This is a big day across the football landscape -- national signing day. What, you thought I was going to mention something Super Bowl-related?
In the spirit of signing day, I thought it would be fun to look back at the current players on the New York Jets and see how they ranked as high school prospects, according to the recruiting web site Rivals.com. I did this last year and it was well-received. Besides, the Jets added so many new players that it's worth a revisit.
You may be surprised to see Christian Hackenberg at the top of the list, but he was the 24th-rated senior in the country in 2013. He attended Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia and was coveted by every major school in the country, eventually signing with Penn State.
The Jets have two other five-star recruits.
Anthony Johnson, whom the Jets signed off the Patriots' practice squad, was ranked 17th nationally in 2011 as a senior in New Orleans. He chose LSU. Sheldon Richardson, out of St. Louis, was the fourth-ranked recruit in 2009. He went to a junior college before signing with Missouri.
FIVE STARS
Hackenberg, Johnson, Richardson.
FOUR STARS
James Carpenter, Marcus Gilchrist, Donald Hawkins, Jordan Jenkins, Corey Lemonier, Nick Mangold, Jalin Marshall, Charone Peake, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Brandon Shell, Geno Smith, Lawrence Thomas, Leonard Williams.
THREE STARS
Antonio Allen, Brandin Bryant, Juston Burris, Bruce Carter, Kellen Davis, Quincy Enunwa, David Harris, Wesley Johnson, Darron Lee, Nick Marshall, Ronald Martin, Lorenzo Mauldin, Dexter McDougle, Romar Morris, Julien Obioha, Bryce Petty, Calvin Pryor, Brent Qvale, Darrelle Revis, Deon Simon, Devin Smith, Eric Tomlinson, Brandon Wilds.
TWO STARS
Robby Anderson, Brandon Bostick, Brandon Burks, Mike Catapano, Ryan Clady, Eric Decker, Nick Folk, Matt Forte, Breno Giacomini, Erin Henderson, Randell Johnson, Bryson Keeton, Brandon Marshall, Josh Martin, Steve McLendon, Doug Middleton, Rontez Miles, Bilal Powell, Darryl Roberts, Muhammad Wilkerson, Brian Winters.
NO STARS
Braedon Bowman, Buster Skrine, Julian Stanford, Marcus Williams
NO LISTING
Freddie Bishop, Dakota Dozier, Lachlan Edwards, Ben Ijalana, Khiry Robinson, Craig Watts.