Highlights of the 2015 NFL Draft’s top 10 picks as high school recruits

The 2015 NFL Draft’s first round showcased 15 former blue chips and a longshot sleeper or two, led by former No. 1 national quarterback prospect Jameis Winston. That’s about normal, since recruiting ratings are actually a decent long-term predictor of future pro success.

Here’s a quick look at how each of the top 10 picks stacked up as college prospects. Six of the 10 were considered blue chips by the 247Sports Composite, which combines the four major recruiting services into one rating.

Seven went to high school in the Southeast, with four of them coming out of the state of Florida. That’s a strong showing for one of the country’s three biggest recruiting states. Even considering geography, it’s pretty impressive that FSU was in the final running for half of them. Players the Noles did land are expected to take over the rest of the draft, with nine picks possibly added to the first round’s two.

Full, live results here.

Hueytown (Ala.) High School

247Sports Composite: Five-star, 0.9913 rating

National ranking: 15 Position ranking: 1

Chose Florida State over: Alabama, LSU, Stanford

Fun fact: Winston’s battle was heated going into National Signing Day, but part of his decision came down to a surprising factor. The two-sport athlete chose the Seminoles in part because of their top-tier baseball program. Alabama could approximate FSU in football prestige, but couldn’t come close on the diamond. And Stanford was a serious contender as well, with Winston putting in the time to work through the Cardinal’s involved admissions process.

St. Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii) School

247Sports Composite: Three-star, 0.8631 rating

National ranking: 518 Position ranking: 19

Chose Oregon over: Memphis

Fun fact: Yes, Mariota chose the Ducks over Memphis. Not some other Pac-12 or national power, but Memphis. That’s because Memphis was the only school, other than Oregon, to offer a scholarship to the quarterback from the distant island. Now, he’s a Heisman Trophy winner and top-two pick.

Lakewood (St. Petersburg, Fla.) High School

247Sports Composite: Four-star, 0.9830 rating

National ranking: 36 Position ranking: 6

Chose Florida over: Florida State

Fun fact: Fowler was a Signing Day rivalry flip, signing with the Gators after being committed to FSU. Fowler made multiple trips to Gainesville while he was committed, and less than a week before Signing Day, he told FSU coaches that he would be in Tallahassee. He did end up playing two games there -- an upset win in 2012 and a loss in Will Muschamp’s final game.

Miami (Fla.) Northwestern Senior High School

247Sports Composite: Four-star, 0.9768 rating

National ranking: 46 Positional ranking: 6

Chose Alabama over: Florida State, Miami, Ohio State, West Virginia

Fun fact: Cooper missed much of his junior season with an injury and was somewhat lightly regarded up to that point, but a hot showing on the camp circuit boosted his stock significantly.

Denison (Iowa) High School

247Sports Composite: Three-star, 0.8579 rating

National ranking: 579 Positional ranking: 40

Chose Iowa over: Iowa State, Kansas State

Fun fact: Scherff used to play quarterback in high school. Yes, quarterback. Watch those highlights if you think we’re messing with you.

Mainland (Daytona Beach, Fla.) High School

247Sports Composite: Four-star, 0.9750 rating

National ranking: 50 Position ranking: 3

Chose USC over: Florida, Florida State

Fun fact: Some question whether recruiting to the coach or the school is better for a player, but Williams committed to the scheme. When he chose USC, he said the biggest factor was the Trojans’ use of a 4-3 front. (The future top-10 DT pick also said he didn’t want to play DT.) Florida, which had the immediate geographical advantage, couldn’t commit. Perhaps just as importantly, Williams was actually born in Bakersfield, Cali.

Lackawanna (Penn.) C.C. via Emmaus (Penn.) High School

247 Sports Composite: Three-star, 0.8343 rating

National ranking: 136 Positional ranking: 23

Chose West Virginia over: Texas Tech

Fun fact: White missed two years of football in 2010 and 2011, first due to a shoulder injury and then financial difficulties that prevented him from staying enrolled at Lackawanna. He played both wide receiver and defensive back while he was in high school, but concentrated on offense in junior college.

Adairsville (Ga.) High School

247Sports Composite: Three-star, 0.8622 rating

National ranking: 483 Positional ranking: 22

Chose Clemson over: Alabama, Auburn

Fun fact: Beasley was a two-way player coming out of high school, playing running back, wide receiver and linebacker. He had over 800 rushing yards and seven touchdowns as a senior in high school. And how about this on the longtime Falcons fan:

Miami (Fla.) Norland High School

247 Sports Composite: Four-star, 0.9314 rating

National ranking: 157 Positional ranking: 17

Chose Miami over: Florida State

Fun fact: A lot of linemen put on a lot of size once they get into a college workout and nutrition program, but Flowers was 6’6, 315 pounds in high school. That’s a big boy.

Tarboro (N.C.) High School

247 Sports Composite: Four-star, 0.9626 rating

National ranking: 74 Positional ranking: 7

Chose Georgia over: Alabama, Auburn, Florida

Fun fact: Gurley rushed for 2,600 yards and 38 touchdowns as a senior in high school. Yes, that’s just from one season.