In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.
Patrick Peterson, No. 8 in 2008 class
Coming out of Blanche Ely High in South Florida, the nation's top cornerback prospect went by the name Patrick Johnson. Originally a Miami (Fla.) commit, he opened up his recruitment during his senior year and ended up coming down to Florida, Florida State and LSU with the Tigers winning out. Johnson was a member of a 2008 LSU class that included Deangelo Benton, Jordan Jefferson and others.
Peterson appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman, including four starts to end the season. He finished his freshman campaign with 41 tackles and one interception.
As a sophomore in 2009, Peterson was awarded All-SEC second-team honors after starting 13 games and totaling 43 tackles and two INTs. He was also tabbed as a second-team All-American by the Sporting News following the season.
Peterson’s junior season would be his best. Not only did Peterson tally 33 tackles and four INTs in 11 games, but he also totaled 1,106 yards and two punt return touchdowns. He took home a number of awards following the season, including the Thorpe Award, Bednarik Award, first-team All-American, All-SEC first-team and SEC special teams player of the year.
Peterson entered the 2011 NFL draft following his junior season. He was selected No. 5 overall by the Arizona Cardinals, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl each of his four seasons in the league.
Honorable mention: Taylor Mays, No. 8 in 2006 class. Mays chose USC out of O’Dea High in Seattle, and lived up to his billing as an elite athlete at the safety position. After a standout career for the Trojans, he was selected in the second round (No. 49 overall) by the San Francisco 49ers.
