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National Signing Day 2015: Top 10 underrated recruits

ByPatrick Schmidt|
Sep 26, 2014; Norfolk, VA, USA; A view of footballs on the field before the game between the Old Dominion Monarchs and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Foreman Field. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2014; Norfolk, VA, USA; A view of footballs on the field before the game between the Old Dominion Monarchs and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Foreman Field. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
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Feb 5, 2014; Norcross, GA, USA; Norcross High School defensive end Lorenzo Carter holds a stuffed bulldog after announcing that he will sign with the Georgia Bulldogs at Norcross High School. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2014; Norcross, GA, USA; Norcross High School defensive end Lorenzo Carter holds a stuffed bulldog after announcing that he will sign with the Georgia Bulldogs at Norcross High School. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

National Signing Day is dominated by elite four and five-star recruits but these college football programs hope to find a diamond in the rough in these underrated recruits.

Marcus Mariota was the No. 513 recruit coming out of high school and the No. 22 dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2011 as a lanky 6-4, 190-pound quarterback for St. Louis School in Honolulu, HI.

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He wasn’t even the top recruit in the state of Hawaii when he committed to the Oregon Ducks where he blossomed into one of the best players in the country before winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Ducks to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in 2014.

With National Signing Day and college football recruiting focusing so much attention on the elite five and high four-star recruits on an annual basis there are always diamonds in the rough like Mariota who are unheralded on this day but later develop into the best player in the country.

There were zero five-star recruits to start in Super Bowl 49 and the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft two years ago, Eric Fisher, was a two-star recruit coming out of high school. The point is if you only focus on the top of the recruiting rankings you are going to miss out on some special players who help your college team and those who come back to haunt your team.

I identified 10 recruits who have been overlooked and underrated to see who could be the next Mariota or Fisher and turn into a future college star. They won’t be instant impact performers and most will redshirt and need some seasoning before they make their mark, but your patience will be rewarded with this group.

Without further ado, here are 10 underrated recruits for the class of 2015.

Recruiting rankings courtesy 247Sports Composite Rankings.

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