Note: This list shouldn't be taken as a draft prognosis -- that's Mel Kiper's gig. This is just a look at the top 100 impact players in I-A college football for the 2001 season. Previous ranking in ( ).
1. Roy Williams, Oklahoma, S: Is to college safeties what LT was to NFL OLBs. (1)
2. Ed Reed, Miami, S: Was the smartest player in the game. Mr. Takeaway. (12)
3. Joey Harrington, Oregon, QB: Played even better than all his hype. (22)
4. Julius Peppers, UNC, DE: Best D-lineman Heels have had in 20 years. (2)
5. Bryant McKinnie, Miami, OT: Prototype NFL LT never gave up a sack all season. (5)
6. David Carr, Fresno State, QB: Makes throws most NFL QBs can't. (6)
7. Marquise Walker, Michigan, WR: The next Cris Carter. (8)
8. Eric Crouch, Nebraska, QB: The Miami debacle clouds a great career. (9)
9. Rex Grossman, Florida, QB: Quick gun put up sick numbers. (27)
10. Quentin Jammer, Texas CB: Great size, hips and competitiveness. Can hit too. (23)
11. Josh Reed, LSU, WR: Good route runner, great after the catch. (64)
12. John Henderson, Tenn., DT: Outland winner slowed by injury and cut blocks, but still a force. (13)
13. Toniu Fonoti, Nebraska, OG: Broke his own school pancake mark. (14)
14. Andre Gurode, Colorado, OG: Best college pulling guard in years. (--)
15. Kelley Washington, Tenn., WR: Awesome physical specimen could dominate at any level. (10)
16. Dwight Freeney, Syracuse, DE: Virtually unblockable -- except vs. McKinnie. (4)
17. Antwaan Randle El, Indiana, QB: Spectacular player. Needed too much help. (53)
18. Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma, LB: Averaged 11 tackles per, still as solid as ever. (17)
19. Woodrow Dantzler, Clemson, QB: RB skills with a live arm in the ideal system. (21)
20. Alex Brown, Florida, DE: Gator sack machine even better vs. run now. (19)
21. Kalimba Edwards, So Carolina, LB: Classic edge rusher is the best on a strong Gamecock D. (16)
22. Troy Polamalu, USC, S: Trojan tackling machine carried his team. (--)
23. Travis Stephens, Tenn., TB: Flameout in SEC title game shouldn't stain awesome season. (33)
24. Jabar Gaffney, Florida, WR: Mr. Smooth is best of a super crew of Gator WRs .(24)
25. Luke Staley, BYU, RB: Great hands, great wheels ... perfect one-back man. (82)
26. Darnell Dockett, FSU, DT: Nasty dude, destroyed Va. Tech in Gator Bowl. (49)
27. Ken Dorsey, Miami, QB: Defines poise under pressure. (18)
28. E.J. Henderson, Maryland, LB: Instinctive hitter piled up 28 TFLs. (37)
29. Mike Williams, Texas, OT: Mammoth athlete has shockingly good feet. (--)
30. William Green, BC, TB: Speed and power. Lethal inside runner. (54)
31. Greg Gathers, Ga. Tech, DE: Stocky pass rusher lives in opponent's backfields. (25)
32. DeShaun Foster, UCLA: Awesome early, but fumbled away Heisman hopes. (3)
33. Phillip Buchanon, Miami, CB: Lock-down corner also a great returnman. (29)
34. Levar Fisher, NC State, LB: Sideline-to-sideline guy had big numbers before injury. (40)
35. Ben Taylor, Va. Tech, LB: Backbone of Hokie D, averaged 10 tackles per. (32)
36. Kurt Kittner, Illinois, QB: Not flashy, just a winner with very underrated skills. (34)
37. Mike Doss, Ohio State, S: Hardest hitter in the Big Ten. (30)
38. Mike Pearson, Florida, LT: Has surrendered two sacks, but still very solid. (31)
39. Larry Tripplett, Washington, DT: Unspectacular tough guy was U-Dub's stabliilzer. (15)
40. Byron Leftwich, Marshall, QB: OK, I'm finally on the bandwagon of the supersized gunslinger. (--)
41. Andre Davis, Va. Tech, WR: Pure blazer is also a dangerous return guy. (48)
42. Brandon Lloyd, Illinois, WR: Game-breaker is the biggest reason why Illini rebounded. (38)
43. Ryan Sims, UNC, DT: Overshadowed by Peppers, he showed first-round tools. (--)
44. Ashley Lelie, Hawaii, WR: 1700-yard receiver is a spindley version of Marquise Walker. (--)
45. Wendell Bryant, Wisconsin, DT: Didn't dominate as much as expected. (7)
46. LeCharles Bentley, Ohio State, C: Best pivot in the country. (--)
47. T.J. Duckett, Mich. State, RB: Speedy powerback was awesome in the bowl. (55)
48. Jeremy Shockey, Miami, TE: Good speed, soft hands and slick moves = first-round pick (69)
49. Michael Boulware, FSU, LB: Blossomed into great coverage 'backer. (--)
50. Tommie Harris, Oklahoma, DT: Has great quicks and a non-stop motor. (68)
51. Roy Williams, Texas, WR: Can dominate any time he wants. (56)
52. Anthony Davis, Wisc. TB: Good feet, great heart, another Badger 1000-yard back. (57)
53. Derrick Johnson, Texas, LB: Big hitter has the instincts and scary closing speed. (--)
54. Reggie Williams, Wash., WR: Consistent and physical with legit 4.48 speed. (65)
55. Alan Harper, Fresno State, DT: Too quick and explosive for any O-line. (44)
56. Larry Foote, Mich, LB: UM's big-play guy had a knack for sacks. (44)
57. Coy Wire, Stanford, LB: Heady and fast, could be another Adam Archuleta. (59)
58. Charles Rogers, Mich. State, WR: Ready to explode in 2002. (73)
59. Daniel Graham, Colo., TE: Not as smooth as Shockey, but a better blocker. (95)
60. Robert Thomas, UCLA, LB: Slimmed down, sped up and sparked Bruin D. (11)
61. Rashad Bauman, Oregon, CB: Short, cocky corner always made plays. (91)
62. Clinton Portis, Miami, TB: Great cutback runner brought Miami bravado. (85)
63. David Greene, Georgia, QB: Accurate and heady, he was 2001's Phillip Rivers. (--)
64. Nathan Vasher, Texas, S-PR: "ESPN3" is a natural-born playmaker. (--)
65. Lee Evans, Wisc., WR: Big Ten's most productive WR.(75)
66. Donte' Stallworth, Tenn., WR: Slick route runner will be an NFL star someday. (--)
67. Andre Woolfork, Oklahoma, CB-WR: Shutdown corner deserves more props. (20)
68. Kendyll Pope, FSU, OLB: The thunder to Boulware's lightning. (28)
69. Eli Manning, Miss., QB: Stud prospect was great early, but faded a little late. (74)
70. Keenan Howry, Oregon, WR: Smurf is too quick to single-cover. (--)
71. Sammy Davis, Texas A&M CB: Very polished, Candyman was the best Aggie. (79)
72. Dewayne White, Louisville, DE: Quick, tenacious edgeman is south's best-kept secret. (83)
73. Andra Davis, Florida, MLB: Run-stuffing enforcer brought toughness back to Gator D. (43)
74. Martin Bibla, Miami, OG: UM line coach said soft-spoken streetfighter was his best guy. (--)
75. Terrell Suggs, ASU, DE: Top pass rusher on the west, still improving vs. run. (71)
76. Terence Newman, K-State, CB: Has learned how to use that 4.2 speed. (77)
77. Onterrio Smith, Oregon, RB: Might emerge as a Heisman darkhorse. (--)
78. Napoleon Harris, N'Western, DE: Superb athlete will be a long-time NFLer. (--)
79. Terrence Metcalf, Miss, OT: Tough and physical, he was Manning's main man. (--)
80. Dontarrious Thomas, Auburn, LB: A physical force who makes plays all over the field. (50)
81. Andre Johnson, Miami, WR: Amazing tools, but needs to bring it consistently. (--)
82. Saleem Rasheed, Bama, LB: Great heart, will be centerpiece of a top-20 team in 2002. (61)
83. Max Starks, Florida, OT: Giant soph was almost as good as LT Mike Pearson. (80)
84. Stu Schweigert, Purdue, S: Has range (3 INTs) and heart (9 tpg) and is still growing. (62)
85. Clarence Farmer, Arizona, RB: Slasher just needs better conditioning to become a 1700-yard back. (--)
86. Ben Mahdavi, Wash., LB: Agile former walk-on should be good for 150 tackles in 2002. (--)
87. Trent Smith, Oklahoma, TE: Good quote. Great receiver, always seems to be open. (--)
88. Lawrence Richardson, Ark., CB: Slick cover guy came on fast late. (--)
89. Frank Romero, Oklahoma, OT: Sound and reliable, he seldom makes mistakes. (42)
90. Chance Kretschmer, Nevada, RB: His YAC numbers by themselves would've been enough to lead the WAC.
(--)
91. Jon Vilma, Miami, LB: Thunderous hits in Pasadena showed he was more than just "a smart guy". (--)
92. Lance Briggs, Arizona, LB: Runs, hits ... Good for 12 stops per game. (86)
93. Jimmy Wilkerson, Oklahoma, DE: Budding sackman has it all. (84)
94. Rohan Davey, LSU QB: Would be higher if he could stay healthy. (--)
95. Sheldon Brown, So. Carolina, CB: Vastly underrated cover man. (70)
96. Kelly Campbell, Ga. Tech., WR: Not as great a year as expected. (58)
97. Bradley Jennings, FSU, LB: Monster ended up the Noles third-best 'backer. (89)
98. Avon Cobourne, WVU, RB: Did well picking up speed offense. (--)
99. Major Applewhite, Texas, QB: Didn't play much, but still will leave UT a legend. (--)
100. Seneca Wallace, Iowa State, QB: Just beginning to scratch the surface. (--)
Bruce Feldman covers college football for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at bruce.feldman@espnmag.com.
