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

Class of 2008: Some Elite Linebackers (Part II)

Arthur Brown LB/RB 6'3 220 4.47 Wichita East Kansas

Arthur is a truly special talent, among the very elite LBs in the nation and the top Class of 2008 prospect in Kansas. Nevertheless, he may only be the second best returning player in 2007 on his team and in his family as younger brother Bryce, Class of 2009, could well emerge as one of the nation’s very best overall prospects in a couple of years irrespective of position. Bryce beat out his older brother for the starting TB spot, but he is one of the very few prospects across the nation who Arthur will ever play second fiddle to……As a sophomore and junior he was a consensus First Team Class 6A All-State selection and as a junior he was named to the Wichita Eagles “Second 11” All-State Team…….He was very impressive at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine……..Some felt he was the most impressive prospect to attend the 2006 Oklahoma summer camp….. As a sophomore starter at LB and FB, he registered 154 tackles (111 solo) and 7 sacks and rushed for 462 yards……A real physical specimen. Has nice size, excellent speed and quickness and hits like a truck……….As of mid-January 2006 he already had offers from the likes of Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Florida, Georgia, Rutgers and Arkansas....One of the best to emerge out of Kansas in a long, long time.


Chris Jordan LB/RB 6'2 201 4.63 Brentwood Academy Tennessee

Brentwood Academy regularly churns out Division I talent and LB/RB Chris Jordan is the next blue-chipper that top college programs are turning their attention to……….He transferred to Brentwood from Norcross High in Georgia for his junior year……Played both RB and LB at Norcross his sophomore year (rushing for over 800 yards in just 5 games as a starter) but was primarily used as a RB his junior season at Brentwood……Had minor knee surgery in October 2006 but is now back to full health. Before going down with his injury he had carried the ball 68 times for 487 yards and 5 TDs…..Being recruited by some as an athlete as he has the potential to play RB, LB or S in college…..Some feel he is the top RB prospect in Tennessee……Very, very impressive as a sophomore on the 2006 combine circuit turning in such numbers as a 4.63 forty, 4.31 shuttle, 38-inch vertical and 15 bench reps……By the end of 2006 he already had early offers from some of the area’s top programs, including Georgia, Tennessee and Auburn.


Jerrell Harris LB/DL 6'4 230 4.50 Gadsden City Alabama

Harris has emerged as one of the top overall prospects in Alabama and among the nation’s top linebackers........As a junior, he earned First Team Class 6A All-State honors on the DL……Great frame for an OLB (that has a lot of room to fill out) along with possessing outstanding 4.5 forty speed, a 32-inch vertical, a 280 bench and 500 squat……Best attribute may be his knack for finding the ball. Nice football instincts. As of late 2006 he had already been extended offers by such schools as Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, Clemson and Louisville.


David Posluszny LB/DB/RB 6'1 206 4.75 Aliquippa Hopewell Pennsylvania

Posluszny is one of the top LB prospects in the nation……As a sophomore, he was named Second Team Class AAA All-State as a safety while also playing WR. He registered 50 tackles. He was injured much of his junior season so didn’t garner any major honors, however when he was healthy he was quite effective both on defense and as a fullback……Great bloodlines, as his older brother is Penn State All-American linebacker Paul Posluszny……..Like his brother, he also projects to play OLB in college although he could well play safety……Plays basketball (held back by a separated shoulder in 2007) and baseball……Very athletic, with a great nose for the ball and exceptional quickness. Excels in pass coverage (nor surprise for a prep safety) but is also strong enough to come up and support the run…..During the 2006 combine season he ran a 4.75 forty, an outstanding 4.29 shuttle, had a 33-inch vertical and did a solid 21 bench reps……Has the potential to be the same caliber of player as his older brother……By late January he had received early offers from Notre Dame, Penn State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Louisville.


Brandon Beachum LB/DB/RB 6'1 209 4.82 Youngstown Cardinal Mooney Ohio

Beachum is one of the nation’s top LB prospects and one of three highly touted Class of 2008 prospects at Cardinal Mooney………He starred as a sophomore at Poland High before transferring to Cardinal Mooney for his junior year………Helped lead Cardinal Mooney to a state title as a junior, rushing for over 500 yards despite missing some time and not being fully healthy until late in the season (deep thigh bruise and then an injured foot)……….. As a sophomore at Poland, he carried the ball 215 times for 1,003 yards and 10 TDs and earned Division IV All-District honors at LB…..Looked excellent on the 2006 combine circuit (4.31 shuttle, 4.82 forty)…….Benches 320, squats 540, power cleans 240, 31-inch vertical…..Plays basketball…….On film, at LB he runs very well from sideline-to-sideline, does a great job of stepping up and filling the hole and wraps up the ball carriers very well. At RB he runs with a lot of power and good speed plus shows a bit of shiftiness. Linebacker, however, will be his college position, in part due to his physical nature and attacking style of play. He’s a big-time hitter….…3.2 GPA and 19 ACT…..Received his first offer from Cincinnati after camping their in the summer of 2006…..As of mid-January he had offers from Nebraska, Oklahoma, Indian, Pittsburgh, Iowa State and a few others.

posted by Jim Stefani @ 3:13 PM