The Most Talented Area Code

The United States has 269 different area codes serving its population. California alone has 26 different area codes. Texas has 24 while Florida has 17. Thirteen states and one district (AK, DE, HI, ID, ME, MT, NH, ND, NM, RI, VT, WV, DC) only have one a piece. The Commonwealth of Virgina has seven and one in particular that is intriguing: The 757.

The 757 area code might be the most talented area code in the United States. Yes, Miami, Houston and Los Angeles all may produce more talent overall but all have more than one area code. The 757 was created in 1996 and consists of Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Williamsburg. From now on, these cities and all surrounding towns will be known as: The 757.

During the last recruiting cycle, the class of 2009, one-third of the top rated players in the state of Virginia came from the Hampton Bay area. The state's No. 2 prospect was Chesapeake wide receiver Logan Heastie (AC100 No. 49). He is headed to West Virginia. The state's No. 4 rated prospect was Hampton quarterback Tajh Boyd (AC100 No. 77). He signed with Clemson. Chesapeake also claimed the highly rated Tennessee linebacker Jerod Askew and UVa wide receiver Tim Smith. Both of whom are in the upper echelon on the state's rankings this season. Hampton also featured Virginia Tech defensive end James Gayle and West Virginia's duo of Dominik Davenport and Shawne Alston. Norfolk offered up two linebackers: The Hokies' Telvion Clark and Louisville's Mike Privott. Williamsburg sent end Will Hill to the in-state Cavs.

All 10 were rated in the top-30 in the state of Virginia.

In the class of 2008, the state's top player was E.J. Manuel. The Florida State quarterback of the future was the No. 3 quarterback in the nation and was No. 21 in the Athlon Consensus 100. He played at Bayside High School in Virginia Beach. Virginia Tech made a living in Va-Beach as they landed Marcus Davis, Tony Gregory, Lyndell Gibson and Xavier Boyce from that area last season. Minnesota landed Va-Beach tailback Kevin Whaley as well.

The No. 5 player in the state was stud left tackle Vinston Painter. Painter and defensive tackle Klinton Ruff both hail from Norfolk. Chesapeake sent wideouts Kerry Boykins (Maryland) and Todd Harrelson (North Carolina) to the ACC. Again, 10 of the state's top-30 played in The 757.

The top player in the state in the '07 class was Hokie star quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The dual-threat talent is poised to break out after back-to-back ACC championships. You might have heard of the top player from the Commonwealth in '06: Florida's Percy Harvin. All he did was win two national championships in three years. The 2006 group also included Penn State's Chris Bell (Norfolk) and Va Tech's Cam Chancellor (Norfolk) among many others.

How about the 2003 class? The top four players in the state claimed The 757. The list includes Chris Ellis (Hampton), Xavier Adibi (Hampton), Vince Hall (Chesapeake) and Phillip Brown (Hampton). The '04 class featured Jerod Mayo (Hampton) and Branden Ore (Chesapeake). Four of those six are currently in the NFL and Ore could be drafted in April.

Since Ronald Curry (Hampton) won national high school athlete of the year in 1997 as a quarterback, The 757 has seen a run of college quarterbacks unlike any other. Aaron Brooks (Newport News) preceded Curry and then Michael Vick, Marcus Vick, Marques Hagans, Tyrod Taylor, E.J. Manuel and Tajh Boyd followed. That is remarkable collection of talent from one location.

You get the point. Its a loaded hotbed of football recruiting. However, this is nothing new. This area has been churning out elite level football players for over 50 years. Here is a look at the all-time 757 team:

QB: Norm Snead — Newport News
This is an elite position and the nod goes to the second overall pick in the 1961 draft simply for accomplishment. With three Pro Bowls and over 30,000 passing yards, he is the most decorated NFL quarterback on this list. Michael Vick, had he not gotten thrown in jail, would easily be the starter. Curry, Hagans, Brooks and Taylor could all make a case as well.

RB: Tommy Reamon — Newport News — 1975 WFL MVP
RB: Leroy Keyes — Newport News — Philadelphia Eagles
WR: Percy Harvin — Va Beach — Florida Gators
WR: Plaxico Burress — Norfolk — New York Giants
WR: Ronald Curry — Hampton — Oakland Raiders
WR: Al Toon — Newport News — New York Jets
TE: Ben Watson — Norfolk — New England Patriots
OL: Dwight Stephenson — Hampton — NFL Hall of Famer

DL: Dwight White — Hampton — Member of Steel Curtain defense
DL: Bruce Smith — Va Beach — Greatest DE of all time?
DL: Henry Jordan — Newport News — NFL Hall of Famer
DL: William Fuller — Norfolk — Oilers, Eagles, Bears
LB: Lawrence Taylor — Williamsburg — Greatest LB of all time?
LB: Xavier Adibi — Hampton — Houston Texans
LB: Chris Hanburger — Hampton — Washington Redskins
LB: Vince Hall — Chesapeake — Buffalo Bills
LB: Jerod Mayo — Hampton — New England Patriots
DB: Shawn Springs — Williamsburg — Washington Redskins
DB: Dre Bly — Chesapeake — Denver Broncos
DB: Jimmy Williams — Hampton — Atlanta Falcons
DB: DeAngelo Hall — Chesapeake — Washington Redskins
DB: Antoine Beathea — Newport News — Indianapolis Colts
DB: Aaron Rouse — Virginia Beach — Green Bay Packers

KR/PR: Allen Iverson — Hampton — Detroit Pistons
KR/PR: Shaun Gayle — Newport News — Chicago Bears
K: Mike Husted — Hampton — Tampa Bay Bucs
Coach: Mike Tomlin — Newport News — Pittsburgh Steelers
DB Coach: Darren Perry — Chesapeake — Former Penn State Nittany Lion
LB Coach: Ed Beard — Chesapeake — Former Tennessee Vol

Gayle won a Super Bowl with the Bears and was a 12-year veteran safety. He gets slotted at return man, however, because he is credited with the shortest punt return for a touchdown in NFL history: five yards. He also appeared on the famous Super Bowl Shuffle video.

The defense is loaded as arguably the greatest defensive end and linebacker in NFL history hailing from The 757. Allen Iverson's mythical football career has been linked to phrases like "the greatest high school return man of all time." The skill positions are stacked as well. Quarterback goes without saying but Burress, Harvin and Toon catching all those passes isn't bad either. Interestingly enough, the collection of linebackers not on this list is astounding. Along with quarterback, it is the deepest position from the 757.

BUT WAIT!!! There is a lot more.

How about a celebrity hoops game? The 757 Classic is a two-on-two tournament featuring Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning, Joe Smith and JR Reid. Good ol' Lefty Driesell will be coachin' em up from the sidelines. All claim The 757.

During halftime there will be live performances by: Ella Fitgerald, Missy Elliot, Timbaland, Robert Cray, The Neptunes, Ernie Watts, Bruce Hornsby, Tonedef, Steve Earle, Clarence Clemons, the Wooten Brothers and Wayne freakin Newton! Yes, all from The 757.

Broadcasting for The 757 Classic will be none other than Marty Brennaman, Wanda Sykes, Mark Hamill and Danny Tanner. I know what you are thinking. Bob Saget is from this planet? Yup, Virginia.

The after party entertainment will be emceed by the dynamic duo of Nikki Nova, who you will remember from "Night Calls: 411" on the Playboy channel, and the equally as open-minded Pat Robertson from his program "The 700 Club." For the talent portion of the program, Nova will be joined by the 1970 Miss USA Deborah Shelton.

All from The 757.

Fancy baseball instead? No problem. A softball game will feature David Wright, Ryan Zimmerman, B.J. Upton, Justin Upton, Mark Reynolds and Michael Cuddyer. All from The 757.

Cutting up orange slices for the athletes will be the infamous groupie turned mother Bebe Buell. The 1974 Playmate of the Year was the inspiration for 'Penny Lane,' one of the leads in the supremely underrated 2000 movie Almost Famous. She has been linked to Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page and Steven Tyler — who is the father of Buell's daughter: actress Liv Tyler.

If that was not enough proof. Everyone will be dressed from head-to-toe in Perry Ellis outfits, who hails from Portsmouth. If anyone steps out of line, Pernell "Sweat Pea" Whitaker will be in charge of security. The 1984 Gold Medalist was a professional boxing champion in four weight classes and is from Norfolk. He will be aided by M.M.A. fighters Brandon Vera and Nick "The Goat" Thompson — from Norfolk and Newport News respectively.

The number of Governors, Senators, professors, Representatives, former Secretaries of Energy, Presidents of University and other various academic and social leaders is too long to count.

The talent production isn't going to stop anytime soon either. Looking ahead to 2010, the Chesapeake area claims another elite level prospect. Quarterback Phillip Sims is a 6-foot-2, 215 pound athlete that has a chance to get into the AC100. The Oscar Smith High School signal-caller led his team to an undefeated state championship by compiling over 2,800 yards and 37 touchdowns as a junior. In the title game, he threw for a state record six touchdowns. Sims looks to be the next in the long line of talented quarterbacks from the Hampton Bay area.

So, the challenge stands. What is the most talent-laden area code in the country? My vote goes to The 757.

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