Welcome to The Crootletter (sign up to get this in your inbox every morning!). I'm Bud Elliott, SB Nation's National Recruiting Analyst, and in this space I'll be sharing news, rumors and musings on the world of college football recruiting.
Former four-star receiver recruit Ricardo Louis was drafted in the fourth round Saturday by the Cleveland Browns. After, he made some surprisingly candid comments about the Auburn offense.
[The Browns] understand that I was in a scheme at Auburn that didn't require me to run very many routes, very diverse or complex routes and the fact that I was not developed as receiver at the time. Going into the Combine, I wanted to prove to everybody that I was versatile and I was able to run routes and catch balls smooth and well. Doing that, looking ahead, they got to see that they can develop me and mold me into the receiver they want me to be.
After receiving blowback from Auburn fans on social media who realize these comments will be used to recruit against the program, Louis apologized for the "miscommunication."
It's worth noting that he struggled with drops and ball security, but I read Louis' comments and thought, "That's what happens when you pick a spread option offense over numerous other elite programs that actually throw the ball."
It's the spread option. It's most effective when it's stressing the defense with the run game (often with a very mobile QB who is not much of a passer) and throwing off play action, not on carving up the defense with the pass with a variety of route combinations that attack and adjust to coverage.
This isn't a commentary on the spread option, the spread or the pro-style offense.
It's about making the best choice to showcase one's skills for the NFL.
And a spread option attack rarely does that for receivers. The leading receiver in Gus Malzahn's six Auburn offenses has averaged just 47 catches, many of them bubble screens and play-action bombs. Receivers are blocking on most plays.
Contrast that with Baylor, which also receives criticism for its lack of route diversity or concepts that translate to the NFL. The Browns took Baylor receiver Corey Coleman in the first round.
Coleman had 116 targets last season, and 76 of them were on either go routes or hitches. That's two routes accounting for 65.5 percent of his targets, and neither one of them is particularly complex from a route-running standpoint. If you throw in slants and receiver screens you get another 27 targets, leaving only 13 targets that came on routes other than those four.
While the criticism is valid, the Bears showcase their receivers a lot more, throwing an average of 454 times per year to Auburn's 313 during Malzahn's six seasons. Though neither offense is particularly NFL-like, Baylor receivers are getting a much greater volume to display their hands, route running, releases, etc.
But this isn't just about receivers.
If the goal is the NFL, a very athletic QB choosing a pro-style offense that does not feature quarterback mobility isn't maximizing value. Same thing for a small cornerback picking a school that loves to use big corners in press coverage or a superstar running back choosing an offense that throws the ball 70 percent of the time.
Sure, it could work out, but is it the best option? Probably not, and it could cost a player some money.
Is it unreasonable to think Ricardo Louis could have gone a round higher if he had been developed in college? He's 6'2, 215 pounds, and was in the top five among receivers at multiple NFL Combine drills.
For what it's worth, this does not seem to be hurting Auburn in recruiting receivers at all. The Tigers just signed two of the top 10 receiver recruits in the country in Florida's Nate Craig-Myers and Georgia's Kyle Davis.
It's also worth noting that there are many factors to consider in picking a school. Location, academics, tradition and a prospect's relationship with a coaching staff all heavily factor in.
Quickly
Maryland landed five-star defensive end recruit Joshua Kaindoh, who tried to fake out everyone by not including the Terrapins in his top-four earlier in April. Kaindoh wants to be a doctor after his football career is over.
Ohio State, Clemson and UCLA dominated the NFL Draft. That'll help with recruiting.
Blue-chip prospects were the story of the first round. They account for just 8 percent of D1 signees, but were 70 percent of the first round picks.
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