Recruiting Hindsight: Re-Ranking the Top Recruits from 2003

Recruiting Hindsight is back, and this edition focuses on the 2003 recruiting class. Wow, this class had some hyped and big time recruits at the time and also had some players ranked near the bottom of the Hot 100 go on to be prime time players.

Looking at this year's group, there seems to be a good amount of busts or slight disappointments to the top of the list, with Whitney Lewis and Kyle Wright as the two that stand out. Per Rivals, the top player in the class was Ernie Sims, followed by Reggie Bush. Towards the end of the 2003 rankings was JaMarcus Russell, who went on to be a No.1 overall draft pick to the Raiders in 2007.

Taking all that into consideration, here is a re-ranked, looking back in hindsight list of the top players in the 2003 class.

10. Robert Meachem, WR: Tennessee

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LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 26: Wide receiver Robert Meachem #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers jogs onto the field against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on November 26, 2005 in Lexington, Kentucky. The Vols defeated the Wildcats 27-8. (Photo b

Meachem was one of the top receivers in the country in 2003. He chose to go to Tennessee, spurning both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. 6'2", 200 pounds, Meachem wasn't just a big receiver; he had plenty of speed and could routinely get behind a back end.

He went on to have a standout career as a Vol, hauling in 125 catches and over 2,000 yards with 17 scores. He appeared in 37 games with 15 starts, and by the time he left, he was a consensus all SEC and All-American player.

The Saints took Meachem in the first round, and Meachem was forced to have knee surgery and missed his rookie year. After battling early career injuries, he has grown to be a trusted deep threat for Sean Payton and Drew Brees.

9. Michael Bush, RB: Louisville

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LOUISVILLE,KY - OCTOBER 8: Michael Bush #19 of the Louisville Cardinals carries the ball during the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Papa John's Stadium on October 8, 2005 in Louisville, Kentucky. The Cardinals won 69-14. (Photo by Andy Lyon

I remember the big question in high school with Bush was, "What position is he going to play in college?", as he was seen listed as QB, RB, WR and ATH by different publications during this cycle. He even lined up at defensive end, safety and linebacker at various points in high school.

Bush, 6'1" and 240 pounds, had told those around him he felt he was most natural at quarterback, and Bobby Petrino promised to give him his first crack there. So Bush stayed home and headed to Louisville, where he became one of the best running backs in the country. He topped 1,100 yards as a junior and could have left early for the draft.

Bush stayed and ended up breaking his leg in the first game of his senior year, which hurt his stock. The Raiders took him in the fourth round, and today, he is considered to be one of the best running backs on the market, whenever free agency starts in the NFL again.

8. Ernie Sims, LB: Florida State

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CLEMSON, SC - NOVEMBER 12: Ernie Sims #34 of the Florida State Seminoles looks on during an Atlantic Coast Conference game against the Clemson Tigers on November 12, 2005 at Clemson Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. The Clemson Tigers defeat

Do not get me wrong, Sims was not a bust or even a disappointment at FSU. The best player by Rivals in the class in 2003, Sims was a linebacker/running back that stood 6'0", 220 pounds. He had big time instincts and play speed and was tough, physical and productive.

Sims went to Florida State and as a true freshman finished among the leaders in tackles. Through his career, he just got better and better. Eventually, Sims was n All-Americna linebacker and a hot NFL Draft pick.

The Lions, installing a new Tampa-2 defense at the time with Rod Marinelli, took Sims in the top 10 of the 2006 Draft and immediately plugged him as the starting WILL linebacker. Today, he is starter for the Eagles.

7. Vernon Davis, TE: Maryland

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COLLEGE PARK, MD - SEPTEMBER 17: Tight end Vernon Davis #18 of the University of Maryland Terrapins gestures as he stand on the field during a game against West Virginia University Mountaineers at Byrd Stadium on September 17, 2005 in College Park, Maryl

Davis was ranked as one of the top tight ends in the country and among the best 100 players in the class. 6'3", 220 pounds at the time, he could have gone on to become a big receiver or bulked up to become a great defensive end.

Yet Davis chose to stay at tight end and devoted himself to working out and staying in the best physical shape. He bulked up to 250 pounds and got his 40 time down in the 4.3 range as a tight end. He finished with over 1,000 yards receiving and 83 grabs for the Terps, and the 49ers took him in the top 10 of the 2006 Draft.

He's one of the better tight ends in the NFL today.

6. Sedrick Ellis, DT: USC

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LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 1: Sedrick Ellis #49 of the USC Trojans looks on against the UCLA Bruins on December 1, 2007 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. USC won 24-7. (Photo by Jeff Golden/Getty Images)

Ellis came to USC with Trojan fans thinking he was the next Mike Patterson. He wasn't. Ellis was better then Patterson by the time he left Los Angeles. A highly touted player from Chino, California, Ellis was a 6'1", 260 defensive tackle that had the capable strength and quickness to grow into a solid college player.

He didn't. Ellis was better than a solid college player, as he developed into a consensus All-American and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year before he left USC. He's in the conversation as the best defensive lineman to play for USC and is one of the best overall defenders in school history.

The Saints took Ellis with the seventh pick in the 2008 Draft, and he is one of their top starting defensive linemen and has a Super Bowl ring.

5. Antonio Cromartie, CB: Florida State

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 29: Wide receiver Antonio Cromartie #13 of the Florida State Seminoles runs on the field during the game against the Florida Gators on November 29, 2003 at The Swamp in Gainesville, Florida. The Seminoles beat the Gators in the

Cromartie was among the very most pure athletically gifted players in the class of 2003. 6'2", 200 pounds in high school, he could do anything he wanted. Some thought he should play receiver, while others saw a free safety. But the 2002 USA Today Defensive Player of the Year wanted to be a corner.

And he was a good one. In just two years of play at FSU, Cromartie was considered on of the best cornerbacks in the country and a future All-Pro playre. Yet before his junior year, he tore his ACL and missed his junior season.

He still went pro, and the Chargers took Cromartie in the first round in 2006, even though he hadn't played football in a year. He is a Pro Bowl and ALL-Pro caliber performer and was one of the top players for the Jets last season.

4. Steve Smith, WR: USC

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PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 4: Steve Smith #2 of the USC Trojans makes a touchdown during the game against the Stanford Cardinal on November 4, 2006 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

When I worked in the New York Giants scouting department, we all knew that Smith was our most important receiver, because Eli looked for him on third down and he bailed us out on the norm

I even played against Smith in high school, and he was phenomenal. About 6'0" tall and 190 pounds or so, Smith has good but not great measurables. That doesn't matter; he's a sheer natural receiver that knows how to set you up with good route running, quickness out of his breaks, awareness of coverages and reliable hands.

He showed that at USC, and he's showing that with the Giants. Interestingly enough, Smith was very close to going to Tennessee out of high school, but chose to commit to USC down the home stretch of the 2003 recruiting cycle.

3. LaMarr Woodley, LB: Michigan

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SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 16: LaMarr Woodley #56 of the Michigan Wolverines lines up on defense against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish September 16, 2006 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

I remember in 2003 how sought after Woodley was by the top FBS programs. He was seen as a linebacker that could also play defensive end and give a defense serious versatility. 6'2", 250 pounds, Woodley came down to Michigan, USC and Michigan State with Big Blue winning it out.

All he did was go to Ann Arbor and become a defensive captain, Lombardi Award winner, an All-Big Ten Player of the Year, an All-American and notch 12 sacks a senior. He lived up to his hype as one of the top overall recruits in the 2003 class, hands down.

Woodley got drafted in the second round of the 2007 draft by the Steelers and is one of the very best 3-4 outside linebackers in football today.

2. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB: UCLA

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PASADENA, CA - OCTOBER 1: Tailback Maurice Drew #21 of the UCLA Bruins runs against the Washington Huskies during the first half of their Pac-10 game on October 1, 2005 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

You remember in 2001, the "Game of the Century" between No.1 ranked De La Salle and No.2 ranked Long Beach Poly? Yeah, that game featured several future not only stud college players but stud NFL players on both teams. You want to know who was the best player on the field that night? Maurice Jones-Drew.

He scored all four of the touchdowns for De La Salle, and by the time 2003 came, he was one of the top running backs in the country. Standing just 5'7", but a stout 210 pounds, Jones-Drew is one of the most competitive players I've ever seen. He hates to lose and always feels he can win a game.

He's one of the best players to ever play at UCLA and today is one of the top running backs in the NFL for the Jaguars.

1. Reggie Bush, RB: USC

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TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 1: Reggie Bush #5 of the USC Trojans carries the ball during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils on October 1, 2005 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. USC won 38-28. (Photo by Stephen Dunn /Getty Images)

Ok, we know Bush's stats and awards and his Heisman officially don't count, but you can't sit there and tell me he wasn't magical at USC. You can't. I know I'm still a bit young, but I've evaluated a ton of players and Bush is the greatest college football player that I've seen. Some of you may agree, some of you won't agree, but that's just my opinion.

He was Superman at USC, and if you don't think so, pop in the 2005 USC/Fresno State game and watch it. USC has had a ton of legends, but Bush may be the best player to come through the school. 6'0", 185 pounds in high school, he came with a lot of hype and his YouTube highlight tape was just "whoa".

He won the Heisman in 2005 and was the second pick to the Saints. He hasn't had as great a pro career as everyone expected, but Bush is still one of the biggest offensive weapons and threats in the NFL.