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

Class of 2008: Some Elite Running Backs

Darrell Scott RB/DB/ATH 6'2 190 4.40 Ventura St. Bonaventure California


As of mid-January I have Scott ranked as the nation’s top RB.......He’s just an outstanding talent who has had a very productive prep career that should continue at the college level due to his unique combination of size, power, speed, quickness, toughness, cutting-ability, vision, balance, and running instincts……As one area coach said, he can run through you, around you and by you……Earned many, many honors as a junior and sophomore, to many to name, but the most impressive were being named First Team All-State by CalHiSports, the Los Angeles Daily News’ Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-America by MaxPreps…….. As a junior, he carried the ball 337 times for an amazing 3194 yards (9.48 ypc) and 45 TDs. He was the first L.A.-Area large-school running back - and one of 15 players in state history - to run for 3,000 yards in a season………. As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,988 yards and 19 TDs………….Compared by some to Eddie George.…..Ran a 10.68 100-meters as a sophomore……By mid-January he had well over 20 offers, including from such top programs as USC, UCLA, and Michigan…….A unique talent.......Announced on January 23 that he will be leaving Moorpark and transferring to Ventura St. Bonaventure for his senior year.


Justin Johnson RB/LB 6'3 210 4.50 Gilmer Texas

Johnson is among the nation’s elite RBs and part of a deep and talented Class of 2008 stable of Texas RBs…..One of several highly touted juniors at Gilmer……..A First Team Class 3A All-District selection as a sophomore and a Second Team Class 3A All-Stater as a junior…..Could also project as a LB in college, but he’s too special with the ball in his hands……..As a sophomore, he carried the ball 91 times for 793 yards and 8 TDs and had 9 receptions for 162 yard. On defense, he recorded 75 tackles from his OLB position……With his combination of size and speed, some have compared him to Adrian Peterson (lacks his top-end speed). I wouldn’t quite put him in that category, but he isn’t too far behind……Needs to get more experience playing RB and improve his technique, but there is no questioning his raw talent…….Very physical and aggressive on the field…..Well-built, he certainly passes the eyeball test…..As of mid-January 2007, he had over 25 offers, including such programs as Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Baylor and Mississippi.


Jermie Calhoun RB/DB 6'0 195 4.49 Van Texas

Considered by many to be the top RB in Texas and among the elite beakc in the nation…………Earned First Team Class 3A All-State honors as a sophomore Honorable Mention as a junior………..A two-way starter at RB and safety, Calhoun had already rushed for almost 1,500 yards through late October of his junior season, averaging over 8 yards per carry and scoring 20 TDs……..As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,653 yards and 23 TDs in 10 games and tallied more than 50 tackles……As a freshman, he rushed for 980 yards, had 134 yards in receptions and registered 64 tackles from his safety position…….Has nice size, and is capable of running between the tackles and outside due to his nice combination of power, speed, quickness, cutting ability and vision…..Catches the ball well out of the backfield….Solid leadership qualities and a hard worker……Good student……Already playing varsity basketball as a freshman for a state championship team….250+ bench, 460+ squat……As of late 2006 Kansas State and Mississippi had offered.


Eric Smith RB 6'0 235 4.68 Seffner Armwood Florida

Eric is among the very best RBs in the nation and probably the best pure power back………He was a Second Team Class 4A All-State RB as a sophomore but didn’t earn many honors his junior season as he was out for several weeks early in the season due to a dislocated elbow. When he returned, he was back to his old amazing self, displaying the power and innate running ability to rank among the nation’s top prospects…………He plays for a powerful program that regularly churns out D-1 talent (most recently, Torrey Davis)………As a sophomore, Smith rushed for over 1,600 yards and 23 TDs. He also had 24 receptions and 4 more scores….….Has surprising speed and agility for a power runner. It’s amazing to see how elusive the big guy is in the open field. Sort of a young Jerome Bettis in terms of his style…….Great bloodlines, as his father, Eric Sr., once held the state one-game rushing record with 502 yards. Younger brother Petey (Class of 2009) could be the best linebacker in the nation in a couple of years………. Florida was the first school to offer back in September 2006 and he will have his pick of schools when all is said and done.


British Footman RB/DB 6'0 190 4.50 Tallahassee Godby Florida

There are several elite national caliber RBs in Florida in the Class of 2008 and Footman ranks up there with the best of them……As a junior, he had 178 carries for 1,296 yards (7.28 ypc) and 18 TDs for the city champions and was named Second Team Class 3A All-State and First Team Tallahassee Democrat All-Big Bend………..As a sophomore, he earned Honorable Mention All-Big Bend honors after rushing for 962 yards and 13 TDs……….. He is a slasher with very good speed and runs tough….Plays in an area that produces quite a bit of D-1 talent…..One of the nation’s top backs

posted by Jim Stefani @ 1:23 PM