Two-Star Checkup: Outperforming rating in Week 5
Every Thursday during the college football season we look back on some two-star prospects who are outplaying their high school ranking and helping their teams win games. This week we look at a trio of prospects who flew under the radar as recruits but made plenty of plays on the big stage over the weekend.
THIS WEEK'S CHECKUPS: Five-stars | Four-stars | Three-stars
As a recruit: As the son of accomplished NFL wide receiver Jake Reed and a pretty good high school prospect himself, it’s a surprise Reed didn’t have more suitors coming out of high school. He initially committed to SMU in February 2014, but grayshirted to rehab an injury suffered late in his high school career. Rather than join the Mustangs in 2015, he signed with Tulsa instead and enrolled in January 2015. He spent one year with the Golden Hurricane before transferring to Georgia in 2016, eventually reuniting with his cousin DeAngelo Gibbs, who signed with the Dawgs in 2017.
What he did this weekend: Reed has been a surprise contributor to a terrific Georgia defense this season, especially considering he had just five tackles in his one year at Tulsa. In Saturday’s blowout victory over Tennessee, Reed had three tackles, including one for loss. On the year, Reed has totaled 28 tackles along with a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery and looks like he will be a stalwart in the Dawgs secondary going forward.
As a recruit: Despite a highly productive high school career at both safety and wide receiver, Schooler received just one FBS offer prior to National Signing Day in 2016, courtesy of Wyoming. He visited Laramie just before Signing Day but elected to hold off on a decision when the rest of his class signed. Eventually Oregon came through with a late scholarship offer and he committed to the Ducks in June, just two months before the start of his freshman season.
What he did this weekend: Schooler’s career started at safety, where he led the Ducks in interceptions with four. But after the arrival of Willie Taggart in Eugene and the loss of several key wide receivers, Schooler was moved to offense, where he has quickly become a factor as well. In Saturday’s victory over California, Schooler led the Ducks in receiving with 37 yards and a touchdown and is now tied for first on the team in receiving touchdowns. Schooler’s versatility has allowed him to outplay his ranking in less than two years in college.
As a recruit: Chunn had a terrific high school career and saw several offers come his way from Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee and UAB but he made an early commitment to Troy and ended up sticking with the Trojans despite a late charge from the Blazers. Chunn was viewed by most Power Five schools as a fullback, but preferred to play running back and that was a key reason why the Trojans kept his commitment.
What he did this weekend: Chunn played a huge role in Troy’s stunning upset victory over LSU, rushing for 191 yards and one touchdown in the Trojans' 24-21 victory. Chunn is approaching the 3,000-yard rushing mark for his career and is coming off a 1,200-yard season in 2016. Those coaches who thought he would be a fullback turned out to be wrong and Chunn will go down in the Trojans' record books.