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DEL.ICIO.USTouted recruiting class of 2002 marked by shortfalls
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/29/07 6:39 PM
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Lorenzo Booker might have been Reggie Bush.
OK, the statement seems a stretch these days. Bush has a Heisman Trophy on his mantel, NFL millions in the bank, and nearly reached the Super Bowl as a rookie.
Booker spent his weekend at the Senior Bowl, seeking to raise his mid-round draft stock.
Five years ago, though, Booker was the recruiting gem who carried all the great expectations. The nation’s top prospect on most lists, he picked Florida State over staying close to home at Southern California.
Twelve months later, Bush signed with USC. We know the rest.
Booker’s tale in a way personifies the outcome of National Signing Day’s Class of 2002. Upon review, it’s a class perhaps best noted for shortfalls by those at the top of the charts.
Booker never had a 1,000-yard season. Miami wideout Ryan Moore (No. 4) tailed off sharply and lost half his senior year to suspension. Ben Olson (No. 3) never threw a pass for BYU and now faces a job battle at UCLA.
“In retrospect, it may not have been a very good year,” said Bobby Burton, Rivals.com editor in chief. “You’re talking about some really good players that just never got going.”
The authorities were correct, though, when it came to projecting the big winner on campus.
Texas, ranked No. 1 by all four major outlets, corralled Vince Young and seven other starters for the 2005 Rose Bowl national champions that ended USC’s minidynasty.
Drafted No. 3 overall by Tennessee last April, Young recently was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.
“He was the centerpiece,” Burton said.
OHIO STATE BONANZA
It also was a good year for Ohio State, which found a dozen starters to fuel a run of four BCS bowl games in their five-year window. Oddly enough, they didn’t necessarily come from the top of the class.
The Buckeyes garnered a No. 3 composite ranking with such names as running back Maurice Clarett, linebacker Mike D’Andrea and quarterback Justin Zwick. By 2005, none was a contributing factor.
Clarett made an immediate splash in helping OSU to the 2002 national title, but never played another down amid trouble with the NCAA and the legal system. Injuries cut D’Andrea’s career short, and Zwick wound up backing up a Heisman winner.
Troy Smith wasn’t on anyone’s Top 100 list in 2002, but now stands as winner of the second-most lopsided Heisman runaway ever. The Buckeyes also found a Lombardi Award winner in linebacker A.J. Hawk.
“There was even dissension on the Ohio State staff as to how good A.J. Hawk would be,” Burton said.
Florida, by the way, was rated a borderline Top 20 class in Ron Zook’s first effort — lowest among the state’s Big Three. When the Gators won the BCS crown three weeks ago, eight fifth-year seniors were in the lineup.
“That’s why football recruiting is an educated guess,” Burton said.
Not many, though, would have foreseen Booker’s modest production. After setting records with 8,502 yards and 137 touchdowns in high school, he never held the tailback job for himself. His best year was as a sophomore, with 887 yards rushing.
There are some who wonder what Booker might have done running behind USC’s blockers. And if he had claimed the job, whether Bush might have looked elsewhere.
Booker, for his part, isn’t interested in the what-if game.
“I’m not bothered,” he said before this past season. “It’s more than just football. I’ve had a lot of good relationships that I’ve developed at FSU.”
DISAPPOINTMENTS
The Seminoles found greater disappointment from elsewhere in the class. Within three years, half the class (11 of 22) had fallen by the wayside.
Four never got in academically, including five-star receiver DiShon Platt. Quarterback Wyatt Sexton fell victim to Lyme disease. Thomas Clayton transferred to Kansas State and became more productive than Booker.
“Those losses turn your class around,” Burton said.
To be fair, though, those Seminoles still won three ACC crowns and produced two first-round draft picks (Brodrick Bunkley and Kamerion Wimbley).
The Hurricanes’ class was ranked No. 6, but might end up best known for a kick-return specialist.
Devin Hester ran back seven punts or kickoffs for touchdowns, but never found a home on offense or defense.
“That’s an indictment of the player,” Burton said.
The Hurricanes also brought in four wideouts in 2002, but the most productive turned out to be the lowest rated — Sinorice Moss.
Moore, the state’s No. 1 prospect, sparkled with 44 catches as a freshman. He caught just 49 the rest of his career — derailed by injury, drops, poor effort and off-field issues.
