The top 10 schools with the most prospects in draft
Posted: Thursday April 27, 2006 10:49AM; Updated: Thursday April 27, 2006 1:14PM
With reigning Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush and '04 recipient Matt Leinart, USC is the top school for talent in the '06 NFL draft.
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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
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
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
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
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.