I'm putting together a page that has all of the archived rankings in one spot, so they can easily be accessed and I thought it would make for good weekend conversation to post the first set of LSR Rankings that were released back in 1997.
I was working at KEYE-TV at the time and the list was limited to the Top 42 (our station channel).
It's a list I'm rather fond of.
*****
1. DE - David Warren
Tyler John Tyler
Signed with FSU
Senior - Recorded 41 tackles, 19 tacklesfor loss and nine sacks as a part-time starter.
Overall - Although he was a solid player at FSU, Warren never did meet the expectations that came with being the nation's top prep defensive player. Tried out with the Indianapolis Colts in 2001, but was cut during training camp.
2. LB - Roylin Bradley
La Marque
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Started in all ten of the games he appeared in and recorded 54 tackles, five tackles for loss and four sacks.
Overall - Like Warren, Bradley was a solid player for the Aggies, but he never became the next great linebacker of the Wrecking Crew defense that many, including myself, expected him to become. Tried out with Seattle Seahawks and was cut during training camp.
3. OL - Leonard Davis
Wortham
Signed with Texas
Senior - Earned 1st team All-American honors at offensive tackle and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy.
Overall - A two-year starter at left tackle, Davis finished his career as one of the top linemen in the history of the Longhorn program and was the No. 2 overall choice in the NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Played 12 seasons in the NFL and emerged as one of the best interior linemen in football with the Dallas Cowboys, earning three Pro Bowl bids in his four seasons with the team.
4. RB - Dominic Rhodes
Abilene Cooper
Signed with Texas Tech
Senior - Rushed for almost 1,400 yards rushing and 2,000 overall all-purpose yards at Midwestern State University.
Overall - Rhodes never played a down of Division I football because of grades, but ended up earning All-American honors in Division II at Midwestern State. Made the Indianapolis Colts in 2001 and became the first undrafted rookie in NFL
history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, finishing his rookie campaign with 1,104 yards and nine touchdowns. Has rushed for 3,286 yards and scored 30 touchdowns in nine seasons with the Colts/Raiders, and he was a key member of its Super Bowl winning team in 2006.
5. WR - Cedric Cormier
North Shore
Signed with Colorado
Senior - Caught 13 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown.
Overall - Early in his career, it looked as if Cormier would emerge as one of college football's most dynamic players. However, injuries really cost Cormier a very promising career.
6. WR - David Aaron
Marshall
Signed with Texas
2000/01 - Out of football.
Overall - Some considered Aaron to be one of the top wide receiver prospects in the nation when he came out of East Texas in 1997, but he never made an impact on the field for the Longhorns. Turned out to be a much better track performer on the college level.
7. DT - Shaun Rogers
La Porte
Signed with Texas
Senior - Finished his injury-plagued senior season with 44 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss
Overall - Rogers was one of the top defensive linemen in the nation at times during his career with the Longhorns. Injuries cost him a chance to be a first-round draft pick, but he did end up being selected in the 2nd round of the 2001 NFL Draft
by the Detroit Lions and won all-rookie honors after leading all NFL defensive linemen in total tackles. He selected to his third Pro Bowl in 2008 with Cleveland after recording leading all NFL nose-tackles in tackles and sacks. Finished his career with 513 tackles and 37.5 sacks in 13 seasons in the NFL.
8. DB - John Norman
Midland Lee
Signed with Texas Tech
Senior - One of the top defenders on the Tech defense, Norman finished with 106 tackles and three interceptions.
Overall - Although he never enjoyed all All-America-type career, Norman was a very good player with the Red Raiders and was one of the top defenders the program has seen in recent seasons.
9. RB - Hodges Mitchell
Dallas Skyline
Signed with Texas
Senior - Mitchell posted his second consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2000, finishing with 1,118 yards and eight touchdowns. Overall, Mitchell produced 1,931 all-purpose yards as a senior.
Overall - Not many players could have followed in the footsteps of a Heisman winner like Mitchell and end up creating his own spot in Texas football history. With two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Mitchell finished his career as one of the top backs in Texas history.
10. QB - Drew Brees
Austin Westlake
Signed with Purdue
Senior - The Heisman finalist finished his career by throwing for 3,668 yards and 26 touchdowns while leading the Boilermakers to the Rose Bowl for the first time in over 20 years.
Overall - Brees finished his career as one of the top quarterbacks in the history of the college game. The former all-state quarterback owns basically every Big 10 passing record in existence by the time he finished his career and helped lead Purdue back to national prominence. The two-time Heisman Trophy finalist was a second-round pick of the San Diego Chargers in the 2001 NFL Draft and has gone on to put up the type of career numbers/accomplishments that will eventually lead him to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thus far in his career, he's been named to nine Pro Bowls, won three first-team All-Pro honors, has led the league in passing six times, and has passed for more than 60,000 yards and 428 touchdowns.
11. WR - Daryl Jones
Dallas Carter
Signed with Miami
Senior - Caught 19 passes for 240 yards and zero touchdowns during his senior season.
Overall - Jones was a solid player throughout his career, but he never couldn't crack into the starting lineup until his senior year because of the of the depth on the Miami roster. Started six games for the NY Giants in 2002 and also played with the Chicago Bears.
12. DB - Joe Walker
North Shore
Signed with Texas
Senior - Walker came off the bench as a senior and recorded 12 tackles and an interception.
Overall - Walker showed a lot of promise as a freshman and he ended starting during parts of three different seasons, but injuries kept him from becoming a top-flight player.
13. WR - Robert Williams
Dallas Bishop Lynch
Signed with Miami
Senior - Caught two passes as a reserve during his senior season
Overall - Like his teammate Jones, Williams never made a huge impact during his time as a Hurricane. In fact, he never became more than a bit player with the Hurricanes.
14. LB - Grant Irons
The Woodlands
Signed with Notre Dame
Senior - Played in 10 games during his senior season and finished with 22 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks
Overall - Although he never earned nall-star accolades, Irons was a very good player for the Irish for much of his career and was really looking at a breakout season in 2000 before injuries robbed him of the opportunity. Was solid as a senior and has spent five seasons with the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders.
15. OL - Seth McKinney
Austin Westlake
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - McKinney earned All-America honors during his senior season.
Overall - McKinney finished his career as one of the top A&M linemen in the history of the program. A former third-round pick in the NFL Draft, McKinney played nine seasons in the NFL< starting 45 of 85 career games.
16. LB - Christian Rodriguez
North Mesquite
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Started 10 games and recorded 35 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
Overall - Through his junior season, C-Rod had yet to make a huge impact on the A&M program, but he did develop into a solid player during his senior season.
17. DB - Quinton Jammer
Angleton
Signed with Texas
Senior - Earned consensus first-team All-American honors and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
Overall - One of the top defensive backs in the history of the Texas program. Jammer was a high first round draft pick in 2002 and went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL, starting 173 career games and recording 21 career interceptions.
18. Gary Baxter
Tyler John Tyler
Signed with Baylor
Senior - Earned All Big 12 honors as a senior after recording 96 tackles, three tackles for loss and 11 pass break-ups..
Overall - Baxter was one of the few bright spots for the Baylor program during his time on campus. In fact, a case could be made that Baxter was the best player in the program from the time he stepped on campus until the clock expired in his final game. Was drafted by Baltimore in the 2nd round of the 2001 NFL Draft and was a three-year starter for them before moving over to Cleveland. A major injury cut his NFL career short in 2008.
19. OL - Luke Nichols
Beaumont Kelly
Signed with Baylor
2000 - No longer with the Baylor program.
Overall - Nichols battled injuries during his time with the Bears and ended up not making much of an impact during his college career.
20. QB - Edmond Stansbury
El Paso Irvin
Signed with UCLA
Senior - Started nine games at fullback during his senior season and rushed for 52 yards on 14 carries.
Overall - Never made it at quarterback for the Bruins and has moved around to a number of positions during his career at UCLA, including linebacker and fullback. Recorded 13 tackles as a back-up linebacker in 1999.
21. CB - Jay Brooks
Killeen Ellison
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Battled the injury bug during his senior season, but still played in eight games and finished with 50 tackles and two sacks.
Overall - Brooks was a boom or bust player during his four seasons with the Aggies. Although he wasn't a great player, Brooks has made a habit of making big plays throughout his career on defense and on special teams.
22. Ath - D.D. Lewis
Aldine
Signed with Texas
Senior - Earned 3rd-team AP All-American honors after recording 81 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
Overall - Lewis came into the program as a fullback, but shifted to linebacker upon the arrival of Mack Brown. Lewis finished his career as one of the most productive linebackers in the Mack Brown era and spent nine seasons in the NFL with Seattle and Denver.
23. OL - Andre Gurode
North Shore
Signed with Colorado
Senior - Earned All Big 12 honors and was one of the top players on a team that ended up winning the Big 12 Championship.
Overall - Gurode was an impact player for the Buffs from almost the first day he set foot on campus. During his junior and senior seasons, the powerful Gurode developed into one of the nation's very best. A second round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002, Gurode earned his first of five Pro Bowl bids in 2006 and played a total of 12 seasons in the NFL.
24. DL - Rocky Bernard
Baytown Sterling
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Recorded 69 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and five sacks during his senior season.
Overall - Bernard was a mainstay on the A&M defensive front since his freshman season. A very good college player throughout his college career, Bernard has carved out a niche for himself as a starting defensive tackle with the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL. Recorded 8.5 sacks as a starter for Seattle's Super Bowl team in 2006 and ended up winning a Super Bowl as a starter with the Giants in 2011. Played a total of 11 seasons in the NFL.
25. DL - De'Nard Whitfield
Denison
Signed with Oklahoma
Senior - Missed the season due to academic problems.
Overall - The talent was always there, but Whitfield never made it to Oklahoma because of grades.
26. DB - Jason Glenn
Aldine Nimitz
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Started in ten games and recorded 67 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, five sacks, three
interceptions and 15 pass break-ups.
Overall - Glenn was the heart and soul of the Aggies defense at the end of his career and was arguably the most valuable player on the team during his junior and senior seasons. Was selected in the 6th round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Detroit
Lions and played seven seasons with the NY Jets, Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings before his career ended after the 2007 season.
27. OL - Moses Vakalahi
Euless Trinity
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Did not play with A&M 2000.
Overall - Another lineman that didn't pan out as a solid college player.
28. DB - Samir Al-Amin
Garland Lakeview
Signed with Baylor
Senior - Had a great senior season, leading the Bears with 109 tackles, three interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
Overall - Al-Amin started to come into his own as a junior in 2000 and became one of the best players in the program by the end of his career.
29. RB - LaDainian Tomlinson
Waco University
Signed with TCU
Senior - Tomlinson led the nation in rushing as a senior with 2,276 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Overall - Tomlinson finished his career as one of the top players in the history of the TCU program. The 2000 Heisman finalist was selected in the 1st round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers and emerged as one of the topplayers in the history of NFL at his position over his career. When re he retired in 2012, Tomlinson ranked fifth in NFL history in career rushing yards (13,684), second in career rushing touchdowns (145), and third in career total touchdowns (162).
30. TE - Chad Irwin
Baytown Lee
Signed with Texas
2000/01 - No longer with the Longhorn
program.
Overall - Irwin was rated by many as the state's top tight end prospect in 1997, but the former Baytown Lee star never made an impact with the Longhorns. Ended up transferring to Midwestern State.
31. RB - David Winbush
Killeen Ellison
Signed with Kansas
Senior - Finished his career with 701 yards and five touchdowns as a senior in 2000.
Overall - Winbush was an impact player with the Jayhawks during all four of his seasons in Lawrence.
32. DB - Michael Jameson
Killeen Ellison
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Was placed on injured reserve and missed his rookie season with a broken ankle.
Overall - Jamison was an impact player for the Aggies throughout his career and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 6th round of the 2001 NFL Draft, where he played in 26 games over two seasons.
33. LB - Harold Robertson
Dallas Lincoln
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Played in 11 games and recorded 34 tackles and three tackles for loss.
Overall - Robertson never did develop into a big-time player or even a solid starter, although he was a solid reserve at the end of his career.
34. DB - Antwan Alexander
Midland Lee
Signed with Texas Tech
Senior - As a starting cornerback, Alexander recorded 61 tackles and four interceptions in the 2000 season.
Overall - Enjoyed a solid career with the Red Raiders, but only became a full-time starter for the Red Raiders during his senior season.
35. LB - Cedric Mitchell
West Mesquite
Signed with Texas
2000/01 - No longer with the Longhorn
program.
Overall - Mitchell never made a real impact with the Longhorns during his brief stay in Austin.
36. DL - Ron Edwards
Klein Forest
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Finished with 33 tackles, seven sacks and eight tackles for loss in the 11 games that he started in.
Overall - Although he never developed into an All-Big 12-type force, Edwards was a three-year starter and played in every A&M game during his four-year career. Was drafted by Buffalo in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft and played 12 seasons with the Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers.
37. LB - Wayne Rogers
Waco University
Signed with Houston
Senior - Earned co-CUSA Defensive Player of the Year honors after racking up 122 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and eight sacks as a senior.
Overall - Finished his career as one of the top linebackers in the history of the UH program. Overall, Rogers posted 330 tackles, 57 tackles for loss and 19 sacks in his career. Signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent and spent the 2001 season on their practice squad.
38. DL - Rod Kelly
Houston Yates
Signed with Oklahoma
2000/01 - No longer with the Sooner program.
Overall - Because of grades, Kelly never made it to Norman.
39. LB - Sam Hooks
Cameron
Signed with Texas Tech
2000/01 - No longer with the Red Raider program.
Overall - Despite an excellent prep career, Hooks never made an impact with the Red raiders.
40. TE - Cole Roberts
Shallowater
Signed with Texas Tech
Senior - Caught 38 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns as a senior.
Overall - By the end of his career, Roberts developed into a very solid player for the Red Raiders.
41. WR - Ryan Read
Austin Westlake
Signed with Navy
Senior - Caught 19 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns.
Overall - After a very successful freshman season with the Navy, Read transferred to Boston College in 1999. Never became a starter with BC, but he was a very dependable receiver for several seasons.
42. DL - Kris Kocurek
Caldwell
Signed with Texas Tech
Senior - Recorded 81 tackles, three sacks and six tackles for loss during his senior season.
Overall - A four-year letterman and a three-year starter, Kocurek was the backbone of the Tech defensive line for the better part of his career. An All-Centex selection as a senior, Kocurek was drafted by Seattle in the 7th round of the 2001 draft and ended up playing for one season in Tennessee
I was working at KEYE-TV at the time and the list was limited to the Top 42 (our station channel).
It's a list I'm rather fond of.
*****
1. DE - David Warren
Tyler John Tyler
Signed with FSU
Senior - Recorded 41 tackles, 19 tacklesfor loss and nine sacks as a part-time starter.
Overall - Although he was a solid player at FSU, Warren never did meet the expectations that came with being the nation's top prep defensive player. Tried out with the Indianapolis Colts in 2001, but was cut during training camp.
2. LB - Roylin Bradley
La Marque
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Started in all ten of the games he appeared in and recorded 54 tackles, five tackles for loss and four sacks.
Overall - Like Warren, Bradley was a solid player for the Aggies, but he never became the next great linebacker of the Wrecking Crew defense that many, including myself, expected him to become. Tried out with Seattle Seahawks and was cut during training camp.
3. OL - Leonard Davis
Wortham
Signed with Texas
Senior - Earned 1st team All-American honors at offensive tackle and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy.
Overall - A two-year starter at left tackle, Davis finished his career as one of the top linemen in the history of the Longhorn program and was the No. 2 overall choice in the NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Played 12 seasons in the NFL and emerged as one of the best interior linemen in football with the Dallas Cowboys, earning three Pro Bowl bids in his four seasons with the team.
4. RB - Dominic Rhodes
Abilene Cooper
Signed with Texas Tech
Senior - Rushed for almost 1,400 yards rushing and 2,000 overall all-purpose yards at Midwestern State University.
Overall - Rhodes never played a down of Division I football because of grades, but ended up earning All-American honors in Division II at Midwestern State. Made the Indianapolis Colts in 2001 and became the first undrafted rookie in NFL
history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, finishing his rookie campaign with 1,104 yards and nine touchdowns. Has rushed for 3,286 yards and scored 30 touchdowns in nine seasons with the Colts/Raiders, and he was a key member of its Super Bowl winning team in 2006.
5. WR - Cedric Cormier
North Shore
Signed with Colorado
Senior - Caught 13 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown.
Overall - Early in his career, it looked as if Cormier would emerge as one of college football's most dynamic players. However, injuries really cost Cormier a very promising career.
6. WR - David Aaron
Marshall
Signed with Texas
2000/01 - Out of football.
Overall - Some considered Aaron to be one of the top wide receiver prospects in the nation when he came out of East Texas in 1997, but he never made an impact on the field for the Longhorns. Turned out to be a much better track performer on the college level.
7. DT - Shaun Rogers
La Porte
Signed with Texas
Senior - Finished his injury-plagued senior season with 44 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss
Overall - Rogers was one of the top defensive linemen in the nation at times during his career with the Longhorns. Injuries cost him a chance to be a first-round draft pick, but he did end up being selected in the 2nd round of the 2001 NFL Draft
by the Detroit Lions and won all-rookie honors after leading all NFL defensive linemen in total tackles. He selected to his third Pro Bowl in 2008 with Cleveland after recording leading all NFL nose-tackles in tackles and sacks. Finished his career with 513 tackles and 37.5 sacks in 13 seasons in the NFL.
8. DB - John Norman
Midland Lee
Signed with Texas Tech
Senior - One of the top defenders on the Tech defense, Norman finished with 106 tackles and three interceptions.
Overall - Although he never enjoyed all All-America-type career, Norman was a very good player with the Red Raiders and was one of the top defenders the program has seen in recent seasons.
9. RB - Hodges Mitchell
Dallas Skyline
Signed with Texas
Senior - Mitchell posted his second consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2000, finishing with 1,118 yards and eight touchdowns. Overall, Mitchell produced 1,931 all-purpose yards as a senior.
Overall - Not many players could have followed in the footsteps of a Heisman winner like Mitchell and end up creating his own spot in Texas football history. With two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Mitchell finished his career as one of the top backs in Texas history.
10. QB - Drew Brees
Austin Westlake
Signed with Purdue
Senior - The Heisman finalist finished his career by throwing for 3,668 yards and 26 touchdowns while leading the Boilermakers to the Rose Bowl for the first time in over 20 years.
Overall - Brees finished his career as one of the top quarterbacks in the history of the college game. The former all-state quarterback owns basically every Big 10 passing record in existence by the time he finished his career and helped lead Purdue back to national prominence. The two-time Heisman Trophy finalist was a second-round pick of the San Diego Chargers in the 2001 NFL Draft and has gone on to put up the type of career numbers/accomplishments that will eventually lead him to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thus far in his career, he's been named to nine Pro Bowls, won three first-team All-Pro honors, has led the league in passing six times, and has passed for more than 60,000 yards and 428 touchdowns.
11. WR - Daryl Jones
Dallas Carter
Signed with Miami
Senior - Caught 19 passes for 240 yards and zero touchdowns during his senior season.
Overall - Jones was a solid player throughout his career, but he never couldn't crack into the starting lineup until his senior year because of the of the depth on the Miami roster. Started six games for the NY Giants in 2002 and also played with the Chicago Bears.
12. DB - Joe Walker
North Shore
Signed with Texas
Senior - Walker came off the bench as a senior and recorded 12 tackles and an interception.
Overall - Walker showed a lot of promise as a freshman and he ended starting during parts of three different seasons, but injuries kept him from becoming a top-flight player.
13. WR - Robert Williams
Dallas Bishop Lynch
Signed with Miami
Senior - Caught two passes as a reserve during his senior season
Overall - Like his teammate Jones, Williams never made a huge impact during his time as a Hurricane. In fact, he never became more than a bit player with the Hurricanes.
14. LB - Grant Irons
The Woodlands
Signed with Notre Dame
Senior - Played in 10 games during his senior season and finished with 22 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks
Overall - Although he never earned nall-star accolades, Irons was a very good player for the Irish for much of his career and was really looking at a breakout season in 2000 before injuries robbed him of the opportunity. Was solid as a senior and has spent five seasons with the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders.
15. OL - Seth McKinney
Austin Westlake
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - McKinney earned All-America honors during his senior season.
Overall - McKinney finished his career as one of the top A&M linemen in the history of the program. A former third-round pick in the NFL Draft, McKinney played nine seasons in the NFL< starting 45 of 85 career games.
16. LB - Christian Rodriguez
North Mesquite
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Started 10 games and recorded 35 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
Overall - Through his junior season, C-Rod had yet to make a huge impact on the A&M program, but he did develop into a solid player during his senior season.
17. DB - Quinton Jammer
Angleton
Signed with Texas
Senior - Earned consensus first-team All-American honors and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
Overall - One of the top defensive backs in the history of the Texas program. Jammer was a high first round draft pick in 2002 and went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL, starting 173 career games and recording 21 career interceptions.
18. Gary Baxter
Tyler John Tyler
Signed with Baylor
Senior - Earned All Big 12 honors as a senior after recording 96 tackles, three tackles for loss and 11 pass break-ups..
Overall - Baxter was one of the few bright spots for the Baylor program during his time on campus. In fact, a case could be made that Baxter was the best player in the program from the time he stepped on campus until the clock expired in his final game. Was drafted by Baltimore in the 2nd round of the 2001 NFL Draft and was a three-year starter for them before moving over to Cleveland. A major injury cut his NFL career short in 2008.
19. OL - Luke Nichols
Beaumont Kelly
Signed with Baylor
2000 - No longer with the Baylor program.
Overall - Nichols battled injuries during his time with the Bears and ended up not making much of an impact during his college career.
20. QB - Edmond Stansbury
El Paso Irvin
Signed with UCLA
Senior - Started nine games at fullback during his senior season and rushed for 52 yards on 14 carries.
Overall - Never made it at quarterback for the Bruins and has moved around to a number of positions during his career at UCLA, including linebacker and fullback. Recorded 13 tackles as a back-up linebacker in 1999.
21. CB - Jay Brooks
Killeen Ellison
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Battled the injury bug during his senior season, but still played in eight games and finished with 50 tackles and two sacks.
Overall - Brooks was a boom or bust player during his four seasons with the Aggies. Although he wasn't a great player, Brooks has made a habit of making big plays throughout his career on defense and on special teams.
22. Ath - D.D. Lewis
Aldine
Signed with Texas
Senior - Earned 3rd-team AP All-American honors after recording 81 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
Overall - Lewis came into the program as a fullback, but shifted to linebacker upon the arrival of Mack Brown. Lewis finished his career as one of the most productive linebackers in the Mack Brown era and spent nine seasons in the NFL with Seattle and Denver.
23. OL - Andre Gurode
North Shore
Signed with Colorado
Senior - Earned All Big 12 honors and was one of the top players on a team that ended up winning the Big 12 Championship.
Overall - Gurode was an impact player for the Buffs from almost the first day he set foot on campus. During his junior and senior seasons, the powerful Gurode developed into one of the nation's very best. A second round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002, Gurode earned his first of five Pro Bowl bids in 2006 and played a total of 12 seasons in the NFL.
24. DL - Rocky Bernard
Baytown Sterling
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Recorded 69 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and five sacks during his senior season.
Overall - Bernard was a mainstay on the A&M defensive front since his freshman season. A very good college player throughout his college career, Bernard has carved out a niche for himself as a starting defensive tackle with the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL. Recorded 8.5 sacks as a starter for Seattle's Super Bowl team in 2006 and ended up winning a Super Bowl as a starter with the Giants in 2011. Played a total of 11 seasons in the NFL.
25. DL - De'Nard Whitfield
Denison
Signed with Oklahoma
Senior - Missed the season due to academic problems.
Overall - The talent was always there, but Whitfield never made it to Oklahoma because of grades.
26. DB - Jason Glenn
Aldine Nimitz
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Started in ten games and recorded 67 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, five sacks, three
interceptions and 15 pass break-ups.
Overall - Glenn was the heart and soul of the Aggies defense at the end of his career and was arguably the most valuable player on the team during his junior and senior seasons. Was selected in the 6th round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Detroit
Lions and played seven seasons with the NY Jets, Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings before his career ended after the 2007 season.
27. OL - Moses Vakalahi
Euless Trinity
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Did not play with A&M 2000.
Overall - Another lineman that didn't pan out as a solid college player.
28. DB - Samir Al-Amin
Garland Lakeview
Signed with Baylor
Senior - Had a great senior season, leading the Bears with 109 tackles, three interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
Overall - Al-Amin started to come into his own as a junior in 2000 and became one of the best players in the program by the end of his career.
29. RB - LaDainian Tomlinson
Waco University
Signed with TCU
Senior - Tomlinson led the nation in rushing as a senior with 2,276 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Overall - Tomlinson finished his career as one of the top players in the history of the TCU program. The 2000 Heisman finalist was selected in the 1st round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers and emerged as one of the topplayers in the history of NFL at his position over his career. When re he retired in 2012, Tomlinson ranked fifth in NFL history in career rushing yards (13,684), second in career rushing touchdowns (145), and third in career total touchdowns (162).
30. TE - Chad Irwin
Baytown Lee
Signed with Texas
2000/01 - No longer with the Longhorn
program.
Overall - Irwin was rated by many as the state's top tight end prospect in 1997, but the former Baytown Lee star never made an impact with the Longhorns. Ended up transferring to Midwestern State.
31. RB - David Winbush
Killeen Ellison
Signed with Kansas
Senior - Finished his career with 701 yards and five touchdowns as a senior in 2000.
Overall - Winbush was an impact player with the Jayhawks during all four of his seasons in Lawrence.
32. DB - Michael Jameson
Killeen Ellison
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Was placed on injured reserve and missed his rookie season with a broken ankle.
Overall - Jamison was an impact player for the Aggies throughout his career and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 6th round of the 2001 NFL Draft, where he played in 26 games over two seasons.
33. LB - Harold Robertson
Dallas Lincoln
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Played in 11 games and recorded 34 tackles and three tackles for loss.
Overall - Robertson never did develop into a big-time player or even a solid starter, although he was a solid reserve at the end of his career.
34. DB - Antwan Alexander
Midland Lee
Signed with Texas Tech
Senior - As a starting cornerback, Alexander recorded 61 tackles and four interceptions in the 2000 season.
Overall - Enjoyed a solid career with the Red Raiders, but only became a full-time starter for the Red Raiders during his senior season.
35. LB - Cedric Mitchell
West Mesquite
Signed with Texas
2000/01 - No longer with the Longhorn
program.
Overall - Mitchell never made a real impact with the Longhorns during his brief stay in Austin.
36. DL - Ron Edwards
Klein Forest
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Finished with 33 tackles, seven sacks and eight tackles for loss in the 11 games that he started in.
Overall - Although he never developed into an All-Big 12-type force, Edwards was a three-year starter and played in every A&M game during his four-year career. Was drafted by Buffalo in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft and played 12 seasons with the Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers.
37. LB - Wayne Rogers
Waco University
Signed with Houston
Senior - Earned co-CUSA Defensive Player of the Year honors after racking up 122 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and eight sacks as a senior.
Overall - Finished his career as one of the top linebackers in the history of the UH program. Overall, Rogers posted 330 tackles, 57 tackles for loss and 19 sacks in his career. Signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent and spent the 2001 season on their practice squad.
38. DL - Rod Kelly
Houston Yates
Signed with Oklahoma
2000/01 - No longer with the Sooner program.
Overall - Because of grades, Kelly never made it to Norman.
39. LB - Sam Hooks
Cameron
Signed with Texas Tech
2000/01 - No longer with the Red Raider program.
Overall - Despite an excellent prep career, Hooks never made an impact with the Red raiders.
40. TE - Cole Roberts
Shallowater
Signed with Texas Tech
Senior - Caught 38 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns as a senior.
Overall - By the end of his career, Roberts developed into a very solid player for the Red Raiders.
41. WR - Ryan Read
Austin Westlake
Signed with Navy
Senior - Caught 19 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns.
Overall - After a very successful freshman season with the Navy, Read transferred to Boston College in 1999. Never became a starter with BC, but he was a very dependable receiver for several seasons.
42. DL - Kris Kocurek
Caldwell
Signed with Texas Tech
Senior - Recorded 81 tackles, three sacks and six tackles for loss during his senior season.
Overall - A four-year letterman and a three-year starter, Kocurek was the backbone of the Tech defensive line for the better part of his career. An All-Centex selection as a senior, Kocurek was drafted by Seattle in the 7th round of the 2001 draft and ended up playing for one season in Tennessee
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