Above average potential with high WE is equal to STL with low WE. I had 2 RBs one was high WE (~60) and above avg potential the other was STL with low WE (~30). They started and ended up about the same level talent. They both didn't start until JR year so it could have been different had the STL started earlier.
There's no replacing a STL who you start as a Freshman. In D3 if you redshirt any STL recruit and start him from day 1, he'll end up a top player.
Here is a guy who is STL who was probably around a 43 rating OL.
http://www.whatifsports.com/gd/PlayerProfile/Ratings.aspx?pid=8824308
This receiver wasn't a great recruit but was STL and started from day 1.
http://www.whatifsports.com/gd/PlayerProfile/Ratings.aspx?pid=8821688
Here's another that was a little bit better of a recruit but developed nicely:
http://www.whatifsports.com/gd/PlayerProfile/Ratings.aspx?pid=8777548
Bottom line. I can only really speak for D3... If I see a STL I'm taking him and seeing what he develops into. It's part of the fun of this game. I'll even blow some AC scouts on lower tier recruits in the hopes of finding one. But it takes a lot of AC scouts to find just one. I haven't found one since my vision's improved (3 or 4 seasons) in my 4 worlds. Prior to that, I'd avg one a season. Except in Camp. Never saw one in Camp.
I found it to be true that STL are more commonly found away from the top tier players. So with lower vision it would be more common.
10/9/2014 7:58 PM (edited)