Does College Success Translate into Pro Success?

[Megatron]

A few months back, during the beginning of the year, if I remember correctly, there was an article in a magazine. In that article there was a coach that said he would only draft a QB if they had 3+ years of experience and were a proven winner (like 30 games or so, idr exact figures). I just remembered about that a few minutes ago, and it got me thinking: Is being successful in college really important into being successful in the pros?

At first, I thought, yeah, it should. I mean, why wouldn't you want to draft a proven winner? But then I remembered a lot of guys were REALLY successful in college in just the past decade, Ken Dorsey, Jason White, Chris Weinke, and Troy Smith, among others. 3 of the 4 won Heismans, and all four played in a National Championship game. All failed as pros. Then, you have guys that weren't particularly memorable in college and have gone on to do great things in the NFL. Jay Cutler didn't lead any of his Vanderbilt teams to a winning record but got drafted in the 1st round and is the current starter for the Bears. Jake Locker, much like Cutler, hasn't lead Washington to a winning season in his 3 years there, but is almost a lock to be a top 10 pick, probably the first overall. And then we have probably the greatest debunking of this theory: Tom Brady. While he did play very well in his last two years at Michigan, he was nothing more then a backup to Brian Griese his first two years, with Michigan capturing a National Championship with Brady on the sidelines. He did lead them to an Orange Bowl, yes, but he wasn't viewed as anything special. However, 3 super bowl wins later, along with an undefeated regular season, and he's pretty much viewed nationwide as a top 10 QB ever.

So, I ask you, is college success important into being successful in the pros? You could also include basketball and baseball, if you wish.

 

[Rhonda Rousey's Sports Bra]

Looking at football no. Basketball no. Baseball no.

Having a great college career doesn't mean you will have a good pro career, it's all about how big you are and if the pros can mold you into what they want you to be. Football examples you provided are great, look at Troy Smith, one of the most successful college careers out there yet he's small and a back up. Then you look at the starter on that team, Joe Flacco. A division two guy starting in the NFL over a Heisman winner, why? It's because he had the body type and was a moldable guy to fit their system. Matt Leinhart and Reggie Bush are other examples of the same thing. Basketball you look no further than the National Champion Duke Blue Devils. None of those kids are going to be stars in the NBA yet you look at guys that just bypassed college or went for one year. Baseball, well I don't follow college baseball much.

 

[Big Sexy]

In some cases yes, but in a lot of cases the answer is fuck no. I could come up with hundreds of examples in every sport but I'll just go with a quick football one.

Ken Dorsey was one of the most successful college quarterbacks ever. In the NFL he did jack shit. He played only 6 seasons and started just 13 games with a qb rating of 55.2 for his career. He was a career back up and not even that good of one. On the flip side you have a guy like Matt Cassell. He had ZERO career starts at qb in college and only threw 33 total passes. Now he is a starter in the NFL and although he isn't a superstar he has had a solid career thus far.

Antonio Gates is another quick example. Gates didn't even play football in college, he only played basketball. When told he didn't have a shot in the NBA he tried out for the Chargers and although he hadn't played football since high school he stepped in right away and played well. By year two he was considered an elite tight end and is now probably one of, if not the best tight end in the league.

 

[Thriller Ant]

No.

If this was the case, then all draft picks who won National Championships in college would be winning in their respective sports. Duke basketball players wouldn't be known for not succeeding in the NBA. JaMarcus Russel and Ryan Leaf would be starting on an NFL contender. And I don't know any MLB prospects or I would list them too. The game, no matter what it is, changes dramatically from college to the pros. You can definitely learn about a player's skills in college, but there is so much more mental, physical, and talent aspects that are completely unknown until that player arrives in the pros.

 

[Davi323]

Yes, marginally. I wanted to completely say no, but being successful in college means you are more likely to at least get a chance in a pro league. Having that little bit extra opportunity because of collegiate success could help you in the pros. But, you still have to adapt to the pro level. Collegiate success gives you a better chance to prove your worth at the pro level, which is better than nothing.

 

[gd]

Clearly it's not as cut and dry as if you're good in college you'll been good in the pros, but you can learn a few things. If you're an underacheiver and more or less a disappointment in college, it's a safe bet you'll be more of the same in the pros. So you can learn something.

I do think that people who are successful as hell in college should at least get a chance in the pros. Scottie Reynolds for instance. Sure, he wasn't the most gifted athelte out there, but he was an All-American. He was one of the top 5 players in the entire country, and he doesn't even get a shot at the NBA? I just don't see how that makes sense at all.