National Signing Day 2018: Top 10 diamonds in the rough

San Diego State has become one of the premiere Group of Five programs in the nation under head coach Rocky Long. The Aztecs have won 32 games combined across the last three seasons and won the Mountain West title in both 2015 and 2016.

Despite that great level of success, and the team’s location in fertile Southern California, SDSU hasn’t recruited at a high level, even for a G5 program. From 2014-17, the Aztecs averaged an FBS recruiting rating of 75.5 – or roughly 20^th among G5 programs and third in the conference in the 247Sports Composite. No class during that period was rated as the best in the league or among the top 70 in the country.

However, Long and his coaching staff have a talent finding diamonds in the rough, such as running back Donnel Pumphrey, who broke the all-time FBS rushing record in 2016, and Rashaad Penny, who led the nation in rushing and finished fifth in the Heisman race in 2017. Both were three-star recruits.

This year’s crop currently ranks No. 87 nationally, and fourth in the Mountain West, both worst since 2014. Nevertheless, there is plenty of reason to believe the new Aztecs will develop into title contenders.

One of the biggest reasons for optimism is track star Jordan Byrd, a 5-foot-9, 166-pound athlete from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Though he is ranked No. 1804 in the Composite, and 138^th among athletes, 247Sports itself is much higher on the speedster, ranking him the 605^th best prospect in the country, and among the top 50 without a defined position.

Byrd often played quarterback on his high school team, but also saw time at running back, receiver and as a return man. He is likely to play in the slot or could transition to cornerback at San Diego State. As one of the fastest players in the nation (Byrd has been clocked in the 4.4- 40 range and at 10.56 in the 100m dash, the Aztecs would be wise to put the football in his hands as often as possible.