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Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma Sooners

Playing for one of the most explosive offenses in the history of college football that featured Heisman Trophy quarterback Sam Bradford, All-American tight end Jermaine Gresham and former All-American receiver Malcolm Kelly, Iglesias didn’t get as much publicity as his more heralded teammates. However, he did lead Oklahoma in receptions (68 in 2007, 74 in 2008) and receiving yards (907, 1,150) the past two seasons.

Iglesias also scored 10 times as a senior en route to second-team All-Big 12 Conference honors, which was a difficult task given the league’s prolific offenses. More solid than flashy, his size, speed and ability to gain yards after the catch made him a natural for the West Coast Offense. His experience as a kickoff returner (876 yards in ’07, 475 in ’08) also added to his value.

Before he concluded his career, Iglesias made his mark in the school and Big 12 record books. His 202 receptions rank second in school annals and placed 11th on the league all-time chart. His 2,821 yards receiving also rank second in Sooners history and 10th in the Big 12.

His 26.41-yard average on kickoff returns is second on the conference record chart and the Oklahoma mark. He also set school records for most kickoff return yards in a career (1,664) and season (826 in 2007), most receptions and receiving yards in a game (12 for 191 yards vs. Kansas in 2008) and set the 2008 Fiesta Bowl record with 195 kickoff return yards, the second-best game total in school history.

Louis Murphy, WR, Florida Gators

The two-sport standout might have been overshadowed by teammates Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow and seldom used in the team’s spread offense, but most scouts feel this speedster has some of the best deep threat ability in the 2009 NFL Draft receiver crop. Known more for his track exploits as a sprinter coming out of the prep ranks, Murphy patiently waited two seasons before he was given an opportunity to show off his football skills, making 73 of his career 75 receptions during his junior and senior campaigns.

Flying under the radar is nothing new to Murphy. The Lakwood High School team captain and three-year starter competed as a winged-T option quarterback, twice earning team MVP honors on offense and once on special teams. He shifted to wide receiver during his senior campaign, as Rivals.com rated him the 37th-best receiver prospect in the country during his short tenure at that position.

In his only year at that spot, Murphy had 26 receptions for 520 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned one kick return and one punt return for touchdowns. His most memorable moment on the gridiron was taking the ball as quarterback and running up the middle of the field to score a 50-yard touchdown during his first year playing football.

Murphy received much more attention for his exploits on the prep track. He ran as the anchor on a 4×400 relay on the Lakewood squad, winning the state championship as a sophomore. He also played basketball for the Spartans at power forward.

Murphy enrolled at the University of Florida in 2005, turning down scholarship offers from Tennessee, Florida State and Louisville. A St. Petersburg native, he wanted to go to Miami but was never recruited by the Hurricanes and wound up at Florida.

As a freshman, he appeared in nine games, but was relegated to special teams duty in 2005. His only statistic registered was a solo tackle vs. Mississippi State. As a sophomore, he was deep down on the depth chart, seeing action in 12 games. He recorded three solo tackles and caught two passes for 42 yards, including a 35-yard score vs. Louisiana State.

Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly Mustangs

The most physically imposing receiver in the 2009 NFL Draft, Barden proved in postseason All-Star games and at the Combine that while he might not have played at the major college level, he is a major talent. His size, strength and long stride have scouts comparing him to former Denver Broncos standout Shannon Sharpe, present Bronco Brandon Marshall and San Diego’s Vincent Jackson, all who proved that while they might tower over cornerbacks, they can also play in the short-area passing attack.

Barden broke numerous school and Great West Conference records. He joined David Ball of New Hampshire (58, 2003-06) and Jerry Rice of Mississippi Valley State (50, 1981-84) as the only players in NCAA Division I-AA/Football Championship Subdivision to catch 50 touchdown passes in a career. He had at least one touchdown in 32 games, breaking Rice’s old NCAA record of 26 games with a scoring grab.

Barden put together a string of 20 consecutive games with a touchdown reception, again erasing one of Rice’s records (Rice had a string of 17 games from 1983-84). He became just the eighth player in FCS annals to gain over 4,000 yards receiving in a career and his average of 20.4 yards per reception is the best by a receiver at this level since Dedric Ward of Northern Iowa produced a career average of 22.02 yards (1993-96).

Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma Sooners

The great nephew of singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson, Duke is a versatile athlete who has experience at offensive guard and tackle. Regarded as one of the premier blockers in the collegiate game, he was the unquestioned leader of the Sooners’ front wall that cleared rush lanes and protected the pocket for one of the most explosive offenses in the history of the game.

Oklahoma shattered NCAA season records for scoring, as its total of 716 points topped the previous record of 656 points, set by Hawaii in 2006. Robinson delivered 14 touchdown-resulting blocks as a senior, helping the offense total 96 touchdowns, which bettered the NCAA season record of 89 touchdowns by Nebraska in 1983. The Sooners also had a string of five consecutive games with at least 60 points.

At Washington High School, Robinson was rated the 13th-best prep offensive lineman in the country by ESPN and 15th by Rivals.com (also ranked 51st overall by Rivals). The three-year starter at offensive tackle was named the Atlanta Touchdown Club Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2004. He also garnered Prep Star All-American, All-City and All-State first-team recognition.

In 2004, Robinson recorded 87 pancake blocks and graded 91 percent for blocking consistency. He also played nose guard on short yardage defensive plays. Named to the Super 11 squad by the Atlanta Journal Constitution in 2004, the youngster also spent his prep summers working as a hawker selling programs and peanuts at Atlanta Braves games.

Robinson enrolled at Oklahoma in 2005. He was the line’s “sixth man” as a true freshman, appearing in 10 games as a reserve offensive guard, but also saw action at left offensive tackle earlier in that season. Weight issues (played at 360 pounds, but was as much as 380) were the reason keeping him on the bench that year, but an intense 2006 offseason training program saw him arrive for fall camp 30 pounds lighter.

That earned Robinson a starting job at left offensive guard. He went on to produce 108 knockdowns with eight touchdown-resulting blocks while participating in 809 offensive plays. He earned All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention, helping the team average 368.7 yards per game in total offense.

As a junior, Robinson was a consensus All-American and unanimous All-Big 12 Conference first-team choice. The starting left guard delivered 102 knockdowns while grading 84.64 percent for blocking consistency, appearing in 13 games. He logged action in 663 plays, coming up with a team-high 15 touchdown-resulting blocks.

Robinson, with a baby on the way, seriously considered entering the 2008 NFL Draft. But, hoping to capture a national title, he returned to the Sooners, where he improved upon his impressive junior campaign with a stellar final season. The senior guard led the team with 117 knockdowns and registered 14 touchdown-resulting blocks.

If not for eight costly penalties, Robinson’s blocking consistency grade would have been even more impressive than his 85.62 percent mark (minus penalties, his grade would have projected to 87.46 percent). He was a finalist for the Outland Trophy and again earned All-American and All-Big 12 Conference first-team honors, but the season was not without some drama. He was benched for the season opener vs. Chattanooga and suspended for the first half of the Texas Christian game due to team rules violations.

Herman Johnson, G, LSU Tigers

One of the most physically imposing players in college football, Johnson is a tremendous physical specimen. The biggest player to ever wear the purple and gold, Johnson started the final 38 games he appeared in, lining up at right offensive guard in three of those contests before taking over left guard duties.

Despite his massive frame and considerable bulk, Johnson is surprisingly light on his feet, registering 16 down field blocks over the past two seasons. He shows very good mechanics for a player of his size and his road grading ability could see him shift to offensive tackle in the NFL, as he also has performed at right tackle during the earlier stages of his career with the Tigers.

Being the “big man on campus” is nothing new for Johnson. He was the largest baby born in Louisiana, weighing in at 15 pounds, 14 ounces. The doctor who delivered Herman told his mother at the time that he was a future LSU Tiger. To this day, the doctor who delivered him calls Herman’s mom each year, letting her know that her baby is still the largest ever born in the state of Louisiana.

His mother, Karen Johnson, was a versatile athlete at LaSalle High School, and her son had many of her athletic traits. As he continued to grow, he did not seem interested in playing football. “When I played youth league football, I was always bigger than everybody, but I never liked it,” said Johnson, whose family moved from Olla to Denton, Texas, when he was very young. “I had a bad experience. We always lost.” It was not until he enrolled at Denton High School that the “football bug” began to take hold.

Still it took several years before the school’s coaching staff was able to convince him to give football a chance. Standing 6-foot-5 at age 14, he was soon noticed for his hulking presence by the staff. “They told me I could get a scholarship to college, get an education and maybe go off to the NFL and be a millionaire,” Johnson said.

Affectionately nicknamed “House” by the Denton High School staff, Johnson was a standout offensive tackle, earning All-District first-team honors as a junior, and All-State first-team accolades in his final year. He was rated 30th on the Rivals.com national Top 100 list, and that recruiting service also ranked him as the third-best prep tackle in the country.

During his senior season, the almost 400-pound lineman was a member of the Texas Top 100 and Midlands Sweet 66 squads. He graded 88 percent for blocking consistency and did not allow any sacks in 2003, before going on to excel at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Louisiana State beat out Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Houston for Johnson’s services. He appeared briefly in the Arkansas State and Mississippi State games before being granted a medical hardship in 2004. Prior to 2004 fall camp, he was bitten on his big toe by a spider back home and was slow to recover. After being limited to just 42 offensive snaps, the LSU coaching staff decided to retain his four years of eligibility and shut him down for the rest of the season.

Johnson appeared in 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2005, seeing most of his action on the field goal and PAT protection units. He started against Vanderbilt at right guard, logging 160 snaps for the season. He allowed two quarterback pressures and no sacks while collecting 26 key blocks/knockdowns.

Johnson played in 12 games, starting the final 10 contests of the 2006 campaign. He sat out the Alabama clash with a toe injury, but earned two starting assignments at right guard for an injured Will Arnold before lining up at left guard for eight games. He posted 84 knockdowns/key blocks and played a big part in the team leading the Southeastern Conference and ranking 11th nationally with an average of 417.46 yards per game in total offense.

As a junior, Johnson started all 14 games at left guard. He delivered 60 key blocks/ knockdowns to go with 15 touchdown-resulting blocks. The big man also made eight down field blocks, as he allowed no quarterback sacks and just one pressure on 442 pass plays. With tackle Ciron Black and Johnson leading the way around the left side, the Tigers captured the national title while averaging 439.43 yards per game. For his efforts, Johnson was named to the All-Southeastern Conference first-team.

In 2008, Johnson repeated as an All-SEC first-team choice. He was also selected to the Associated Press All-American first-team. The offense failed to match their lofty numbers from their championship season, but still managed to average 368.08 yards per game. Their left guard recorded 64 knockdowns, 14 touchdown-resulting blocks and eight down field blocks. He allowed 3.5 sacks and three pressures on 391 pass plays.

D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt Commodores

Moore is perhaps the most versatile athlete to ever wear a Commodores uniform. During his three seasons at Vanderbilt, he has lined up at cornerback, wide receiver, tailback, slot back, punt returner and kickoff returner, in addition to taking direct snaps as a quarterback, accomplishing all of that in both his sophomore and junior seasons. Do not consider him a jack-of-all-trades though, as he is a team-first player but loves the physical contact he can generate on the defensive side of the ball.

“He does it all,” Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson said about Moore. “If he were a wide receiver by trade, he would be a fantastic one. He’s a kick returner. He almost had an interception one time and their guy made a great play on it. He is physical, came up and made some great tackles. He’s a top-notch player.”

Moore says he is just eager to help out any way he can. All the Vanderbilt coaching staff needs to do is ask. “I do what they ask me to do,” Moore said of his different roles. “If they asked me to do anything, I’ll do it because I’m part of the team. If they ask me to do it, I try to do it.”

Moore was a four-year starter at Broome High School, competing mostly as a wide receiver and defensive back. He was named South Carolina Class AA Special Teams Player of the Year and Region 2-2A Player of the Year as a senior. The two-time All-State receiver had 48 receptions for 896 yards and 14 touchdowns during his final campaign. His lone rushing attempt was good for an 84-yard score.

In addition, Moore returned three punts for touchdowns and totaled 39 tackles with six interceptions on defense. He helped lead the squad to the 2004 state title, earning MVP honors in championship game. He also posted five receptions and a touchdown in the postseason Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

Moore was also a three-time All-State selection in basketball, as he led that team to the state title as junior. That season, he averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game. Adding to his athletic resume, he was the reigning high jump state champion with a personal best of 6’6″.

As a true freshman, Moore shared left cornerback duties with Josh Allen, starting nine contests. He was named Specialist of the Week in his collegiate debut vs. Michigan, going on to record 37 tackles (27 solos), as he shared the team lead with three fumble recoveries and also had two pass deflections, along with one interception.

Moore started every game at left cornerback in 2007, in addition to handling the bulk of kickoff return chores. The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference first-team choice was named the squad’s Defensive MVP, as he ranked second on the team with 83 tackles (63 solos), adding a 9-yard sack and two stops for loss. His six interceptions rank tied for fifth on the school single-season record list, as he returned one for a touchdown. He also deflected 10 passes and ranked fourth in the league with a 25.7-yard average (tied the Commodore single-season record) on 32 kickoff returns. In brief action on offense, he gained 78 yards on six carries (13.0 avg).

In 2008, the junior started all year at left cornerback, but also played a variety of roles for the special team and offensive units. He produced 58 tackles (30 solos) that included one sack among his 4.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He caused and recovered a fumble, broke up seven passes and tied his career-high with six interceptions.

On offense, he carried nine times for 76 yards (8.4 avg) and snared seven passes for 143 yards (20.4 avg), including two touchdowns. He returned 21 kickoffs for 407 yards (19.4 avg) and amassed 244 yards on 17 punt returns, ranking third in the league and 11th nationally with a 14.35-yard average.

After the Music City Bowl, the Commodores’ All-American defensive back made it known that he would forgo his final season of eligibility and make himself available for the NFL Draft. Moore revealed his decision during a post-game interview with ESPN and reaffirmed a short time later after he showered and dressed. “About the middle of the season I decided I was good enough to leave,” he said. “I had done well. … I wanted to be All-American, so once I was (second-team) All-American there was pretty much nothing left to do.”

Victor “Macho” Harris, CB, Virginia Tech Hokies

It was commonplace during the 2008 season to see Harris line up at boundary cornerback, field cornerback or even free safety. If that was not enough, when it came time for the opposition to either punt the ball away or kick off, Harris handled those attempts as well. And with the team’s receiving corps depleted by 2007 graduation, the coaches experimented with their versatile player on the offensive side of the ball during preseason camps.

Even though he did not start there, he was utilized quite a bit as a slot receiver, split wide or as a tailback out of the backfield. What made all of this shuffling around more impressive was the fact that Harris was hampered early in the year by a left foot sprain he suffered during the team’s final scrimmage before the 2008 season opener.

Undaunted, Harris continued to play, doing whatever the coaches asked from him. Still, he is a shutdown cornerback, first and foremost. To that end, he gave Wake Forest’s Alphonso Smith a run for his money in their quest to re-write the Atlantic Coast Conference record books. Both players tied the ACC career record by returning four interceptions for touchdowns. Harris gained 278 yards on his 15 interceptions (third most in school history), which ranks third in league history. Smith managed to generate 254 yards, finishing seventh on the ACC chart.

Parade magazine might have found the right category to place Harris in. When the youngster was competing at Highland Spring High School, he made the Parade All-American team as an “athlete.” That was after he led the Richmond metro area in rushing his senior year with 225 carries for 2,346 yards, averaging 10.4 yards per carry and scoring 27 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught four passes for 90 yards and four scores and racked up 751 yards with four touchdowns on 28 returns. In addition, he contributed 22 tackles and three interceptions as a defensive back, scoring touchdowns six different ways during his final season.

During the course of his prep career, Harris was rated the best player in the state by The Roanoke Times and named the Offensive Player of the Year in the state’s AAA grouping by the VHSCA. He picked up All-State first-team honors as a running back and defensive back, as well as second-team as a kick returner. He made the Super Prep, Prep Star, USA Today and Prep Football Report All-American first-teams. Prep Star rated him the second-best prospect in the country and Rivals.com gave him a third-place ranking.

Prep Star also chose Harris to its Dream Team 100 and All-Atlantic Region squads. He was ranked as the best player in the state and fourth-rated cornerback by Scout.com. He participated in the U.S. Army All-American Game in San Antonio, as he finished his career as the Central Region’s career leading ground gainer with 5,320 yards, scoring a total of 70 touchdowns his final two seasons.

Needless to say, every major university tried to recruit Harris, but he had his heart set on playing for head coach Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech. But before he could even suit up for that school, tragedy struck twice. The story of Victor “Macho” Harris’ tumultuous December of 2004 is widely known, but always worth repeating.

First, he suffered third-degree burns on Dec. 15, the day Beamer and assistant Jim Cavanaugh were coming to his house for a recruiting visit. Harris’ mother, Maritza, was preparing a meal for the coaches, and a grease fire broke out in the kitchen while she was at the store. Harris put out the fire by throwing a quilt on the pan, but suffered burns in the process. He has small scars on his face, and skin grafts on his right forearm.

Then, 10 days after Beamer’s visit and five days after he committed to the Hokies, his mother fainted at home on Christmas Day and passed away at the hospital. He has a tattoo on his left forearm of an image of his mother and the words: “My angel. My reason. My mother.” He also has a tattoo on his neck that reads “Mama’s Boy.” Maritza Harris was 43.

Harris lettered as a true freshman at Virginia Tech in 2005, seeing most of his action on special teams. He blocked a kick, deflected two passes in brief action as a “field” cornerback and produced 12 tackles (7 solos) for the coverage units. Having bulked up in the offseason, he beat out incumbent Roland Minor for the field cornerback position in 2006. He picked off four passes, returning one for the first of his four touchdowns on interceptions for his career. He also collected 34 tackles (22 solos), despite playing the latter part of the schedule with a shoulder dislocation from the Kent State game.

Harris earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2007, starting all 14 games at field cornerback. He also started to become acclimated with return chores. He posted 36 tackles and deflected 11 passes. A collarbone contusion at Duke would limit him as a kickoff returner the rest of the year, but not before he tied the school record with a 100-yard runback for a score vs. Clemson. He averaged 34.7 yards on six kickoffs and 7.4 yards on five punt returns. He also scored once on five interceptions and batted down eleven passes.

Harris missed the 2008 season opener vs. East Carolina due to a left foot sprain, but the All-American first-team pick returned to start the final 13 contests, shifting to boundary cornerback. He registered 46 tackles (32 solos), caused two fumbles and recovered another. He also broke up eight passes and intercepted six others, tying the school single-season record by returning two of those pass thefts for touchdowns. He averaged 15.0 yards on four kickoff returns and 9.3 yards on 25 punt returns. He also snatched eight passes for 63 yards (7.9 avg) and rushed five times for a 9.6-yard average.

Jarron Gilbert, DE/LB, San Jose State Spartans

Gilbert has been rising up draft boards since his stellar 2008 campaign and postseason all-star game showing. Blessed with impressive size and quickness, his versatility has many professional teams considering Gilbert for a variety of roles on the D-line.

The son of former New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Daren Gilbert, Jarron’s on the football field might have garnered him the attention of the NFL, but it was his recent display of athleticism that has made him a YouTube “sensation.” While working out with his trainer after the 2008 season, he was told that former St. Louis Rams safety Adam Archuleta could jump out of a swimming pool.

Gilbert took the bait. From the shallow end of the pool, he amazed everyone by simply jumping out and landing on his feet.

“I went out there one day — it wasn’t that big a deal to me — and I just went and jumped out of the pool. I found out that I could do it, so I put it on film to make everybody else believe me,” Gilbert stated.

Gilbert can thank his bloodlines for his athletic ability. While attending Chino High School, he lettered in football, basketball and track. The two-way lineman earned All-Sierra League honors on the gridiron. As a forward, he was also an All-League choice for the basketball squad. He also handled the weight for the track squad.

The 240-pound defensive lineman enrolled at San Jose State in 2004, spending the season performing on the scout team and working out in the training room. With 10 pounds of muscle, the redshirt freshman started four of the 11 games he appeared in, lining up at right defensive end in 2005. He posted 22 tackles (14 solo) with three sacks and five stops for losses during his first varsity campaign.

Gilbert shifted to left defensive end in 2006 and his weight jumped to around 270 pounds. He started 10 of 13 contests, coming up with 32 tackles (14 solos), including five sacks and 7.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also used his impressive wingspan to deflect six passes, tops among the down linemen in the Western Athletic Conference.

In 2007, Gilbert started all 12 games, seeing action at both right defensive end and tackle. The All-WAC second-team choice, continued to add bulk and strength, listing at 280 pounds. He led the team’s down linemen with 38 tackles (23 solo). He collected 7.5 stops for losses that included four sacks, as he also broke up four passes.

One of four team captains, Gilbert received All-American, All-WAC, conference co-Defensive Player of the Year and team MVP honors in 2008. Now measuring in at 290 pounds, he started all twelve games at left defensive tackle. He registered 52 tackles (36 solos), leading the nation with 22 stops for losses of 116 yards. His 9.5 sacks led the Spartans with 9.5 sacks, the second-best total in the league.

Jasper Brinkley, LB, South Carolina Gamecocks

Brinkley made a successful recovery from 2007 knee surgery, returning to the dominant force he displayed for the Gamecocks when he and his twin brother, Casper, joined the program in January 2006. To say that South Carolina missed him in 2007 would be an understatement, as the Gamecocks struggled considerably without their leader in the middle of the field.

Without Brinkley’s services for the last eight games of the 2007 campaign, the defense finished 56 in the nation, yielding 378.08 yards per game and missed the postseason bowl action. With their middle linebacker leading the way, the Gamecocks improved dramatically in 2008, as they finished 13th in the nation in total defense, allowing only 291.92 yards per game and finished second in pass defense (159.23 ypg).

The Brinkley twins terrorized opponents during their days at Thomson High School. Jasper garnered All-Area and All-State first-team honors as a junior and senior. To improve their academic standing, both enrolled at Georgia Military College upon high graduation. Jasper captured team MVP honors as a freshman and sophomore, going on to be named an All-American second team choice while playing middle linebacker in 2005.

The brothers enrolled at South Carolina in time to participate in 2006 spring drills. Casper took over one defensive end spot while Jasper became an instant hit at middle linebacker. He earned All-Southeastern Conference honors while leading the team with 107 tackles, including 85 solo hits (79% of his total). He finished third on the squad with five sacks and led the squad with 14.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, ranking sixth in the conference with an average of 1.08 tackles for loss per game.

Brinkley was the only Gamecock to be listed on the All-SEC preseason team in 2007. He was also on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award and Lombardi Award Watch Lists. He totaled 21 tackles (15 solos) with a pair of interceptions, but suffered a right knee anterior ligament tear vs. Louisiana State, undergoing surgery and bringing his season to an end with eight games left on the schedule.

With his brother, Casper, having signed with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent, Jasper returned to South Carolina in 2008. He was named All-SEC second-team and returned to his familiar middle linebacker role. He ranked third on the squad with 65 tackles (42 solos), including 2.5 sacks and five stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also caused a pair of fumbles and had his third interception for his Gamecocks’ career.

Tyrone McKenzie, DE, South Florida Bulls

McKenzie’s collegiate career had more pit stops than Jeff Gordon in a NASCAR race, but he finally found a home at strong-side outside linebacker with South Florida as a junior. He began his collegiate odyssey in 2004 as a reserve weak-side linebacker at Michigan State, but transferred to Iowa State after the season. He sat out the 2005 campaign under NCAA transfer rules, finally getting a starting opportunity with the Cyclones in 2006.

The redshirt sophomore went on to rank eighth in the nation and second in the Big 12 Conference in tackles in 2006, starting all year as a middle linebacker. But after the season, he informed the ISU coaching staff that he would enroll at South Florida for the 2007 spring semester and intended to play football for the Bulls.

Back in his hometown, McKenzie took advantage of a spring camp ankle injury to Chris Robinson, winning the strong-side outside linebacker position. He would go on to start 24 of his final 26 games at that position for the Bulls.

At Riverview High School, McKenzie was rated among Florida’s top 50 prospects by the Tampa Tribune. The first-team All-Hillsborough County selection by the Tampa Tribune earned second-team All-County honors from the St. Petersburg Times and was selected to play in the Hillsborough County All-Star Game in Raymond James Stadium.

McKenzie rushed for more than 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior, averaging 7.7 yards per carry in 2003. He produced four 200-yard rushing games that season, including an 80-yard touchdown run and 230 yards vs. Jefferson. He also rushed 20 times for 205 yards and four scores vs. Brandon. He missed most of his junior season due to a broken leg suffered in the season’s second game. He also lettered in track, qualifying for the 2004 state 4A track championships in the 110 hurdles.

McKenzie enrolled at Michigan State in 2004, but left the program after just one season, as he posted three tackles (2 solos) in 11 games. He transferred to Iowa State, performing on the scout team in 2005. The following season, he garnered All-Big 12 Conference second-team honors. As the Cyclones’ middle linebacker, he registered a career-high 129 tackles, second on the team and in the league. He also had two sacks, 9.5 stops for loss, three pass breakups and an interception.

In 2007, he enrolled at South Florida, emerging as the starting strong-side linebacker. The All-Big East Conference second-team choice started 11 games, sharing the position with Brouce Mompremier. He still managed to set the school single-season record with 121 tackles (78 solos) that included 1.5 sacks, 7.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and three pressures. He also blocked a kick, caused two fumbles and recovered two others.

The Butkus, Nagurski and Lott Trophy nominee started all 13 games for South Florida in 2008. He earned first-team All-Big East Conference honors, finishing second in the league with 116 tackles (78 solos). He added 15 stops behind the line of scrimmage and broke up eight passes while picking off another. His 237 tackles as a Bull was the highest total by any South Florida player over a two-year span.