"highest rated RB's to come out of college based on prospect grading" This means nothing, let me present you with Exhibit A: Ron Dayne
I don't recall exactly, but I don't recall Ron Dayne having as high a grade as any of the top-3 RBs in this past draft.Second point, there's nothing like taking the exception to dispute the rule - the VAST bulk of highly graded RBs (ie - top-5 picks) have either panned out or were devastatingly injured (read - Curtis Enis).
Wasn't Ricky Williams a top-5 pick?
2000 was one of the most talendted draft years in recent history. Dayne was way better in college. He has the most rushing yards for a division 1- A Running Back EVER. He also won the Heisman Trophy. 1. Ron Dayne Wisconsin 6,397
2. Ricky Williams Texas 6,279
3. Tony Dorsett Pittsburgh 6,082
His regular season game total of 6397 yards rushing established an NCAA Division 1-A record, breaking the previous mark of 6279 yards by Ricky Williams of Texas (1995-98)...Including bowl games, he became the first player in college annals to rush for over 7000 yards (7125) in a career, breaking the old Big Ten Conference record of 5589 yards by Ohio State’s Archie Griffin...Tied the NCAA all-time record held by Williams and Marcus Allen of Southern California with twelve 200-yard rushing performances...Became the fifth player in college history to rush for over 1000 yards in a season four times.
Round 1
1 (1) Cleveland Browns - Courtney Brown, DE Penn State
2 (2) Washington Redskins - LaVar Arrington, LB Penn State
3 (3) Washington Redskins - Chris Samuels, T Alabama
4 (4) Cincinnati Bengals - Peter Warrick, WR Florida State
5 (5) Baltimore Ravens - Jamal Lewis, RB Tennessee
6 (6) Philadelphia Eagles - Corey Simon, DT Florida State
7 (7) Arizona Cardinals - Thomas Jones, RB Virginia
8 (8) Pittsburgh Steelers - Plaxico Burress, WR Michigan State
9 (9) Chicago Bears - Brian Urlacher, LB New Mexico
10 (10) Baltimore Ravens - Travis Taylor, WR Florida
11 (11) New York Giants - Ron Dayne, RB Wisconsin
12 (12) New York Jets - Shaun Ellis, DE Tennessee
13 (13) New York Jets - John Abraham, LB South Carolina
14 (14) Green Bay Packers - Bubba Franks, TE Miami (FL)
15 (15) Denver Broncos - Deltha O'Neal, DB California
16 (16) San Francisco 49ers - Julian Peterson, LB Michigan State
17 (17) Oakland Raiders - Sebastian Janikowski, K Florida State
18 (18) New York Jets - Chad Pennington, QB Marshall
19 (19) Seattle Seahawks - Shaun Alexander, RB Alabama
20 (20) Detroit Lions - Stockar McDougle, T Oklahoma
21 (21) Kansas City Chiefs - Sylvester Morris, WR Jackson State
22 (22) Seattle Seahawks - Chris McIntosh, T Wisconsin
23 (23) Carolina Panthers - Rashard Anderson, DB Jackson State
25 (25) Minnesota Vikings - Chris Hovan, DT Boston College
26 (26) Buffalo Bills - Erik Flowers, DE Arizona State
27 (27) New York Jets - Anthony Becht, TE West Virginia
28 (28) Indianapolis Colts - Rob Morris, LB Brigham Young
29 (29) Jacksonille Jaguars - R. Jay Soward, WR USC
30 (30) Tennessee Titans - Keith Bulluck, LB Syracuse
31 (31) St. Louis Rams - Trung Canidate, RB Arizona