If you actually read the text, you will see that Steele places a great deal of value on what he calls a VHT.
A "VHT" is a very highly touted player. There are also players that are merely highly touted.
He determines these categories by accumulating 8 different rating systems including the ones you here about plus more.
He then puts into a metric that ends up with a #. The lower the #, the more highly acclaimed the player.
This helps to understand why he came up with the players he did for the pre-season all conference teams.
But these measures too heavily weigh the accomplishments of these players prior to getting to D1 football.
He does not modify these ratings after they have played in college.
So, his evaluation of players for an all-conference team is not all that accurate.
Despite his claims, there are many ways that Steele is not accurate.
This is particularly true of his "projected starting line-up" as he once again assumes that it will be largely based on VHT ranking.
I would not get too intimidated by the # of VHTs on the Texas squad. They have always been loaded with VHTs.
All the top programs are loaded with VHTs every year. Texas is still a top program from a recruiting standpoint. But that doesn't mean they play like it.
What is a little more telling is the # of returning starters.
A returning starter is in capital letters.
And also I'm a bit concerned that Strong is entering his 2nd year, a year when teams usually make major improvements, especially under good coaches.
What I do like about Steele's magazine is that it is an encycopedic level piece of reference material.
If you are just trying to get accurate information on what has historically happened, he's great.
If you are using him to predict the future, be careful.
But Steele did not underestimate only Cal, he seriously under-estimated the WSU receivers, which, as a group, are as good as anybody in the conference.
