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Chopped down Robinson, Jones lift FSU to No. 1 in recruiting race
Updated: Thursday February 08, 2001 7:39 AM
ATLANTA (CNNSI.com) -- Reports circulating out of Miami's Pro Player Stadium last month regarding the demise of Florida State appear to have been premature. Bobby Bowden may have lost the national championship, his Heisman-winning quarterback and his top offensive mind, but he hasn't lost his recruiting touch. Grabbing four major commitments in the last two days, Bowden's Seminoles pulled away from LSU, Michigan, Texas, Washington and Oklahoma for the 2001 recruiting title. FSU, which was recently left with only one scholarship quarterback following the dismissal of junior Jared Jones, filled its biggest need by landing two of the nation's top 10 QB prospects, Minneapolis' Joe Mauer (USA Today offensive player of the year) and Adrian McPherson of Bradenton, Fla. The athletic McPherson, SuperPrep's sixth-rated QB, committed to the 'Noles over North Carolina on Tuesday, joining Mauer (No. 8 QB), who did the same less than a week earlier. Also headed to Tallahassee are Kentucky RB Eric Shelton (No. 25 overall), who committed late Tuesday, and LB Willie Jones (No. 13).
And to top it off, California star Dominic Robinson, the nation's No. 2 player and last major recruit to announce his choice, said Wednesday evening he will sign with the FSU. The Seminoles will end up signing 17 SuperPrep All-America players, plus the No. 6 junior college prospect in United States, OL Milford Brown. "Florida State once again becomes the fastest-finishing team in the United States," said CNNSI.com recruiting expert Allen Wallace of SuperPrep. "I'm surprised they're ending up No. 1 this year, because just a week or 10 days ago, I didn't really think they were going to end up with Shelton and Mauer and those guys." Even if FSU takes this year's recruiting crown, several other schools have plenty to boast about. In only his second recruiting season, Nick Saban put together a gem at LSU, landing all six of the state's top prospects and four of the nation's top 16: TE Marcus Spears (No. 3), WR Michael Clayton (No. 5), DL Marquise Hill (No. 7) and OL Ben Wilkerson (No. 16). "You're not going to match LSU for No. 1s at their position, but that's not the only benchmark," said Wallace. "In terms of overall All-Americans, Florida State has the edge. Michigan didn't close out fast, but held the No. 1 ranking for much of the season. The Wolverines scored a major victory by landing RB Kelly Baraka (No. 19) over Notre Dame, as well as DBs Ernest Shazor (No. 24) and Marlin Jackson (No. 28) and DL Pierre Woods (No. 40). Rick Neuheisel and Washington beefed up with three top 10 juco recruits and two of the nation's top seven prep receivers, Reggie Williams and Charles Frederick. And Oklahoma and Texas have been waging a furious border war. The national champion Sooners raided the Lone Star State for six All-Americas, including the nation's No. 2 defensive lineman, Tommie Harris, and No. 10 DL Brett Rayl. But Mack Brown will have his Longhorns in their usual top-five recruiting status, thanks to three of the top six in-state players, including the nation's No. 2 RB, Cedric Benson, as well as some elite talent from states like Florida and California. Other noteworthy Signing Day developments:
The Razorbacks also scored in-state RB De'Arrius Howard (No. 33) on Wednesday.
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