Phillip Rivers the highest rated QB? Who is he? Matt Leinart?
Big Ben is the 4th QB in the list. Interesting...
1. Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh, WR: Without him Pittsburgh would've finished seventh in the Big East. He had 22 TDs.
2. Philip Rivers, NC State, QB: Don't knock the funky mechanics; he unloads quicker than any QB around. Went out in near-perfect fashion: completing 37-of-45 passes for 475 yards and five touchdowns against Kansas.
3. Sean Taylor, Miami, S: The prototype. No safety covers more ground or has more of an impact on a game. Had 10 picks and took three back for scores.
4. Mike Williams, USC, WR: Bigger than Fitzgerald and every bit as talented. Caught 95 passes and had 16 TDs.
5. Robert Gallery, Iowa, OT: Powered the way to Iowa rushing for 238 yards in the Outback Bowl, the most surrendered by Florida all season.
6. Eli Manning, Ole Miss, QB: Piloted the SEC's top O and helped team hit on 46 percent of third down attempts.
7. Will Smith, Ohio State, DE: The best of a great D-line. Had 20 TFLs.
8. Matt Leinart, USC, QB: The nicest surprise of the season. Had 38 TDs and just 9 INTs.
9. Derrick Strait, Oklahoma, CB: Terrific zone corner who is a great tackler.
10. Michael Clayton, LSU, WR/DB: Mr. Everything for the Tigers led the SEC in catches with 78 and 10 TDs.
Miami's Ben Roethlisberger led the RedHawks to a 13-win season.
11. Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (Ohio), QB: The leader on a legit top 10 team. He had a 166 pass effeciency rating.
12. Kenechi Udeze, USC, DE: Muscleman put up sick numbers: 26.5 TFLs, 16.5 sacks.
13. Brad Smith, Missouri, QB: No sophomore jinx here, he's the most exciting QB around. Smith had 1,400 rushing yards, while completing over 60 percent of his passes.
14. Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma State, WR: Ho-hummed his way to 11 catches for 223 yards and a TD against Ole Miss.
15. Kellen Winslow, Miami, TE: Moneyman for Canes to move the chains. Had 60 catches and also proved to be a force as a blocker.
16. Shawn Andrews, Arkansas, OT: The cornerstone to the SEC's top rushing offense averaging 5.0 yards per rush.
17. Chris Perry, Michigan, RB: The heart of the Wolverine team had over 2,000 all-purpose yards.
18. Jacob Rogers, USC, OT: Shut down everyone this season. Owned Dave Ball in three meetings.
19. Dave Ball, UCLA, DE: Crafty pass rusher; knows how to attack OT's flaws and posted nation-best 16.5 sacks.
20. Chad Lavalais, LSU, DT: Gives the Tigers a rugged inside presence and had 15 TFLs.
21. Darren Sproles, Kansas State, RB: Would be much higher if he didn't get bottled up by the Buckeyes. Still he had 1,986 rush yards on the season.
22. Tommie Harris, Oklahoma, DT: Always draws the double team and stats never do him justice. Scouts say just watch the film of all the havoc he causes.
23. Jon Vilma, Miami, MLB: The brains of the UM defense is a big hitter and always around the ball. He recovered three fumbles.
24. Mike Patterson, USC, DT: Relentless and a presence on every snap. He's constantly causing havoc in the middle and had seven sacks.
Oklahoma's Jason White won the Heisman Trophy this season.
25. Jason White, Oklahoma, QB: Great comeback story. He struggled a little late, but still a great season.
26. Keiwan Ratliff, Florida, CB: Poor man's Deion. He had nine picks.
27. Vince Wilfork, Miami, DT: He is the old Miami. The anchor of a defense that was as good as any by season's end.
28. Roy Williams, Texas, WR: Great talent, but under-utilized by UT system.
29. Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma, LB: Speedy big-play man won Butkus, but vanished late in the season. He had 17.5 TFLs for the Big 12's No. 2 run defense.
30. Stu Schweigert, Purdue, S: Top centerfielder, plays the pass almost as well as Taylor.
31. Darnell Dockett, FSU, DT: 'Noles rush defense was the best in the ACC and he was the biggest reason.
32. Mark Clayton, Oklahoma, WR: Snuck up on everyone to put up Rashaun Woods-like numbers (83 catches, 15 TDs).
33. Cedric Cobbs, Arkansas, RB: Always has the explosive burst and powerm, but had now grown up. He was the MVP in Arkansas' bowl win.
34. Antrel Rolle, Miami, CB/PR: The Thorpe frontrunner in '04. Did the unthinkable as he neutralized Larry Fitzgerald, then held P.K. Sam to one catch (a little hitch) in the Orange Bowl.
35. Kevin Jones, Virginia Tech, TB: Fast and powerful, he scored 21 TDs.
36. David Pollack, Georgia, DE: Struggled at times (vs. Middle Tennessee) and didn't put up the numbers from last year, but still a force.
Chris Gamble may be a great NFL corner.
37. Chris Gamble, Ohio State, CB/WR: Did get roasted by Lee Evans for game-winning TD, but didn't allow much more.
38. Marquise Hill, LSU, DL: The Tigers' version of former Tennessee star John Henderson, he dominated late in the season.
39. D.J. Williams, Miami, OLB: Might be a top 10 pick. He shines against the run and the pass.
40. Will Derting, Washington State, LB: One of the top tacklers on the west coast. He simply took over in the Holiday Bowl.
41. Derrick Johnson, Texas, LB: Would be higher if he wasn't on a mediocre run defense.
42. Alex Barron, FSU, OT: Huge, athletic pass protector who figures to be a first-rounder whenever he comes out.
43. Justin Vincent, LSU, RB: Winning Sugar Bowl MVP honors and lighting up the SEC Title game showed he's a big-game back.
44. Jason Babin, Western Michigan, DE: Best pass rusher in the Midwest (yep, including the Big Ten). He had 32 TFLs and 15 sacks.
45. Reggie Williams, Washington, WR: Despite a nightmarish start for U-Dub, he still got his 80 catches.
46. Steven Jackson, Oregon State, RB: Slashed his way to 2,015 all-purpose yards.
47. Josh Harris, Bowling Green, QB: Great run/pass guy still making big plays even without Urban Meyer around.
48. Corey Webster, LSU, CB: Physical corner has 7 INTs.
49. B.J. Symons, Texas Tech, QB: It ain't all the system. Symons threw a ridiculous 52 TD passes.
50. Will Poole, USC, CB: Had two sacks and broke up five passes in the Rose Bowl.
51. Matt Schaub, Virginia, QB: Overshadowed by Rivers, but hit on 70 percent of his throws.
52. Lee Evans, Wisconsin, WR: Masterful route runner, burned Chris Gamble to end the Buckeyes win streak. He caught 64 passes and had 13 TDs.
53. Randy Starks, Maryland DT: The best Terp D-line prospect since Randy White.
54. Bradlee Van Pelt, Colorado State, QB: No QB improved more over the course of his career.
55. Marcus Spears, LSU, DE: Played as well as any DE late in the season.
USC's Keary Colbert was amazing in the Rose Bowl win over Michigan.
56. Keary Colbert, USC, WR: The most underrated WR in America. After Colbert torched ND, nobody thought of playing bracket coverage on Mike Williams again.
57. Karlos Dansby, Auburn, LB: He made 10 tackles, forced two fumbles, and finished with 1.5 sacks and led the Tigers in holding the Badgers to a season-low 261 total yards in the bowl game.
58. Will Allen, Ohio State, S: The QB of the Buckeye D deserves lots of credit for OSU allowing just 62 rush yards per.
59. Derrick Knight, Boston College, RB: Awesome lower body strength and ran for 1,721 yards.
60. Shaun Phillips, Purdue, DE: Was the top pass rusher in the Big Ten with 14.5 sacks.
61. Geoff McArthur, Cal, WR: The most underrated of all the wideouts. Had the quietest 1,500-yard season ever.
62. Ben Troupe, Florida, TE: Wasn't a factor in the Iowa game, but still figures to be a first-round pick.
63. Josh Bullocks, Nebraska, S: A whiz at baiting QBs, his 10 picks were no fluke.
64. Antonio Perkins, Oklahoma, CB/KR: Fireworks against UCLA (three punt return TDs) overshadow his skills as a coverman.
65. Grant Wiley, West Virginia, LB: The Big East's leading tackler also forced seven fumbles.
66. Sean Jones, Georgia, S: Sparked the SEC's top pass D, while also adding eight tackles per game.
67. Braylon Edwards, Michigan, WR: Was much better than last year, but still drops way too many passes.
68. Demorrio Williams, Nebraska, LB: Flourished in Bo Pelini's aggressive defense as a pass-rushing terror on third downs. He had 11 sacks
69. Michael Turner, Northern Illinois, RB: Good for 1,936 all-purpose yards for a team that should've been in a bowl.
Casey Clausen has been a fixture at QB for Tennessee.
70. Casey Clausen, Tennessee, QB: Didn't ever get the credit he deserved as he had 27 TDs and nine INTs.
71. Kirk Morrison, San Diego State, LB: The West's most underrated linebacker had 16 TFLs and four forced fumbles.
72. Bo Schobel, TCU, DE: Great player in a great scheme and had 15 sacks.
73. Richie Incognito, Nebraska, OT: Got under Michigan State's skin and took the Spartans out of their game.
74. DeAngelo Hall, Virginia Tech, CB/WR: Took three punts back for TDs.
75. Marion Barber III, Minnesota, RB: The best of a four-pronged running back attack. Also a superb returnman.
76. Ryan Dinwiddie, Boise State, QB: Ideal West Coast Offense QB again put up gaudy stats for a terrific team.
77. Key Fox, Georgia Tech, LB: A complete linebacker-can rush the QB, play the run and cover. He led the ACC in tackles.
78. Matt Roth, Iowa, DE: Continued to blossom into a dominant pass rusher and had 11.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.
79. Josh Buhl, Kansas State, LB: Undersized but very productive. Buhl had 184 tackles for the Big 12's top run defense.
80. Quincy Wilson, West Virginia, RB: Showed against Miami what he's made of and finished the year with 1,380 yards.
81. Leroy Hill, Clemson, LB: The ACC's most improved player, he had 25 tackles for losses.
82. Greg Eslinger, Minnesota, C: Keys the Big Ten's best ground attack (289 ypg) and pulls better than any center in the country.
Cadillac Williams was tough to stop this season at Auburn.
83. Cadillac Williams, Auburn, RB: Even in a crowded backfield still found time to rush for 17 TDs.
84. Igor Olshansky, Oregon, DL: Ukrainian strongman had 15 TFLs.
85. Channing Crowder, Florida, LB: Future Butkus winner. He led SEC in tackles per game.
86. Jammal Brimmer, UNLV, S: Great instincts and vision, he plays much faster than his 4.6 forty time.
87. Jerricho Cotchery, NC State, WR: Tireless worker. Reliable and productive. Cotchery was a real leader for gifted young Pack skill players.
88. Jake Grove, Virginia Tech, C: The nastiest center around helps pave the way for a great running game.
89. Justin Tuck, Notre Dame DE: Has grown up nicely for ND, giving the Irish a needed big-playman. He had 19 TFLs and 13.5 sacks.
90. Dusty Dvorcek, Oklahoma, DT: One Big 12 O-coordinator says Dvorcek caused more problems for them than Tommie Harris.
91. Shaud Williams, Alabama, RB: Adjusted to (another) new system very well. He averaged 117 rushing yards per game and had 9 TDs.
92. Eric Winston, Miami, OT: Converted TE made huge strides and shut down three stud rushers (Bobby McCray, Mathias Kiwanuka and Eric Moore.)
93. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State, OLB: OSU's top tackler (104 tackles, 4 sacks), he should be a Butkus frontrunner in '04.
94. Shaun Cody, USC, DT: Wasn't 100 percent, but still made loads of plays for the Trojans.
95. David Greene, Georgia, QB: Would be much higher if his TD-INT ratio (13-11) was better.
96. Jason Wright, Northwestern, RB: The 'Cats might be a three-win team without him. Wright ran for 1,400 yards and 20 TDs.
97. Reggie Bush, USC, RB: He is USC's X-factor. Explosive runner, receiver and returnman. He's a nightmare matchup for any defense.
98. Wes Welker, Texas Tech, WR/KR: Gritty little guy only caught 97 passes.
99. Heath Miller, Virginia, TE: Caught 66 passes, he should be the Mackey Award favorite in '04.
100. Jim Leonhard, Wisconsin, DB/KR: He just keeps making plays and had seven INTs this season.