Missing line talent a factor in reworked rankings

Some schools counting on incoming linemen to provide depth on both sides of the ball this year will have to wait at least until next season to reap the benefits of the added talent.

Of the eight Rivals100 selections from the class of 2005 that did not enroll at the schools they signed with this fall, six of them were offensive or defensive linemen. These missing players had an effect on the recalculated football team recruiting rankings released today by Rivals.com.

The highest-rated player to not make it on to campus was Melvin Alaeze, the nation's No. 4 overall prospect who signed with Maryland on Signing Day. Alaeze enrolled at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. Alaeze's absence was a factor in Maryland's class dropping from No. 16 to No. 27 nationally.

Three Rivals100 players didn't make it in for Florida State, thus the Seminoles' class dropped from No. 2 to No. 5 nationally.

Defensive tackle Callahan Bright also enrolled at Hargrave after not making it into FSU. The Bryn Mar, Pa. product was the nation's No. 14 overall prospect. Another Seminole defensive line recruit, end Justin Mincey is taking the same route as Bright and will play at Hargrave this year. Mincey, from Charlton County, Ga.), was the No. 65 overall prospect.

Joining Bright, Mincey and Alaeze along the defensive line at Hargrave is tackle Jerrell Powe from Wayne County, Miss. Powe was the nation's No. 24 overall prospect and originally signed with Ole Miss out of high school. The Rebels fell from No. 9 to No. 10 in the SEC in part because of Powe's absence.

Philadelphia offensive tackle Marques Slocum is enrolled at Milford (N.Y.) Academy after not making it in to Michigan. Slocum was the nation's No. 37 overall prospect. The Wolverines, however, stayed at No. 6.

Orlando product Matt Hardrick will play on the offensive line for Hargrave this season. Like Mincey and Bright, Hardrick originally signed with Florida State.

While wide receiver Selwyn Lymon, the nation's No. 72 overall prospect, won't be playing football for Purdue this fall, he is enrolled at the university and paying his own way in order to get eligible. Lymon is an Indianapolis product. His absence is a factor in Purdue dropping from No. 5 to No. 7 in the Big Ten.

Linebacker Deveon Simmons didn't make it to Virginia Tech. The Virginia Beach product was the No. 93 overall prospect in the country. Simmons is at Lewisburg (N.C.) Junior College. The Hokies class dropped from No. 14 to No. 23 nationally because of the absence of Simmons and others.