snyder's way of doing things has a lot to do with it. i don't think people realize how much more k-state practices than any other team, how much more they meet, how much more they are required to know. every d1 program is intense but it's a different level at k-state in terms of time and energy required to put in to it.
it turns what would normally be a pud medium into a well oiled (mostly) disciplined machine stud medium.
Randall Evans is a perfect example. i don't think he really had offers coming out of high school (i mean check out his profile...
http://rivals.yahoo.com/kansasstate/football/recruiting/player-Randall-Evans-83971;_ylt=ApLnOCRXO57H1NuhGSp7BsjpsJB4" but he was a stud athlete. let's say he goes to a small d2 school somewhere. he would probably play right away, be pretty good for that level, but not really develop into anything spectacular. instead he comes to kstate, gets put into the "system," gets stronger, develops, learns, earns a scholly, learns some more, gets on the field his sophomore year, and i believe ready to break out in his junior year.
i will never say stars are meaningless, if a kid has 4 or 5 he is absolutely more likely to be a stud. but you can develop a great program with 2 stars if you do it the right way, it just takes more work.
*untucks shirt*