Evaluating college football teams based on their recruiting star ratings is a common practice among fans and analysts alike. While many programs prioritize acquiring highly touted recruits, some teams have found success with players who were not as highly rated coming out of high school.
Two-star recruits are often overlooked by major college football programs, but they can still make significant contributions to their teams. In recent years, several two-star recruits have gone on to become stars at the collegiate level. For example, Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder, who was a two-star recruit in the 2018 class, led the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff in 2021.