RGIII was once known simply as Robert Griffin from Copperas Cove, Texas, in our recruiting database in 2008, and he was ranked as the No. 4 dual-threat signal-caller behind Terrelle Pryor, E.J. Manuel and MarQueis Gray. Griffin never made our Rivals250, never received offers from anyone in-state aside from Baylor and Houston and was clearly underranked and under-recruited.
But why? As far as recruiting goes, Texas and others wanted Griffin as an athlete and he insisted on being a quarterback. He was kind of right.
Griffin was an amazing track athlete and the best hurdler in the nation in high school, perhaps one of the reasons many big schools saw a future change in position.
[ Watch: Looking back: Baylor QB Robert Griffin III ]
Most people don't remember that Griffin had committed to Houston because of his relationship with then-head coach Art Briles. However, Briles flipped to Baylor when he was offered the job, Griffin flipped with him, and the rest is history.
As far as his ranking, what was the knock against Griffin? He was considered one of the two best athletes in the quarterback class along with Pryor; but Griffin was more of a run-first signal-caller and while his arm strength was excellent, his mechanics and accuracy issues were a concern.
There was also some worry that track would get in the way of his development as a quarterback at the next level.
Now, after a Heisman Trophy, being selected as the No. 2 player in 2012 NFL Draft, and coming off a weekend where he threw for 182 yards and ran for 138 and scored three touchdowns, those concerns back in 2007 seem somewhat silly. But as we know in rankings, hindsight is 20/20.
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com...sp?CID=1423779