Whatever happened to Athlon Sports' Top 40 recruits of 2004? We explore where they ended up 10 at a time this week concluding with Nos. 1-10.

View also: Nos. 31-40, Nos. 21-30, Nos. 11-20

10. Jeff Schweiger • DL • San Jose, CA • USC

Played a key role as a reserve defensive end as a true freshman on the 2004 national championship team at USC. He won a starting job the following spring but broke a bone in his right foot on the first day of fall camp and missed the first four games of the ’05 season. After playing sparingly as a junior in 2006, he transferred to San Jose State, where his father was a two-year starter at defensive end in 1979 and 1980. Started the first five games at SJSU in 2008 and recorded 26 tackles for the season.

9. Derrick Harvey • DL • Greenbelt, MD • Florida

Burst onto the scene as a third-year sophomore pass-rushing specialist. Earned Defensive MVP honors of the BCS National Championship Game after recording three sacks in the Gators’ 41–14 win over Ohio State. His only season as a full-time starter was 2007, his final year in Gainesville. He recorded 49 tackles with 8.5 sacks en route to second-team All-SEC honors. Left school with one year of eligibility remaining and was selected by the Jaguars with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

8. DeMario Pressley • DL • Greensboro, NC • NC State

Emerged as a solid defensive tackle for the Wolfpack but never earned first- or second-team All-ACC honors. Started 30 games over his final three seasons. Selected by the Saints in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft but spent his rookie season on IR due to a foot injury.

7. Xavier Lee • QB • Daytona Beach, FL • Florida State

Arrived as the more heralded of Florida State’s two quarterback recruits, but classmate Drew Weatherford (No. 72 in Athlon’s top 100) beat Lee out for the starting position in three straight seasons (2005-07). Lee started six games during his time at Florida State, completing 51.3 percent of his passes for 2,323 yards with 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Left school with one year of eligibility remaining after the FSU coaching staff asked him to move to tight end for his senior season. Was not selected in the 2008 NFL Draft and failed to make a roster as a free agent.

6. Keith Rivers • LB • Lake Mary, FL • USC

Lived up to the hype during his four years at USC, wearing the celebrated No. 55 jersey and starting the final three seasons at weak-side linebacker. Earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors after leading the team with 85 tackles as a junior in 2006. Named to several All-America teams as a senior in ’07 despite battling an ankle injury through much of the season. Finished his career with 240 tackles, including 18.5 for a loss. Selected by the Bengals with the No. 9 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

5. Brandon Miller • DL • Colquitt, GA • Georgia

Moved to outside linebacker upon his arrival in Athens. Started 22 games in four years, including 10 for the 2005 SEC Champions. Never earned any All-SEC recognition. Signed with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent and spent first 10 weeks on the practice squad before making the active roster in Week 11. Released and signed by the Seahawks in November 2008.

4. Jeff Byers • OL • Fort Collins, CO • USC

Started four late-season games as a true freshman in 2004 but missed the entire ’05 season and all but one game in ’06 with a right hip injury. Returned to start 12 games at left guard in ’07 and 13 games in ’08, when he earned second-team All-Pac-10 honors. Granted a sixth year of eligibility for the 2009 season.

3. Early Doucet • WR • Saint Martinville, LA • LSU

Enjoyed a good but not great four-year career with the Tigers. Caught 160 passes for 1,943 yards and 20 touchdowns, with highs of 59 catches, 772 yards and eight scores as a junior in 2006. Earned second-team All-SEC honors that season. Caught seven passes for 51 yards and a touchdown in LSU’s 38–24 win over Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game. Selected by the Cardinals in the third round (No. 81 overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.

2. Rhett Bomar • QB • Grand Prairie, TX • Oklahoma

Broke into the starting lineup in the second game of his redshirt freshman season, throwing for 2,018 yards and 10 TDs for the 8–4 Sooners. Surrounded by sky-high expectations for the 2006 season — OU was ranked No. 1 in the preseason by Athlon Sports — but he was dismissed by coach Bob Stoops in early August for a violation of NCAA rules. He transferred to FCS school Sam Houston State, where he served as a two-year starter, earning second-team All-Southland Conference honors in 2008 for the 4–6 Bearkats. Selected by the Giants in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

1. Adrian Peterson • RB • Palestine, TX • Oklahoma

Ended his three years in Norman as one of the most decorated running backs in Oklahoma history. Named first-team All-America by the Associated Press as a true freshman after rushing for a school-record 1,925 yards. Despite only playing three years, Peterson ranks third all-time in rushing at OU with 4,045 yards and fourth in rushing TDs with 41. Rushed for 100-plus yards in 22 of his 31 career games. Earned first-team All-Big 12 honors each season in college. Selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 7 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

View also: Nos. 31-40, Nos. 21-30, Nos. 11-20

This feature appears in every 2009 Athlon Sports regional edition magazine. Click here to purchase your copy.

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