[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
In 2020, USA TODAY Excessive College Sports activities appeared on the top-rated recruits since 2000, per 247Sports composite averages. Since then there was new title added to the spectacular listing, one which comes with an ideal score— which now makes six whole in that distinctive class.
As we has mentioned earlier than, these gamers weren’t only one instance of highschool dominance; they had been “The” instance of highschool soccer dominance. Nevertheless, these are the soccer legends since 2000. Meaning the historic hierarchy with the likes of Bo Jackson, Marcus Dupree, John Elway, Peyton Manning, Randy Moss, and extra, usually are not included. (Had the score system been in place “again within the day” … properly, it’s secure to imagine there can be much more than six gamers with an ideal composite common.)
With that in thoughts, let’s try the unrivaled abilities that took on nearly legend-like lore beneath the lights on Friday evening since 2000…
Cyrus Kouandjio | OT | DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.), Class of 2011
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(By way of MerlinFTP Drop)
Various faculties (over 60 whole) needed Cyrus Kouandjio, the 6-foot-7 offensive deal with from Cameroon, who was ranked the fourth-best prospect in 2011. In a well-publicized switcheroo, Kouandjio initially signed with Auburn, solely to flip-flop three days later to rival Alabama, the place he’d play together with his brother, Arie. Ranking: 0.9994/1.0000
Bryan Bresee | DT | Damascus (Damascus, Md.), Class of 2020
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports activities Photographs)
The gifted defensive deal with out of Maryland headed to Clemson in 2020. The 6-foot-5 Bresee ranked No. 3 on ESPN’s Prime 100, and have become an web sensation when his Senior highlights tape that displayed some unreal athleticism—on each side of the ball—hit YouTube. Ranking: 0.9995/1.0000
Mario Edwards | DT | Ryan (Denton, Texas), Class of 2012
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(Picture: Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports activities)
Offering uncanny athletic capacity in a 280-pound body, Edwards was the highest-rated DT within the 2011 class, and ranked third general—which hadn’t been achieved on the place since Haloti Ngata hit No. 2 in 2002. The 2011 USA Right now Defenseman of the 12 months had gives to a number of prime faculties—LSU, Oklahoma and in-state Texas—however selected Florida State. He at present performs within the NFL for the Chicago Bears. Ranking: 0.9995/1.0000
Adrian Peterson | RB | Palestine (Palestine, Texas), Class of 2004
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(Picture by Ezra Shaw/Getty Photographs)
Peterson hit legendary standing again in 2003, speeding for jaw-dropping 11.7 yards per carrying on his option to 2,960 whole—40 yards shy of three,000! No surprise he was signing autographs properly earlier than his Oklahoma Sooners or NFL days. Peterson ranked No. 5 on ESPN’s Prime 100 and was the highest-rated RB heading into the 2004 signing interval. Ranking: 0.9996/1.0000
Leonard Fournette | RB | St. Augustine (New Orleans, La.), Class of 2014
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(USA TODAY Community)
A decade after Adrian Peterson’s reign in the highschool backfield, one other dominant drive was tearing up the operating recreation east of Texas, in New Orleans. Leonard Fournette earned all of the {hardware} in 2003, together with USA Right now’s Offensive Participant of the 12 months. Not solely was he the No. 1 RB in 2014 however he additionally ranked as the highest general prospect. Like Peterson, his alternative of faculties was virtually infinite. However the Louisiana man stayed in-state and headed to LSU. Ranking: 0.9996/1.0000
Da’Quan Bowers | DE | Bamberg-Ehrhardt (Bamberg, S.C.), Class of 2008
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(USA TODAY Community)
When your title is talked about together with Reggie White’s and Bruce Smith’s in the course of the scouting course of, there needs to be zero doubt about the place the recruit lands on the charts. Bowers was the highest expertise in 2008, with gives to colleges akin to Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio State, and Penn State. The massive-bodied expertise—who additionally rushed for over 1000 yards his senior yr—wound up at Clemson. It was this system’s first-ever prime recruit. Ranking: 0.9997/1.0000
Terrelle Pryor | DUAL | Jeannette (Jeannette, Pa.), Class of 2008
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(Picture: Carolyn Kaster, AP)
Few highschool athletes had been as closely recruited as Terrelle Pryor—in both basketball or soccer. The 6-foot-4 dual-threat ended his soccer profession with 4000 yards passing and 4000 yards speeding, and a choose of prime packages from the East coast to the West coast. Ohio State would get the nod, the place he would earn Large Ten Freshman of the 12 months honors. Ranking: 0.9997/1.0000
Joe McKnight | RB | John Curtis (New Orleans, La.), Class of 2007
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(USA TODAY Community)
The late Joe McKnight confronted harrowing challenges throughout his highschool soccer profession, primarily stemming from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, making the on-field accolades much more spectacular. Following the destruction of his hometown, the five-star recruit briefly relocated to Shreveport and enrolled at Evangel Christian Academy. He performed two video games there earlier than returning to his hometown for the rest of 2005. McKnight’s 2006 marketing campaign was electrical. Ranked No. 2 general within the recruiting class, McKnight selected USC over in-state LSU, which triggered a barrage of backlash. Ranking: 0.9997/1.0000
D.J. Williams | LB | De La Salle (Harmony, Calif.), Class of 2000
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(Stephen Dunn/Getty Photographs)
On the defensive facet of the ball, the category of 2000’s top-ranked prospect was De La Salle’s D.J. Williams. The athletic linebacker was a drive on offense, too, setting a file on the perennial soccer powerhouse for touchdowns in a season (42). He earned USA Right now Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors and went on to play at Miami (Fla.), the place he can be a part of the 2001 Nationwide Championship crew. Ranking: 0.9998/1.0000
Brock Berlin | PRO | Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport, La.), Class of 2000
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(USA TODAY Community)
On the flip of the millennium, the highschool recruiting world belonged to Brock Berlin. The QB out of Shreveport led his crew to 3 consecutive state titles and would have his choose of faculties as the highest passer within the 2000 class. Berlin selected Steve Spurrier’s Floria Gators, the place he would lose the job to Rex Grossman, earlier than transferring to Miami (FL). Ranking: 0.9998/1.0000
Dorial Inexperienced-Beckham | WR | Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.), Class of 2012
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(Peter G. Aiken, USA TODAY Sports activities)
One of many prime prospects within the class of 2012, Inexperienced-Beckham briefly held the all-time highschool receiving yards file and was the first-ever WR to earn the Corridor Trophy because the nation’s greatest highschool participant. The USA Right now Offensive Participant of the 12 months had his choose of prime faculties however selected to remain in-state and play on the College of Missouri. Ranking: 0.9998/1.0000
Justin Fields | DUAL | Harrison (Kennesaw, Ga.), Class of 2018
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(USA TODAY Community)
The category of 2018 had two extremely stellar QBs—with completely different types—on the prime of the charts. Fields was the top-rated dual-threat QB and landed as ESPN’s prime general prospect. His numbers in solely two years beneath heart had been nearly unbelievable—4,187 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, 2,096 speeding yards, and 28 speeding touchdowns. He was named Mr. Georgia Soccer his senior yr and had a number of faculties after his more and more coveted model of play on the subsequent degree. He signed with Georgia, however in 2019, he transferred to Ohio State. Ranking: 0.9998/1.0000
Ronald Powell | DE | Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley, Cailf.), Class of 2010
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Powell was the top-ranked prospect in 2010, on both facet of the ball, and earned All-American honors from Parade, USA TODAY, and EA Sports activities. The 6-foot-3 expertise capped off his highschool resume with an MVP nod on the 2010 U.S. Military All-American Bowl, earlier than heading off to Florida to play for coach City Meyer. Ranking: 0.9999/1.0000
Trevor Lawrence | PRO | Cartersville (Cartersville, Ga.), Class of 2018
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(USA TODAY Community)
The soccer world has been watching Lawrence’s development for a number of years, together with his highschool days, the place he was practically unbeatable. He led Carterville to 41 straight victories and two state titles, raking up passing statistics and accolades whereas rocketing up the rating charts. Some of the extremely touted QBs ever, Lawrence was named USA TODAY’s Excessive College Soccer Participant of the 12 months in 2017, he received the Corridor Trophy, and was an All-American. It’s arduous to consider that he isn’t one of many six recruits who maintain the excellence of an ideal score. Ranking: 0.9999/1.0000
Vince Younger | DUAL | Madison (Houston, Texas), Class of 2002
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Community)
Earlier than setting the school world ablaze and offering a historic one-man takedown of USC on the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Vince Younger was a prime prospect popping out of the Houston space. Younger, as it will manifest in faculty, was in a position to disrupt defenses on the bottom and thru the air. Throughout his senior yr, he totaled 3,819 yards and 59 touchdowns. Ranking: 1.0000/1.0000
Ernie Sims | LB | North Florida Christian (Tallahassee, Fla.), Class of 2003
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(Picture By Grant Halverson/Getty Photographs)
Sims first lettered in highschool soccer…when he was within the eighth grade! The versatile expertise solely grew from there, with Sims incomes All-American honors and rating above large names like Reggie Bush on the recruiting charts. Rivals listed him as the highest prospect in 2003, a primary for the linebacker place, with big-time packages like Miami (Fla.), Georgia and Auburn vying for his companies. He selected to remain near dwelling, although, signing with the Florida State Seminoles. Ranking: 1.0000/1.0000
Robert Nkemdiche | DE | Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), Class of 2013
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(Picture: Jason Getz, AP)
It doesn’t matter what website you adopted again in 2012, Robert Nkemdiche was listed because the No. 1 general highschool prospect. The 6-foot-4 defensive finish was a two-time All-American and had earned Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors from the Gwinnett Day by day. He had the stats that might’ve wowed the NFL mix, too: 350-pound bench press, 500-pound squat, and a 4.56-second 40-yard sprint time. Nkemdiche initially stunned the recruiting world (and his household) when he selected Clemson over Ole Miss, the place his brother performed. Ultimately, he de-committed from the Tigers and headed to Oxford to play for Hugh Freeze and the Runnin’ Rebels. Ranking: 1.0000/1.0000
Rashan Gary | DT | Paramus Catholic (Paramus, N.J.), Class of 2016
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(Adam Starvation USA TODAY Sports activities Photographs)
Like Nkemdiche, defensive deal with Rashan Gary holds rank as one in every of solely three gamers ever to be listed as the highest prospect on the 4 main websites: ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Scout.com, and 247Sports.com. After transferring for his junior and senior years, Gary gained nationwide recognition as a 6-foot-5 drive that any faculty program would need lining up on the defensive facet of the ball. He earned USA TODAY Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors in addition to an All-America nod. With a alternative of faculties from coast to coast, Gary selected the Large Ten and signed with Michigan. Ranking: 1.0000/1.0000
Quinn Ewers | PRO | Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas), Class of 2021
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(USA TODAY Community)
Throughout his two seasons beneath heart for the Southlake Dragons (Texas), the gifted quarterback was a dynamic drive, passing for six,445 yards and 73 touchdowns. So it’s no shock that he was scouted with such excessive reward. However Ewers provides an fascinating facet past the proper score, too, in that the 6-foot-3 play-caller enrolled at Ohio State within the spring of 2021, which made him eligible for that yr.
A part of the reasoning? Ewers, who was initially pinned as the highest QB within the Class of 2022, noticed the NIL alternatives—one thing remarkable earlier than the main ruling—and determined to enroll early.
And it turned out to be a case of simple come, simple go. Ewers moved on from Columbus to return to in-state Texas Longhorns, the place he’ll be on the nationwide stage in 2023 when the groups takes on Washington within the Sugar Bowl. Ranking: 1.0000/1.0000
Jadeveon Clowney | DE | South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.), Class of 2011
[jwplayer lpqhoLGb-BmKM743H]
(USA TODAY Community)
After which, there may be (nonetheless) Jadeveon Clowney. At 13—13!—he was giving highschool offensive strains complications. And by the point Clowney was a senior, the five-star prospect was ranked No. 1 on all main monitoring websites. It was mentioned that he would have been the highest prospect in different lessons from earlier years, too. Not many recruits can declare such transcending domination. Ranking: 1.0000/1.0000