Top Ten NFL Factories

[osugrad21]

SI

4/27

Talent factories

The top 10 schools with the most prospects in draft

Posted: Thursday April 27, 2006 10:49AM;
Updated: Thursday April 27, 2006 1:14PM



<!--startclickprintexclude--> <script>cnnEAUrl="/writers";</script> <script> function cnnEmailAlerts() {document.location.href='/alerts'+cnnEAUrl;} </script> <script **********"**********" src="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/.element/ssi/js/2.0/clickability/button2356_1.js" type="text/**********"></script> <script **********"**********"> window.onerror=function(){clickURL=document.locati on.href;return true;} if(!self.clickURL) clickURL=parent.location.href; </script> <!--endclickprintexclude--> If there's one thing we know about college football fans, it's that they love rankings. They might not agree with where their team is ranked, but they love arguing about it nonetheless.
So we hereby offer another set of rankings to stoke the flames: The schools with the 10 best collections of prospects in this year's NFL draft.
1. USC

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</td><td width="10"></td></tr></tbody> </table> Top prospects: RB Reggie Bush, QB Matt Leinart, T Winston Justice, RB LenDale White, S Darnell Bing
Other likely picks: G Deuce Lutui, TE Dominique Byrd, G Fred Matua, FB David Kirtman
The Trojans boast the most star-studded crop since the 2002 Miami class that included Ed Reed, Jeremy Shockey, Clinton Portis, Phillip Buchanon and Bryant McKinnie. Bush and Leinart are both Heisman winners and potential superstars. The unfairly maligned White will make some team very happy.
2. Ohio State

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</td><td width="10"></td></tr></tbody> </table> Top prospects: LB A.J. Hawk, WR Santonio Holmes, S Donte Whitner, LB Bobby Carpenter, CB Ashton Youboty, C Nick Mangold
Other likely picks: DE Mike Kudla, T Rob Sims, S Nate Salley, LB Anthony Schlegel
The Bucks might not boast a franchise player such as Leinart or Bush, but depending on how the chips fall, they could tie Miami's 2004 draft record with six first-rounders (if Carpenter, Youboty and Mangold all make the cut). Hawk and Holmes will eventually be among the best at their positions.
3. Florida State

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</td><td width="10"></td></tr></tbody> </table> Top prospects: LB Ernie Sims, CB Antonio Cromartie, DT Brodrick Bunkley, DE Kamerion Wimbley
Other likely picks: S Pat Watkins, LB A.J. Nicholson, RB Leon Washington, WR Willie Reid
The 'Noles churn out defensive studs like Bobby Bowden throws out one-liners. FSU could have four go in the first round, including one, Cromartie, who is so talented that scouts don't seem to mind that he had one career start and missed last season with a knee injury.
4. Texas

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</td><td width="10"></td></tr></tbody> </table> Top prospects: QB Vince Young, S Michael Huff, CB Cedric Griffin
Other likely picks: TE David Thomas, DT Rod Wright, T Jonathan Scott
The offensive and defensive stars of last year's national title game, Young and Huff, are both expected to go in the top 10 picks. Thomas is underrated at his position, and Wright and Scott were cornerstones of the Longhorns' dominant offensive and defensive lines.

5. N.C. State

Top prospects: DE Mario Williams, DE Manny Lawson, DT John McCargo

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</td><td width="10"></td></tr></tbody> </table> Other likely picks: CB Marcus Hudson, LB Stephen Tulloch, LB Oliver Hoyte
What does it say about the Wolfpack's offense that despite boasting a defense that produced the top two defensive ends in this draft -- including potential No. 1 pick Williams -- and as many as six overall draftees, N.C. State went just 12-11 the past two seasons.
6. Miami

<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="70"> <tbody><tr><td class="cnnImgAdPad" width="60">

</td><td width="10"></td></tr></tbody> </table> Top prospects: WR Sinorice Moss, T Eric Winston, CB Kelly Jennings
Other likely picks: CB Marcus Maxey, WR/CB Devin Hester, LB Roger McIntosh
The 'Canes' NFL assembly line has slowed down a bit the past couple of years, but with Moss, "The U" should have at least one first-round pick for the 12th straight year, and Winston and Jennings aren't that far behind.
7. Alabama

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</td><td width="10"></td></tr></tbody> </table> Top prospects: LB DeMeco Ryans, DT Mark Anderson
Other likely picks: S Roman Harper, QB Brodie Croyle, LB Freddie Roach, LB Charlie Peprah
The Tide's breakthrough 10-2 season was keyed largely by this group of weathered seniors, many of whom started for three or four years. Ryans is the only one getting significant NFL buzz, but watch out for Harper and Croyle.
8. Penn State

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</td><td width="10"></td></tr></tbody> </table> Top prospects: DE Tamba Hali, CB Alan Zemaitis
Other likely picks: CB Anwar Phillips, QB Michael Robinson
The Nittany Lions were another senior-laden team last year, and while their class doesn't go quite as deep as 'Bama's in the eyes of the NFL, Hali and Zemaitis have a chance to be valuable contributors, as could the athletic Robinson if he finds the right position.
9. LSU

<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="70"> <tbody><tr><td class="cnnImgAdPad" width="60">

</td><td width="10"></td></tr></tbody> </table> Top prospects: RB Joseph Addai, DT Claude Wroten
Other likely picks: DT Kyle Williams, T Andrew Whitworth, WR Skyler Green
These five were part of a highly successful class that won a national title and played in two SEC title games. Addai was a solid running back who usually split carries with others, while Wroten and Williams were both dominant as seniors.
10. UCLA

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</td><td width="10"></td></tr></tbody> </table> Top prospects: TE Marcedes Lewis, RB Maurice Drew
Other likely picks: LB Spencer Havner
All three were college All-Americas. Lewis is the most coveted tight end in the draft behind Maryland's Vernon Davis. Drew figures to be a special-teams whiz, and Havner was a tackling machine who could make a good mid-round pick for some team.

[NFBuck]

Where's M*ch*g*n?

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by NFBuck

Where's M*ch*g*n?

Well I'm sure they were highly ranked - before the season started ....

[OSUsushichic]

the "U" at #6???

[Bucklion]

Interesting that despite the "increasing parity" in college football, those 10 are some pretty familiar names.

[EngineerHorn]

If FSU doesn't have the title as having the highest average recruiting classes this century (i.e. 3,3,4,2 is better than 1,10,1,7), they're in the top 3. Not surprisingly, they always have a lot of players drafted. So does the "does less with more" title belong to Bowden?

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by EngineerHorn

If FSU doesn't have the title as having the highest average recruiting classes this century (i.e. 3,3,4,2 is better than 1,10,1,7), they're in the top 3. Not surprisingly, they always have a lot of players drafted. So does the "does less with more" title belong to Bowden?

Debatable. Atleast they develop into NFL talent down in Tallahasee. Now up in Ann Arbor...well, not so much.

[Bucklion]

Originally Posted by EngineerHorn

If FSU doesn't have the title as having the highest average recruiting classes this century (i.e. 3,3,4,2 is better than 1,10,1,7), they're in the top 3. Not surprisingly, they always have a lot of players drafted. So does the "does less with more" title belong to Bowden?

I hate Bowden as much as anyone, and certainly the last few years has seen a downturn in the Florida State program to an extent, and their "aura of invincibility" is definitely gone. But Bowden did finish, what, 12 straight years ranked in the top 4? Hard to beat on the guy that much now after 2-4 subpar years.

[CleveBucks]

When you can skate through your conference rather easily, you can afford a loss in the early OOC games and still finish top 4. Nobody was going to challenge FSU in the ACC back in the 90's.

[osugrad21]

Originally Posted by CleveBucks

When you can skate through your conference rather easily, you can afford a loss in the early OOC games and still finish top 4. Nobody was going to challenge FSU in the ACC back in the 90's.

Throw in the Miami troubles too which helped the FSU recruiting cause...

[Bucklion]

Originally Posted by CleveBucks

When you can skate through your conference rather easily, you can afford a loss in the early OOC games and still finish top 4. Nobody was going to challenge FSU in the ACC back in the 90's.

Still had to win a bunch of bowl games. I'm not defending Bowden, I hate him, but they were a dominant program and had a big run.

[Snappy_Jay]

I also find it interesting that Josh Huston not mentioned among the Bucks that will be drafted. ESPN Kiper has him as first kicker picked.

[OSU_Buckguy]

Originally Posted by SAVANNAHbuckeye

I also find it interesting that Josh Huston not mentioned among the Bucks that will be drafted. ESPN Kiper has him as first kicker picked.

there is a chance that huston will be signed on as a free agent instead of as a draft selection. while we all know that huston is accurate, he would be picked up more as a kickoff specialist. i think dallas and baltimore are considering him just for kickoffs. green bay, atlanta, and new england are also interested. from what i've been reading, the pats are the most interested. huston would provide some competition for gramatica and could assume the role if not just the kickoff responsibilites.

the class of kickers this year is a drop-off from recent years. i think that there are two better prospects for pure field goals; however, huston is obviously the choice for kickoffs. if huston works on his accuracy for field goals, he could move into a full-time, all-purpose role. though i'd like to see him go early, i honestly think his odds are about 80/20 (still quite good) to be selected, which is most likely late in the draft.

[BB73]

Originally Posted by Bucklion

I hate Bowden as much as anyone, and certainly the last few years has seen a downturn in the Florida State program to an extent, and their "aura of invincibility" is definitely gone. But Bowden did finish, what, 12 straight years ranked in the top 4? Hard to beat on the guy that much now after 2-4 subpar years.

He managed 14 straight years in the top 4 of at least one of the 2 main polls (1987-2000)

[Dryden]

Originally Posted by EngineerHorn

If FSU doesn't have the title as having the highest average recruiting classes this century (i.e. 3,3,4,2 is better than 1,10,1,7), they're in the top 3. Not surprisingly, they always have a lot of players drafted. So does the "does less with more" title belong to Bowden?

I started a thread back in January regarding D1A coaches standings over a 5 year period with one program:

D1A Coaching Comparison

I've had to place it on the back burner for awhile, but I will be updating it with new draft numbers and recruiting numbers following the NFL draft this weekend.

For what figures I do have, Bowden ranks 4th in recruiting, 5th in NFL talent production, but is 15th in Win %. Tom O'Brien at ACC rival Boston College has a better Win % and an incredible 5-0 bowl record over the 5 year period, despite not having anywhere near the talent Bowden pulls in with recruiting.

Bowden, however, does not win the title of "does less with more," as he compares favorably to other guys like Phil Fulmer and Lloyd Carr. The real title winner is a toss up between Joe Paterno and Al Groh. Chuck Amato at NC State would be in the running if anyone actually cared about NC State.