. … He needs to add strength and toughness to become a serviceable blocker at the next level.”
C.J. Mosley
The commander of the Jets’ front seven, Mosley was actually touted as an outside linebacker in high school before transitioning to his role as an inside linebacker now. He was the seventh-ranked outside linebacker before playing at Alabama and came in as a four-star recruit out of Theodore High School in Alabama.
What the scouting report got right: “Moves very well between the tackles with good short-area quickness and change-of-direction skill. …Mirrors backs well and displays great downhill burst when he squares up to meet ball carriers in the hole. … Has great acceleration for his size and covers a lot of ground quickly.”
What the scouting report got wrong: “Explosive blitzer who is near impossible to block for smaller running backs in pass pro. … Does need some polish and work on his diagnosing skills. … Does need to play more under control at times to avoid overrunning the ball.”
Jamison Crowder
Crowder is now the longest-tenured active receiver on the Jets and should once again be Darnold’s favorite target in 2020. The former three-star recruit out of Monroe High School in North Carolina was under-recruited due to his small frame but managed to carve out a nice role at Duke before breaking out in the NFL with the Redskins as a fourth-round pick.
What the scouting report got right: “Crowder is a really good overall football player despite a lack of ideal size. … He is a sharp and precise route runner and a perfect fit in the slot. … He is very quick and shifty not only as a route runner, but also after the catch.”
What the scouting report got wrong: Nothing. Scouts nailed this one, too.
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