Tuesday, August 20, 2002
Updated: August 22, 2:07 PM ET
Instant Impacts
By By Eric Adelson
These freakish talents can step right up and into the starting lineup.
Stanford's freshman sensation, LB Michael-Jordan Craven, was born nine months after the original MJ won an NCAA hoops crown as a freshman for North Carolina. (A coincidence, Craven insists.)
Craven, who prefers cowhide to pigskin, even had a failed baseball gig, seeing no outfield time at Stanford this spring. So now he's full-time football. Fine with new Cardinal whistle Buddy Teevens, who concurs with what Dean Smith determined two decades ago: Sometimes a frosh is too damn good to sit. And Craven, who, at 6'1", 215, closes faster than a bear trap, is that good. "He's one of the most instinctive guys I've ever been around," says LB coach Tom Williams. "You don't want him to ever come off the field."
Stanford lost all three 'backers from 2001. No one in Palo Alto can recall the last time a linebacker started as a freshman, but Teevens needs Craven -- the top prep LB in 2000 -- to shut down foes and get the coach's pass-happy Buddyball on the field. The new MJ is happy to lead the transition game.
Marcedes Lewis, UCLA Fr. TE/WR
Think Teyo Johnson, only quicker. He'll line up all over the field
Lance Mitchell, Oklahoma Jr. LB
Won two juco titles at CCSF; he could get 150 tackles with OU DL
Haloti Ngata, Oregon Fr. DT
His 333-lb. presence alone should improve Pac-10's ninth-ranked D
Demorrio Williams, Nebraska Jr. LB
Speedy 215-pound juco star will speed up sluggish Blackshirts
Kellen Winslow II, Miami So. TE
Answer to the two-deep. K II could get even better than Shockey
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This article appears in the September 2 issue of ESPN The Magazine.
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