Let me begin 2003 with a preface.
When I was graduating high school in 2002, I was extremely curious about football recruiting in the state of Virginia. Some of the feedback I heard after truly reflected this. My lists were clearly geared toward the East Coast.
However, in 2003 is when I started getting into recruiting on the national scale. So I think my assessments from here on out will be more fair.
Also, I am going stop with the class of 2003 for now. I think it's a little early to rank the '04 class. If you think I should do a quick write up, let me know and I'll see what I can come up with.
It's funny how my thoughts changed with respect to 2002. When I first looked, I was going nuts over some of the names I saw, but as I flipped through the profiles for hours, I realized that there was just a bunch of "ehh." In contrast, my thoughts about 2003 were exactly the same at first glance and after my analysis.
Honestly, I'm not sure what to do about 2003. There's that much talent in the class. Stick with me here, well get through this together.
Scout.com's 2003 Top 100 Players
Rivals.com's 2003 Top 100 Players
Abramson's Top 10 players from the 2003 Top 100:
10. Robert Meachem, Tennessee WR9. Reggie Nelson, Florida S
8. Lamarr Woodley, Michigan DE
7. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame QB
6. Donte Whitner, Ohio State S
5. JaMarcus Russell, LSU QB
4. Ernie Sims, Florida State LB
3. Mario Williams, NC State DE
2. Joe Thomas, Wisconsin OT
1. Reggie Bush, Southern California RB (you know, the Heisman winner to the right)
Look at that list. Are you freakin' serious? I have to provide my library of honorable mentions:
Next of the best (in no particular order)
Chris Leak, Florida QB; Michael Bush, Louisville RB; Earl Everett, Florida LB; Prescott Burgess, Michigan LB, Jarvis Moss, Florida DE; Andre Caldwell, Florida WR (seeing a theme here?); Antonio Cromartie, FSU DB; Lawrence Jackson, USC DE; Paul Oliver, Georgia CB; Chad Jackson Florida WR; Jake Long, Michigan OL; Shawn Crable, Michgian LB; Mark Bradford, Stanford WR
One more year
Kregg Lumpkin, Georgia RB
Barrington Edwards, UNC RB (Started at LSU)
Anthony Hill, South Florida RB (Started at LSU)
Jordy Lipsey, Virginia OL
Robert Killebrew, Texas LB
Chauncey Washington, RB Southern California (I think he'll have a huuuge season next year)
Tyrone Moss, Miami RB
Dennis Dixon, Oregon QB
Tommy Zbikowski, Notre Dame S (Yes, I know he was All-American…)
Swing and a miss
Greg Olsen, Miami TE: Don't flip out on me. He was No. 20 by Scout, No. 10 by Rivals and what did he do in three years? 85 catches, 1,170 yards, 6 TDs. Sorry, that's not the production Miami was hoping for, I don't care what the school says.
Tommy Grady, Oklahoma QB: Started at Oklahoma and backed up Jason White. Transferred to Utah to back up Brett Ratliff this past year. I guess he has one more year, but does one year of production at Utah count? We'll see I guess, but I don't know considering he was such a blue chipper coming out of Huntington Beach, CA.
Moe Dampeer, Oklahoma DT: What's the lesson here? Recruit two blue chippers who turn into busts and you'll lose the Fiesta Bowl to a WAC team on some trick plays? Seriously, he played with the Sooners for a year or two then ended up at Joliet (Ill.) Junior College. If anyone knows what Moe is up to these days, post a comment.
Philip Brown, Virginia CB: I went to high school near this guy. He was an unbelievable athlete and his future was extremely bright at Virginia. But problem after problem off the field eventually led to Virginia parting ways with him.
Kyle Wright, Miami QB: He's going to have to pretty much be a Heisman finalist to right the wayward ship that is his career. I guess it's not too late, but we'll see. He was a Top 5 player in the country.
Demetris Summers, South Carolina RB: It looked like this guy could tear it up for the Gamecocks, but when Steve Spurrier came in, one of his first orders of business was to clean house. Summers apparently lived in said house.
Tripp Carroll, Virginia Tech OL: Probably the most touted offensive lineman to sign with Virginia Tech. I think he was a deep snapper one season before he quit…
Oversights:
Ko Simpson, South Carolina LB (2-star, No. 85 safety…pretty darn good get)
Jeremy Young, Southern Miss QB (2-star…I guess the jury is out on him, but he looks promising)
Drew Tate, Iowa QB (3-star)
Tony Hunt, Penn State RB (3-star Virginian)
David Clowney, Virginia Tech WR (2-star)
Wilrey Fontenot, Arizona CB (unranked 2-star)
Scott Chandler, Iowa TE (2-star…his numbers were a hair under Olsen's)
H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh LB (3-star, No. 81 LB overall)
KaMichael Hall, Georgia Tech LB (3-star, No. 82 LB overall)
Joe Anoai, Georgia Tech DL (3-star, just watch any GT game, they'll talk about him for an hour)
Danny Ware, Georgia RB (2-star LB coming out of high school)
J. Leman, Illinois LB (2-star…you should remember this name from earlier this year--scroll to bottom)
Roderick Rogers, Wisconsin DB (2-star)
Final thought:
It's no wonder that Michigan had one of the best run defenses in the history of college football (No run defense this century put up numbers even close to Michigan's 43.4 yards per game/1.87 yards per carry). Shawn Crable, Lamarr Woodley, Prescott Burgess, Leon Hall with Alan Branch coming the following year is probably why…
Anyway, It's amazing what happens when you have time to research this stuff. I really tried to bring the West Coast to this. But I think you can agree with me about the talent of 2003.
Submit your suggestions of players I left out. Do it. Seriously. Do it.
Comments (3)
Penn State, Linebacker, No. 31, Paul Posluszny, nuff said.
Some other notable oversights...
Colt Brennan Hawaii QB- Not ranked, not even listed on either site (walked on at Colorado)
Patrick Willis Ole Miss LB - Not ranked, 2 stars (NR/3 stars Rivals)
Laurence Maroney Minnesota RB, Not ranked, 2 stars (NR/4 Rivals)
Joe Thomas Wisconsin OL, Not ranked, 1 star (NR/4 Rivals)
Big "MO" just joined up with the NWMSU bearcats.. a Div. II NCAA football team that has been to the national championships the last 3 years and 5 out of the last 10. He is really over weight and is on a strict diet and trainers are working on him. He has been told this is his LAST chance.. Screw up here and he is done. He seems to understand and is starting to work hard. Best part is by moving down to DII his eligibility is based on his time played not from when it started. Thus he is considered only a sophmore!
www.nwmissouri.edu for more info.