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This list shouldn't be taken as a draft preview -- that's Mel Kiper's gig. This is a look at the top impact players in 1-A college football for the 2002 season, regardless of pro potential. (Wisconsin's Lee Evans, the Big Ten's most productive WR, would be on the list -- in the top 15 -- if he were 100%.)
1. Kelley Washington, Tenn., WR
Instinctive hitter piled up 28 TFLs. 5. Charles Rogers, Mich. State, WR A super-sized version of Andre Rison. 6. William Joseph, Miami, DT Great against run and pass, he may go No. 1 overall. 7. Mike Doss, Ohio State, S Hardest hitter in the Big Ten. And a leader. 8. Rex Grossman, Florida, QB Quick gun will put up sick numbers. 9. Troy Polamalu, USC, S Doesn't look 215, but hits like he's 250. 10. Jason Gesser, Wash. St., QB A Fran Tarkenton playalike has the receivers to throw for 3000 yards.
11. Andre Woolfolk, Oklahoma, CB-WR
Might be only QB capable of winning at Swamp and at Knoxville. 15. Tommie Harris, Oklahoma, DT Has great quicks and will be even more physical with added 15 lbs. 16. Kwame Harris, Stanford, OT The West's best tackle since Jonathan Ogden. 17. Reggie Williams, Wash., WR Consistant and physical with legit 4.5 speed. 18. Greg Gathers, Ga. Tech, DE Stocky pass rusher lives in opponent's backfields. 19. Dennis Weathersby, Oregon State, CB Big enough to play DE at some schools. 20. Darnell Dockett, FSU, DT Nasty dude, destroyed Va. Tech in Gator Bowl.
21. Andre Johnson, Miami, WR
Been a fixture on the 'Nole line for three years. 25. Keenan Howry, Oregon, WR Smurf is too quick to single cover. Great practice player too. 26. Lee Suggs, Va. Tech, TB Everyone at Tech says he should be back to 2000 form. 27. Trent Smith, Oklahoma, TE Good quote. Great receiver, always seems to be open. 28. Matt Ware, UCLA, DB Can play the corner, both safety spots, WR or even QB. 29. Cedric Benson, Texas, TB Probably next RB to win a Heisman. 30. Onterrio Smith, Oregon, RB Fast, quick and strong. If he can stay out of trouble, he should get 1600 yards.
31. Jon Vilma, Miami, LB
Will put up Kurt Warner #s against top competition. 35. Clarence Farmer, Arizona, RB Slasher is becoming complete back. Good enough to get 1700 yards. 36. Seneca Wallace, Iowa State, QB Not another Michael Vick. More like a poor man's Donovan McNabb. 37. Terence Newman, K-State, CB Has learned how to use that 4.2 speed. 38. Billy McMullen, UVa, WR Big, physical talent with big-time #s (83 rec., 12 TDs). 39. Nathan Vasher, Texas, CB-PR Nicknamed "ESPN3", the ultra-quick junior is a natural-born playmaker. 40. Eli Manning, Miss., QB Stud prospect was great early, but faded a little late.
41. Sammy Davis, Texas A&M, CB
An absolute friggin' beast who is a legit 6'5", 265 and runs 4.6. 44. Brandon Lloyd, Illinois, WR Game-breaker is the biggest reason why Illini rebounded. 45. Lance Briggs, Arizona, LB Runs, hits ... good for 12 stops per game. 46. Anthony Davis, Wisc., TB Good feet, great heart, another Badger 1000-yard back. 47. Casey Clausen, Tenn., QB The Iceman is very accurate (64%) and now owns Knoxville. 48. Jarret Johnson, 'Bama., DT Unheralded sack man (9 sacks) leads a tough D. 49. Earnest Graham, Florida, RB Should get more work with Zook taking over. 50. Jerome Riley, Wazzu, WR Lethal after the catch; best of great WR group.
51. Nat Dorsey, Ga. Tech, OT
Mr. Humble off the field, a brutal to-the-whistle finisher on it. 55. Justin Gage, Missouri, WR Rangy former QB learned tons getting locked down by Quentin Jammer last year. 56. Jimmy Kennedy, Penn. St., DT JoePa's best defender since Arrington/Brown. 57. Chris Rix, FSU, QB Great wheels, 24/13 TD-INT rate should get even better. 58. Jerome McDougle, Miami, DE Not as explosive as cousin Tommie Harris, but close. 59. Eugene Wilson, Ill., CB INT machine teams with Christian Morton for Big Ten's top tandem. 60. D.J. Williams, Miami, LB Great strength and great speed. With that D-line, he should get 20 TFLs.
61. Ken Hamlin, Ark., S
Very accurate guy has emerged into a real leader. 63. Kendyll Pope, FSU, OLB The thunder to Mike Boulware's lightning. 64. Bradie James, LSU, LB Should be good for double-digit tackles every game. 65. Cadillac Williams, Auburn, TB Needs to be a 1200-yard back if Tigers go bowling. 66. Eric Manning, Oregon St., DT The pocket-wrecking ball that sparks Erickson's D. 67. Marcus Trufant, Wazzu, CB As Mike Price says, the total package. 68. Dontarrious Thomas, Auburn, LB A physical force who makes plays all over the field. 69. Jon Stinchcomb, Georgia, OT Not very thick, but is very smart and consistent. 70. Bernard Berrian, Fresno St., WR 13 TDs, dangerous returner too.
71. Derrick Johnson, Texas, LB
Can be a star inside or out. 76. Dahrran Diedrick, Nebraska, TB Not great, but should be very productive again. 77. Will Smith, Ohio State, DE Mr. Unblockable. Had four sacks in Bucks spring game. 78. Philip Rivers, NC State, QB Not a big arm, but very sharp (16-7 TD-INT rate, 65%) 79. Cedric Cobbs, Ark., TB Finally ready to live up to the hype. 80. David Greene, Georgia, QB Accurate and heady, he was 2001's Philip Rivers.
81. Ricky Manning Jr., UCLA, CB
Would be a Heisman candidate if Suggs were gone. 85. Taylor Jacobs, Florida, WR Should get 1000 yards and be Grossman's go-to guy. 86. Brett Romberg, Miami, C Fiery leader of Miami line is also very versatile. 87. Mike Saffer, UCLA, OT Smooth technician has gotten nastier. 88. Kellen Winslow II, Miami, TE Miami's most improved player, could catch 50. 89. Teyo Johnson, Stanford, WR The ultimate mismatch. Is lethal in the red zone. 90. Gerald Hayes, Pitt, LB The backbone of the Panthers. Had 7 sacks in '01.
91. Terrence Holt, NC State, S
Playmaker who could make Butkus noise. 96. Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (OH), QB A James Bond fanatic, he is the picture of cool. Having that accurate gun helps too. 97. Dan Klecko, Temple, DE Great technician makes the move to the edge. 20 TFLs. 98. Angelo Crowell, UVa, LB Speedy playmaker who can really deliver (12 tpg, 4 FF) 99. Matt Wilhelm, OSU, MLB All the tools, just needs to not outthink himself. 100. Jared Lorenzen, Kentucky, QB Big butt, big arm. Will run over 300-pound DTs and be the best show in college football. Bruce Feldman covers college football for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at bruce.feldman@espnmag.com. |
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