(around 1% of all D-1a players versus 29% of the overall being 3 star players) that is a pretty good indication that they are more likely to get drafted higher than say a three star or less recruit.
SMQ tackles it
here and
here.
Also, according to SMQ's numbers, 18 five star recruits were drafted this year. Consider this: in 2003 there were only 32 five star recruits named. That's more than half the 5 star recruits from one class getting drafted. Thirty-three were named in 2004.
Look at three star recruits. In 2003, 905 three star recuits were named, while only 69 were drafted. That's 7%. In 2004 it was a little more exclusive with only 607 named three star -- still only 11%. It's even worse for the remainder of DIa players, who make up the majority of all players (according to SMQ 59% over the past 5 years). Two star and lower recruits get drafted at around 3-5%. Stars matter when it comes to the NFL!
[edit: my simple math takes into account one recruiting class equating to one draft class. Obviously other factors such as early entrants skew the data one way or the other.]