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Published Apr 15, 2012
A look back at the 1998 recruiting rankings
Geoff Ketchum
Orangebloods.com Publisher
1. WR - Montrell Flowers
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Dallas Skyline
Signed with Texas
Junior - Caught 22 passes for 234 yards
and two touchdowns as a reserve.
Senior - Caught a pair of touchdowns in
the season opener, before suffering a career-ending kidney injury in
the second game of the season.
Overall - Many followers of
recruiting, including myself, expected Flowers to develop into a
big-time player at Texas, but that never really happened. A solid
player throughout most of his career, but the emergence of younger
receivers from the 2000 recruiting class kept Flowers from ever earning a starting position.
2. RB - Ben Gay
Spring
Signed with Baylor
2000 - Whereabouts unknown…
2001 - Made the Cleveland Browns as an
undrafted free agent and saw limited action as a reserve.
Overall - There have not been many players that
have come out of this state in the last decade that have come close to
having the sheer physical ability that Gay possessed. Although he did
make it into Baylor academically, Gay never made it on the field for
the Bears and ended up transferring to a junior college and saw some
action in the CFL. Made the Cleveland Browns roster in 2001 as an
undrafted free agent, but didn't last long.
3. QB - Chip Ambres
Beaumont Westbrook
Signed with Texas A&M
2000/01 - No longer playing football.
Overall - Ambres never made it to
A&M due to a multi-million dollar deal that he signed with the
Florida Marlins. Although he's had a couple of cups of coffee in major league baseball, he's never been able to carve out a lasting big league career. Ambres is currently with the Boston Red Sox organization.
4. OL - Antwan Kirk-Hughes
Waxahachie
Signed with Texas
Junior - Kirk-Hughes battled injuries
during his second full season as a starter at guard and started in
eight of 11 games.
Senior - Earned honorable mention All
Big 12 honors despite the fact that he battled injuries for most of his
senior season.
Overall - Kirk-Hughes was a three-year
starter at Texas and earned All Big 12 honors during his junior and
senior seasons.
5. DE - Kevin Emanuel
Waco
Signed with Florida State
Senior - Started most of his senior
season and recorded 34 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Overall - Although he ended up being
a very solid player for the Seminoles, he never did develop into the
great player that many projected him to become. Went undrafted, but had a cup of coffee with the Seattle Seahawks.
6. LB - Mike Clay
Aldine Nimitz
Signed with Missouri
Senior - Earned Lone Star Defensive
Lineman of the Year honors and led Texas A&M Kingsville with 18 tackles for loss
and nine sacks.
Overall - Clay never made an impact at
Missouri and ended up finishing his career at Texas A&M Kingsville,
where he earned Division II All-American honors as a senior.
7. LB - Everick Rawls
Texas City
Signed with Texas
Junior - Rawls started every game at
weak-side linebacker for the Longhorns and finished with 69 tackles,
six tackles for loss and two sacks.
Senior - Rawls finished his third year
as a starter with 69 tackles and five tackles for loss.
Overall - Rawls was a three-year
starter for the Longhorns and enjoyed a solid, but unspectacular
career.
8. RB - Leo Mills
Humble
Signed with Arizona
Junior - Rushed for 590 yards and four
touchdowns on 115 carries during his sophomore season with the
Wildcats.
Senior - Rushed for 155 yards and a
touchdown as a reserve.
Overall - Mills looked to be one of
the real up and coming players in the Pac-10, but academic problems and
the emergence of Clarence Farmer limited Mills to reserve during his
final years at Arizona..
9. LB - Marcus Mosley
Dallas South Oak Cliff
Signed with SMU
2000/01 - No longer with the Mustang
program.
Overall - This hometown boy stayed close to
home, but he ended up leaving the program because of the tough academics.
Mosley had a lot of raw talent, but has never surfaced anywhere since
leaving SMU.
10. DE - Sean Phillips
Sugar Land Dulles
Signed with UCLA
Senior - Was a reserve lineman for the
Bruins.
Overall - Like a lot of players in
this class, Phillips never lived up to his advanced billing, although Phillips
did finish his career as a solid contributor.
11. WR - David Givens
Humble
Signed with Notre Dame
Junior - Led the Irish with 25
receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior - Caught 33 passes for 317 yards
during his senior season.
Overall - Givens enjoyed a nice career
in South Bend, but never developed into the playmaker many expected him
to become. While his college career wasn't special, Givens has carved
out a niche for himself in the NFL with the New England Patriots and in 2006 he signed a big contract with the Tennessee Titans, but injuries ended his career before it could truly take off.
12. OL - Montrae Holland
Jefferson
Signed with Florida State
Senior - Named third team
All-America by The Sporting News and was a first-team All-ACC
selection.
Overall - Holland emerged as one of the
top players in this class and was a three-time All-ACC selection. Was a three-year starter for New Orleans in the NFL and has played a total of nine seasons in the league, most recently playing with the Dallas Cowboys.
13. CB - Clifford Jefferson
Dallas Carter
Signed with Notre Dame
Senior - Played in eight games and
recorded 22 tackles and a pair of interceptions during his senior
season.
Overall - Jefferson finished his
career as a reserve, but did start 15 games during his Irish career.
Never developed into the big-time cornerback that many expected.
14. DE - Jermaine Anderson
Texas City
Signed with Texas
Junior - Started the season opener and
filled in as a back up for the rest of the season, finishing with eight
tackles and two sacks.
Senior - Finished his career as a
reserve and recorded 20 tackles, seven tackles for loss and a three
sacks.
Overall - Anderson never filled
out physically which limited his ability to become a great player in
the Big 12. Although he was a solid reserve, Anderson did not live up
to his billing as a impact college defender.
15. RB - Victor Ike
Austin Bowie
Signed with Texas
Junior - Started the season as the
starter, but was limited to reserve duty for most of the season.
Finished his junior season with 165 yards and a pair of touchdowns on
the ground.
Senior - Transferred to Southern and was
a reserve running back.
Overall - Although he has displayed a
few flashing moments of brilliance, Ike never did become the all-around
big play weapon that they first envisioned him becoming. Ended up being
a solid player, especially on special teams, but he never reached his
true potential.
16. WR - Bethel Johnson
Corsicana
Signed with Texas A&M
Junior - Caught eight passes for 68
yards in two games before suffering a season ending injury at Wyoming.
Senior - Caught 40 passes for 778 yards
and eight touchdowns during his senior season with the Aggies.
Overall - Johnson might have been the
best skill position player in this class. After a very good career with
A&M, Johnson was selected in the second round by the New England
Patriots and has been a solid contributor for the two Super Bowl champions
in his three seasons with the team. He played for 5 NFL teams from 2003-07.
17. OL - Jordan Black
Dallas Christian
Signed with Notre Dame
Junior - Started in all 11 games and was
named to several All-Independent teams.
Senior - Finished his career as a
three-year starter.
Overall - Black was a three-year
starter and started in every game he played during his career with the
Irish. Was one of the few bright spots during some lean years in South
Bend. A three-year starter with Kansas City from 2004-06, Black is currently a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
18. OL - Mike Williams
The Colony
Signed with Texas
Junior - Started 10 of 11 games at right
tackle for the Longhorns honorable mention All-Big 12 honors.
Senior - Earned All-America and All Big
12 honors as a senior and was selected as a finalist for the Outland
Trophy.
Overall - Williams might have been the
best player in this class after emerging as one of college football's
top linemen during his junior and senior seasons. A high first round
selection by Buffalo in the 2002 NFL Draft, Williams has been a bust in the NFL and was cut by the Bills following the 2005 season and played three more seasons with Jacksonville and Washington.
19. DB - Lee Jackson
Longview
Signed with Texas
Junior - Started the first two games of
the season and then played the rest of the season in a reserve roll.
Finished with 18 tackles and two sacks.
Senior - Emerged as a starter at OLB for
the Longhorns during his senior season and 70 tackles, six tackles for
loss and five sacks.
Overall - Jackson battled injuries
throughout his career, but when he was healthy, he was a very solid
player for the Longhorns as a starting outside linebacker.
20. TE - Patrick Hughes
Nacogdoches
Signed with Florida State
Junior - Played in 11 games and caught
two passes in reserve duty.
Senior - Was a starter for the Seminoles
at tight end during his senior season.
Overall - Hughes was never a big
receiving threat with Florida State, but he was a key blocker and a
solid contributor during his career. Tried out with a couple of NFL
teams, but was released during training camp.
21. LB - Chris Campbell
Mount Pleasant
Signed with Miami
Junior - Started in 11 games and was
fourth on the team with 79 tackles, six tackles for loss and a
team-tying four sacks.
Senior - Started all 11 games during his
senior season for the national champions and was third on the team with
63 tackles
Overall - Became one of the Hurricanes
most effective big-play defenders over the course of his career. Was
killed in a car accident a couple of months before he was expected to
be a first day pick in the NFL Draft.
22. CB - DeMario Wesley
Fort Worth Wyatt
Signed with TCU
2000/01 - No longer playing football.
Overall - Wesley never made it to TCU
because of his test score and is no longer playing football. However,
he did emerge as one of the top JUCO sprinters in the nation while enrolled at Garden City CC in Kansas.
23. QB - Adam Dunn
New Caney
Signed with Texas
2000/01 - No longer playing football.
Overall - Spent a season with the
Longhorns as a back-up quarterback before signing a baseball contract
with the Cincinnati Reds and eventually emerged as one of the top home run hitters in baseball
24. WR - Choo Freeman
Dallas Christian
Signed with Texas A&M
2000/01- No longer playing football.
Overall - Never played for A&M
after signing a contract with the Colorado Rockies after his senior
year at Dallas Christian.
25. OL - Chris Redding
North Shore
Signed with Arizona
Junior - Started at right guard for the
Cougars this season.
Senior - Earned second-team All
Conference USA honors as a senior.
Overall - Transferred to Houston after
one season and Arizona and eventually developed into a solid player for the Cougars.
26. QB - Vance Smith
Fort Worth Christian
Signed with Texas A&M
Senior - Spent the season as a reserve.
Overall - Smith never emerged as a
real threat to become the starting quarterback at A&M and saw very
little playing time during his career.
27. Ath - Randy Davis
Dallas Skyline
Signed with Baylor
Junior - Played in eight games and
recorded 50 tackles and one sack.
Senior - Was the team's top kick
returner and a key reserve on defense during his senior season.
Overall - Davis was never more than a
role-player for the Bears throughout his career, although he did en up
being one of the top kick return guys in school history.
28. Ath - Robert Ferguson
Houston Spring Woods
Signed with Texas A&M
Junior - In his only season at A&M,
he was a first-team All Big 12 selection that posted team-leading
totals in catches with 58, receiving yards with 885, receiving
touchdowns with 6, and all-purpose yards with 885.
Overall - Ferguson only spent one
season at A&M after an All-America career in junior college, but he
made it count. Was selected by Green Bay in the 2nd round of the 2001
NFL Draft and developed into a solid NFL receiver.
29. RB - Ja'Mar Toombs
Kilgore
Signed with Texas A&M
Junior - As a junior, Toombs rushed for
355 yards and 14 touchdowns while earning 2nd team All-Big 12 honors.
Overall - Toombs was a workhorse
runner for the Aggies during his three-year career and made a lot of
big plays during that time. Declared for the NFL after his junior
season and was not drafted.
30. CB - Ervis Hill
Texas City
Signed with Texas
Senior - Recorded 14 tackles during his
senior season as a reserve.
Overall - Hill started 13 games during
his career as a Longhorn, but spent the latter part of his career as a
reserve.
31. DB - Jamal Joyner
Dallas Carter
Signed with Texas
2000/01 - No longer with the
Longhorns.
Overall - Joyner was suspended from
the Longhorns during his red-shirt freshman season and ended up leaving
the program.
32. RB - Montrell Lowe
La Porte
Signed with Purdue
Junior - Rushed for 640 yards and
four touchdowns during his junior season.
Senior - Only played in six games as a
senior and rushed for 169 yards in reserve duty
Overall - During his career at Purdue,
Lowe often performed at a high level and was expected to be one of the
Big 10's top runners as a senior, but he never actually became that
kind of player. However, he enjoyed a very solid career and went to
training camp with the Indianapolis Colts in 2003, but didn't make
their roster.
33. RB - Chris Robertson
Denison
Signed with Texas
Junior - Played in 11 games and rushed
for 165 yards and three touchdowns as a reserve for the Houston Cougars after transferring from Texas..
Senior - A knee injury forced Robertson
to miss a sizable piece of the 2002 season.
Overall - Made his mark at Texas as a
top goal line back in 1999, but transferred to UH because of playing
time issues. Ended up being a solid reserve for the Cougars.
34. DE - Justin Smith
Sherman
Signed with Nebraska
Junior - Played in 12 games and recorded
27 tackles, nine tackles for loss and four sacks as a key reserve.
Senior - Played in 14 games and recorded
46 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks as a senior.
Overall - Was never a major player for
the Huskers, but he was a solid reserve during the final seasons of his
career.
35. OL - Eric Heitman
Katy
Signed with Stanford
Junior - Earned 2nd Team All-Pac 10
honors in his second season as a starter on the line for the Cardinal.
Senior - Earned All-America and 1st team
Pac-10 honors during his senior season.
Overall - Heitman was one of the top
linemen in the Pac 10 and in the nation during the final two seasons of
his career. Heitman played nine seasons with the San Francisco
49ers and started 114 of the 119 games he played in.
36. Ath - Ahmad Brooks
Abilene
Signed with Texas
Junior - In 11 games as a reserve
cornerback, Brooks recorded 24 tackles and five pass defenses.
Senior - Brooks emerged as a starter at
safety for the Longhorns as a senior and led the team in tackles with
84.
Overall - Brooks enjoyed a very nice
career with the Longhorns, earning starting spots at both cornerback
and safety during his career. Spent the entire 2002 season with the
Buffalo Bills, but was cut during training camp in 2003.
37. DB - Keyou Craver
Harleton
Signed with Nebraska
Junior - Earned All-Big 12 honors as a
junior after recording 56 tackles and six tackles for loss.
Senior - Recorded 60 passes and three
interceptions during his senior season, earning All Big 12 honors.
Overall - Craver was one of the top
cornerbacks in the Big 12 over his final two seasons at Nebraska and
was eventually drafted by the New Orleans Saints, where he was a solid
player. Eventually, Craver was forced to play in the Canadian Football League because of several
violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy.
38. LB - Kevin Aldridge
Jacksonville
Signed with SMU
Junior - Started 12 games at defensive
end and recorded 64 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Senior - Earned first-team All WAC
honors after recording 68 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Overall - Aldridge was an impact
player for the Mustangs throughout his entire career. Started at
linebacker and defensive end during his career and was one of the top
defenders in the WAC for several seasons.
39. CB - Michael Lewis
Lamar Consolidated
Signed with Colorado
Junior - Earned honorable mention
All-Big 12 honors and led the Buffs in tackles as a junior with 111 and
also recorded three interceptions and five tackles for loss.
Senior - Was the Buffs top defender in
2001 with 112 tackles and 5 interceptions.
Overall - One of the top defensive
players in the Big 12 during his final two seasons in Boulder. In his fourth season with the Philadelphia Eagles, Lewis
emerged as a Pro Bowl player and one of the best defensive backs in the
NFL. Lewis played a total of nine seasons in the NFL with three different teams.
40. OL - Tim Hodges
East Chambers
Signed with Tennessee
Junior - Started at left tackle for
Stephen F. Austin after transferring from Tennessee.
Senior - Started every game for the
Lumberjacks at left tackle.
Overall - Red-shirted at Tennessee in
1998 and was sick for most of the 1999 season before transferring back
home to SFA. Was a solid lineman for the Lumberjacks since arriving
from the Vols.
41. QB - Kliff Kingsbury
New Braunfels
Signed with Texas Tech
Junior - Earned second team all Big 12
honors after throwing for 3,502 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Senior - Threw for 4,642 yards and 42
touchdowns as a senior, while emerging as one of the nation's top
quarterbacks.
Overall - A strong case can be made
that Kingsbury is one of the best players in Texas Tech history.
Finished his career with more than 12,000 passing yards and holds
numerous Big 12 passing records. Drafted by New England in 2003,
Kingsbury spent the entire season on injured reserve. Played in one game in 2005 with the New York Jets
42. CB - Willie Miles
Fort Worth Dunbar
Signed with Tennessee
Junior - Started at left corner during
his junior season and recorded 43 tackles, 10 pass defenses and three
tackles for loss.
Senior - Started 10 games for the Vols
at cornerback and recorded 25 tackles and two interceptions.
Overall - Miles was a two-years
starter for the Vols and was one of the SEC's top cornerbacks when he
was at the top of his game. Signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2003,
but was cut in August.