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Legitimate question.

If you're a 4.5 star RB at Alabama running behind 5* line, even for a year, you'll look pretty good.

If you're a 4.5* RB at USC running behind a 3*-4* line as a freshman, is that actually a good thing?

That OL is also blocking against 3=4 star DLs in the Pac.  That's part of my point.  Go to a lesser conference and shine versus Bama and special teams play.

Which college-football program has produced the most NFL draft picks this century? Alabama? Clemson? Ohio State? Time to find out.

Here's a look of the top 50 programs based on stats published by NCAA.com. The schools are ranked by the total number of picks they've generated from the 2000 NFL Draft to the 2020 NFL Draft. Where there were ties, we separated the programs by their number of first-round picks.

Here's a look of the top 50 programs based on stats published by NCAA.com. The schools are ranked by the total number of picks they've generated from the 2000 NFL Draft to the 2020 NFL Draft. Where there were ties, we separated the programs by their number of first-round picks.

https://www2.247sports.com/college-programs-with-the-most-nfl-draft-picks-ranked/2?utm_subid=9053810&utm_adset=3188501&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=1171145&ftag=ACQ-07-10adj1f&fbclid=IwAR3tQsoozAeY1_6VnnlgVw_u134N0TgZrAGcVvuq6PlU6UMGi6klaRQblRs

10. Michigan Wolverines
9. Oklahoma Sooners
8. Florida State
7. USC Trojans
6. Georgia Bulldogs
5. Florida Gators
4. Miami Hurricanes
3. LSU Tigers
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
1. Ohio State Buckeyes - NFL draft picks since 2000: 141 - First-rounders: 31

Another legitimate question...

Is it a smart move to go to a major helmet where you know you'll be sitting for two years, and where you're not subjecting your body to the wear and tear and injury risk especially at the RB position, knowing that if you ball out for one year as a junior you'll be able to jump to the draft immediately?

To some extent that's why I think QBs may not be worried about sitting behind another player, or transferring from one helmet to another, etc. Because all you need to show is one year and you're a high draft pick.

Maybe having 3 years of tape isn't any better than 1 year of tape for your draft stock, but it's a hell of a lot worse for your body.

Excellent point. 

To take it even a little further maybe, is there risk in playing more years, from an achievement/tape perspective?  If you play three years, and one is great, and two are mediocre, is that worse than having only one great year of tape at a helmet program, where you have the built-in excuse of not getting early PT because it was so talent-rich, and so NFL scouts won't hold it against you that you only have one year of tape?

Yup.

On the flipside, most 5-stars didn't get that way by wanting to NOT play.  These kids are super-competitive, and I don't blame them at all for wanting to get in there and play right away.

Hard to cash in on NIL money if you're not on the field.

Think again if you don't believe this to be a factor.

I guess it's hard to cash in on "legitimate" NIL money.

But if you're a 5-star, you're already being paid simply for signing that LOI. 

This is why I posed the question with a 4.5 star, a really good player but not considered "elite".   We think RB but it could also be an LB of course.  Would you fare better at USC playing against weaker players or sitting a year at Alabama?  And yes, you could have that one great year as a junior and do just fine either place.

Knownshon Moreno was red shirted, played two years and left, which probably was a good thing for him later.  He was on the practice squad of course so he took some wear and tear, but also some college level conditioning.

There probably is not right answer for everyone.  I think were I a 3.5 star and trusted that rating, I'd probably lean to a "USC" or "Oregon" and UNC.  I'd guess many feel they are soo good against HS competition they really are 5 stars though.

Mullen at Florida is catching some heat now.  Preseason he was regarded as a good coach, but they are 4-4 with a mystifying loss at LSU, an ugly loss at UK, and a near blow out loss to UGA (though they played reasonably well overall).

Grantham has to be gone at year's end I think, Mullen won't be fired, but they need to win out especially over FSU.  The remainder of the schedule is a cake walk except FSU.

Will they be better next season?  They better be if Mullen is to make it I think.