Our TideFans "2009 Crown Jewel Countdown" includes the following ....
1 - Our ratings system and examples .
2 - Our results listed from 1-29 with links to individual evaluation threads which are open for discussion .
3 - Consensus evalutions and notations for each 2009 signee .
4 - When our countdown is completed , in this thread , we will also list our individual staffer ratings from 1-29 .
*Some players have been viewed in person but , the majority of our finished product was arrived at by watching every available piece of film on the web . Admittedly this is not the preferred route but , just to let you in on a little secret of the player ratings game , this is the same way the vast majority of prospects are rated by "pro" or pay services . We should know since one of our staffers is a former "pro" evaluator . So , take it for what it's worth from your own perspective . As a staff , we feel confident our ratings will pan out as well if not better than any others over the next 3 to 5 years
The System .... (including current or past players cited as examples)
Our system is designed to be fair with the intent of accurately forecasting the career path for each individual signee . Accuracy is our goal but , we strive to forecast the future for each signee while steering clear of unrealistic or ridiculous expectations and remaining free of unnecessary criticism whenever it is avoidable . As an example , some people may say - "That guy will never see the field unless it's at the end of a blowout ." . Not us as we will take the high road and attempt to express only the positive or "high side" possiblities for prospects .
The first 2 groups are the players who should eventually form the core of the roster over the next 3-5 years . The 3rd grouping is for contributors and the final two groupings speak for themselves .
5 - Star player with All-SEC/AA potential - Smith , Caldwell .
4.5 - High quality multi year starter - Mike Johnson .
4 - Multi year starter - Drew Davis .
3.5 - Rotation regular and eventual starter - Lorenzo Washington .
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3 - Will earn rotation at their position - Luther Davis .
2.5 - Special Teams contributor with spot rotation - Tyrone King .
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2 - Special Teams signees - K's , P's , return specialists and God forbid a freakin' snapper . Corey Smith , Brandon Brooks .
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1 - Sleepers - It's really not intended in any way as an insult . While it can be for players who you feel sucks (Nick Fanuzzi) or is thought to be nothing more than a hopeful project (Bart Raulston) , it's mainly for players whose potential is undetermined because of questions such as playing offense or defense (Travis McCall) , position (Brad Smelley) , size (Paul Hogan , Ralph Staten) or recovering from a serious injury (Earnest Nance) etc. . Maybe even just an average player who you believe will get a chance to contribute because they're a relative of a former player , coach , administrator , etc. .
29 - 1 rated OT Darius McKeller -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #29 - OT Darius McKeller . 28 - 2.5 rated FB/LB Mike Marrow -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #28 - FB/LB Mike Marrow . 27 - 2.5 rated RB/FB Jermaine Preyear -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #27 - RB/FB Jermaine Preyear . 26 - 2.5 rated DE Anthony Orr -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #26 - DE Anthony Orr . 25 - 3 rated OL Kellen Williams -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #25 - OL Kellen Williams . 24 - 3 rated MLB Petey Smith -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #24 - MLB Petey Smith . 23 - 3 rated OG/DT Anthony Steen -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #23 - OG/DT Anthony Steen . 22 - 3.5 rated DE/TE William Ming -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #22 - DE/TE William Ming . 21 - 3.5 rated DL Chris Bonds -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #21 - DL Chris Bonds . 20 - 3.5 rated WR Kendall Kelly -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #20 - WR Kendall Kelly . 19 - 3.5 rated OLB Jonathan Atchison -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #19 - OLB Jonathan Atchison . 18 - 3.5 rated DL/OL Brandon Moore -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #18 - DL/OL Brandon Moore . 17 - 3.5 rated WR Kenny Bell -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #17 - WR Kenny Bell . 16 - 3.5 rated OL Chance Warmack -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #16 - OL Chance Warmack . 15 - 3.5 rated JLB Ed Stinson -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #15 - JLB Ed Stinson . 14 - 4 rated DT Quinton Dial -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #14 - DT Quinton Dial . 13 - 4 rated WR Michael Bowman -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #13 - WR Michael Bowman . 12 - 4 rated WR Kevin Norwood -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #12 - WR Kevin Norwood . 11 - 4 rated DL Darrington Sentimore -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #11 - DL Darrington Sentimore . 10 - 4 rated SS Rod Woodson -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #10 - SS Rod Woodson . 9 - 4 rated QB A.J. McCarron -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #9 - QB A.J. McCarron . 8 - 4 rated NT Kerry Murphy -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #8 - NT Kerry Murphy . 7 - 4.5 rated LB Tana Patrick -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #7 - LB Tana Patrick . 6 - 4.5 rated OL James Carpenter -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #6 - OL James Carpenter . 5 - 4.5 rated RB Eddie Lacy -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #5 - RB Eddie Lacy . 4 - 5 rated RB Trent Richardson -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #4 - RB Trent Richardson . 3 - 5 rated OT D.J. Fluker -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #3 - OT D.J. Fluker . 2 - 5 rated LB Nico Johnson -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel Countdown - #2 - LB Nico Johnson . TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel - 5 rated DB* Dre Kirkpatrick -
TideFans 2009 Crown Jewel - DB* Dre Kirkpatrick . 
