One of the most inexact sciences is trying to project how high school stars will pan out at the next level.
Someone can be an absolute prep stud but for whatever reason, he may never catch fire as a collegian. Worse yet, and this is far from being uncommon, he might fizzle or flop.
For every high school stalwart who successfully takes that dramatic leap up the ladder and turns into a college standout, there are three or four times that number who underachieve and never really make it. Be honest now, how often have you read about a prep dynamo that fell by the wayside and had to live with the stigma of being labeled a bust?
When it comes to heralded recruits, no matter what their pedigree of how breathless their build-up, there's no guarantee of success. Based on past history, trying to predict who will make it and who won't can amount to nothing more than a stab in the dark.
You might have a strong belief based on what you've seen on film, that someone will make the grade. But it's far from a certainty. Mostly, it all boils down to pure guesswork.
This writer has learned the hard truth that many of those players thought to be sure-things, won't ever cut it. Oh sure, the reasons may vary for their failure such as being overrated, prone to injury, not suited to a particular system or maybe just having reach their apex in high school.
But the bottom line is it's only a few who truly measure up to the hype. The majority find themselves unable to meet those lofty expectations.
Which brings us to the Notre Dame class of 2013, fresh-faced and wide eyed youngsters, dreaming of glory and hoping to make a mark. Though rather small in number, this group is thought to have big upside. Not exactly overwhelming quantity but plenty of quality. Whether this assessment proves accurate remains to be seen.
But already in fall camp, a number of these newbies have raised some eyebrows and generated some buzz. The question is whether their impressive play in practice will translate into real performance when it counts? And whether what they're showing now is merely transitory or something that will last over the long haul?
Notre Dame has had more than its share of freshman flashes that shone early in practice only to never make a significant impact. A wait-and-see attitude is definitely required when trying to appraise promising but untested talent.
Yet, one can't afford to ignore or dismiss positive reports coming out of preseason practice as it relates to the frosh contingent. There's always the chance that those reports might be a portent of exciting things to come.
So here's a quick rundown on the six first-year players who are most likely to spread their wings and become contributors right off the bat Scuttlebutt has it that each of them might be the real deal.
Manti Te'o - The much talked about marvel from Hawaii has lived up to his press clippings. Despite missing some practice time with a minor injury, Te'o hasn't disappointed. His athleticism has wowed many and he's rapidly moved up the depth chart to challenge for major minutes. Take this to the bank. Te'o will be starting at linebacker sooner than later.
The youngster seems to have all the prerequisites necessary for immediate success. Good size, ability, presence, maturity and a keen football instinct. As advertised, Te'o appears to be the complete package.
It's hard to imagine him not having a huge impact on ND's defense in '09.
Shaquelle Evans - The prep star from Cali has made some nifty catches in practice and as a result, he's muscled his way into the receiving rotation, perhaps as high as third being the trumpeted Golden Tate and Michael Floyd.
An indication that Evans has the goods is that the coaches have invested plenty of time with him, pushing him hard to extract every bit of talent he possesses.
Shaq is a confident kid who brings a natural fluidity to his game. He's also got sweet hands, excellent speed and a well put together body.
If he works his tail off and really bears down and learns, Evans could become a legitimate option on the outside.
Nick Tausch - The young man from Plano, Texas is already positioned to do great things. Remarkably, Tausch unseated two veterans and won outright the kickoff and field goal duties. And according to his coach Charlie Weis, Nick won those competitions "fairly convincingly."
Tausch has been nails booting 3-pointers and, on the surface, seems very suited to the pressure inherent with that job. Moreover, Nick has a track record of kicking off effectively as evidenced by his notable total of 22 touchbacks last season.
The only question about Tausch now is can he get it done when it really matters? He'll get plenty of opportunities to show that he can.
Theo Riddick - Unquestionably, the biggest surprise of fall camp. One of the lesser touted recruits, the 5-10 Jersey product has stood out in the early going.
Noticeably cut at 195 pounds, Riddick has impressed with his feet, burst, hands and work ethic. On the quiet side, Riddick has let his actions on the field do the talking.
Though playing time will be tough to come by with vets like Armando Allen and Robert Hughes seemingly entrenched, Weis has nonetheless indicated that Riddick could get some work. That alone says volumes about what the coaching staff thinks of this up-and-comer.
Zeke Motta - At the very least, Floridian Motta will be a fixture on special teams. What intrigues the coaches most about Motta is his speed and zest for contact. The dude just loves to hit.
After originally being situated at linebacker, Motta was moved to safety, which seems like a terrific fit for his abilities. With a massive departure at safety due to graduation after this season, Motta is perfectly positioned to become a starter in 2010.
Cierre Wood - He's talkative, determined and supremely confident. It must also be mentioned that he's pretty good.
Arriving at ND with considerable fanfare, Wood has stepped up. He's already busted some lengthy runs in practice. Plus, he's demonstrated considerable elusiveness and game-breaking potential. Woods can make things happen.
Like Riddick, Wood must show lots of chops if he is to take away playing time from more experienced upperclassmen. But given Woods' skill set, don't rule that possibility out.
More than likely, however, Cierre will be initially put to work as a kick returner, where his fancy dancing can be clearly utilized. But it probably won't be too long, 2010 at the latest, before Wood becomes a backfield staple.
So there you have it. The six-pack of Irish freshmen who figure to have the biggest impact on the program, now and in the future. Will any of them swing and miss? History suggests that very easily could happen. Will they all become stars? The odds say no.
But who really knows? As mentioned before, it's not easy to project the trajectory a freshman's career will take. He might rise early, only to implode and come crashing down to earth. Or he could really take off and be headed toward glory. Ultimately, all things being equal, it comes down to a kid's make-up, moxie, physical gifts, good fortune and those oh so important intangibles. The difficulty comes in trying to ascertain how much of those vital qualities each youngster may possess.
Hence, the question concerning the Irish six is are they legit with staying power or merely flashes-in-the pan? Do they have powerful ammo in their guns or will they end up just shooting blanks?
If it's the former, the Irish figure to blast away more than a few foes in the upcoming years.