ESPN.com - The Blitz: The Hot 100

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Wednesday, August 21, 2002
Updated: August 22, 1:23 PM ET
The Blitz: The Hot 100

By By Bruce Feldman

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
Awesome physical specimen could dominate at any level.
2. Dave Ragone, L'ville, QB
Huge, mobile QB tweaked delivery and will be even more dangerous rolling out.
3. Byron Leftwich, Marshall, QB
Okay, I'm on the bandwagon of the supersized gunslinger.


	Big 10 secondaries beware.

4. E.J. Henderson, Maryland, LB
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
Rangy shutdown corner deserves more props.
12. Roy Williams, Texas, WR
Can dominate anytime he wants, which should be now since he's finally 100%.
13. Dewayne White, L'ville, DE
Quick, tenacious edgeman is south's best-kept secret.


	If you're in Harris' way, get used to eating turf.

14. Ken Dorsey, Miami, QB
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
Amazing tools, but needs to bring it consistently.
22. Terrell Suggs, ASU, DE
Top pass rusher in the west, still improving vs. run.
23. Cory Redding, Texas, DE
Future first-rounder is most underrated 'Horn.


	Smurf will leave defenses feeling blue.

24. Brett Williams, FSU, OT
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
Thunderous hits in Pasadena showed he was more than just "a smart guy."
32. Chris Simms, Texas, QB
Get back on the bangwagon. He'll shine without Major behind him.
33. Jimmy Wilkerson, Oklahoma, DE
Budding sackman has it all.


Slashes more than a Freddy Krueger flick.

34. Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech, QB
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
Very polished, Candyman was the best Aggie.
42. Michael Boulware, FSU, LB
Blossomed into nation's coverage 'backer.


As Lloyd goes, so go the Illini.

43. Jason Witten, Tenn., TE
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
Still just a baby, he will be a top-10 pick in two years.
52. Todd Johnson, Florida, FS
He and Ian Scott are why UF is strong up the middle.
53. Stu Schweigert, Purdue, S
Has range (6 INTs) and heart (8 tpg) and is still growing.


If you can't throw it, catch it.

54. Jordan Gross, Utah, 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
Big hitter just needs to be a bit more disciplined to be a superstar.


	This Pope is infallible, too.

62. Jeff Smoker, Mich. St., QB
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
Big hitter has the instincts and scary closing speed.
72. Ben Mahdavi, Wash., LB Agile former walk-on should be good for 150 tackles in 2002.
73. Chance Kretschmer, Nevada, RB
His YAC numbers would've been enough to lead the WAC.
74. Bob Sanders, Iowa, S
The omnipresent local DB Penn State wishes it took.


Never count this Husker out.

75. Shaun Cody, USC, DL
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
A pure cover man who is also very physical.
82. Avon Cobourne, WVU, RB
Darting runner isn't a blazer, but is super tough and has terrific vision.
83. Antwan Peek, Cincy, DE
Has a shot at a 20-sack season.


This Gator makes Grossman look good.

84. Kevin Jones, Va. Tech, TB
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
Swift playmaker/kick blocker is starting to become a better tackler.
92. Chris Kelsay, Nebraska, DE
Solid vs. run and the pass. Needs to become a double-digit sackman this year for shaky D.
93. Clifton Smith, Syracuse, LB
Needs to become a 150-tackle guy.
94. Jerry Schumacher, Ill., LB
Looks like a walk-on, plays like an all-American.


Never shaken, never stirred.

95. Victor Hobson, Michigan, LB
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.