John was supposed to be the prize of the lot (5 star) but I recall he struggled to qualify / get on the field.
I'm not a recruitnik but I remember us taking a whole bunch from this one HS. As you say Brown was supposed to be the prize. And if memory serves Ahmad Black was supposed to be the weak link- the guy who supposedly came in on the other's coattails. He ended up being one of my favorites of all time... What a player, what a leader.
When I think of Ahmad Black - I think of what I refer to as an instinctive football player. What I mean by that: Not the fastest Not the strongest Not the perfect measurables What he was: Smart Quick Understands the game Understands tackling Winner Just a damn good football player and one I would take every timer over some of those guys with "great measurables", not so great on a football field.
When I think of Ahmad Black, I can't see anything but that game-changing brute-force interception in Miami at the National Championship. Burned in my brain forever, even from my seat in the second deck.
One the great individuals plays of my Gator experience. A great example of what @Gatorhead was talking about with Black’s football instincts.
One of the most incredible INT's I have ever seen! The look on Bradshaw's face when he realized it was picked..........."that's not possible".
Brown did almost nothing. Davis made two brilliant plays in a stellar goal line stand against Okie in the championship game that could have have been the greatest change of momentum ever. Just two plays.
