College players with ties to New Jersey

Rashan Gary would be another.

Harmon from NC State is from Jersey.

For me is how they were rated to how the do.

If you folks college recruiting so many 4 star kids to me don’t really live up to their rating. It’s a tough enough job for NFL teams to rate kids who have mostly physically matured and played at a high D1 level. Allen wasn’t on anyone’s radar and the great Kyle Flood when at Rutgers passed on him even though he was given tape by his HS coach. It lots of schools did. Now he will go top 5.

Often some of lower ranked kids really blossom like Allen IMO. But to the OPs point NJ pumps out kids every year regardless of stars.

In comment 14383511 LauderdaleMatty said:

Quote:

For me is how they were rated to how the do. If you folks college recruiting so many 4 star kids to me don’t really live up to their rating. It’s a tough enough job for NFL teams to rate kids who have mostly physically matured and played at a high D1 level. Allen wasn’t on anyone’s radar and the great Kyle Flood when at Rutgers passed on him even though he was given tape by his HS coach. It lots of schools did. Now he will go top 5. Often some of lower ranked kids really blossom like Allen IMO. But to the OPs point NJ pumps out kids every year regardless of stars.

Yeah, I think this is an underrated facet of college recruiting. It's one thing if you're Alabama and can get tons of top 100 guys. But player evaluation is crucial (along with development).

Seems that, often, players have more success by getting away from home, then returning when they sign their second contract. More mature.

Too many distractions when newly minted pros can hang out in familiar surroundings. Not just NY area and NY teams, this happens with a lot of players.

NJ produced 8 first round picks in the 2009 NFL Draft. California, Florida, and Texas are the only other states with 8 or more first round picks.