I continue to think Hatcher is over rated. This is not sour grapes because he didn't go to UofL, I just don't think he has the passion to get it done on a consistent basis especially against SEC talent.
I do understand what you're saying, because he hasn't completely lived up to his potential just yet (some on here forget that 4-star HS player doesn't mean 4-star college player) but at the same time he's still really young, and defensive linemen and linebackers don't really come into their own in the SEC until their JR & SR seasons many times.
I've talked to a guy that played w/ Hatcher at Trinity and he had said some of the same things you said about Hatcher's motor, but then again, this guy is a Louisville fan, so I take everything he says w/ a grain of salt (and like someone else said, at the HS level, those ultra-talented guys probably take some plays off because they can just rely on their talent and coast most of the time).
I think Hatcher's going to turn out to be a really good player overall once he's a senior..maybe we'll see him turn the corner this year, who knows..it's just too early to judge him and say he's a bust or overrated. It's kind of like the Micah Johnson deal..these ratings don't always equal automatic success & some guys develop a little slower (especially at a position like LB where it's REALLY hard to come in and be a consistent force as an underclassmen) LB is like the QB of the defense..it's a really hard position to play and not for the faint of heart, mentally or physically. In football development so much of it's about how hard you're willing to work. Everyone ripped Micah Johnson because the expectations were so high for him, and he didn't really come into his own until he was a senior..but by that time he was a really, really good inside LB at the college level. People's expectations just effect their judgment of players so many times.
It's still so early for Hatcher, it's hard for me to judge him just yet..I think we'll see him take a big step forward this year and become a pivotal player for the defense..but if he doesn't, he'll definitely be one of the more disappointing recruits in Stoops' tenure.
Stars don't always equal success. Football is a very mental game, and some guys just don't have that competitive edge. I'd say 7 or 8 out of 10 four-star guys live up to their billing, but who knows if Hatcher's going to be the one of those 7 or 8..it's still early and he's still developing. I do know that it'll help his development being around a defensive coach like Stoops and Buh.
