All-Time Rivals100: Nos. 81-90
Rivals.com's analysts recently got together and picked an all-time Rivals100 consisting of what we thought was the best player ever ranked at each spot in the ranking.
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We took into consideration players that have at least one year out of high school, so each spot on the all-time list will be one of the seven players ever ranked at that position from 2002 to 2008. For example, the group in the running for No. 1 consists of Vince Young (No. 1 overall in 2002), Ernie Sims (2003), Adrian Peterson (2004), Derrick Williams (2005), Percy Harvin (2006), Jimmy Clausen (2007) and Terrelle Pryor (2008).
Today we take a look at the best from Nos. 81 to 90.
All-Time Rivals100: Best by the numbers
90. RB Rashard Mendenhall
Year: 2005
College/NFL: Illinois/Pittsburgh Steelers
Career: Rushed for 2,539 yards and 22 touchdowns and added 59 receptions for 564 yards with five more scores in three seasons at Illinois. Was a first-round selection (23rd overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2008 NFL Draft after rushing for a school-record 1,681 yards in 2007.
Rashard Mendenhall high school highlightsClick The others: WR Blake Mackey (2002, Colorado); LB Thomas Williams (2003, USC); DE Brigham Harwell (2004, UCLA); S Deandre McDaniel (2006, Clemson); QB Stephen Garcia (2007, South Carolina); S Joseph Ibiloye (2008, Oklahoma)Here to view this Link.
89. RB Chris Rainey
Year: 2007
College: Florida
Career: Played in all 14 games as a redshirt freshman for the Gators in 2008, rushing for 652 yards on 84 carries with four touchdowns.
Chris Rainey high school highlightsClick The others: OG Neale Tweedie (2002, Texas); LB Jim Presley (2003, Michigan); TE Dale Thompson (2004, USC); QB Jake Christensen (2005, Iowa); LB Jared Norton (2006, Texas); LB Darius Fleming (2008, Notre Dame)Here to view this Link.
88. WR Devin Aromashodu
Year: 2002
College/NFL: Auburn/Chicago Bears (current)
Career: Caught 50 passes for more than 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns in his final two seasons at Auburn. Was a seventh-round selection by the Miami Dolphins in the 2006 NFL Draft and is currently with the Chicago Bears.
The others: OC Jordy Lipsey (2003, Virginia); QB Drew Weatherford (2004, Florida State); WR O.J. Murdock (2005, South Carolina); WR Raymond Small (2006, Ohio State); CB Ben Wells (2007, Texas); WR Tavarres King (2008, Georgia)
87. ATH Laron Landry
Year: 2003
College/NFL: LSU/Washington Redskins
Career: All-American safety at LSU totaled 315 tackles and 12 interceptions during his college career. Was the sixth player selected in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins and has started every game in two NFL seasons while collecting 160 total tackles and two interceptions.
The others: CB Michael Hawkins (2002, Oklahoma); OT Aaron Klovas (2004, Oregon); LB Spencer Adkins (2005, Miami); RB Terry Grant (2006, Alabama); ATH Gerald Jones (2007, Tennessee); OT J.B. Shugarts (2008, Ohio State)
86. S Michael McNeil
Year: 2007
College: Auburn
Career: Has played in every game in his two seasons at Auburn and has collected 100 total tackles with four tackles for a loss, one sack, two pass breakups and a blocked kick.
Michael McNeil high school highlightsClick The others: WR Kyle Brown (2002, Michigan State); TE Johnathan Stupar (2003, Virginia); DE Eugene Germany (2004); WR Carlos Thomas (2005, South Carolina); DE Lamar Houston (2006, Texas); DT Stacey McGee (2008, Oklahoma)Here to view this Link.
85. LB Anthony Felder
Year: 2005
College/NFL: Cal/San Diego Chargers
Career: Cal's leading tackler in 2008 with 93 stops with 5.5 tackles for a loss. Signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent.
The others: OT Heath Benedict (2002, Tennessee); ATH Tim Castille (2003, Alabama); S McIntosh Nicolas (2004, Florida); ATH Dorin Dickerson (2006, Pittsburgh); RB Raymond Carter (2007, UCLA); DE Toby Jackson (2008, Georgia)
Anthony Felder high school highlightsClick Here to view this Link.
84. S Morgan Burnett
Year: 2007
College: Georgia Tech
Career: Tied for first nationally with seven interceptions in 2008. Has 150 total tackles and 10 interceptions in two seasons with the Yellow Jackets.
Morgan Burnett high school highlightsClick The others: ATH Montae Pitts (2002, Auburn); QB Marcus Stone (2003, NC State); CB Trevor Ford (2004, Florida State); CB Avery Atkins (2005, Florida); LB Anthony Lewis (2006, Texas A&M); WR Tommy Streeter (2008, Miami)Here to view this Link.
83. ATH Jonathan Wade
Year: 2002
College/NFL: Tennessee/St. Louis Rams
Career: Starred in football and track at Tennessee. A third-round selection by the St. Louis Rams in 2007 and has 47 total tackles and two interceptions in two NFL seasons.
The others: DT David Patterson (2003, Ohio State); DT Marque Hall (2004, South Carolina); OT Cory Zirbel (2005, Michigan); S Darian Hagan (2006, Cal); TE Mike Ragone (2007, Notre Dame); LB William Green (2008, Florida)
82. DT Manuel Wright
Year: 2002
College/NFL: USC/ New York Giants (2007)
Career: Earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors in 2004. Selected in the fifth round of the supplemental draft by the Miami Dolphins in 2005. Most recently played in the NFL for the New York Giants in 2007.
The others: LB Demarrio Pleasant (2003, Oklahoma); RB Andrew Johnson (2004, Miami); DE Courtney Harris (2005, Miami); LB Derrick Odom (2006, LSU); QB Mike Paulus (2007, North Carolina); CB T.J. Bryant (2008, USC)
81. LB Tavares Gooden
Year: 2003
College/NFL: Miami/Baltimore Ravens
Career: Recorded 216 tackles and 11 tackles for loss in 49 career games at Miami. Selected in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens and saw action in four games before being placed on injured reserve that season.
The others: DT Chase Pittman (2002, Texas); DT Nick Hayden (2004, Wisconsin); OG Michael Shumard (2005, Texas A&M); TE Konrad Reuland (2006, Notre Dame); RB Caleb King (2007, Georgia); Brandon Beachum (2008, Penn State)
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