So Whatever Happened to the Greatest College Football Team Ever?

you probably remember the 2005 college football season as USC's run into the record books as the greatest team of all time. ESPN even had a little segment on sportscenter everyday leading up to the title game with Texas where they pitted the 2005 Trojans vs. a collection of the greatest teams in the history of college football and awarded USC victory in every single contest (me thinks the 2001 Hurricanes would have thugged upon those Trojans most viciously). And so USC was crowned the greatest team of all time. obviously someone forgot to tell this to Vince Young. video evidence please.

during that run and in the NFL drafts that followed it has been said by all the experts the USC has the best collection of NFL ready talent of any team in the country. of the players who were on the 2003 & 2004 national title teams...26 of them were drafted. but how many of these great players were actually NFL ready players? and how many of them are even in the league still?

here's a breakdown of players drafted who were on those national title squads. and what teams they were drafted by and what they are currently doing.

2007 Current Status
Dwayne Jarrett Panthers WR sucking
Steve Smith Giants WR plays for Giants
Ryan Kalil Panthers C backup
Dallas Sartz Redskins LB out of the league
Oscar Lua Patriots LB out of the league

2006
Reggie Bush Saints RB finally having his breakout year
Matt Leinart Cardinals QB holding a clip board
Winston Justice Eagles T giving up sacks
Deuce Lutui Cardinals G could possibly be a starter
LenDale White Titans RB fat. scoring touchdowns.
Frostee Rucker Bengals DE sucking
Dominique Byrd Rams TE out of the league
Darnell Bing Raiders DB out of the league
David Kirtman Seahawks RB out of the league
LaJuan Ramsey Eagles DT out of the league
Fred Matua Lions G out of the league

2005 supplemental draft
Manuel Wright Dolphins DT cyring...also out of the league

2005
Mike Williams Lions WR being a big fucking bust. out of the league.
Mike Patterson Eagles DT sucking.
Shaun Cody Lions DT being a bust.
Lofa Tatupu Seahawks LB pro bowler
Matt Cassel Patriots QB for some reason a starting QB.

2004
Kenechi Udeze Vikings DE he's okay...i guess.
Jacob Rogers Cowboys T out of the league
Keary Colbert Panthers WR fine possession receiver. doesn't play much.
Will Poole Dolphins DB out of the league

of this group of players the most successful have been Reggie Bush (who has yet to live up to the hype), Lendale White (a good enough goalline back but not a star by any means), Steve Smith (a nice possession receiver), Matt Cassell (who never started a game in college and looks like a better pro QB than Leinart at this point), and Lofa Tatupu (legit pro bowl player). the rest of these guys have either been dissappointments (Leinart, Winston Justice...just ask any Eagles fan, Shaun Cody, Mike Patterson, etc...) or just complete busts (Mike Williams, Dwayne Jarrett, Frostee Rucker). hell a lot of them aren't even in the league anymore or didn't even make the team they were drafted by.

on the flipside the 2001 Miami Hurricanes had a roster full of NFL players who have been either stars or at least valuable members of the league. i mean just look at their fucking backfield. that would be an awesome fantasy team.

Willis McGahee RB
Clinton Portis RB
Najeh Davenport RB
Frank Gore RB
Andre Johnson WR
Roscoe Parrish WR
Kellen Winslow TE
Jermey Shockey TE
Bryant McKinnie OL
Antrel Rolle CB
Phillip Buchanon CB
Mike Rumph CB
DJ Williams LB
Jonathan Vilma LB
Vince Wilfork DT
Sean Taylor (RIP) S

hell the 2004 Auburn Tigers have more quality players currently starting than the 2004 Trojans do.

as much respect as i have for USC and their ability to kick the asses of most teams they play, i think it's time to get off of the bandwagon when it comes to saying that they have "by far the best talent in the country". they have the deepest talent of recruits for sure...but do they really have the best? i don't really think so.