Recruiting: 2008 Top 100 Busts

-by Braden Gall (@BradenGall on twitter)

Recruiting rankings are inexact science and even the experts will admit that. It is virtually impossible to measure heart, work ethic, mental focus and self-awareness in 17- and 18-year old kids. Especially, in the face of the most important decision they will ever make.

As National Signing Day looms next Wednesday, Athlon Sports finalized its Athlon Consensus 100 for the Class of 2012 yesterday. It is the fifth annual conglomerate recruiting top 100 for Athlon and even as the truest, most accurate recruiting ranking, there are still plenty of massive busts.

And the debut of the list back in 2008 featured plenty wastes of talent – particularly at the running back and wide receiver position. And don’t ask Dan Hawkins about his 2008 Buffaloes haul, either.

Here are the biggest busts from the 2008 AC100:

1. Lynn Katoa, LB, AC100 No. 76
Salt Lake City, UT (Colorado)

Katoa got his college career off to a “rocky” start when the Buffaloes linebacker was placed on probation after an off-campus fight in 2008 in which he hit a man in the head with a rock. He violated the terms of his sentence by skipping his substance-abuse monitoring and was sent to jail’s work-release program the following March. He was forced to transfer to an Arizona junior college after Colorado cut him due to academic ineligibility. And four months after his sentencing in the original fight, the troubled linebacker was arrested a second time on third-degree assault outside a Boulder bar. He was held on $2,500 bond at Boulder County Jail. Then in January of 2011, Katoa became one of Boulder's most wanted after being wanted for two counts of second degree assault, two counts of third degree assault, criminal mischief and one count of false reporting to authorities.

2. Boubacar Cissoko, CB, AC100 No. 52
Detroit, MI (Michigan)

The former Wolverine cornerback is currently in prison for committing three thefts and an attempted robbery. To top it off, Cissoko was accused of assaulting three Washtenaw Country jail employees while awaiting sentencing back in July of 2010. He admitted to stealing money from two food deliverymen in Ann Arbor and grabbing money from a cab driver in Ypsilanti in March of 2010. He was also accused of attempted robbery with a pellet gun in Ann Arbor in April of 2010. He was dismissed from Michigan in October of 2009 for violating unspecified team rules twice in 2009.

3. DeVoe Torrence, ATH, AC100 No. 57
Massillon, OH (Akron)

Torrence had been committed to Ohio State before rape charges were brought against the star recruit by Stark Country. The one-day trial ended in a clearing of his arrest due to insufficient evidence as a number of Massillon players were under investigation for sexual misconduct with minors. The sixth-grade girl in question changed her testimony during the trial. Torrence signed with Akron and rushed for 146 yards as a freshman before Rob Ianello announced he would not be returning to the team in March of 2010.

4. Aldarius Johnson, WR, AC100 No. 30
Miami, FL (Miami)

As part of the state champion “Northwestern 8” to sign with Miami (which didn't include future Nebraska star LaVonte David), Johnson entered college as part of the best wideout class in history. He was ranked as the No. 6 receiver in the nation — behind names like Julio Jones, AJ Green, Floyd and Baldwin. Johnson caught 31 passes for 332 yards and three scores as a freshman, but saw all three statistics decline four straight years until being suspended for his final season due to Nevin Shapiro allegations. Johnson has declared for the NFL Draft in 2012.

5. Darryl Stonum, WR, AC100 No. 46
Sugar Land, TX (Michigan)

After 76 career receptions, 1,008 career yards and Michigan’s single-season kick return record of 1,001 yards (2009), Stonum was dismissed from the Wolverines on January 18, 2011. He violated his probation by driving on a suspended license, stemming from multiple arrests. In September of 2008, Stonum was first arrested for operating a vehicle while visibile in impaired. He violated that probation, landing him in jail for three days during the summer of 2010. Then in May of 2011, Stonum received his second DUI while at Michigan and was suspended for the entire 2011 season. His third incident forced Brady Hoke to dismiss the talented but troubled wideout.

6. Kavario Middleton, TE, AC100 No. 44
Lakewood, WA (Washington)

Less than three weeks before the start of camp in 2010, Middleton was dismissed from the Huskies for violating team rules. Drug, attitude and effort issues have all been cited as reasons why Washington had to cut ties with Middleton. After a promising sophomore season in 2009, Middleton completely failed to realize his obvious physical potential. He attempted to enroll at Nebraska but could not meet requirements and landed at Montana. He could be a late-round draft pick this spring.

7. Josh Jarboe, WR, AC100 No. 63
Decatur, GA (Oklahoma)

The gun-toating, troubled wideout won’t be a bust for Gus Malzahn at Arkansas State after a 54-catch, 730-yard, 2-TD junior season in Jonesboro. It just took him three schools to get to the Red Wolves after signing with Oklahoma initially. He was charged with two felonies, including having a weapon on school property, and dropped from the Sooners. He landed at Troy for two seasons before Larry Blakeney had to kick the sophomore off the team. He enrolled at Northeast Community College before signing with Arkansas State in 2011.

8. Darrell Scott, RB, AC100 No. 3
Oxnard, CA (Colorado)

Scott was originally from Tallahassee and lived in Texas before landing at Moorpark High School in California. Apparently, his parents shopped him to private high schools after a 3,194-yard junior season. He landed at St. Bonaventure where he became the No. 1 running back prospect in the nation. He signed with Colorado and complained during his first two seasons about lack of touches. He announced he would be transferring to UCLA, however, the Bruins didn’t want the tailback and Scott landed at USF. He did have his best season in 2011 with 814 yards and five touchdowns. But for a kid who played at multiple high schools and multiple colleges before leaving early for the NFL, the No. 1 RB in the nation has to be considered a bust — especially in Boulder.

9. Jameel Owens, WR, AC100 No. 45
Muskogee, OK (Oklahoma)

After catching four passes as a true freshman for Oklahoma, Owens redshirted in 2009 and transferred mid-semester to Tulsa. He caught 18 passes for 246 yards and six touchdowns in 2010 before taking a leave of absence from the team in the spring of 2011. Head coach Bill Blankenship announced in April that Owens would not be returning to the team in 2011. Owens was the No. 9-rated wideout in the nation in a class that might be considered the best WR class in history.

10. Jermie Calhoun, RB, AC100 No. 8
Van, TX (Oklahoma)

In four full years in Norman, Okla., the nation’s No. 2 running back played in 14 of the possible 40 games. He didn’t see the field one time in 2011 and prompted a transfer to Angelo State early in the year. Calhoun touched the ball 11 times in 2010 before tearing his ACL. He has scored one career touchdown and posted career highs of 18 carries and 94 yards back in 2009 against Texas A&M. It is the only game Calhoun has received more than nine touches and more than 45 yards from scrimmage.

11. Justin Johnson, RB, AC100 No. 89
Gilmer, TX (Oklahoma)

After one year in Norman, Okla., Johnson transferred to Abilene Christian for the 2009 seasons. He played in seven games for ACU, carrying 31 times for 103 yards. He transferred and sat out the 2010 season at his second school in Abilene, Texas: McMurry University. He rushed for 771 yards and eight touchdowns in 2011.

12. Blake Ayles, TE, AC100 No. 11
Orange, CA (USC)

The SoCal product was the nation’s No. 1 tight end recruit back in 2008 and never lived up to the hype while at USC. In three years at Southern Caolifornia, Ayles caught 14 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown before transferring to Miami. He was slated to compete for a starting role in 2011 before a second concussion likely ended his college career. He did not play a single snap in 2011. Hey, at least he isn’t in jail.

13. Deion Walker, WR, AC100 No. 67
Christchurch, VA (Notre Dame)

The highly-touted pass catcher simply never was good enough to contribute for the Irish. Walker has played in seven career games in four years and has caught one career pass for 15 yards. Certainly, the Irish have had elite talents at wide receiver, but one career reception defines the term bust.

14. Brandon Barnes, ATH, AC100 No. 98
Bunn, NC (NC State)

The talented do-everything prep athlete has played in five games in his four-year Wolfpack career (one redshirt year). He has totaled 31 touches for 131 yards from scrimmage and will enter his senior year third on the depth chart behind James Washington and Tony Creecy.

15. Brenden Beal, LB, AC100 No. 71
Bethlehem, PA (Florida)

Beal redshirted his freshman year at Florida after suffering an ACL injury and did not see the field in 2009. He sat out 2010 after transferring to Minnesota but missed the entire 2011 campaign with a knee injury. Fans can call it bad luck or misfortune, but from a recruiting perspective, Beal has been a bust.

16. Will Hill, S, AC100 No. 5
West Orange, NJ (Florida)

Hill played on a national championship team and actually made 48 tackles back in 2008 as a freshman. So he isn’t really a total bust. However, his charming personality, mixed with the fact that he was the No. 1 safety prospect in the nation, lands Hill on this list. He finished with four career interceptions, posted 143 total career tackles and left Florida early to enter the NFL Draft after three years. He was not selected in the 2011 Draft and signed with the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League. Hill may not belong on a the same list as prison inmates, but his intriguing twitter feed alone deserves a mention. Note: the EDSBS article includes graphic information.

17. Aundre Dean, RB, AC100 No. 54
Katy, TX (UCLA)

The No. 6-rated running back in the nation played in six games for UCLA as a freshman before transferring back to the Lone State State and TCU. Dean earned TCU Offensive Scout Team MVP honors in 2009 and has played the last two seasons for the Horned Frogs. However, Dean has managed only 353 yards on 63 carries over the last two seasons in Ft. Worth. He has played in 20 of the possible 26 games, but got a touch in only 13 of those 20 games. With Ed Wesley, Waymon James and Matthew Tucker returning, Dean should be limited once again in 2012.

18. Dayne Crist, QB, AC100 No. 20
Sherman Oaks, CA (Notre Dame)

The California product has never been able to stay healthy. After showing solid promise to start the 2010 season (2,033 yards in eight games), Crist suffered his second ACL tear and has never been the same since. He has graduated and will compete for the starting job at Kansas under former head coach Charlie Weis next fall. He was the No. 2 quaterback in the nation in 2008, trailing only Terrelle Pryor in the QB rankings. He has the chance to change his legacy in 2012, but has never come close to fulfilling his lofty recruiting status.

19. Lamaar Thomas, ATH, AC100 No. 68
Fort Washington, MD (Ohio State)

One of the fastest players on the Buckeyes roster, Thomas proved he was capable of contributing in his first two seasons with a 20.9 kickoff return average on 18 attempts in 2009. However, "Flash" failed to grasp the wide receiver position and eventually transferred to New Mexico. He sat out 2010 and played in four games in 2011, catching nine passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns to go with 10 rushes for 50 yards.

20. Terrelle Pryor, QB, AC100 No. 1
Jeannette, PA (Ohio State)

It's hard to label a kid with his numbers, wins and production a bust, but TP2 threw away a chance to play for a national title as a senior for a little extra ink. He, and his teammates', actions led to Ohio State vacating the entire 2010 seasons (wins and dollars) and forced head coach Jim Tressel to retire. However, Pryor's decisions have led to Urban Meyer landing in Columbus, so maybe Buckeyes fans need to thank TP2 for affiliating with federally investigated drug dealers.