Recruiting Rewind: The Top 10 Most Hyped QB Recruits of the Decade

This past decade has seen the birth of the recruiting-coverage industry inside college football, which has meant increased attention for high school players. With increased attention comes more scrutiny which means more hype for top players. Some players live up to it while others fall by the wayside as victims.

We've seen the wave of hype surrounding many top players in the current year's recruiting class, yet the QB position is always the subject of the most hype. It's the most glamorous position in all of sports. In the recruiting industry, every fan, talent evaluator, analyst and coach wants to know who is the top QB and what they're all about.

These past 10 years we've seen a wave of ridiculously hyped QBs, and we chose to charge ourselves with the tough task of getting the list down to a top 10. Whether the following signal-callers lived up to the hype or not is a different story, but here are the 10 most-hyped QB recruits of the 2000s. Enjoy.

10. Ben Olson

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PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 8: Quarterback Ben Olson #7 of the UCLA Bruins passes the ball against the BYU Cougars on September 8, 2007 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 27-17. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Olson's hype came on rather quickly, as he lit up Southern California high school defenses as a junior for Thousand Oaks high school. That season put everyone on notice for the camps and combine circuit going into his senior year.

The 6'5", 210-pounder dazzled at the Nike camp and other similar camps, and he got invited to the prestigious Elite-11 QB Camp.

He wowed there, displaying elite arm strength, accuracy and very solid athleticism to move in and out of the pocket. Every major FBS program came calling and Olson's hype was everywhere as he was named the top QB prospect in the country in 2002.

Olson eventually chose to go to BYU, but transferred to UCLA after coming back from his Mormon mission. He battled injuries and inconsistent play in Westwood and he is also regarded as one of the top busts of the decade.

9. Mitch Mustain

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Mitch Mustain #16 of the USC Trojans warms up before the 95th Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2009 in Pasadena, California. The Trojans defeated t

Mustain's recruitment was a saga in itself as he was from Springdale, Arkansas, but he had offers from many different major FBS programs. His recruitment likely led to the growing sizzle of his hype as Mustain got a lot of attention, and he is regarded as one of the most hyped recruits in recent memory.

At 6'3", 200 pounds, he initially wanted to go Arkansas and even committed to Houston Nutt's program. But he backed off shortly thereafter as he grew concerned over Nutt's run-first offense. He took a trip to Notre Dame, where many felt he truly wanted to go, but Charlie Weis wanted to save room for Jimmy Clausen.

Mustain recommitted to Arkansas and went 8-0 as a starter as a true freshman, but he left the program after just one year. He eventually transferred to USC, where he always played a backseat to Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley and even Aaron Corp.

8. Ryan Perrilloux

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ATLANTA - AUGUST 28: Quarterback Ryan Perrilloux #11 of the Jacksonville State Gamecocks throws a pass during the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field on August 28, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo b

Perrilloux may be the biggest case of "woulda, coulda, shoulda" on this list. At 6'2", 225 pounds, he had all of the physical tools to be a dominant QB in the SEC. Not only was he hyped to be one, but also Perrilloux himself was not shy to tell you the same thing either.

He had an amazing excess of hype surrounding him and some thought he would lead LSU to a national championship, win a Heisman and be a first-round draft pick...after his freshman season.

He initially pledged to Texas but then switched to LSU with the infamous comment: "LSU needs a QB right now." He said that even though JaMarcus Russell was on the roster.

Perrilloux was the subject of many of Les Miles' irkings, as he skipped many meetings, classes and he was involved in a night club fight. Miles finally threw him off the team and Perrilloux wound up at Jacksonville State.

7. Matt Barkley

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PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 09: Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans passes the ball during their game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

I remember hearing about and seeing Barkley play in person as a freshman in high school at powerhouse Mater Dei High School, which produced Matt Leinart and a host of other top athletes.

Barkley was so hyped that when Jimmy Clausen chose to go to Notre Dame over USC, Trojan fans did not stress a great deal, as they knew they sat pretty with Barkley, who was still just a sophomore in high school.

At 6'2", 225 pounds, Barkley won the Gatorade National Player of the Year as a junior, and he became the top QB recruit in his 2009 class. Some considered him to be the top overall player. His hype was big time high, as when he signed with USC, Mel Kiper called Barkley not just a future first-round pick, but a future No.1-overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Barkley came to USC with a lot of hype which increased when he chose to enroll early and participate in spring drills.

Pete Carroll became so enamored with Barkley that he named him the opening day starter as a true freshman. Barkley even engineered a daunting comeback and a game-winning drive on the road against Ohio State as a true freshman. He's regarded as one of the best QBs in college football today.

6. Vince Young

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HOUSTON - DECEMBER 3: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns throws a touchdown pass against the Colorado Buffaloes during the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship at Reliant Stadium December 3, 2005 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Ge

Young was in the same class as Olson was in 2002, and depending on who you asked, he was the top QB prospect in the class. He was a physical specimen who stood 6'5" and weighed 230 pounds as a senior in high school. His hype came from not only his physical tools, but also how he was just dominating great Houston-area competition.

Young looked like a man among boys. He was not going up against overwhelmingly bad players as he played in a solid league in a great area for college football talent. He was also almost the first "big" dual-threat style QB that the recruiting world saw. Every school courted Young. Some thought he was a receiver, while others felt he was a do-it-all QB.

He signed with in-state Texas, led the Longhorns to a Rose Bowl win as a sophomore and returned Texas back to Pasadena, where he would lead them to a national title over USC in one of the greatest college football games ever witnessed. Young's performance in that game is hailed as one of the best in college football history, and he was drafted in the first round by the Tennessee Titans.

5. Mark Sanchez

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Mark Sanchez #6 of the USC Trojans celebrates a touchdown at the end of the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 95th Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi on January 1, 2009 at the Rose Bowl in Pas

Sanchez's hype came from not just his physical tools and production, but also who he was being coached by: Bob Johnson and his son, former NFL QB Rob Johnson, at Mission Viejo. Bob Johnson is regarded as one of the top QB coaches in the country and he is one of the main cogs of the Elite-11 QB camp.

At 6'2," 220 pounds, Sanchez had excellent mechanics, a cannon arm, accurate throws and solid athletic ability to combine with great field vision, work ethic and charisma. He was the top QB prospect in the 2005 class and committed to USC over offers from a host of FBS super powers in the spring before his senior year

He entered USC with NFL talk already surrounding him, and only started a full year for the Trojans as a junior. Yet he was still looked at as a first-round prospect.

Sanchez went on to lead USC to a Rose Bowl win and became a first-round pick by the New York Jets in 2009. He's regarded as one of the top young QBs in the NFL today.

4. Matt Stafford

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ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 29: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs calls a play during the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sanford Stadium on November 29, 2008 in Athens, Georgia. The Yellow Jackets defeated the Bulldogs 4

Stafford began seeing his hype increase before his junior year as he was seen lighting up the Texas high school football scene with his rifle arm wherever he was playing on fall Fridays. At 6'3", 225 pounds, his arm was what drove everyone crazy as Stafford threw a light, pretty ball, but the velocity, revolutions and force he generated on his throws were amazing.

Stafford strategically pledged to Georgia, as he and Mitch Mustain were the top QB recruits in 2006. Stafford knew that the Bulldogs gave him the best chance to start as a true freshman, and he could learn from Mark Richt in operating a pro-style offense, preparing him for the NFL.

What also added to the big-time hype surrounding Stafford was that Mel Kiper, before he went out on the same limb as Matt Barkley, sat in New York at the 2006 NFL Draft and declared Stafford would be the No.1 overall pick in three years.

In 2009, the Detroit Lions selected Stafford with the No.1 overall pick.

3. Tim Tebow

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 28: Tim Tebow #15 of the Florida Gators shakes hands with the fans following the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty

Tebow was hyped before he got to Florida. His college hype was really just a continuation of his high school hype. Legend has it that as a kid, Tebow's father realized Tim was special in Pop Warner, and told his wife: "We're going to be overwhelmed when Tim is in high school. A lot of schools are going to want him to be on their team." And boy was the elder Tebow right.

Tebow broke his leg in a varsity playoff game, yet still played both ways as not just a QB, but also a defensive tackle. Again, he played both ways at QB and defensive tackle...on a broken leg. He was a 5-star recruit in 2006, along with Mustain and Stafford.

Yet many were concerned if Tebow would stay at QB, as he could have wound up at LB, RB, TE or DE, which is why he was behind Mustain and Stafford in QB rankings.

But he was a football-playing legend and went on to win a Heisman Trophy as a true sophomore for Florida and worked himself into being a first-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos.

2. John David Booty

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback John David Booty #10 of the USC Trojans passes the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the Rose Bowl presented by Citi at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2008 in Pasadena, California. The Trojans defeated t

There was talk that Booty was the best QB in the country as a freshman in high school at powerhouse Evangel Christian Academy, and high school football and college recruiting fans would hear all kinds of sob stories and myths about a kid QB from Louisiana who was the younger brother of John and Abram Booty.

David Carr was the No.1 overall pick to the Houston Texans in 2002 and was an Elite-11 QB camp counselor in the summer before, where Booty was just a ball boy still in high school. Carr told people around him that Booty was the best QB there. Not just among the high school players, but better than him and the college QBs there as well.

His hype soared even higher when he decided to skip his senior year in high school and attend USC earlier than expected. Booty committed to USC on an unofficial recruiting trip in the spring before he enrolled at the school, and he was expected to immediately start and replace Carson Palmer.

Matt Leinart had something to say about that, but Booty was solid in his two years as a starter for USC and he was drafted by the Vikings in the fifth round.

1. Jimmy Clausen

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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in action during the game against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 29, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. The Trojans defeated the Figh

Clausen takes the cake as the most hyped QB recruit of the decade. He was featured on an "Outside the Lines" ESPN special, and was called the LeBron James of high school football. His hype was ridiculous and he was called the perfect QB prospect. Some even went as far as calling him the best QB prospect out of California since John Elway.

At 6'3", 200 pounds, Clausen had fantastic polish, mechanics, a quick release, a strong arm and solid accuracy. He relished the pressure brought on by the hype and still put up amazing stats throughout his high school career at Oaks Christian in Southern California.

Clausen had a great pedigree as both of his brothers, Casey and Rick, went on to start for Tennessee, and speculation swirled about where Clausen would choose to go to school. 

He went on to Notre Dame, committing at the College Football Hall of Fame in a hyped press conference that rubbed some the wrong way. He started for the Irish as a true freshman and enjoyed a solid career in South Bend, becoming a second-round draft pick by the Panthers.