For college football recruits, being ranked in the ESPN 300 is an indicator of great promise to excel on the field. And the bar is set especially high for those who rank near the top of the player rankings.
Finishing among the top 10 in a class of highly touted prospects casts a large spotlight and brings lofty expectations for immediate college impact, as most have gone on to do.
But who is the best prospect ranked No. 1 overall? And what about the best No. 2 prospect?
Our scouts looked back at the top prospects in the ESPN 300 era and selected those who proved to be the best of the best. We tackled the difficult task of ranking the all-time top-10 prospects, the best at each respective slot.
1. DE Jadeveon Clowney
South Carolina Gamecocks
Class of 2011
Clowney went to South Carolina with unrealistic expectations, and he lived up to them, for the most part. The defensive end with the quickest first step at his size to date in the ESPN rankings era was a two-time first-team All-American, was SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 and took home the Ted Hendricks Award in 2012. Clowney's 2012 season was his best in Columbia, setting single-season school records for sacks (13) and tackles for loss (23.5). Clowney has gone on to be a three-time NFL Pro Bowl selection.
Receiving votes:
DE Da'Quan Bowers
Clemson Tigers
Class of 2008
Bowers lived up to his lofty expectations at Clemson. He was named first-team All-American in 2010 and ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2010, and he took home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2010. Injuries limited his NFL impact.
RB Leonard Fournette
LSU Tigers
Class of 2014
After earning a rare No. 1 overall ranking for a running back, Fournette stayed home and suited up at LSU with expectations that were through the roof. After coming on during the second half of his freshman season to the tune of 1,034 yards, it was the 2015 season in which Fournette became everything expected of him: 1,953 rushing yards and 209 receiving yards, earning All-American honors.
2. WR Julio Jones
Alabama Crimson Tide
Class of 2008
In high school, Jones was a three-sport star who won state titles in the long jump and triple jump at Foley High School in Alabama. When it came to football, he lived up to his lofty No. 2 ranking, helping lead the Crimson Tide to the 2009 BCS National Championship. He was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2008 and first-team All-SEC in 2010. Jones has gone on to be a seven-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, and he appears to be headed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he hangs up the cleats.
Receiving votes:
QB Trevor Lawrence
Clemson Tigers
Class of 2018
Lawrence proved he could handle the pressure and spotlight early on at Clemson before taking over as the starter four games into the 2018 season. Lawrence helped lead Clemson to back-to-back national championship game appearances and has been an All-ACC selection his first two seasons for the Tigers. He's expected to be a top-five pick in the NFL draft after this season.
WR Percy Harvin
Florida Gators
Class of 2006
Harvin came out of the "757" as a two-sport star in football and track. He signed with Urban Meyer-led Florida and was a dynamic and versatile threat for the Gators to the tune of 32 touchdowns and over 3,700 rushing and receiving yards combined. He was a member of two national championship teams and was named to multiple All-SEC and All-American teams while in Gainesville. Harvin totaled more than 9,000 all-purpose yards in his NFL career after being drafted No. 22 overall in 2009.
3. DE Nick Bosa
Ohio State Buckeyes
Class of 2016
After being a four-year starter at South Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, the younger brother of Joey Bosa followed in his brother's footsteps and signed with Ohio State. After a productive freshman campaign that included five sacks, Bosa became one of college football's most feared defenders as a sophomore, racking up 16 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. An injury cut his junior season short, but Bosa left for the NFL draft, going second overall in 2019 and earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Receiving votes:
CB Vernon Hargreaves III
Florida Gators
Class of 2013
The Under Armour All-America Game alum signed with Florida coming out of Tampa's Wharton High School, and he was a dominant force for the Gators. Hargreaves was a three-time All-SEC selection from 2013 to '15 before being selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft.
OT Cam Robinson
Alabama Crimson Tide
Class of 2014
The north Louisiana product spurned LSU for Alabama and turned in an elite career in Tuscaloosa. While the offensive tackle was named All-American and All-SEC, it was the 2016 Outland Trophy that will forever link Robinson to Alabama. He was picked in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft.
4. DE Myles Garrett
Texas A&M Aggies
Class of 2014
After starring in the Under Armour All-America Game, the James Martin High School product headed south to Texas A&M, where he would become one of college football's top defenders. In three seasons, Garrett racked up 47 tackles for loss and 31 sacks in 34 games played before being selected No. 1 overall in the 2017 NFL draft. Garrett was named to the 2018 NFL Pro Bowl and has already amassed 30.5 sacks in his pro career.
Receiving votes:
OT Andre Smith
Alabama Crimson Tide
Class of 2006
Smith starred at Alabama, earning multiple All-American and All-SEC team honors, and took home the 2008 Outland Trophy. He was drafted sixth overall in 2009 and has played in 116 NFL games in his career.
CB Eric Berry
Tennessee Volunteers
Class of 2007
Berry, out of the Peach State, turned in a stellar career at Tennessee and has since become one of the NFL's top defenders. He was a three-time All-American for the Volunteers and took home the Jim Thorpe Award in 2009. In the NFL, Berry was named to five Pro Bowls and is a member of the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2010s.
DT Ed Oliver
Houston Cougars
Class of 2016
Oliver was a rare five-star prospect who signed with a Group of 5 school. At the University of Houston, the Under Armour All-America Game alum was a three-time All-American and took home the 2017 Outland Trophy.
5. WR A.J. Green
Georgia Bulldogs
Class of 2008
After playing for legendary head coach John McKissick at Summerville High in South Carolina, Green signed with Georgia. In Athens, Green was one of college football's top players, earning SEC Freshman of the Year in 2008 and being selected to the All-SEC Team three years in a row before heading to the NFL. After being selected No. 4 overall in 2010, Green has put together a sensational career that includes seven Pro Bowl selections.
Receiving votes:
QB Matthew Stafford
Georgia Bulldogs
Class of 2006
Stafford came out of Lone Star State power Highland Park High School and headed east to play for Mark Richt at Georgia. After being named first-team All-American in 2008 for the Bulldogs, the gunslinger went No. 1 overall in the 2009 NFL draft. To date, Stafford has thrown for over 41,000 yards in his pro career.
6. S Landon Collins
Alabama Crimson Tide
Class of 2012
Collins' college commitment to Alabama over LSU during the 2013 Under Armour All-America went viral, and his play for the Crimson Tide took his stardom to another level. Collins earned All-SEC and All-American honors while in Tuscaloosa, along with winning a national championship. Collins has enjoyed continued success in the NFL, making three straight Pro Bowls from 2016 to 2018.
Receiving votes:
RB DeMarco Murray
Oklahoma Sooners
Class of 2006
Murray was a two-time All-Big 12 selection at Oklahoma before heading to the NFL, where he was named to three Pro Bowls. The former Bishop Gorman High School star was named the 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
RB Trent Richardson
Alabama Crimson Tide
Class of 2009
Richardson turned in an impressive college career at Alabama after playing at Escambia High School in Pensacola, Florida, the same high school at which Emmitt Smith starred. Richardson won two national championships, took home the 2011 Doak Walker Award and was a two-time All-SEC selection before going No. 3 overall in the 2012 NFL draft.
7. LB Jaylon Smith
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Class of 2013
Smith was a star from the get-go at Notre Dame. The instant-impact linebacker recorded 292 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in three seasons for the Fighting Irish, culminating with the 2015 Dick Butkus Award. Smith was on his way to being a top-five draft pick in 2016 until a major knee injury in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. Although he fell to 34th overall, he has totaled 344 career tackles in the NFL and made the 2019 Pro Bowl.
Receiving votes:
CB Jeff Okudah
Ohio State Buckeyes
Class of 2017
After two solid seasons at Ohio State, the former Lone Star State standout became a household name in 2019 for the Buckeyes, recording 34 tackles and three interceptions in 2019 and being named an All-American. Okudah was selected third overall in the 2020 NFL draft.
WR Robert Woods
USC Trojans
Class of 2010
Coming out of Junipero Serra High School, Woods stayed home by signing with USC and turned in a terrific career with the Trojans. He was named Pac-10 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2010, while in 2011 he received All-Pac-10 honors and was a consensus All-American. Woods totaled 2,930 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns in 38 games for USC. Woods has totaled 5,585 receiving yards and 25 receiving touchdowns in his seven-year NFL career thus far.
8. CB Patrick Peterson
LSU Tigers
Class of 2008
Peterson spurned every top program in the country in favor of LSU coming out of South Florida's Blanche Ely High School. At LSU, the intimidating cornerback and return man was a two-time first-team All-American who took home the Jim Thorpe Award and Chuck Bednarik Award in 2010. He posted 135 tackles and seven interceptions in three seasons in Baton Rouge. Peterson's dominance has carried over to the NFL with eight straight Pro Bowl selections from 2011 to 2018.
Receiving votes:
S Derwin James
Florida State Seminoles
Class of 2015
When healthy, James was a dominant safety at Florida State, being named All-ACC first-team twice in three seasons. James was selected No. 17 overall in the 2018 NFL draft, making the Pro Two in his rookie campaign.
9. RB Derrick Henry
Alabama Crimson Tide
Class of 2013
After setting the national career rushing-yard record at Yulee High School in Florida, Henry headed to Tuscaloosa, where he would fill the trophy cabinet for the Crimson Tide. After sharing carries his first two seasons for Alabama, Henry became the most feared player in college football in 2015, rushing for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns and helping lead the Crimson Tide to the national championship. One of the best individual seasons in college football history culminated with the Heisman Trophy, Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award and SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Henry's otherworldly career has carried over to the NFL with a 2019 Pro Bowl selection after leading the league in rushing with 1,540 yards.
Receiving votes:
OT Andrus Peat
Stanford Cardinal
Class of 2012
The Corona Del Sol High School standout signed with Stanford and was a two-time All-Pac-12 performer who took home the 2014 Morris Trophy. The left tackle has gone on to be a two-time Pro Bowl selection after being selected No. 13 overall in the 2015 NFL draft.
CB Adoree' Jackson
USC Trojans
Class of 2014
Jackson is one of the top pure athletes in the history of the ESPN rankings era. Jackson starred not only on the field for USC but also on the Trojans' track team as the 2015 Pac-12 long jump champion. Jackson earned multiple All-Pac-12 team awards, taking home the 2016 Jim Thorpe Award and Jet Award.
10. DT Eddie Goldman
Florida State Seminoles
Class of 2012
Goldman signed with Florida State coming out of Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, D.C, and put together a productive career in Tallahassee with 262 tackles and six sacks in three seasons. He was named first-team All-ACC in 2014 and was a member of the 2014 BCS National Championship team. Goldman has gone on to be a productive player in the NFL for the Chicago Bears.
Receiving votes:
WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
LSU Tigers
Class of 2018
Marshall was a key member of LSU's 2019 national championship team, hauling in 43 passes for 625 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore. Marshall heads into his junior season on the radar for NFL teams with the ability to be a first-round selection.