A Step Ahead: Jim Stefani's Underclassmen Football Recruiting Blog

Class of 2009 Watch

Here are a few of the very best sophomores in Virginia. Not necessarily the top eight as I am not including such future greats as Dominic Davenport and Alan Castro. Colleges interested in a complete listing of the top sophomores should subscribe to my service.


Ross Metheny QB 6'2 175 Sherando Virginia

Metheny was a rare freshman starter at QB at the Virginia AA level and led his team to the Division 4 semifinals. He passed for an impressive 1,888 yards and 17 TDs. He's a quick learner and a real student of the game. He just loves football. For a youngster, he has shown fine leadership skills. He gets nice velocity on his throws and throws a nice, catchable ball. Can make all the throws.


Sterling Phifer RB 5'10 195 Virginia Beach Landstown Virginia

Phifer was an impressive freshman RB who played in the shadows of talented super senior wideouts Percy Harvin and Damon McDaniel. As a sophomore, he has really risen to the challenge and, together with outstanding junior QB Xavier Boyce, is now the fulcrum point of the talented Landstown offense. Through early October he had rushed for 640 yards. He shows nice cutting ability, fine speed and has added about 15 pounds to his frame since his freshman season and is now running with more power. One of the nation's top sophomores.


Quentin Hunter WR/QB/ATH 6'2 190 Orange County Virginia

Hunter had an opportunity to play some as a freshman at QB after standout Bradley Starks (West Virginia verbal) went down for an injury. This year, however, he has shifted to his natural position of WR and has really shined catching passes from Starks. In one game he had 10 receptions for 219 yards and a touchdown. He has also stood out at DB. In the first game of his sophomore season he had 3 interceptions for 100 return yards. As the team's most talented underclassman, he will move back to QB as a junior, but his college future will be as either a WR or DB. He has excellent size for a WR, good speed, reacts well to the ball in a crowd and runs well in the open field.


Lemont Lewis TE/DL 6'4 205 Newport News Warwick Virginia

Lewis is one of the top underclassmen in the Tidewater Bay area. He is a talented TE/DE who has a great frame that should really fill out over the next few years. He runs well for his size and has good athleticism. One to really keep an eye on.


Jonathan Cawley OL 6'7 290 Richmond Huguenot Virginia

Huguenot has consistently produced high-level D-1 players over the years and Crawley is the top sophomore in Coach Richard McFee's fine program. He has ideal size for an OT but also shows surprisingly nimble feet and athleticism for such a young a big prospect. Should emerge as one of the nation's best linemen.


DeAntre Rhoades DL 6'3 250 Richmond Varina Virginia

Varina is another Richmond school that has produced quite a bit of D-1 talent over the years (most recently Michigan freshman RB Brandon Minor and Virginia Tech verbal Davon Morgan). Only the fourth freshman to start for Coach Wolfe at Varina (the others were former Penn State QB Mike Robinson and talented linemen Jonathan and Kevin Lewis). Very athletic, he also plays basketball. Was very impressive at the West Virginia summer camp in 2006. A future national recruit.


Telvion Clark LB 6'2 180 Norfolk Granby Virginia

Clark anchors Granby's defensive unit as a sophomore linebacker after earning second team All-Eastern District honors as a freshman starter in a talent-laden district. He has fine quickness, gets a nice jump on the ball and really wraps up opposing ball carriers. Has the frame to fill out and eventually become a D-1 recruit.


Theron Norman DB/QB 6'3 170 Richmond Hermitage Virginia

Norman is a tall and rangy safety prospect who also plays QB for Hermitage. He has a nice frame, anticipates well and has good closing speed. One of the better young prospects in the Richmond area.

posted by Jim Stefani @ 1:32 PM