Jersey's Finest: The Best NJ Players in College Football

There's two ways to find great college football players: the easy way and the hard way. The hard way requires countless hours of hard work, sending coaches all across the country, and turning over every rock possible in search of talent. The easy way is to head out to the Big Three (California, Texas, and Florida) and pick out all the players that the local schools pass over.

That isn't to say that other schools don't have some impressive collections of talent themselves. Most states show off their best by loading up the local teams and taking down schools from the Big Three. These states are constantly vying for position and respect across the country, but need a particularly big accomplishment to rise to step up with the big boys.

For New Jersey, one such moment came in the 2009 NFL Draft, in which seven first round picks hailed from the Garden State. That event not only pointed to a state that had quietly been churning out talent for years, but also brought up the question of who might be next from the state.

The following is a short list of some of the best NJ players that still call a college campus their home.

Quick Recap: The 2009 NFL Draft

Before we start, here's a quick reminder of what went on almost four months ago. In April, Eugene Monroe (8th), B.J. Raji (9th), Knowshon Moreno (12th), Malcolm Jenkins (14th), Brian Cushing (15th), Donald Brown (27th), and Kenny Britt (28th) were taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. That's seven native New Jerseyans in 32 picks, and just one of them coming from the highest profile (read: only) program in the state. In defense of the State University of New Jersey, Britt was the highest pick ever from Rutgers, and no one really expects the Knights to keep very many top guys in state.

What's interesting is the seven players came from seven different schools, some of which are new to the rat race that is cherry picking the Garden State's best talent. At least there's no Notre Dame or Penn State on the list, the two schools that likely have benefited the most from New Jersey high school football.

10. Myron Rolle, S Florida State

Technically, Rolle was born in Texas and his family's from the Bahamas. Plus he won't exactly be playing in 2009; however, his growing up in New Jersey is enough to grab a spot when he's such an incredible talent.

Unlike some players that are forced to go to a lesser school because they can't hack it academically in D1, the Hun School grad is skipping his senior year at Florida State to go to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and get his master's in medical anthropology (think of the weird kid from Bones). That's enough to get respect from me and find a place here. On top of that, if he were playing next year, he'd be solidly #1 on this list.

*Note, if you don't buy Rolle's spot, former top Trojan recruit, and current Terrapin safety Antwine Perez is in line for a starting spot and is someone to watch.

9. Jerome Murphy, CB USF

Murphy had an up and down campaign in 2008, but possesses next level physical ability. At 6'1'' and 190 lbs, Murphy is one of the fastest players on the South Florida team, and is the team's leading returner in tackles and interceptions. He struggled a bit to replace two terrific starting corners in Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams, but there will be a lot less pressure this season now that he has experience in the job.

8. Will Hill

Will Hill is a potentially dominant force sitting behind two already dominant players on the Florida depth chart. Urban Meyer says he and Charlie Strong employ a "three safety system", but for the most part, the Jersey City native plays behind juniors Ahmad Black and Major Wright.

Hill still managed 48 tackles and 2 interceptions last year, earning himself All-SEC Freshman honors and a few votes for freshman All-American as well. If Thrill were anywhere else in the country, he'd probably already be a household name, but my guess is that eventually, as good as he is, the fact that he didn't start these early games won't matter too much.

7. Alex Wujciak, LB Maryland

The Seton Hall Prep grad has overcome a number of setbacks to became the latest in a line of star Terrapin middle linebackers. He redshirted his first season, then missed his freshman year with a knee injury before bursting onto the scene in 2008.

He started every game as a sophomore, racking up 133 tackles, earning team MVP honors, and being named second team All-ACC. Wujciak still has another hill to climb before next season though—the '09 preseason all-conference pick missed offseason practice after knee surgery, but should be ready for the season.

6. Garrett Graham, TE Wisconsin

Graham returns to Wisconsin after a 2008 season that saw him lead the team in each of the major statistical receiving categories, with 40 receptions for 540 yards and 5 touchdowns. He earned All Big Ten honors from most major outlets, and was a first team pick by the Big Ten media.

Graham's size and athleticism have people pointing to him as a potential H-back in the NFL, similar to Washington's Chris Cooley or 2008 first round pick Dustin Keller. The redshirt senior from Brick, NJ remains the best threat on the Badger offense, especially with Running Back P.J. Hill having gone pro.

5. Matt Simms, QB El Camino Community College

Don't worry, I'm just kidding. Simms has a ways to go before he's on this list.

Matt Simms, starting Quarterback for El Camino Community College... probably. The younger Simms bailed on Louisville and coach Steve Kragthorpe after the 2008 season, and is headed to a junior college clear on the other side of the country. The fact that he wasn't named the favorite for the starting job in '09 was apparently the last straw, after not receiving much of any playing time last year and with the team recruiting JuCo QB Adam Froman.

The plan is apparently for Simms to spend his RS Sophomore season at El Camino, then head back to the FBS with a chance at a starting job. Schools like Oklahoma and Penn State seem like good options, but this youngster's going to have put in a lot of work to change the negative perception most people appear to have of him.

4. Kyle Wilson, CB Boise St.

Kyle Wilson had to travel across the country to a land of blue turf to get the noticed as being one of the best players at his position in the country. One would think that playing at a school in Idaho might hurt exposure, but he excelled enough last year (5 INTs, 10 passes defensed, and 3 return TDs) to get honored as both an All WAC and All American pick.

The senior cornerback from Piscataway is considered a top prospect for the 2010 NFL Draft, with the potential to move even higher with the spotlight on him in 2009. He was recently named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year by coaches while his school was unanimously ranked tops in the conference. He'll get a chance to show his stuff early next season with an opening season nationally broadcast game against #14 Oregon.

3. Corey Wooton, DE Northwestern

The preseason All American pick and Don Bosco graduate is already one of the best defensive players in Northwestern's history, ranking in the top five all time in tackles for loss and sacks. In 2008, he was a consensus first team All Big Ten pick after a junior season in which he racked up 16 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

Wooton is also a name that's been quickly rising up boards for the 2010 draft, despite how far away it seems. At 6'7'' and 270 lbs, he's got the ideal size and skills to excel as a 3-4 DE at the next level. That combination turned Tyson Jackson from a mid round prospect into a top 3 pick, and could make Wooton a valuable commodity to teams looking for a versatile, potentially dominant lineman.

2. Jason Worilds, DE Virginia Tech

True NJ high school football aficionados could have followed along and thrown out a few insider facts about all the players on the list, but only the best can nail down this one. Just who is Jason Worilds many may ask. Well, he's none other than the former Jason Adjepong, the Carteret High star and Rahway native who was rated among the best New Jersey prospects in 2006. He changed his name to Jason Adjepong Worilds before his RS sophomore season to honor his mother, Sandra Worilds.

After changing his surname, Worilds has set the NCAA football world on fire, emerging as a top of the line pass rusher. He racked up 62 tackles, 18.5 for loss, and 8 sacks as a sophomore last season despite dislocating a shoulder early in the season. He's an All ACC pick, and with another season like last year, could be looked at as a top 15 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Rivals.com even listed him as one of the top ten defensive linemen nationally.

1. Anthony Davis, OT Rutgers

A Rutgers guy rated as the best player in the country from New Jersey? Who would have thought something like that was even possible just five short years ago?

The truth is that Rutgers has been able to pull in more and more home state players over the past few years, the crown jewel of which is Anthony Davis. The big, mauling left tackle for the Scarlet Knights helped his team win seven straight football games last season in his first year at the position. Once a top recruit coveted by powerhouses Ohio State and USC, Davis signing with the Scarlet Knights marked the biggest recruiting success in school history.

Davis is likely headed to the NFL after this, his junior season, where he'll probably switch back inside to guard. After waiting their entire history for a first round pick, Rutgers might have players chosen there in back to back years. If that happens, it might give the Knights enough juice that the next time seven Jersey kids end up in the first round, at least two of them will be playing their college ball in Piscataway.