I don't think anyone is trying to insult or disparage the kid, I think some of us have put the black & gold kool aid away more so than others. The culture around this program has denigrated to the level where many accept "The Story" > "The Performance" (I should know, because I was right there myself just a couple seasons ago).
I would love to see this kid turn out to be an all-conference performer and would love even more to see his name on Mel Kiper's board before his senior season - the next Dallas Clark/Bob Sanders/Robert Gallery/etc...
...but realistically, you gotta be honest with yourself about what he is. He is a fall back recruit... not that there is anything wrong with a "fall back recruit" - even O$U signs fall back recruits; no one gets their top choice every time. But not only was he not our first choice, but we stole him from ISU - who, despite what you might be led to believe by us losing to them more often than not, is easily one of the worst programs in the history of ever.
So sure, hope for the next Dallas Clark/Bob Sanders/Robert Gallery, but don't expect it. Sometimes it feels like we've gotten to the point as a program where we perversely think the less unheralded/more unlikely a recruit seems, the higher the likelihood of success...for every Dallas/Bob/Robert, there's any number of duds whose names you never bothered even learning.
