Top 30 Most Overlooked High School Recruits to Go Pro Since 2000

One of the NFL’s best interior linemen was barely recruited out of high school. Josh Sitton starred as a two-way lineman at Catholic High School in Pensacola, Florida, excelling in protection and run blocking while also notching six sacks and 50 tackles as a senior. In the talent-rich Sunshine State, Sitton was a second team All-State offensive lineman in 2003. Yet he was ungraded on offense and ranked just 288th among 2004 defensive line recruits according to the 247Sports composite of recruiting rankings. Over offers from Nicholls State and UAB, Sitton stayed in state to play at UCF.

With the Knights, Sitton played in every game as a true freshman and started three games at right guard. By his sophomore year, he was the starting right tackle as UCF went from a winless 2004 season to eight wins and the first bowl appearance in school history. After the team regressed back under .500 in 2006, Sitton’s senior season was especially noteworthy. He was part of the line that helped Kevin Smith nearly break Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record, as the Knights won 10 games for the first time and their first C-USA championship. After being selected in the fourth round by Green Bay at the 2008 NFL Draft, he has emerged as a four-time Pro Bowl guard.