20 most hyped college football recruits of all-time
By Dustin Hull
5. Jimmy Clausen
There’s no doubt that Jimmy Clausen was surrounded by all kinds of lofty hype, but he also didn’t help to simmer down expectations.
After an incredible run of 42-0 as a starter in high school, one with a state-record 146 passing touchdowns, the California product decided to stretch his recruitment fiasco to its peak. Speaking of stretch, Clausen showed up in a Hummer limo at the College Football Hall of Fame to make his announcement on where he’d be attending school.
Talk about setting yourself up for potential backlash.
But Clausen chose Notre Dame, and the school was once again gifted with another extremely hyped quarterback on or exceeding the levels of Joe Montana, Ron Powlus, and Brady Quinn. He was yet another player considered a once-in-a-generation player and the “LeBron James of high school football” by his private quarterback’s coach Steve Clarkson.
He was said to have an arm like John Elway, the composure that could be compared to Tom Brady’s, and a quick release that reminiscent of Joe Namath. Some other coaches and trainers likened him to Dan Marino. Are there any other greats we missed?
Needless to say, Jimmy Clausen didn’t touch the surface of success that those quarterbacks had, ending up more like Powlus and not Montana in the pros. And certainly nothing like LeBron.
Next: Peyton Manning