I was once a star gazer, I am no longer one anymore. With saying that if a college/HC has a concrete system/development/ plan to utilize players it negates everything. Speed is speed whether it be a 2 star or 5 star. Same with athleticm. A high vertical is another indicator, almost better then the 40 times the services put out.
By all accounts I've heard Middleton will be rated by rivals a solid 3 star ranging from 5.5-5.7 range.
But if somehow he ends up at USC make that a 5.8, 4 star. Sadly it's been proven and Tom Lemming was ousted from ESPN because of that...........cough, cough in 2005.
I AM still a star-gazer, because there is a pretty reliable relationship between the strength of a school's recruiting classes and its success on the field.
That said, I'm most concerned about speed. We need more speed on this team, and even if we take a raw player who can fly, I'm willing to go with that.