Defense

DT Vance Walker, Sr., Georgia Tech (Rivals: 2 stars)

The Yellow Jackets beat out Georgia Southern, East Carolina and Coastal Carolina in 2005 for Walker, who went on to terrorize ACC offenses. In 2007, Walker had 14 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. He also forced three fumbles.

DT Terrill Byrd, Sr., Cincinnati (Rivals: 2 stars)

It was Cincy or the MAC for Byrd, who turned down Bowling Green, Kent State and Toledo to play in the Big East. Byrd has been named first-team All-Big East for two consecutive seasons.

DE George Selvie, Jr., South Florida (Rivals: 2 stars)

Meet the captain of the All two-star team. Selvie was a lightly recruited offensive lineman from Pensacola, Fla., who turned into the nation's best pass rusher. Selvie was named a consensus first-team All-America after racking up 31.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in 2007.

DE Greg Middleton, Jr., Indiana (Rivals: 2 stars)

Purdue and Ball State also wanted Middleton, but Big Ten powers passed him over. They probably regret that now. Last season, Middleton was a finalist for the Hendricks Award, which honors the nation's best defensive end.

LB Joe Mortensen, Sr., Kansas (Rivals, 2 stars)

Mortensen wanted to play for Nebraska, but never received an offer. In 2007, Mortensen was the leading tackler for the team that beat the Cornhuskers, 76-39, and won the Orange Bowl.

LB Sean Weatherspoon, Jr., Missouri (Rivals, 2 stars)

Iowa State was the next-biggest suitor for Weatherspoon, who also considered TCU, Tulane and Houston. In 2007, Weatherspoon was one of the best players for the Big 12 champion Tigers, and was named second-team All-Big 12.

LB Scott Lutrus, So., UConn (Rivals: 2 stars)

No other Division I-A team wanted Lutrus, but UConn coach Randy Edsall thought he'd found a special player. Edsall was correct. Lutrus finished his freshman season with 107 tackles, including eight tackles for loss, and made several freshman All-America teams.

S Patrick Chung, Sr., Oregon, (Rivals: 2 stars)

It was Oregon, Wyoming or Colorado State for Chung, who graduated high school at 16. The youngster turned out to be so good that entered his name for the draft, but withdrew on Jan. 17 and will return for his senior season.

S Rashad Johnson, Sr., Alabama (Rivals: 0 stars)

Johnson, from Sulligent, Ala., walked on in 2004 and played his way into a scholarship and a starting job. In 2007, he was named first-team All-SEC by the league's coaches.

CB Mike Mickens, Sr., Cincinnati (Rivals, 2 stars)

Mickens was headed for Bowling Green before then-Bearcats coach Mark Dantonio convinced him to come to Cincinnati. In 2007, All-Big East first-teamer intercepted six passes, returning two for touchdowns.

CB Donald Washington, Ohio State (Rivals: 2 stars)

Washington's other options were Indiana, Illinois and Duke, which are all good choices, but none are on Ohio State's level. Washington beat out more highly regarded players to start for a program that has played in the past two national title games.

Special teams

PK Louie Sakoda, Sr., Utah (Rivals: 2 stars)

OK, this is a bit of cheating. Kickers and punters are easy to pick for a team like this, because kickers rarely get more than two stars. Sakoda gets the nod here because on top of being one of the nation's best field-goal kickers, he's also a weapon as a punter.

P Kevin Huber, Sr., Cincinnati (Rivals: 0 stars)

Huber came to the Bearcats as a walk-on and didn't win a full-time starting job until his junior season. In 2007, he led the nation in punt average (46.9 yards) and pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 20 times.

KR: A.J. Jefferson, Jr., Fresno State (Rivals: 2 stars)

Jefferson played only basketball as a high school junior, so many football programs didn't know about him. That paid off for the Bulldogs as Jefferson led that nation in kickoff returns last season with 35.8 yards per return.