Recruiting 2011
Archives - 2001 Late Bloomers
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2002
- How To Build A Team
Through Recruiting
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The 5 Star Prospects of 2006
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The 2-Star Prospects Who Became 5-Star Players
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The 2006 All-Recruiting Class Defense
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The Unheralded Stars ...
The 2005 Class
- Recruiting Busts ... the
2005 Class
- Recruiting Booms ... the
2005 Class
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Re-Ranking the 2004 Recruiting Classes
- Late Bloomers ... the
2004 Class
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Re-Ranking the 2003 Recruiting Classes
- Booms & Busts
... the 2003 Class
- Booms & Busts
... the 2002 Class -
- The Blue Chippers
... the 2001 Class
- The Busts
... the 2001 Class
- The Late Bloomers
... the 2001 Class
February is the domain of the can’t-miss prospect,
whose signing day decision can alter the mood of an entire region of
the country. Conversely, the bulk of each year’s recruits are
relatively anonymous cogs in a given recruiting class. A handful,
however, always seem to defy the experts, authoring feel-good
stories of perseverance, humble beginnings and unexpected
success—the non-blue chip prospect that blew past expectations.
Whether you call them late bloomers, hidden gems or
sleepers, they’re the best examples that you never can tell what an
18-year old athlete will look like when he turns 22. He might wind
up even spiffier than that prep All-American, who was going to
rewrite the record books.
1. LB Lofa Tatupu, USC
In more ways than
just miles, it’s a long, long way from the A-10 to the Pac-10, but
that’s the improbable cross-country path Tatupu has taken to achieve
stardom. The one-time Maine Black Bear transferred to father Mosi’s
alma mater after the 2001 season, setting off an unlikely success
story. Considered undersized by most I-A programs, the instinctive
Tatupu has led the Trojans in tackles the last two years, and has
positioned himself nicely for the NFL Draft.
2. WR Braylon Edwards, Michigan
Lloyd Carr’s
Class of 2001 overflowed with Top 100 prospects. Hard to believe,
but Edwards wasn’t one of them. He was an unfinished product coming
out of Detroit, and very much an afterthought until after David
Terrell and Marquise Walker had graduated. Edwards just kept honing
his game every fall, culminating in last year’s Biletnikoff Award
and All-American recognition. His unexpected rise offset the
implosion of top get, running back Kelly Baraka
3. TE Heath Miller, Virginia
As quarterbacks
from tiny high schools go, Miller has developed into quite a tight
end. The nation’s best tight end, in fact. Looking for a way to
better utilize his skills, Virginia coaches moved him out from under
center his freshman year, a switch that’ll make him very wealthy in
three months. In short time, Miller transformed into a prolific
pass-catcher and terrific blocker, setting numerous ACC records and
winning the Mackey Award last season.
4. LB Chad Greenway, Iowa
Greenway knows a
little something about coming out of nowhere, having played nine-man
football in South Dakota, and suffering a severe knee injury just a
year before his breakout season of 2003. He’s got terrific size and
sideline-to-sideline quickness to go along with All-Big Ten honors
in each of the last two seasons. Greenway is Case No. 47 why few
coaches are developing talent these days better than Kirk Ferentz
and his staff.
5. LB LeRoy Hill, Clemson
Few have come so
far, so fast than Hill has these past four years. From the tail end
of a great Clemson class, he’s ascended to the role of flag-bearer
following two sensational seasons that conjured up memories of
former Tiger standout, Keith Adams. Hill has an insatiable desire
for the ball carrier, as evidenced by his 251 tackles and 46 tackles
for loss since becoming a starter in 2003.
6. S Sean Taylor, Miami
While not exactly a rags-to-riches story—the ‘Canes don’t recruit paupers—no one
could have figured the prolific high school back would develop into the
prototypical NFL safety. Taylor still had plenty of chances to show off
his running ability at Miami, however, courtesy of his 14 picks over two
seasons. The consensus All-American attracted the attention of the
Washington Redskins, who scooped him up with the No. 5 overall pick in last
year’s draft, and were thrilled with their selection before his tragic death.
7. CB Corey Webster, LSU
Webster was a
quarterback in high school, a wide receiver his first season in
Baton Rouge, and one of the nation’s best lockdown corners shortly
thereafter. When a kid possesses that ideal confluence of size,
speed and athleticism, there’s no limit to what he can do. He made
the All-SEC first team three straight years, and repeated as a
first-team All-American in 2004. Webster picked off 16 passes for
LSU, and with limited experience in the secondary, figures only to
get better at the next level.
8. DE Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
As a
high school senior, Kiwanuka was 6-foot-7, 195 pounds, and in the
hunt for a basketball scholarship. Today, he’s a sturdy 260 pounds,
and considered one of the best defensive ends returning to school in
2005. In between, he and the Eagles caught a huge break when he got
noticed as BC coaches were scouting Cathedral High teammate, Jeremy
Trueblood. In the last three years, he’s bagged 28 sacks and a slew
of postseason honors.
9. OG Chris Kemoeatu, Utah
A good defensive
tackle prospect in high school, Kemoeatu has blossomed into a great
right guard since arriving in Salt Lake City. He’s a fiery, at
times out of control, lineman, who simply destroys opponents with
his brute strength and massive upper body. Kemoeatu was a
three-year starter, a three-time All-conference selection, and an
All-American during the 2004 season.
10. OG Elton Brown, Virginia
In a recruiting
class dotted with big names, Brown was hardly the headliner. He was
a developmental prospect with a checkered past and just two games of
playing time his senior year. Cav coaches thought he’d be pretty
good, but not this good. Not at-the-top-of-his-craft good. Brown,
who was an All-American and a Lombardi Award finalist in 2004, is a
mauler with uncommon agility for a 6-foot-6, 335-pound lineman.
11. S Thomas Davis, Georgia
Until the
incoming Georgia staff finally succumbed to his incredible
versatility, Davis looked like he might be headed to I-AA Grambling,
one of the only schools to make him an offer. After lying in the
weeds his first two years, he exploded on the national scene in
2003, leading the Dawgs in tackles, and generally creating havoc
with his size and burst toward the ball. Davis was a beast again
last fall, fueling speculation that he’ll be the first safety chosen
in April’s NFL Draft.
12. LB Will Derting, Washington State
Derting is Exhibit A that good things do come in small inseams, and
from small towns. The kid from tiny Okanogan, Wash., who was
considered too short and too slow other to make it in the Pac-10,
has been a non-stop force for the Cougars since earning the start
his freshman year. The epitome of a tough, old school player,
Derting will be looking to land on his third straight all-league
team in 2005.
13. S James Butler, Georgia Tech
Playing at
Bainbridge (Ga.) High, Butler made local headlines, but never
created a national buzz like an Ahmad Carroll or Marlin Jackson. He
was a nice prospect, who wouldn’t have caused a furor in Atlanta had
he not become a star. However, after two pedestrian seasons as a
backup, he began approaching stardom with a breakout year in 2003,
and proved it was no fluke with another great season in 2004.
Butler ended both years by being named to the All-ACC first
team.
14. DE Manase Hopoi, Washington
The son of
Tongan immigrants, Hopoi came to Washington as a partial qualifier,
failing to reach the necessary SAT score and forced to sit out his
freshman season. Pac-10 schools are allowed to sign one such
student-athlete each year, and the Huskies hit paydirt here in
2001. Hopoi has excelled in the classroom, and tallied a whopping
50 tackles for loss since becoming a starter in 2002. He’s got a
non-stop motor, and has proved he can play equally well inside or at
end.
15. WR Mike Hass, Oregon State
Walk-ons earn
scholarships every year, but it’s a happening when one rises to the
heights Hass has since becoming a starter in 2003. He’s not the
biggest, the fastest or the most heralded receiver in most games he
plays, but doggone it, he is a handful to cover. Hass has terrific
hands and runs crisp routes, skills he’s used to grate on the nerves
of opposing secondaries and churn out back-to-back 1,000-yard
seasons.
16. LB Barrett Ruud, Nebraska
A super
productive player throughout his career, Ruud had interest from
Notre Dame and Michigan, but was considered no better than a Top 50
linebacker when he graduated from high school. He leaves Lincoln as
one of the Top 5 ‘backers from his class after racking up more than
140 tackles in each of the last two seasons, and breaking the Husker
mark for stops in a career.
17. QB Bruce Gradkowski, Toledo
So
unappealing was Gradkowski to I-A programs four years ago that not
one offered him a scholarship until Toledo finally took a leap of
faith. Boy, has it paid off. Over the past two seasons, he’s
piloted the explosive Rocket offense with incredible poise and
precision, while establishing himself as yet another pro-caliber MAC
quarterback. In just 25 starts, he’s accounted for 66 touchdowns,
more than 7,500 yards and just 15 picks.
18. LB Odell Thurman, Georgia
It was a long
and circuitous route getting Thurman to Athens, but he proved worth
the wait. After redshirting in 2001, he was dismissed from the
team, and forced to spend a year at Georgia Military College.
Thurman returned to the Dawgs in 2003 with a lot to prove, and a
couple of fences to mend. He responded with a breakthrough
sophomore season and back-to-back appearances on the All-SEC
defense. As a true hardship case, he’s off to the NFL with a year
of eligibility still on the table.
19. WR Terrence Murphy, Texas A&M
A lightly
regarded quarterback, Murphy was relocated to wide receiver his
first year in College Station, and promptly broke the Aggie freshman
mark for receptions. It was a sign of things to come for the kid
who’d eventually own the school career mark for both receptions and
receiving yard. Murphy’s been the lone offensive constant the past
four years, and had he been playing in a more stable offense, might
have challenged for All-American votes.
20. S Josh Bullocks, Nebraska
Primarily a
running back at Hixson High School, Bullocks has far exceeded
expectations since having his monster season two years ago. In
2003, he demanded to be noticed after picking off ten passes, and
becoming just the second Husker sophomore in school history to be
named first-team All-American. After a less spectacular junior
year, Bullocks has opted to enter the NFL Draft, where he expects to
be chosen on the first day.
21. CB Darrent Williams, Oklahoma State
The late Williams’ diminutive frame kept plenty of major programs from making
him an offer, but it hasn’t stopped him from developing into a
playmaking corner and punt returner. He’s got tremendous quickness
and speed, which makes him tough to beat in the passing game, and
even tougher to catch when the ball is in his hands. A broken
forearm derailed Williams’ quest for a spot on the
All-Big XII first team in consecutive seasons.
22. LB Rian Wallace, Temple
While a few ACC
and Big East programs kicked Wallace’s tires, no one other than
Bobby Wallace and Temple really took him seriously or made him an
offer. The linebacker has been repaying the Owls ever since. On a
team low on stars, Wallace has been the face of the program since
Dan Klecko’s departure, collecting tackles in bunches and
representing the school on post-season honors rolls. The early
entry in this year’s draft figures to be a first day selection.
23. QB Josh Cribbs, Kent State
Not big
enough. Can’t throw the deep ball. Cribbs heard all the critics
when he was in high school, but rarely listened. Few schools showed
interest, especially when he made it clear he was remaining behind
center. As a four-year starter, Cribbs got the last laugh,
rewriting the Kent record books, and becoming the first freshman in
NCAA history to pass and run for 1,000 yards in the same season. A
shifty dual-threat, he’ll look to find his niche in the NFL much the
way Antwan Randle-El did three years ago.
24. OT Travis Leffew, Louisville
Leffew had
visits to higher-profile programs, but narrowed his choice to
in-state rivals, Kentucky and Louisville. If nothing else, he
displayed impeccable judgment with that decision. The Cards’ iron
man has started 38 consecutive games, polishing his skills each fall
along with the rest of the offense. Leffew was named to the AP
All-American third team last season, which could be a springboard
for even bigger achievements in 2005.
25. C
Jason
Brown, North Carolina
It says something about Brown’s
notoriety that he was better known for throwing the discus in high
school than for playing football. He was a good lineman at Northern
Vance, but he was a two-time state champion in track and field.
Since making the switch from tackle his sophomore year, Brown has
gradually become one of the best centers in the nation. This past
year, he earned All-ACC honors, and should be the first at his
position drafted this April.