[Redrum]

  Every year the NFL draft shows that football talent can reside at almost any school.  But that's just because of the joys of large test populations and a four year selection process.  Coaches pass on talent for lots of reasons: fit with the scheme, existing strength at a particular position, mis-evaluation of potential.  But even if coaches mis-evaluate, most of the good football players end up playing to roughly their potential.

But in the end, the kid isn't going to end up playing for 24/7's optimized algorithm.  He's going to end up playing for one coaching staff that put down a bet on him, possibly passing up a better player who would have been more productive.  If competent coaches--who presumably know more about football than most of us and more than most of the dependent pundit/media expert class--choose to offer a kid,  that carries a little more weight in my own opinions.

P.S.  Veach's dad, despite his enthusiasm for his alma mater,  was not offended by ASU's wanting to see Veach perform up close, in person.  He understood,  but acknowledged their hesitation, however justified, cost them what he thinks will be a pretty gifted football player. C'est la vie.

[Redrum]

  Every year the NFL draft shows that football talent can reside at almost any school.  But that's just because of the joys of large test populations and a four year selection process.  Coaches pass on talent for lots of reasons: fit with the scheme, existing strength at a particular position, mis-evaluation of potential.  But even if coaches mis-evaluate, most of the good football players end up playing to roughly their potential.

But in the end, the kid isn't going to end up playing for 24/7's optimized algorithm.  He's going to end up playing for one coaching staff that put down a bet on him, possibly passing up a better player who would have been more productive.  If competent coaches--who presumably know more about football than most of us and more than most of the dependent pundit/media expert class--choose to offer a kid,  that carries a little more weight in my own opinions.

P.S.  Veach's dad, despite his enthusiasm for his alma mater,  was not offended by ASU's wanting to see Veach perform up close, in person.  He understood,  but acknowledged their hesitation, however justified, cost them what he thinks will be a pretty gifted football player. C'est la vie.