There’s a line of demarcation when a recruit such as Ryan Hilinski finally enrolls early with a college football team.
Before that line, it matters how he shows in all-star games, practices and camp, how he plays on a high school field. These all give a sense of what a player can be.
Then he enrolls, and all of a sudden, those accolades no longer earn him credibility. He makes his case for the next season based on workouts, impressing teammates in player-run practices or coaches in meetings, showing leadership and most importantly, hitting the field for spring ball.