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ESPN History of Top 25
- Thread starter PriceCarr
- Start date
DDJ7777
Cleveland Sports Homer
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2005
- Messages
- 4,727
- Reaction score
- 3,857
- Points
- 113
1986
Jeff George
QB, Warren Central High School (Ind.)
College: Purdue (transferred to Illinois)
NFL Draft: No. 1 pick (Indianapolis Colts) in 1990
Now: Runs a foundation that fights breast cancer
"As the No. 1 player, everyone knows about you, and you have to live up to that expectation. My advice to kids today is: Don't put extra pressure on yourself, because you're only as good as your supporting cast. Looking back on it, high school was the most fun time in my career -- just playing football and trying to be the best you can be."
1987
Ricky Watters
RB Bishop McDevitt High School (Pa.)
College: Notre Dame
NFL Draft: No. 45 pick (San Francisco 49ers) in 1991
Now: Motivational speaker
"I almost lost my mind. Everyone started treating me differently. Restaurants I couldn't afford were throwing free food at me. Chicks who were untouchable were all of a sudden very touchable. Boosters were offering me cars. As the No. 1 guy, I got treated really well on recruiting trips. When I visited Tennessee, they already had a jersey with my name and number on it. At Florida, they had these beautiful girls called Gator Getters who were assigned to help land the top recruits. Back home, the city of Harrisburg held a Ricky Watters Day, with a parade. They had me in a convertible, and the mayor was there. Lou Holtz came down too. I remember thinking, This is the life. My mom saw everything that was happening and laid down the law: I was going either to Notre Dame or West Point."
1988
Xavier Crawford
RB, Trezevant High School (Tenn.)
College: Memphis State
NFL Draft: Undrafted
Now: In Memphis Shelby County jail awaiting trial on rape charges
"People followed me around like I was famous. But my very first practice at Memphis was traumatic. My teammates hit me out of bounds, trying to hurt me. They scratched up my car, leaving notes that said, "We don't need you here." They trashed my dorm room, lit the door on fire. My coach, Charlie Bailey, had a team meeting and basically told the guys that if they had a problem with me, they would have a problem with him. On campus, being the No. 1 recruit was exhilarating. I was having dinner with the president of the university and the governor of Tennessee. But pretty soon I realized my circle consisted of nothing but football fans and rich, prestigious people. No one cared about me as a person; all they cared about was what they could get out of me. I had thousands of fans but no friends, and that's an awful way for a kid to feel. I still have dreams about hearing 80,000 fans screaming my name, though. Then I wake up in jail."
1989
Terry Kirby
RB, Tabb High School (Va.)
College: Virginia
NFL Draft: No. 78 pick (Miami Dolphins) in 1993
Now: Founder of Touchdowns4Life, a charter school in Tamarac, Fla.
"I had a lot of people who kept me grounded. I try to do that now when I work with young football players. I tell them that they can have absolutely no regrets. Because I have none. How many people in America can say they did exactly what they wanted to do?"
1990
Chris Weinke
QB, Cretin-Derham Hall High School (Minn.)
College: Florida State
NFL Draft: No. 106 pick (Carolina Panthers) in 2001
Now: Director of IMG Madden Football Academy
"Football or baseball? That was the big question for me. It had always been my dream to play in the majors, and the Blue Jays drafted me in the second round in 1990. I was still negotiating with Toronto when I left for FSU. But then I was sitting in my dorm room feeling like the chance to play baseball might not come again. I called Coach Bowden and told him I was leaving. It was the toughest decision of my life. I played six years in the minors, two in Triple-A. Then after the 1996 season, I went to the FSU-Clemson football game and thought, Maybe I'll get to the major leagues, maybe I won't. But if I wait any longer, I'll never have the chance to play college football. I went home, packed up my stuff and re-enrolled at Florida State. I went through adversity, but in tough times I could always remember what it was like to be named the No. 1 guy."
1991
Marquette Smith
RB, Lake Howell High School (Fla.)
College: Florida State (transferred to Central Florida)
NFL Draft: No. 142 pick (Carolina Panthers) in 1996
Now: Head coach for Fayetteville of the Southern Indoor Football League
"When I woke up every morning, there would be a line of rental cars down the street. Recruiters. I'd sneak out the backyard and jump over the fence just so I could get to school without any drama."
1992
Amani Toomer
WR, De La Salle High School (Calif.)
College: Michigan
NFL Draft: No. 34 pick (New York Giants) in 1996
Now: Giants analyst for WWOR TV in NYC
"Being a top recruit is both a gift and a curse. On the plus side, you get more opportunities than an ordinary recruit to play right away. But upperclassmen were a little jealous because I was getting more attention. Good thing I played on the outside: It's much less physical than being a linebacker or lineman, so I could prove myself with my speed and athletic ability. My teammates saw I could compete at a high level, and they immediately respected that."
1993
Ron Powlus
QB, Berwick High School (Pa.)
College: Notre Dame
NFL Draft: Undrafted
Now: QBs coach at Akron
"At Berwick, we ended my senior season as the nation's No. 1 team, and I was the No. 1 player. Bill Clinton invited the team to the White House and presented us with a plaque. Then Beano Cook predicted on TV that I'd win two Heisman Trophies. In the moment, it was flattering. But then you realize you have to live with a crazy statement like that."
1994
Hines Ward
QB, Forest Park High School (Ga.)
College: Georgia
NFL Draft: No. 92 pick (Steelers) in 1998
Now: Two-time Super Bowl champ; Steelers all-time leader in receptions, yards and TDs
"I wanted to play quarterback bad at Georgia, but even more than that I wanted to play right away. When my coaches told me I'd have to sit behind QB Eric Zeier, they encouraged me to play wideout. I've been there ever since. People say receivers are divas, but that's not me. The Steelers don't pay me extra to take out a linebacker. That's just who I am. And when I hear that I've been voted the dirtiest player in the NFL, I take it as a compliment."
Photo by Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo
1995
Shaun Alexander
RB, Boone County High School (Ky.)
College: Alabama
NFL Draft: No. 19 pick (Seattle Seahawks) in 2000
Now: Free agent; wrote "The Walk: Clear Direction and Spiritual Power for Your Life"
"I just tried to have fun with all the attention. I used to get about 30 letters a day from coaches. I would sit at my desk and throw each one over my left shoulder. If a letter landed in the trash can, that's where it stayed. If a letter hit the floor, I picked it up and opened it."
1996
Tim Couch
QB, Leslie County High School (Ky.)
College: Kentucky
NFL Draft: No. 1 pick (Cleveland Browns) in 1999
Now: College football analyst for Fox Sports South
"During recruiting, the Kentucky coaches told me they could change their option offense for me. I was the No. 1 recruit, so I believed they would. They didn't. I learned that coaches will tell you a lot of stuff to get you to sign, but once they have you on campus, they've got you. That's why you can't make decisions based on what they're saying. I planned to transfer at the end of my freshman year. But then Hal Mumme came in as coach and installed a system that was right for me. In the end, it all worked out at Kentucky."
1997
Randy Fasani
QB, Del Oro High School (Calif.)
College: Stanford
NFL Draft: No. 137 pick (Carolina Panthers) in 2002
Now: Field sales rep at Sierra Gold Nurseries in Yuba City, Calif.
"At Stanford's QB camp the summer after my sophomore year, Tyrone Willingham offered me my first unofficial full ride. Then after I tore my ACL as a junior, the Stanford coaches were there when I woke up from surgery. Stanford was my No. 1 well before I was No. 1. But then the letters started coming in, handwritten notes from coaches at Texas, Colorado, all of the Pac-10. Big-time coaches showed up on campus. That made it tough to decide. My parents went to Cal, but they recommended I stick with Stanford because I would get a better education."
1998
David Givens
WR, Humble High School (Texas)
College: Notre Dame
NFL Draft: No. 253 pick (New England Patriots) in 2002
Now: NFL analyst for NESN
"A few days after I verbaled to Notre Dame over Texas, I went on a local sports radio show. Earl Campbell was on the show that day, and he and the hosts said they wanted me to stay in Texas. I told them that Notre Dame was my favorite team growing up. And when I got to South Bend, I knew I'd made the right decision."
Photo by Mark Humphrey/AP Photo
1999
Anquan Boldin
Athlete, Pahokee High School (Fla.)
College: Florida State
NFL Draft: No. 54 pick (Arizona Cardinals) in 2003
Now: Ravens WR, Fastest to 600 receptions in NFL history
"I found out I was No. 1 when someone told me. Nowadays, kids look themselves up on a weekly basis, and if they don't think they're ranked high enough, they're pissed. High school football is supposed to be football in its purest form, where kids really love the game. But you have these kids putting pressure on themselves because they want to be No. 1, or ranked in the top five. I'm glad I grew up when I did."
Photo by Gene Lower/Getty Images
2000
D.J. Williams
LB, De La Salle High School (Calif.)
College: Miami
NFL Draft: No. 17 pick (Denver Broncos) in 2004
Now: 2009 Pro Bowl alternate; owns four 100-tackle seasons
"I didn't like the whole recruiting process. I'd get embarrassed when people would interview me or talk about me. I'll never forget when John Madden, who was from the area and had seen me play, spoke at our team banquet. During his speech, he said I was probably the only high schooler he'd ever seen who could have gone right to the pros. That was the worst thing anyone could've said, because then that was on me."
2001
Kevin Jones
RB, Cardinal O'Hara High School (Pa.)
College: Virginia Tech
NFL Draft: No. 30 pick (Detroit Lions) in 2004
Now: Free agent; returned to Virginia Tech to study industrial design
"If you're a blue-chipper from Pennsylvania, you go to Penn State. But I've always been a little contrary. On the day of my press conference, I still hadn't decided between Virginia Tech and PSU. As I sat down in front of everybody, I had both jerseys with me. I pulled the Penn State jersey out of a bag and said, "I will ... not be attending Penn State." Then I ripped off my sweater and had a Mike Vick jersey on underneath. The entire room was flabbergasted. Afterward, I got plenty of hate mail, lots of it racial. People weren't afraid to use the N-word."
2002
Vince Young
QB, Madison High School (Texas)
College: Texas
NFL Draft: No. 3 pick (Tennessee Titans) in 2006
Now: Two-time Pro Bowler, 30-17 as NFL starter
"I was scared. I didn't know how to handle it and didn't have a father figure around. I was always quiet, so when my high school coach, Ray Seals, realized I could be an elite athlete, he put me in a speech class. He knew I was going to be in front of cameras. I just wanted to be able to talk to this one girl, Candice Johnson. Guess what? I'm still with her."
2003
Kyle Wright
QB, Montey Vista High School (Calif.)
College: Miami
NFL Draft: Undrafted
Now: Works for a medical company that sells spinal implants
"It's definitely something I can tell my kids about someday: 'Once upon a time, I was a pretty decent football player.' But in the end, football didn't work out for me. I'd worn down the cartilage in my knees to the point where it couldn't be replaced. So I had to make the transition to the real world."
2004
Ted Ginn Jr.
DB, Glenville High School (Ohio)
College: Ohio State
NFL Draft: No. 9 pick (Miami Dolphins) in 2007
Now: WR/return specialist for the San Francisco 49ers
"I remember playing in the high school U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, and me and Adrian Peterson did an interview afterward. We were both up for MVP, and we both felt like the No. 1 guy. I cherished all of that stuff -- the games, traveling all over the place. It's something most kids don't ever get to experience."
2005
Eugene Monroe
OT, Plainfield High School (N.J.)
College: Virginia
NFL Draft: No. 8 pick (Jacksonville Jaguars) in 2009
Now: Starting LT for the Jags
"Being ranked No. 1 didn't mean a thing to me, but it did to my mother and the rest of my family and friends. You should have heard the way they said it, with such pride. My brother, Scott, walked around town telling everyone his brother was No. 1 in the nation. Seeing my family and friends enjoy it -- that was the best part."
2006
Myron Rolle
DB, The Hun School of Princeton (N.J.)
College: Florida State
NFL Draft: No. 207 pick (Tennessee Titans) in 2010
Now: Titans practice squad member
"When I first heard, I was in my dorm room at boarding school. My roommate burst through the door and said, 'Myron, you are the No. 1 player in the country!' I immediately called my parents. I remember my father saying, 'At this point, Myron, you are a known individual, so every time you step onto the field you have to perform at a premium. There can never be a day where you are less than your best.' I took that to heart, but I will admit, that night we celebrated and I didn't have to do any homework."
2007
Joe McKnight
RB, John Curtis Christian High School (La.)
College: USC
NFL Draft: No. 112 pick (New York Jets) in 2010
Now: Backup RB with the Jets
"Huh? I thought I was No. 2, behind Jimmy Clausen. Wow, I always thought of myself as No. 2, and that bothered me coming out of high school. I'm so excited right now. You made my day. I can't wait to read this."
2008
Da'Quan Bowers
DE, Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School (S.C.)
College: Clemson
Now: Projected top-five pick in 2011 draft
"I'm going through this for the second time now, with all the NFL draft hype. But this time is totally different. As the No. 1 in high school, I was in charge. I got to choose where I would go. Now I have no control. And the hype is so much bigger. Now it's not some guy writing about me on his website. It's Mel Kiper talking about me on SportsCenter."
2009
Matt Barkley
QB, Mater Dei High School (Calif.)
College: USC
Now: USC Junior, 17-7 as starter
"Being No. 1 really didn't have any impact on me until this June, when we were hit with the NCAA sanctions. Before, we were thinking national championship. Suddenly, it sank in: We're not going to a bowl, and a bunch of guys might transfer. I noticed pretty quickly that people were wondering what I was going to do. They were looking to me because I was No. 1. I immediately let everybody know where my home is. Then I started telling that to our recruits. I won't know the ripple effects of my actions until later on, but I'm sure there was an effect. Because every recruit who has visited USC knew, the No. 1 guy is a Trojan."
2010
Ronald Powell
Athlete, Rancho Verde High School (Calif.)
College: Florida
Now: Freshman All-SEC pick at linebacker
"I definitely didn't handle the hype as well as I should have. Right off the bat in high school, I had people saying I was going to the NFL someday. I started getting cocky. Plus, my parents had split up, and I was going back and forth between them and I was just mad all the time. I stopped caring what other people thought of me, as a player or a person. I started talking back and cussing at my teachers, getting into fights. That's when all the talk about being No. 1 went away. Word had gotten out: I had an attitude and I would be too hard to deal with. But I had a group of people who decided they weren't going to let me blow it. Teachers, coaches and the players ahead of me in school all started calling me out, reminding me about the chance I was wasting. They got me into counseling and taught me that just having talent isn't enough. You still have to work hard in class, at practice and in the weight room. And you have to treat others with respect. You don't get to be a jerk just because you can play football."
Jeff George
QB, Warren Central High School (Ind.)
College: Purdue (transferred to Illinois)
NFL Draft: No. 1 pick (Indianapolis Colts) in 1990
Now: Runs a foundation that fights breast cancer
"As the No. 1 player, everyone knows about you, and you have to live up to that expectation. My advice to kids today is: Don't put extra pressure on yourself, because you're only as good as your supporting cast. Looking back on it, high school was the most fun time in my career -- just playing football and trying to be the best you can be."
1987
Ricky Watters
RB Bishop McDevitt High School (Pa.)
College: Notre Dame
NFL Draft: No. 45 pick (San Francisco 49ers) in 1991
Now: Motivational speaker
"I almost lost my mind. Everyone started treating me differently. Restaurants I couldn't afford were throwing free food at me. Chicks who were untouchable were all of a sudden very touchable. Boosters were offering me cars. As the No. 1 guy, I got treated really well on recruiting trips. When I visited Tennessee, they already had a jersey with my name and number on it. At Florida, they had these beautiful girls called Gator Getters who were assigned to help land the top recruits. Back home, the city of Harrisburg held a Ricky Watters Day, with a parade. They had me in a convertible, and the mayor was there. Lou Holtz came down too. I remember thinking, This is the life. My mom saw everything that was happening and laid down the law: I was going either to Notre Dame or West Point."
1988
Xavier Crawford
RB, Trezevant High School (Tenn.)
College: Memphis State
NFL Draft: Undrafted
Now: In Memphis Shelby County jail awaiting trial on rape charges
"People followed me around like I was famous. But my very first practice at Memphis was traumatic. My teammates hit me out of bounds, trying to hurt me. They scratched up my car, leaving notes that said, "We don't need you here." They trashed my dorm room, lit the door on fire. My coach, Charlie Bailey, had a team meeting and basically told the guys that if they had a problem with me, they would have a problem with him. On campus, being the No. 1 recruit was exhilarating. I was having dinner with the president of the university and the governor of Tennessee. But pretty soon I realized my circle consisted of nothing but football fans and rich, prestigious people. No one cared about me as a person; all they cared about was what they could get out of me. I had thousands of fans but no friends, and that's an awful way for a kid to feel. I still have dreams about hearing 80,000 fans screaming my name, though. Then I wake up in jail."
1989
Terry Kirby
RB, Tabb High School (Va.)
College: Virginia
NFL Draft: No. 78 pick (Miami Dolphins) in 1993
Now: Founder of Touchdowns4Life, a charter school in Tamarac, Fla.
"I had a lot of people who kept me grounded. I try to do that now when I work with young football players. I tell them that they can have absolutely no regrets. Because I have none. How many people in America can say they did exactly what they wanted to do?"
1990
Chris Weinke
QB, Cretin-Derham Hall High School (Minn.)
College: Florida State
NFL Draft: No. 106 pick (Carolina Panthers) in 2001
Now: Director of IMG Madden Football Academy
"Football or baseball? That was the big question for me. It had always been my dream to play in the majors, and the Blue Jays drafted me in the second round in 1990. I was still negotiating with Toronto when I left for FSU. But then I was sitting in my dorm room feeling like the chance to play baseball might not come again. I called Coach Bowden and told him I was leaving. It was the toughest decision of my life. I played six years in the minors, two in Triple-A. Then after the 1996 season, I went to the FSU-Clemson football game and thought, Maybe I'll get to the major leagues, maybe I won't. But if I wait any longer, I'll never have the chance to play college football. I went home, packed up my stuff and re-enrolled at Florida State. I went through adversity, but in tough times I could always remember what it was like to be named the No. 1 guy."
1991
Marquette Smith
RB, Lake Howell High School (Fla.)
College: Florida State (transferred to Central Florida)
NFL Draft: No. 142 pick (Carolina Panthers) in 1996
Now: Head coach for Fayetteville of the Southern Indoor Football League
"When I woke up every morning, there would be a line of rental cars down the street. Recruiters. I'd sneak out the backyard and jump over the fence just so I could get to school without any drama."
1992
Amani Toomer
WR, De La Salle High School (Calif.)
College: Michigan
NFL Draft: No. 34 pick (New York Giants) in 1996
Now: Giants analyst for WWOR TV in NYC
"Being a top recruit is both a gift and a curse. On the plus side, you get more opportunities than an ordinary recruit to play right away. But upperclassmen were a little jealous because I was getting more attention. Good thing I played on the outside: It's much less physical than being a linebacker or lineman, so I could prove myself with my speed and athletic ability. My teammates saw I could compete at a high level, and they immediately respected that."
1993
Ron Powlus
QB, Berwick High School (Pa.)
College: Notre Dame
NFL Draft: Undrafted
Now: QBs coach at Akron
"At Berwick, we ended my senior season as the nation's No. 1 team, and I was the No. 1 player. Bill Clinton invited the team to the White House and presented us with a plaque. Then Beano Cook predicted on TV that I'd win two Heisman Trophies. In the moment, it was flattering. But then you realize you have to live with a crazy statement like that."
1994
Hines Ward
QB, Forest Park High School (Ga.)
College: Georgia
NFL Draft: No. 92 pick (Steelers) in 1998
Now: Two-time Super Bowl champ; Steelers all-time leader in receptions, yards and TDs
"I wanted to play quarterback bad at Georgia, but even more than that I wanted to play right away. When my coaches told me I'd have to sit behind QB Eric Zeier, they encouraged me to play wideout. I've been there ever since. People say receivers are divas, but that's not me. The Steelers don't pay me extra to take out a linebacker. That's just who I am. And when I hear that I've been voted the dirtiest player in the NFL, I take it as a compliment."
Photo by Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo
1995
Shaun Alexander
RB, Boone County High School (Ky.)
College: Alabama
NFL Draft: No. 19 pick (Seattle Seahawks) in 2000
Now: Free agent; wrote "The Walk: Clear Direction and Spiritual Power for Your Life"
"I just tried to have fun with all the attention. I used to get about 30 letters a day from coaches. I would sit at my desk and throw each one over my left shoulder. If a letter landed in the trash can, that's where it stayed. If a letter hit the floor, I picked it up and opened it."
1996
Tim Couch
QB, Leslie County High School (Ky.)
College: Kentucky
NFL Draft: No. 1 pick (Cleveland Browns) in 1999
Now: College football analyst for Fox Sports South
"During recruiting, the Kentucky coaches told me they could change their option offense for me. I was the No. 1 recruit, so I believed they would. They didn't. I learned that coaches will tell you a lot of stuff to get you to sign, but once they have you on campus, they've got you. That's why you can't make decisions based on what they're saying. I planned to transfer at the end of my freshman year. But then Hal Mumme came in as coach and installed a system that was right for me. In the end, it all worked out at Kentucky."
1997
Randy Fasani
QB, Del Oro High School (Calif.)
College: Stanford
NFL Draft: No. 137 pick (Carolina Panthers) in 2002
Now: Field sales rep at Sierra Gold Nurseries in Yuba City, Calif.
"At Stanford's QB camp the summer after my sophomore year, Tyrone Willingham offered me my first unofficial full ride. Then after I tore my ACL as a junior, the Stanford coaches were there when I woke up from surgery. Stanford was my No. 1 well before I was No. 1. But then the letters started coming in, handwritten notes from coaches at Texas, Colorado, all of the Pac-10. Big-time coaches showed up on campus. That made it tough to decide. My parents went to Cal, but they recommended I stick with Stanford because I would get a better education."
1998
David Givens
WR, Humble High School (Texas)
College: Notre Dame
NFL Draft: No. 253 pick (New England Patriots) in 2002
Now: NFL analyst for NESN
"A few days after I verbaled to Notre Dame over Texas, I went on a local sports radio show. Earl Campbell was on the show that day, and he and the hosts said they wanted me to stay in Texas. I told them that Notre Dame was my favorite team growing up. And when I got to South Bend, I knew I'd made the right decision."
Photo by Mark Humphrey/AP Photo
1999
Anquan Boldin
Athlete, Pahokee High School (Fla.)
College: Florida State
NFL Draft: No. 54 pick (Arizona Cardinals) in 2003
Now: Ravens WR, Fastest to 600 receptions in NFL history
"I found out I was No. 1 when someone told me. Nowadays, kids look themselves up on a weekly basis, and if they don't think they're ranked high enough, they're pissed. High school football is supposed to be football in its purest form, where kids really love the game. But you have these kids putting pressure on themselves because they want to be No. 1, or ranked in the top five. I'm glad I grew up when I did."
Photo by Gene Lower/Getty Images
2000
D.J. Williams
LB, De La Salle High School (Calif.)
College: Miami
NFL Draft: No. 17 pick (Denver Broncos) in 2004
Now: 2009 Pro Bowl alternate; owns four 100-tackle seasons
"I didn't like the whole recruiting process. I'd get embarrassed when people would interview me or talk about me. I'll never forget when John Madden, who was from the area and had seen me play, spoke at our team banquet. During his speech, he said I was probably the only high schooler he'd ever seen who could have gone right to the pros. That was the worst thing anyone could've said, because then that was on me."
2001
Kevin Jones
RB, Cardinal O'Hara High School (Pa.)
College: Virginia Tech
NFL Draft: No. 30 pick (Detroit Lions) in 2004
Now: Free agent; returned to Virginia Tech to study industrial design
"If you're a blue-chipper from Pennsylvania, you go to Penn State. But I've always been a little contrary. On the day of my press conference, I still hadn't decided between Virginia Tech and PSU. As I sat down in front of everybody, I had both jerseys with me. I pulled the Penn State jersey out of a bag and said, "I will ... not be attending Penn State." Then I ripped off my sweater and had a Mike Vick jersey on underneath. The entire room was flabbergasted. Afterward, I got plenty of hate mail, lots of it racial. People weren't afraid to use the N-word."
2002
Vince Young
QB, Madison High School (Texas)
College: Texas
NFL Draft: No. 3 pick (Tennessee Titans) in 2006
Now: Two-time Pro Bowler, 30-17 as NFL starter
"I was scared. I didn't know how to handle it and didn't have a father figure around. I was always quiet, so when my high school coach, Ray Seals, realized I could be an elite athlete, he put me in a speech class. He knew I was going to be in front of cameras. I just wanted to be able to talk to this one girl, Candice Johnson. Guess what? I'm still with her."
2003
Kyle Wright
QB, Montey Vista High School (Calif.)
College: Miami
NFL Draft: Undrafted
Now: Works for a medical company that sells spinal implants
"It's definitely something I can tell my kids about someday: 'Once upon a time, I was a pretty decent football player.' But in the end, football didn't work out for me. I'd worn down the cartilage in my knees to the point where it couldn't be replaced. So I had to make the transition to the real world."
2004
Ted Ginn Jr.
DB, Glenville High School (Ohio)
College: Ohio State
NFL Draft: No. 9 pick (Miami Dolphins) in 2007
Now: WR/return specialist for the San Francisco 49ers
"I remember playing in the high school U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, and me and Adrian Peterson did an interview afterward. We were both up for MVP, and we both felt like the No. 1 guy. I cherished all of that stuff -- the games, traveling all over the place. It's something most kids don't ever get to experience."
2005
Eugene Monroe
OT, Plainfield High School (N.J.)
College: Virginia
NFL Draft: No. 8 pick (Jacksonville Jaguars) in 2009
Now: Starting LT for the Jags
"Being ranked No. 1 didn't mean a thing to me, but it did to my mother and the rest of my family and friends. You should have heard the way they said it, with such pride. My brother, Scott, walked around town telling everyone his brother was No. 1 in the nation. Seeing my family and friends enjoy it -- that was the best part."
2006
Myron Rolle
DB, The Hun School of Princeton (N.J.)
College: Florida State
NFL Draft: No. 207 pick (Tennessee Titans) in 2010
Now: Titans practice squad member
"When I first heard, I was in my dorm room at boarding school. My roommate burst through the door and said, 'Myron, you are the No. 1 player in the country!' I immediately called my parents. I remember my father saying, 'At this point, Myron, you are a known individual, so every time you step onto the field you have to perform at a premium. There can never be a day where you are less than your best.' I took that to heart, but I will admit, that night we celebrated and I didn't have to do any homework."
2007
Joe McKnight
RB, John Curtis Christian High School (La.)
College: USC
NFL Draft: No. 112 pick (New York Jets) in 2010
Now: Backup RB with the Jets
"Huh? I thought I was No. 2, behind Jimmy Clausen. Wow, I always thought of myself as No. 2, and that bothered me coming out of high school. I'm so excited right now. You made my day. I can't wait to read this."
2008
Da'Quan Bowers
DE, Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School (S.C.)
College: Clemson
Now: Projected top-five pick in 2011 draft
"I'm going through this for the second time now, with all the NFL draft hype. But this time is totally different. As the No. 1 in high school, I was in charge. I got to choose where I would go. Now I have no control. And the hype is so much bigger. Now it's not some guy writing about me on his website. It's Mel Kiper talking about me on SportsCenter."
2009
Matt Barkley
QB, Mater Dei High School (Calif.)
College: USC
Now: USC Junior, 17-7 as starter
"Being No. 1 really didn't have any impact on me until this June, when we were hit with the NCAA sanctions. Before, we were thinking national championship. Suddenly, it sank in: We're not going to a bowl, and a bunch of guys might transfer. I noticed pretty quickly that people were wondering what I was going to do. They were looking to me because I was No. 1. I immediately let everybody know where my home is. Then I started telling that to our recruits. I won't know the ripple effects of my actions until later on, but I'm sure there was an effect. Because every recruit who has visited USC knew, the No. 1 guy is a Trojan."
2010
Ronald Powell
Athlete, Rancho Verde High School (Calif.)
College: Florida
Now: Freshman All-SEC pick at linebacker
"I definitely didn't handle the hype as well as I should have. Right off the bat in high school, I had people saying I was going to the NFL someday. I started getting cocky. Plus, my parents had split up, and I was going back and forth between them and I was just mad all the time. I stopped caring what other people thought of me, as a player or a person. I started talking back and cussing at my teachers, getting into fights. That's when all the talk about being No. 1 went away. Word had gotten out: I had an attitude and I would be too hard to deal with. But I had a group of people who decided they weren't going to let me blow it. Teachers, coaches and the players ahead of me in school all started calling me out, reminding me about the chance I was wasting. They got me into counseling and taught me that just having talent isn't enough. You still have to work hard in class, at practice and in the weight room. And you have to treat others with respect. You don't get to be a jerk just because you can play football."
The Voice
Best in the World
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Weatherman is another one, you can be wrong 80% of the time and still keep your job.
DougHeil
The Seasoned Pro
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You just need to know how to do a little research... like google it or something... and know how to think of creative things to write about that may be true or not, and you are good to go. I'm extremely sure I'd be as good as or better than some of the writers at major publications now and especially those at not so major publications. Is there a job market for 53 year old sports nuts? No particular sport either. Any of the three major sports would do. 