In which I continue ranking PSU players in comparison with Scout's star ranking for recruits.  Feel free to recommend revisions by making a case for or against a particular player rating.

We've got a full class this time, 25 players including a walk-on that pushed his way onto the list.  Here's how I rate them based solely on their college performance, not necessarily NFL projections:

5 stars, These are the guys that would have started on any top 5 team in the country, Most are All-Americans or 1st team Big Ten.

Dan Conner (5), A.Q. Shipley (4) and Rich Ohrnberger (3).  Shipley and Ohrnberger make the list mostly due to post season awards.

4 stars: Top level D1-A Ballers, A notch down from the 5 stars but if you filled your team with these guys you'd bring home the BCS-MNC, most of these made All Conference teams and some AA consideration.

Jordan Norwood (1), Gerald Cadogan (3) and Deon Butler ().  The well documented Walk-on Deon Butler deserves at least another half star and Jordan Norwood gray-shirted before making the roster in 2005.

3 stars: Quality D1-A starters

Tony Davis (3), Josh Gaines (3), Mark Rubin (3), Dan Lawlor (3), Matt Hahn (3), Ant'ny Morelli (5), Tyrell Sales (4) and Mike Lucian (3). Yeah, Morelli is polarizing but he was still D1-A starter quality.  Lucian get's here on tat's alone. 

2 stars: Quality backups because you've got to have depth

Paul Cianciolo (2), Jordan Lyons (3), Austin Hinton (2)

1 star: Depth Chart/practice squad fodder

Kevin Suhey (2), Trent Varva (3), Jed Hill (3) Dontey Brown (3) and Elijah Robinson (2).  I included Robinson here and not the washouts due to spinal injury that shortened his career and the fact that he stayed with the team through graduation.

Washouts: This may be a harsh tag for some due to injuries or other extenuating circumstances but a lot of them didn't have the work ethic to stick it out.

Greg Harrison (5), Wyatt Bowman (3) and Spencer Ridenhour (3)  Lots of OL in the waste heap.

That's 14 quality D1-A players out of 25, the light at the end of the Dark years.