Because the 5 star freshman is going to have some game changing plays mixed into those statistics and be a guy that teams need to account for. He is going to bring a different dynamic to the team that cannot be measured by statistics alone.
To say that this guy will put up similar statistics to what a 5 star freshman might put up and say therefore its the same as having a 5 star freshman receiver getting meaningful playing time is just not a very nuanced discussion.
Kmet and Finke had nearly identical statistics this year. How would you compare the impact that each of those two players had on the season this year? Even conceding the fact that Kmet missed the first few games, it would be very difficult to say that these two even remotely impacted the team's performance on the field this year in a similar manner despite comparable statistics.
Floyd was just a guy to opponents when he caught his first TD against SDSU in 2008. After the MSU game and certainly by the UNC game he was a verifiable game wrecker that teams had to account for.
This incoming transfer is just a warm body that teams will gladly concede a few 12 yard catches a game to. Please don't ever again say that him coming in for a year is the same as a 5 star freshman wide receiver playing in his freshman year. Not all yards are created equal.
As for Johnson, I'm not sure what your point was then highlighting that he was 6'0 180 lbs. If a dude can play, he can play. Regardless of size, especially at the WR position.
CeeDee Lamb is 6'2 190 lbs that dude absolutely overwhelms defenders with his physicality and aggressiveness. Then take a guy like Boykin. He might be 6'4 220 but he in no way played like a guy that size at ND. He was very much a finesse player that rarely was going to fight through a defender for a 50/50 ball or exhibit anywhere near the catch radius that he should have. Some players can just do things physically that others can or cannot regardless of their size or lack thereof.
You can compare Johnson to Jones as freshman if you wish. But I don't care what the physical measureables are. Its simple a comparison I would not make.
Production is production, regardless of how you think it looks.
If player A is a 5 star freshman and has 40 receptions for 500 yards and 5 TDs, on the same or similar number of targets as player B...
And
Player B is a 5th year senior and has 40 receptions for 500 yards and 5 TDs, on the same or similar number of targets as player B....
It's the same scoring production.
Comparing a slot receiver and a tight end in terms of impact on the game is silly because a tight end will have a lot more blocking responsibilities that can impact a game. That said, I never compared Finke and Kmet, although Chris averaged 1 fewer yard per reception than Kmet and has been a key player on 3rd down for a couple years. Their actual impact wasn't far off, although Kmet certainly gets the edge.
Also, your "don't ever say again" comment regarding a grad transfer and a 5 star freshman over a 1 year span, is silly... Right from the beginning it assumes that all 5 star players are made equally or at least better than their competition. Exactly the opposite of what you were trying to say regarding Lamb vs Boykin.
Duval Kamara (5 Star, #31 nationally)
Freshman season at ND
23 receptions
218 yards receiving
9.4 yards per catch
1 TD
Justin Shorter (5 star, #8 nationally)
Freshman season at Penn State
12 receptions
137 yards receiving
11.4 yards per catch
0 TD
Jadon Haselwood (5 star, #19 nationally)
Freshman season at Oklahoma
19 receptions
272 yards
14.0 yards per catch
1 TD
Donovan Peoples-Jones (5 star, #12 nationally)
Freshman season at Michigan
22 receptions
277 yards receiving
12.2 yards per catch
0 TD
Mecole Hardman (5 star, #12 nationally)
Freshman season at Georgia
Redshirted
George Campbell (5 star, #19 nationally)
Freshman season at Florida State
3 receptions
42 yards
14 yards per catch
0 TD
Those are literally a couple names off the top of my head. I can find 30 or 40 more (with ease) over the past 15 years, that were highly decorated 5 stars, all different sizes, strengths and speeds, who struggled mightily to make big impacts on programs as freshman receivers.
I would argue that you actually have a better chance of a player that has proven he can make an impact in a power 5 conference, doing so over the majority of true freshman receivers, regardless of where they are ranked coming out of high school. It's an enormous jump to college.
It's not like Skowronek was playing in the MAC and caught 45 balls, averaging 7 yards per catch. He played in the Big 10 and averaged 13 yards per catch and 4 TDs, while catching 90 passes in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
I'm curious as the why you think Skowronek's 13.0 yard catch average (very good) on 90 balls would be different than Johnson having the same per catch average?