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How every five-star recruit in the 2019 class has graded so far in their career

Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux enters the stadium for the game against Oregon State on Nov. 27, 2021. Eug 111428 Uofb 07

By Max Chadwick

• Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson: He was the No. 22 overall recruit in this class and just won Offensive Rookie of the Year with the New York Jets.

• Georgia edge defender Travon Walker: He was the No. 27 overall recruit in the 2019 class and was the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

• LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.: He was a top-five recruit in 2019 and was selected third overall in the 2022 draft by the Houston Texans.

Estimated Reading Time: 20 mins

Every year, college football fanbases across the country get excited about their incoming recruiting class, eager to see the next stars of their favorite program.

The best of those recruits are rated five stars. There are about 32 five-stars every year, making them college football’s version of first-round picks.

We’ve already gone over every five-star recruit in the 2022, 2021 and 2020 classes, but the 2019 group is unique in that many have already finished their rookie seasons in the NFL. With that in mind, here’s how every five-star from the 2019 class has played so far in their career, both in college and in the league.

(Note: On3 Sports’ industry rating is used here, which weighs On3 Sports, 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals into one ranking.)

1. EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia Bulldogs

Career College Grade: 85.9 (1,154 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Smith was third in Georgia’s edge defender rotation as a true freshman, behind Azeez Ojulari and Malik Herring, and played 287 snaps. He fell to fifth in 2020, as both Ojulari and Herring returned while eventual first-rounders Travon Walker and Jermaine Johnson II emerged.

Smith finally became a starter in his junior season and broke out with a 90.6 run-defense grade that ranked third among all edge defenders in college football. He then put up an 83.8 grade in his senior campaign before tearing his pectoral muscle in the eighth game of the season. He’s since recovered and is currently a top-25 prospect on PFF’s 2023 NFL Draft big board. 

2. EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon Ducks

Career College Grade: 87.4 (1,514 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 72.5 (859 snaps)

Thibodeaux saw the field immediately, starting as a true freshman for Oregon. He ranked in the top three among Pac-12 edge defenders that season in pass-rushing grade (79.9), pass-rush win rate (16.2%) and sacks (10). As a sophomore, Thibodeaux’s 80.2 run-defense grade placed third in that same group. He once again became a dominant pass rusher in 2022, as his 91.5 pass-rush grade ranked fourth among Power Five edge defenders.

Thibodeaux was then selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the New York Giants and was one of their starting edge defenders this past season. He ranked third among rookies with 44 pressures.

3. WR Jadon Haselwood, Oklahoma Sooners

Career College Grade: 68.3 (1,531 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Haselwood was Oklahoma’s No. 5 wide receiver as a true freshman and caught 19 of his 27 targets for 272 yards and a touchdown. He then tore his ACL that April while training and played only three games in 2021.

In 2021, Haselwood was the No. 3 receiver for the Sooners and led them with six receiving touchdowns. He transferred to Arkansas for his senior year and ranked second on the team with 704 receiving yards, while his 17 forced missed tackles on receptions tied for ninth among Power Five wide receivers. Haselwood is currently a seventh-round prospect on PFF’s big board.

4. OT Evan Neal, Alabama Crimson Tide

Career College Grade: 86.7 (2,585 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 41.8 (862 snaps)

Neal started at left guard for Alabama as a true freshman and earned a 71.2 grade that paced all true freshmen guards in the Power Five. He then moved to right tackle the following season and had the fourth-most big-time blocks in the country (12). Neal moved to left tackle as a junior, and his 85.8 grade that year placed 10th among Power Five tackles.

Neal was drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2022 draft by the New York Giants and was their starting right tackle this past season. He struggled as a rookie, as his 41.8 grade was the second worst among NFL tackles.

5. CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU Tigers

Career College Grade: 91.8 (1,569 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 49.1 (599 snaps)

Stingley was the best cornerback in college football as just a true freshman, leading the FBS with a 91.7 coverage grade. His six interceptions paced all Power Five cornerbacks, while his 20 forced incompletions tied for the most in the country. As a sophomore, Stingley missed three games due to an ankle injury and an illness, finishing with just a 72.1 grade. He again battled injuries in 2021, playing just three games through a Lisfranc injury before being shut down for the season.

Even after playing just 10 games in his last two college seasons, Stingley was selected with the third overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. He was one of Houston’s starting outside cornerbacks as a rookie and largely struggled, tying for the seventh-worst overall grade at the position (49.1). 

6. OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee Volunteers

Career College Grade: 59.6 (2,746 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Wright was Tennessee’s starting right tackle as a true freshman and remained there for his first two seasons. His 45.6 grade in that span was the fifth-worst figure among Power Five tackles.

He then moved to left tackle in 2021 and improved to a 62.7 grade as a junior. Wright shifted back to right tackle for his senior season and broke out His 99.1 pass-blocking efficiency score and 1.7% pressure rate allowed were both top-five marks among all tackles in college football. Wright is currently a third-round prospect on PFF’s big board but is receiving legitimate first-round buzz.  

7. EDGE Zach Harrison, Ohio State Buckeyes

Career College Grade: 90.3 (1,540 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Harrison was one of Ohio State’s starting edge defenders as a true freshman opposite of Chase Young. His 73.4 run-defense grade that year led all true freshmen edge defenders in the Power Five. Harrison was third in the Buckeyes’ edge rotation as a sophomore but dominated on those snaps, as his 88.8 grade ranked seventh among FBS edge defenders with at least 200 snaps. 

He once again became a starter in 2021 and placed sixth among Big Ten edge defenders with an 85.9 pass-rushing grade. This past season, his 86.1 overall grade ranked sixth for Power Five edges. Harrison is currently a fourth-round prospect on PFF’s 2023 NFL Draft big board.

8. S Daxton Hill, Michigan Wolverines

Career College Grade: 82.8 (1,594 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 56.0 (150 snaps)

Hill was a backup safety as a true freshman but still played 331 snaps, earning an impressive 73.3 coverage grade. He became a starter as a sophomore and remained there for two years. Hill played mostly slot cornerback for Michigan and tied for second among Big Ten defensive backs in 2021 with seven forced incompletions from the slot.

Hill was taken with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and was a backup safety for them as a rookie. With both Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell finding new teams in free agency, Hill should start in his second season.

9. EDGE Antonio Alfano, Alabama Crimson Tide

Career College Grade: N/A (0 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Alfano began his college career at Alabama, then transferred to Colorado in November of that year. His father tweeted that Antonio had been missing class and practice because his grandmother had fallen very ill, and she later passed away. Head coach Nick Saban claimed that Alfano “basically quit.“

One month after Alfano enrolled with the Buffaloes, head coach Mel Tucker left to take the same job at Michigan State and Alfano’s position coach, Jimmy Brumbaugh, left for Tennessee. It was announced in May 2020 that Alfano was no longer enrolled at Colorado after he was suspended for a violation of team rules. He was later reinstated in August. That October, it was reported by ESPN that he couldn’t practice with the team after being diagnosed with epilepsy. He never played a snap for the Buffaloes.

Alfano left Colorado to go the junior college route at Independence Community College (Kansas) in the spring of 2022. He didn’t play that year and will try to find his first college snaps at Lackawanna Community College (Pennsylvania) this season.

10. RB Trey Sanders, Alabama Crimson Tide

Career College Grade: 76.8 (243 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Sanders suffered a broken foot that ended his freshman season before it even began. He played four games the following season before getting in a serious car accident that left him with internal injuries and a fractured pelvis. He finished that campaign with 29 carries for 129 yards.

Sanders was Alabama’s No. 2 running back in 2021, tallying 72 attempts for 314 yards and two touchdowns. This past season, he recorded just 14 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown. Sanders transferred to TCU in January and should push for a starting job with Kendre Miller headed to the NFL.

11. OG Kenyon Green, Texas A&M Aggies

Career College Grade: 76.1 (2,175 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 37.7 (823 snaps)

Green was Texas A&M’s starting right guard as a true freshman and earned a 70.2 run-blocking grade that ranked 10th among SEC guards. He moved to left guard the following season and placed fourth among SEC guards with six big-time blocks (PFF’s highest-graded blocks). As a junior, he played every position on the offensive line besides center, spending the most time at left guard. Green’s 79.6 overall grade and 83.3 run-blocking grade were both second best among SEC guards that season.

Green was taken with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans and started at left guard in a rookie season during which he struggled. His 37.7 grade and 9.5% pressure rate allowed were both the worst marks among all guards in the NFL.

12. RB John Emery Jr., LSU Tigers

Career College Grade: 71.2 (591 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Emery was LSU’s third-leading running back as a true freshman during the Tigers’ national championship run. That year, he earned an impressive 81.5 rushing grade after picking up 188 yards and four touchdowns on 39 carries, breaking 13 tackles, as well. As a sophomore, he was LSU’s second-leading rusher, racking up 373 yards and three touchdowns on 76 attempts.

Emery was suspended for the entire 2021 season and the first two games of 2022 due to academic issues. Once he returned, he was the Tigers’ No. 3 running back, rushing 76 times for 244 yards and six touchdowns, earning a 62.8 grade. In March, head coach Brian Kelly announced that Emery isn’t with the team and is strictly focusing on academics. 

13. EDGE DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M Aggies

Career College Grade: 80.9 (1,607 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 46.0 (175 snaps)

Leal was one of Texas A&M’s starting edge defenders as a true freshman and ranked fifth among SEC edges with seven tackles for loss or no gain. As a sophomore, he was one of only five Power Five edge defenders with 80.0-plus pass-rushing and run-defense grades. His play dipped as a junior en route to a 70.3 grade.

Leal was taken in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and was a backup edge defender as a rookie. He’s projected to be a backup once again this upcoming season.

14. LB Owen Pappoe, Auburn Tigers

Career College Grade: 61.6 (2,236 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Pappoe started for Auburn as a true freshman and earned a 58.5 grade over his first two seasons. An ankle injury limited him to only five games as a junior.

He had his best year yet as a senior, ranking third among SEC linebackers with 0.43 yards allowed per coverage snap. He’s currently a fifth-round prospect on PFF's big board.

15. QB Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma Sooners

Career College Grade: 89.1 (1,903 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Rattler was the third-string quarterback as a true freshman before taking over as a starter in 2020. His 92.5 passing grade ranked fourth in college football that season, and he tied for third with 32 big-time throws. Heading into 2021, Rattler was the preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy and to be the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

He started only six games as a redshirt sophomore and made three big-time throws compared to eight turnover-worthy plays. Then, he was benched for true freshman Caleb Williams, who won the Heisman Trophy this past season at USC.

Rattler transferred to South Carolina that offseason and earned a 64.3 grade that ranked 108th among quarterbacks. His 22 turnover-worthy plays were the third most among Power Five quarterbacks. Rattler is returning to the Gamecocks next season and will once again be their starter.

16. OT Logan Brown, Wisconsin Badgers

Career College Grade: 65.4 (337 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Brown redshirted in 2019 and played 58 snaps in 2020 as a backup left tackle. He remained in that role the following season and earned a 68.8 grade on 70 snaps.

This past season, he started a couple of games at right tackle and earned a 69.2 grade on 209 snaps. He was dismissed from the team in October for reportedly striking a teammate during practice, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Brown transferred to Kansas and should push for a starting job this upcoming season with left tackle Earl Bostick Jr. moving on to the NFL. 

17. DI Zacch Pickens, South Carolina Gamecocks

Career College Grade: 65.5 (1,836 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Pickens was a backup as a freshman before becoming a starter in 2020. That year, his five tackles for loss or no gain were tied for fourth among SEC interior defensive linemen.

Pickens tied for third among that same group the following season with five sacks. As a senior, his 75.0 pass-rushing grade ranked sixth in the SEC at the position. Pickens is currently a fourth-round prospect on PFF’s 2023 NFL Draft big board.

18. OG Clay Webb, Georgia Bulldogs

Career College Grade: 81.8 (588 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Webb saw action in only four games across his first two years at Georgia, earning a 77.5 grade on 38 snaps. In January 2020, he was named in a federal lawsuit detailing his alleged involvement in a high school bullying incident. Webb didn’t see any action in 2021.

This past August, he transferred to Jacksonville State, which at the time was an FCS school. He was the Gamecocks’ starting left guard in 2022 and earned an 80.2 grade that ranked fourth among FCS guards. He’ll once again be a starting guard for Jacksonville State this upcoming season, its first at the FBS level. 

19. WR Bru McCoy, USC Trojans

Career College Grade: 67.6 (1,000 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

McCoy endured one of the most eventful recruiting sagas in recent memory. He originally signed with USC and enrolled in January 2019. Just 17 days later, he transferred to Texas when then-Trojans offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury left to become the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach. He participated in spring practice with the Longhorns before transferring back to USC in June. McCoy then missed his entire freshman season due to an illness that was never diagnosed.

He made his debut in 2020, playing as the Trojans’ No. 4 wide receiver and catching 21 of his 26 targets for 236 yards and two touchdowns. In July 2021, he was arrested on suspicion of intimate partner violence with an ex-girlfriend. The charges were dropped in August due to insufficient evidence, but he was suspended indefinitely by USC and sat out the entire 2021 season.

That spring, he transferred to Tennessee and was the team's No. 2 receiver this past season after Jalin Hyatt. He caught 52 of his 75 targets for 667 yards and four touchdowns. McCoy is expected to be the Volunteers’ top receiver as a redshirt senior in 2023 with Hyatt and Cedric Tillman off to the NFL. 

20. OT Wanya Morris, Tennessee Volunteers

Career College Grade: 59.0 (1,747 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Tennessee had two true freshmen starting at offensive tackle in 2019, with Morris on the left side and the aforementioned Darnell Wright on the right. They were two of the three lowest-graded tackles in the Power Five. Morris improved as a sophomore, though, as his positively graded run-blocking rate ranked sixth among SEC tackles.

He then transferred to Oklahoma and spent the 2021 season as a backup tackle. As a senior, Morris was the Sooners’ starting right tackle and put together the best year of his career. His 76.6 grade in 2022 ranked third among Big 12 tackles. He’s currently a seventh-round prospect on PFF’s big board.

21. OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State Bulldogs

Career College Grade: 78.8 (1,661 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 63.1 (1,156 snaps)

Cross played 22 snaps as a freshman before starting at left tackle in 2020. His 72.0 run-blocking grade that year ranked ninth among SEC offensive tackles. Cross was dominant as a redshirt sophomore, as his 86.6 grade placed seventh among Power Five tackles. He didn’t allow a sack or hit on any of his 125 true pass sets.

Cross was then taken with the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks and was their starting left tackle as a rookie. His 1.6% sack/hit rate allowed that year ranked third among rookie tackles. 

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22. WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State Buckeyes

Career College Grade: 87.5 (1,524 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 82.7 (882 snaps)

Wilson was Ohio State’s No. 4 receiver as a true freshman and caught 30 of his 42 targets for 432 yards and six touchdowns. He became the No. 2 receiver in 2020, behind Chris Olave, and was ninth among Power Five receivers with 3.04 yards per route run. He was once again the No. 2 receiver as a junior, this time behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Wilson’s 12 receiving touchdowns that season were tied for fifth among Power Five receivers.

He was then taken with the 10th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the New York Jets. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year and trailed only Deebo Samuel among wide receivers with 22 forced missed tackles on receptions. 

23. WR Theo Wease, Oklahoma Sooners

Career College Grade: 69.3 (1,074 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Wease was Oklahoma’s No. 6 receiver as a true freshman, catching eight of his 13 targets for 136 yards and two touchdowns. He moved into the No. 2 role in 2020 and was sixth among Big 12 receivers with 221 yards after the catch.

He missed nearly the entire 2021 season with a foot injury, contributing only one snap on special teams. He was the Sooners’ No. 4 wide receiver this past year and caught 19 of his 33 targets for 378 yards and four touchdowns. Wease transferred to Missouri in December and should compete for a starting job since the Tigers lost their top two wide receivers in Dominic Lovett and Barrett Banister.

24. CB Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson Tigers

Career College Grade: 84.3 (979 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 45.3 (105 snaps)

Booth was a backup cornerback as a freshman before taking over as a starter in 2020. He led the ACC that year with an 80.3 run-defense grade at the position. Booth tied for third the following season among the same group with three interceptions.

He was then taken in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Booth played only two games as a rookie due to a meniscus injury. He should be a starter next season, as Minnesota’s top four cornerbacks from 2022 are no longer with the team. 

25. WR George Pickens, Georgia Bulldogs

Career College Grade: 83.2 (1,098 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 68.8 (882 snaps)

Pickens was dominant in his freshman season, as his 88.0 receiving grade ranked 10th among Power Five wide receivers. He caught 49 of his 77 targets that year for 726 yards and eight touchdowns. His play dipped as a sophomore to a 71.9 receiving grade. He then suffered a torn ACL in a March 2021 practice and missed all but four games that season.

Pickens was picked in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and was their No. 2 receiver as a rookie. His 19 contested catches that season tied for third among NFL receivers. 

26. RB Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss Rebels

Career College Grade: 91.1 (1,083 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A (0 snaps)

Ealy was Ole Miss’ leading rusher as a true freshman and tied for fourth among Power Five running backs that year with 0.37 forced missed tackles per attempt. He placed seventh in that same group the following season with a 90.0 rushing grade. As a junior, he ranked third among Power Five backs with an 84.8 receiving grade.

Ealy went undrafted in 2022 and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. He was suspended for six games for a PED violation in October and spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad.

27. EDGE Travon Walker, Georgia Bulldogs

Career College Grade: 69.0 (990 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 58.0 (897 snaps)

Walker played 194 snaps in 2019 as a backup interior defensive lineman. He moved to edge defender for his sophomore campaign and was third in Georgia’s edge rotation. Walker became a starter in 2021 and earned a 72.3 run-defense grade that ranked seventh among SEC edge defenders.

After a historic workout at the NFL Combine, Walker was taken with the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was one of Jacksonville’s starting edge defenders that season and ranked second among rookie edge defenders with six tackles for loss or no gain. 

28. LB Marcel Brooks, LSU Tigers

Career College Grade: 58.9 on defense (187 snaps), 59.0 on offense (93 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Brooks slotted in as a backup edge defender for LSU in 2019. He then transferred to TCU the following summer and played just six snaps in 2020 as an edge defender.

As a junior, Brooks made the move to wide receiver and caught five of his eight targets for 46 yards. He moved to linebacker this past season and earned a 70.7 grade on 63 snaps. Brooks played only three games in 2022 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He’s expected to be a backup linebacker for the Horned Frogs again in 2023. 

29. LB Brandon Smith, Penn State Nittany Lions

Career College Grade: 60.2 (1,322 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 28.3 (52 snaps)

Smith was a backup linebacker as a true freshman and became a starter in 2020. That year, his eight tackles for loss or no gain tied for fifth among Big Ten linebackers. The following season, his 80.0 coverage grade ranked third among that same group.

Smith was taken in the fourth round of the 2022 draft by the Carolina Panthers and spent his rookie year as a backup linebacker. He’s expected to remain in that role next season. 

30. LB Nakobe Dean, Georgia Bulldogs

Career College Grade: 91.3 (1,442 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 78.6 (47 snaps)

Dean played 245 snaps as a backup linebacker in his freshman year. He became a starter as a sophomore and was impressive going downhill. He was one of only three SEC linebackers to earn 75.0-plus grades as both a run defender and a pass rusher. He became an all-around superstar in 2021, leading all linebackers in college football with a 91.8 grade in 2021.

Dean was picked in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and was a backup linebacker as a rookie. He’s expected to start in 2023 since Philadelphia lost both of its starting linebackers — T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White — in free agency.

31. DI Christopher Hinton, Michigan Wolverines

Career College Grade: 64.4 (998 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: 51.4 (92 snaps)

Hinton is the son of five-time All-Pro offensive tackle Chris Hinton. The younger Hinton was a backup interior defensive lineman in 2019 before becoming a starter as a sophomore and earning a 69.4 grade. The following season, he recorded the eighth-best pass-rushing grade among Big Ten interior defensive linemen (70.9).

Hinton went undrafted in 2022 and bounced around the practice squads of the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons as a rookie. The Los Angeles Chargers picked him up in November of that season, and he played in five games for them as a backup. He’s expected to remain in that role next season.

32. QB Bo Nix, Auburn Tigers

Career College Grade: 81.1 (3,162 snaps)
Career NFL Grade: N/A

Nix started immediately for Auburn as a true freshman and gradually improved each season. In his three years with the Tigers, he earned 63.1, 73.4 and 78.5 grades, respectively. 

He transferred to Oregon after the 2021 season and enjoyed his best year yet in 2022. Nix led all Power Five quarterbacks in 2022 with an 82.3% adjusted completion rate. He’ll once again be the Ducks’ starting quarterback in 2023, his fifth overall as a Power Five starter.

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