Recruiting has always been a hit or miss game. Coaches take gambles on players, while players take a risk in picking a school and a coach. Not even five star recruits are locks to become future NFL Draft picks or Heisman contenders. In college football, nothing, or nobody, is a sure thing.
In 2003, California St. Bonaventure High's Whitney Lewis was the nation’s consensus No.1 wide receiver. He was a part of numerous All-American teams, including Sports Illustrated, Parade and Super Prep. After his senior year, he participated in the annual Army All-American game in San Antonio.
The first player in California history to record 1,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season, Lewis brought in every major scholarship offer around. He wouldn’t head far from home, though, deciding on local USC as his college of choice.
As a freshman in 2003, Lewis saw action in eight games, while switching regularly between running back and wideout. He caught just three passes for 27 yards and rushed three times for 11 yards. It wasn't exactly the season many USC faithful had expected out of their prized No. 1 recruit.
After a redshirt season in 2004 because of academic problems, Lewis saw action in nine games in 2005, but didn’t record anything worthy of making the stat-sheet.
In 2006, Lewis had enough of the Trojans and elected to transfer to Northern Iowa (left). The Panthers coaching staff moved Lewis to running back fulltime, where he played in seven games his junior year. It would be yet another modest year for the past No. 1 recruit, as he rushed for 360 yards and three scores.
In his final year of college football, Lewis moved back to wide receiver, where he caught just 26 balls for 218 yards and one score in a 12-1 season for the Panthers.
In the eyes of the recruiting world and college football landscape, Lewis was a bust. He wasn’t the first recruit to not live up to the enormous hype and praise that comes with being a five star prospect and he wasn’t the last.
Lewis has had the company of 2002 Ohio State linebacker recruit Mike D’Andrea, 2004 Miami recruit Willie Williams and 2004 Florida State quarterback commit Xavier Lee, just to name a few.
In recent years, the recruiting process has begun to concentrate more on evaluating, and because of it, less busts are beginning to show face in recruiting. Busts do still exist, though.
In the 2011 season of college football to come, a few past top recruits and potential busts will have a chance to prove otherwise. The players below still have something left to prove before they’re left in the “Whatever Happened to...” category.
Willy Korn – 2007 No. 8 QB: Clemson – Marshall – North Greenville
Korn was tagged as the savior of Clemson football when he committed out of high school, but his stay turned short lived when he was passed on the depth chart by starter Kyle Parker. Korn graduated in May 2010 and later transferred to Marshall. The Herd coaching staff moved Korn to safety and Korn would transfer then again, this time to North Greenville, an NCCAA college. As a sophomore, Korn led North Greenville to a NCCAA National Title and in 2011 he’ll have another shot at a title as a junior.
D.J. Shoemate – 2008 No. 8 WR: USC – Connecticut
A special athlete out of local power Servite High, Shoemate played mostly on special teams his freshman season, before making a move to fullback. As a sophomore, he rushed twice for two yards and caught two passes for 23 yards and a score. Following his sophomore year, Shoemate elected to transfer to UConn, where he was granted immediate eligibility. In 2010, he rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown in backup duty. In 2011, Shoemate will contend for the starting running back job in front of an entirely new coaching staff this spring.
Arthur Brown – 2008 No. 1 OLB: Miami (Fla.) – Kansas State
Considered the best defensive player in the country by numerous publications his senior year at East Wichita High in Kansas, Brown spent two years at Miami before transferring to Kansas State following the 2009 season. At Miami, Brown made just 17 total tackles, playing mostly on special teams. Due to transfer rules, Brown sat the 2010 season but will compete for playing time and a potential starting job as a junior in 2011.
Darrell Scott – 2008 No. 1 RB: Colorado – South Florida
The top running back in the country in 2008 according to scout.com, Scott spent a couple injury riddled seasons at Colorado before leaving following his sophomore season. In his freshman year with the Buffs, Scott saw action in 11 games, rushing for 343 yards and a touchdown. For the 2011 season, Scott will compete for the starting job for the Bulls throughout spring practice. He has two years of eligibility remaining
Blake Ayles – 2008 No. 2 TE: USC – Miami (Fla.)
A talented pass catching tight end out of high school, Ayles fell through the shuffle at USC. Following his junior year for the Trojans last season, Ayles made the switch to Miami, where he followed former USC tight ends coach, Brennan 
Carroll. He’ll be eligible immediately due to the NCAA transfer rules for USC upperclassmen. In three years with the Trojans, Ayles caught just 14 passes for 182 yards. On the first release of the spring depth chart at Miami, Ayles was listed as the third team tight end, but is a favorite to win the job.
Bryce Brown (right) – 2009 No. 1 RB: Tennessee – Kansas State
The brother of former No. 1 linebacker and member of the same list, Arthur Brown, Bryce was considered one of the best players to come out of the Kansas high school ranks since Barry Sanders. In his freshman season, Brown rushed for 460 yards and three scores, but left following the season to join his brother at Kansas State. He informed the Vol’s coaching staff he would be leaving via text message and never formally called new head coach Derrick Dooley. Dooley then dinned Brown his release and he was forced to pay his way for his first year at Kansas State. Brown is the favorite to take the running back job in 2011 and will compete for it this spring.
Nick Kasa – 2009 No. 4 DE: Colorado
The only member of the list not to transfer, Kasa was a gifted Colorado product with top offers, but chose to stay in state to attend Colorado. A talented athlete at a now 6-foot-6, 275-pounds, Kasa was expected to contribute right away for the Buffaloes, but has played sparingly since joining the team. As a freshman in 2009, he brought in just two tackles in an injury plagued season. Last year, he never started a game while moving between defensive end and defensive tackle. Now a junior, Kasa will compete for one of the starting defensive end spots this spring, where he brings a lot of potential and upside.
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