Often the blue-chips don't deliver

CLEMSON — National Signing Day has become a holy day in college football. From coast to coast, hope will be renewed Wednesday as fans pray a savior or two is among the signees.

But regarding the four- and five-star recruits pledging to join your program, might we curb your enthusiasm for a moment.

Three years ago, Willy Korn signed with Clemson. Expectations surrounding the Tigers' signee had rarely been higher.

Not only was Korn a four-star prospect, but he was also a local hero.

His replica high school jerseys were sold in the parking lot prior to games at Byrnes High School, where he posted record numbers in Bobby Bentley's quarterback-friendly offense.

Last month, Korn announced his intention to transfer, seeing little hope of ever playing at Clemson after freshman All-American Kyle Parker secured the starting job.

Clemson is not the only school to have prospects fail to reach expectations.

Within the past decade, South Carolina landed two can't-miss, in-state running back prospects, Derek Watson and Demetris Summers. Both of their careers at South Carolina ended in turmoil and disappointment. Watson and Summers' commitments came during the Lou Holtz era.

For every top recruit that becomes a star another fails to fulfill expectations — and for a variety of reasons.

Injury often preempts possible stardom.

Part of the problem with evaluating Korn's failure to develop into a starting quarterback was he was rarely healthy. Korn didn't arrive at Clemson with elite arm strength, but it was clear Korn's mechanics and arm strength had not returned to pre-injury levels this summer following shoulder surgery.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney once gushed over the promise of highly touted Rendrick Taylor, whose career, too, was derailed by injury

'Some guys don't quite make it and it's not their fault, ' Swinney said.

The expectations did not help Korn either.

When Cullen Harper broke the school record for touchdown passes in a game against Louisiana Monroe in 2007, Harper received a modest spattering of applause at Death Valley.

When Korn replaced Harper, he received a rock star's greeting.

Many in Clemson Nation clamored for Korn to start the day he stepped on campus.

'They come in here and the media or whatever has built up these high expectations,' Swinney said speaking in general terms. 'All of a sudden they are a backup, and to be a backup at this level you are a pretty good player.

'Sometimes there are just unfair expectations on these guys.'

ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill said expectations attached to incoming prospects are at an all-time peak thanks to the Internet and recruiting services.

Maybe expectations were unfair for Josh Miller, the No. 3 overall prospect in South Carolina in 2005. Miller never rose above reserve linebacker status at Clemson.

'That's something that has really been fan driven,' Luginbill said of expectations. 'What has happened more than ever in the last five to seven years, with all the early departures to the NFL, coaches are now forced to play with younger guys earlier than they ever have before.

'What does a fan naturally do if he sees a guy is going to leave early? ... ‘Who is the guy we are bringing in?'

'It's a vicious cycle.'

Sometimes a player is responsible for failure.

A player might have off-the-field issues, lack work ethic or simply lack the desire to play football at an elite level.

Summers arrived at South Carolina as the No. 2 running back prospect in the country in 2003. He was kicked off the team in March of 2005.

Former Clemson coach Danny Ford says it's difficult for coaches to judge the character of prospects.

'You have to break them down and start over,' said Ford of developing college players. 'Some come in with the attitude that they are going to be All-Americans, and that is back when I was recruiting ... they think they are going straight to the pros.'

Ford says sometimes the blame falls on the coaches.

Ford missed with Vince Robinson, who arrived in Clemson as a 6-3, 243-pound strong-armed quarterback. Ford thought Robinson would fit into his ground-based offense.

'He would have been a great a QB for someone throwing the ball,' Ford said. 'I thought he could run the option. He was more of a thrower than a runner. It was our fault, we missed in projecting.'

To Ford, recruiting was then, is now, and always will be an inexact science.

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.