All are ably extending a school tradition of excellence at their chosen positions. For the history, we turned to the just-released espn college football encyclopedia. For the homage, we asked them to strike one of those classic "posed action" shots that once were all the rage. Are you ready for some goofballs?
ADRIAN PETERSON (OKLAHOMA RUNNING BACK)
ENCYCLOPEDIC KNOWLEDGE: Peterson is OU's 10th All-America running back, but its first since Billy Sims in 1979.
Listen to Peterson and you'd think he was talking about a rough scout-team first year. "I ran too high … I wasn't patient … I didn't get it done in the passing game." But 1,925 yards and 15 rushing TDs say he's a crazy man. "I should've had 2,000," he counters. Actually, he's right there. Peterson had a bum shoulder that first popped out in preseason practice and again at Texas A&M on Nov. 6. He finished the game-and the season-and finally had the joint fixed this winter. Although the procedure kept him out of spring practice, he's sure he can better that pathetic season. "You'll see how improved I am going to be," Peterson says. Yes, we will, Adrian. But will you?
BRITTON COLQUITT (TENNESSEE PUNTER)
ENCYCLOPEDIC KNOWLEDGE: Britton's brother Dustin was a consensus All-America in 2003, and his dad, Craig, was named to the Vols' All-Centennial team.
As a high school senior in 2003, Colquitt had to decide which legacy to uphold. He could go to Marshall and try to break cousin Travis Colquitt's 1994 single-season record of 45.1 yards per punt. Or he could choose Rocky Top, where he'd shoot for the Vols' school record, 43.9 ypp, held by cousin Jimmy. (Or at least pass the No. 2 guy, his dad.) At Tennessee he knew he'd have to redshirt to wait out the incumbent, his older bro. The call was obvious. "There's no place other than Tennessee where people cared that much about punting," he says. "My family has made the position important here." Now that Dustin has jumped over Dad (but not Jimmy) and been drafted in the third round by the Chiefs, Britton has four years all to himself to outpunt his pedigree. "I can be as good or better than Dustin," Britton says. "Even he tells me that."
PAUL POSLUSZNY and DAN CONNOR (PENN STATE LINEBACKERS)
ENCYCLOPEDIC KNOWLEDGE: Since 1968, the Nittany Lions have had seven linebackers named consensus All-America: Dennis Onkotz (1968 & '69), Jack Ham (1970), John Skorupan (1972), Greg Buttle (1975), Shane Conlan (1986), Brandon Short (1999) and LaVar Arrington (1999).
In the 2002 Pennsylvania AAA title game, Connor, a junior RB/LB for Strath Haven, mashed face masks with Posluszny, a senior RB/LB from Hopewell. The guys figure they collided 40 times in Hopewell's win. "A street fight" is how Connor recalls the Friday night slugfest. But it wasn't until Connor's official visit to Happy Valley that they actually spoke. "The first thing I needed to know was how he said his name," Connor says. Last season, Posluszny (paws-LUZ-nee) led PSU with 104 stops; frosh Connor added 85. This season, Posluszny moves outside, but the extra spacing won't shake the duo's act; they still don't talk much. "We need only a nod to know what the other is going to do," Posluszny says.
MAX JEAN-GILLES (GEORGIA GUARD)
ENCYCLOPEDIC KNOWLEDGE: The Bulldogs have had three consensus All-America guards: Royce Smith (1971), Randy Johnson (1975) and Joel Parrish (1976).
"It's pretty much sumo wrestling," Jean-Gilles says of the board drill, in which offensive and defensive linemen try to muscle each other out of a lane marked by lumber. The drill is where the raw recruit from North Miami Beach High first made a name for himself four years ago. That name was the Black Hole, for the way defenders disappeared when the 6'4", 340-pounder put his mitts on them. This fall, Jean-Gilles will get a running start at his hapless targets. After three years at right tackle, he is shifting one spot inside, where his 5.0 speed will get his huge self rolling on pulls and traps. "He's the most physical guy we've had," says O-coordinator Neil Callaway. "And he keeps getting better."
RODRIQUE WRIGHT (TEXAS DEFENSIVE TACKLE)
ENCYCLOPEDIC KNOWLEDGE: Five All-Big 12 picks, two first-rounders, two future Pro Bowlers, and that's just UT's DTs this century.
Yes, he wears glasses off the field. And yes, he's been accused of relying too much on finesse and smarts. It would take much more than that to make Wright an overgrown Urkel. This 6'5", 305-pound backfield-crasher can squat 585-twice. Ask Oklahoma if Wright is sitcom soft. Hobbling all season on a gimpy ankle, Wright still made four tackles against the Sooners. The year before, he had the only sack Sooners All-America Jammal Brown allowed all season. "I wish you would've come here," Brown told him after the game. This year Wright promises OU a game to remember. "Just wait until they see me healthy again," he says. That would sound like a threat even if he had an accordion in his hands.