What happened to the number 1 ranked ATH (athlete) recruit from 2010-2015?

247sports ranks the best ATH (athletes) as players that aren’t solidified to one position. The number one athlete should be a good football player, but we’ll see how their careers ended up.

2010: Robert Woods ATH Gardena, California. 3rd ranked national, 1st best ATH, 2nd best in the state of California. Played 3 seasons at USC (2010-2012). 2nd round pick in 2013 NFL Draft (41st overall) by the Buffalo Bills. 8+ seasons in the NFL (4 with Bills, 4 with Rams). 106 games started (116 games played) out of 128. 31 receiving TDs, 56.2 receiving yards/game, 63.4% Catch %, 525 receptions, 6,521 receiving yards. Currently starting wide receiver for Los Angeles Rams.

2011: James Wilder ATH Tampa, Florida. 25th ranked national, 1st best ATH, 9th best in the state of Florida. Played 3 seasons at Florida State (2011-2013). Undrafted in 2014, never played in NFL (signed futures contracts with Bengals in 2014 and Bills in 2016). Currently running back for Edmonton Football Team in the CFL (Canadian football League).

2012: Arik Armstead ATH Elk Grove, California. 14th best national, 1st best ATH, 3rd best in the state of California. Played 3 seasons at Oregon (2012-2014). 1st round pick in 2015 NFL Draft (17th overall) by San Fransisco 49ers. 6+ seasons in the NFL (6 with 49ers). 59 games started (78 games played) out of 96. 22.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 201 total tackles, 30 tackles for loss. Currently starting defensive end for the San Fransisco 49ers.

2013: Derrick Henry ATH Yulee, Florida. 12th ranked national, 1st best ATH, 4th best in the state of Florida. Played 3 seasons at Alabama (2013-2015). 2nd round pick in 2016 NFL Draft (45th overall) by the Tennessee Titans. 5+ seasons in the NFL (5 with Titans). 47 games started (78 games played) out of 80. 2x Pro-Bowler (2019 & 2020), 1x First Team All-Pro (2020), 2020 Offensive Player of the Year. 55 rushing TD, 75.1 rushing yards/game, 5.0 yards/rushing attempt, 5,860 rushing yards, 1,182 rushing attempts. Currently starting running back for the Tennessee Titans.

2014: Jabrill Peppers ATH Paramus, New Jersey. 3rd ranked national, 1st best ATH, 1st best in the state of New Jersey. Played 3 seasons at Michigan (2014-2016). 1st round pick in 2017 NFL Draft (25th overall) by the Cleveland Browns. 4+ seasons in NFL (2 with Browns, 2 with Giants). 54 games started (55 games played) out of 64. 4 INT, 24 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks, 304 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss. Currently starting strong safety for the New York Giants.

2015: Terry Godwin ATH Hogansville, Georgia. 27th ranked national, 1st best ATH, 4th best in the state of Georgia. 4 seasons at Georgia (2015-2018). 7th round pick in 2019 NFL Draft (237th overall) by the Carolina Panthers. 1+ season in NFL (1 with Jaguars). 0 games started (3 games played) out of 16. 0 receiving TDs, 10.7 receiving yards/game, 50.0% Catch %, 3 receptions, 32 receiving yards. Currently backup wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

From 2010-2015:

Drafted in NFL Draft (5): Robert Woods, Arik Armstead, Derrick Henry, Jabrill Peppers, and Terry Godwin

Currently on NFL roster (5): Robert Woods, Arik Armstead, Derrick Henry, Jabrill Peppers, and Terry Godwin

Made an NFL Pro-Bowl (1): Derrick Henry 2x

Currently playing for CFL (1): James Wilder Jr

From 2010-2015 the number 1 athlete recruit’s have had successful transitions from college to the NFL. Out of the 5 drafted, 2 were drafted in the 1st round and 2 were drafted in the 2nd round of their respective drafts. Derrick Henry is the most accomplished, he rushed for 2,027 yards in 2020, and was number 10 on the 2020 NFL top 100 players list. Robert Woods, Arik Armstead, and Jabrill Peppers have all had respective careers, but none have been selected to a pro bowl. The number 1 ATH from 2010-2015 is one of the best lists I have made regarding college football recruits having success in the NFL.