Class of 2008: Some Elite Offensive Linemen (Part III)
Josh Jenkins OL/DL 6'3 282 5.20 Parkersburg West Virginia West Virginia Jenkins is one of the nation’s very best OL prospects and some even feel that he could be the best guard prospect in the country…..One of the best players to emerge out of West Virginia in years…….Was very, very impressive at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine in earning All-Combine recognition. He was only beaten once in one-on-one drills and showed off his strength, athleticism and unusually quick feet………..Very effective in getting to the second-line of defense and would be ideally suited to playing in a zone-blocking scheme…..Excels at hitting moving targets and moving the pile…..Outstanding trap blocker. Very effective with his hands……Plays for a strong program and helped lead them to an unbeaten season and the state Class AAA title…….Great work ethic and well coached…..He was a First Team Class AAA All-State selection as both a sophomore and junior……As a junior he won the prestigious Hunt Award, presented annually to the state’s top lineman after starring both ways. On defense, he tallies 96 tackles, 10 TFL, 6 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and a blocked kick…….He registered 82 tackles, 4 sacks, 10 TFL and 2 fumble recoveries as a sophomore………MVP at the 2006 West Virginia summer camp……Impressed on 2006 combine circuit…….Best combine marks include a 5.2 forty, 4.6 shuttle, 25 bench reps and a 28-inch vertical……3.5 GPA and will take the SAT in spring……He committed to West Virginia in September, 2006 over offers from Virginia Tech, Marshall and Ohio U.. It was a smart move by the Mountaineers before the nation’s college football powers were able to get a foot in the door. Such programs as Florida State and Notre Dame offered in January.
David Snow OL 6'4 280 5.10 Gilmer Texas Texas Snow is one of the very best offensive line prospects in the nation and is one of a handful of very talented Class of 2008 prospects at Gilmer……….Projects as a guard in college….He was already a First Team All-District selection as a sophomore and a starter as a freshman for a 16-0 3A Division II state championship team………Nasty on-field demeanor. Enjoys hitting people…..A very hard worker, he has a desire to become great……Great understanding of the game and exceptional technique. Effective both in run and pass blocking…..Wants to play for a top offensive line coach….Benches 315, squats 485…..Impressed at the 2006 Texas summer mini-camp…..A of mid-January 2007 he had early offers from such programs as Oklahoma, Nebraska, Michigan and Texas A&M. He said that he would commit to Texas as soon as he receives an offer.
Matt Kalil OL 6'7 262 5.34 Anaheim Servite California USC Kalil is one of the nation’s very best linemen and among California’s top overall prospects…….A CalHiSports.com First Team All-Underclass selection as a junior and was named to their All-Sophomore team in 2005. As a junior he was also named First Team All-Area by the Los Angeles Times and First Team All-County by the Orange County Register……….Plays for one of the top programs in California and will join teammates Chris Galipo and D.J. Shoemate at USC……Servite has produced several high-quality offensive linemen in recent years and Matt could be the best of the bunch…….Older brother Ryan was a three-year starter at center for USC and Matt is a much more highly regarded prospect……..Will be a left tackle in college, and with his fine height, long arms and fine balance and movement he should excel at the D-I level…..Great work ethic, in part from emulating his older brother. A real competitor……Very impressive at the 2006 Stanford Nike camp……Should fill out to about 300 pounds in college after being a mere 185 pounds as a prep freshman……..28-inch vertical……3.5 GPA…..He committed to USC in September 2006 over offers from Miami, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, Mississippi and San Diego State.
Matt Patchan OL 6'6 250 4.91 ex-Tampa Freedom (Transferring) Florida One of the top linemen in the nation and among the elite prospects in Florida this year………Patchan announced that he will be leaving Tampa Freedom High before his senior season as his family will be moving………..Among the top linemen at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine, proving to be one of the most athletic linemen in attendance and showing off a nice frame, good feet and a nasty streak……….Still on the lean side, he has a frame with a lot of room to fill out…….Very quick (clocked a very impressive 4.44 shuttle at a 2006 combine)……A two-way player who projects as an OT in college…..On the 2006 combine circuit he did 20 bench reps, a 31.5-inch vertical, and a 4.95 forty………..A First Team Class 4A All-State selection and St. Petersburg Times First Team All-Suncoast choice as a junior…….His sophomore season he was an Honorable Mention All-Hillsborough County selection…….On film, his quick feet and ability to adjust in space stand out. He needs to get stronger and become more of a mauler, but that will come with time as he shows a lot of toughness and physical play. He has excellent body balance and comes off the ball very quickly…….His father is former Miami offensive lineman and Patriots assistant Matt Patchan Sr……….Patchan had over 15 offers by mid-January, including such programs as Miami, Florida, Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Auburn.
Brandon Washington OL 6'4 305 5.47 Miami Edison Florida Washington is one of several top-national level offensive linemen in the state this year………..As a junior he was named Second Team All-Dade County by the Miami Herald after earning Third Team honors as a sophomore…..The Miami Herald ranked him as the top prospect in talent-heavy Dade County heading into his junior season……….Was already receiving accolades as a future blue-chipper as a freshman on the varsity…….An exceptional pass blocker who has not allowed a sack since his freshman season…..Started his prep career as a DT and OG, but has since found a home at OT…….Very strong, he can do four bench reps at 315 pounds and is light on his feet…….Probably projects as a guard in college due to his quick feet and effectiveness in pulling….Hard-nosed player who will hit you and hit you hard……Sophomore combine marks include a 5.47 forty, 5.06 shuttle, 19 bench reps, and a 21-inch vertical…….2.6 GPA…….Will have his choice of schools.
Class of 2008: Some Elite Tight Ends (Part II)
Dion Jordan TE/WR/LB 6'6 210 4.60 Chandler Arizona Jordan will challenge cross-town rival Gerell Robinson, another big and athletic receiver, for honors as the top overall prospect in Arizona. It’s amazing that a town the size of Chandler has two such outstanding talents……..As a junior, Jordan was named First Team Class 5A All-State by the Arizona Republic after hauling in 54 passes for 804 yards and 13 TDs…..He plays WR in high school but could project as a TE in college if he continues to fill out, and he could easily add another 30-40 pounds. With added size he could also play DE in college (as a junior he recorded 30 tackles and 3 sacks playing DE)………A long-strider with soft hands and fine speed, he is one of the top 300-meter hurdles runners in the state, having run an impressive 38.28 as a sophomore. Also very tough and physical, showing an excellent ability to engage the defender when blocking..…Great bloodlines as his father is former NFL TE Steve Jordan and older brother Cameron is one of the state’s better prospect sin the Class of 2007…..Has a very high ceiling……By the end of 2006 he had received offers from UCLA, Colorado, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State and Hawaii.
Brandon Moore TE 6'6 221 4.61 Trotwood-Madison Ohio Trotwood-Madison is the most talent-laden program in the Dayton area and Moore is the best of several Division I prospects in its Class of 2008………..One of the better TE prospects in the nation…… As a junior he had 19 receptions for 286 yards and a score despite missing a couple of games with an ankle sprain………Was already starting as a freshman……He has an excellent frame and catches the ball very well…….Solid blocker and runs well (ran a 4.61 forty after his freshman year at the Ohio State camp)……A three-sport athlete who was also a sophomore letterman in basketball and put the shot and ran the 4 x 400 relay in track……An outstanding student: 3.9+ GPA……As of late January he had offers from Georgia, Mississippi, Nebraska, Illinois, LSU, Stanford and Clemson.
Andrew Jones TE/DL 6'5 225 5.06 Smithville Missouri One of the better tight ends in the nation and possibly the top prospect in the Kansas City area……Was a Second Team Class 3A All-State selection as a junior after hauling in 50 passes for 612 yards and 6 TDs. Also impressed on defense, racking up 45 tackles, 8 sacks and an INT…….Runs well, has a nice frame and is very athletic……Was impressive as a sophomore on the combine circuit, posting marks of 5.06 in the forty, 4.62 in the shuttle, and a 25-inch vertical……..Still growing and filling out……By the end of January he had early offers from Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas and Kansas State.
Dwayne Allen TE/DL 6'4 235 4.80 Fayetteville Terry Sanford North Carolina Georgia One of the better tight ends in the nation….. As a junior, he had 25 catches for 523-yards and 1 TD…….As a sophomore, he earned First Team All-Conference honors after pulling in 16 passes for 415 yards and a score……..Allen is a long-strider who runs very well and has soft hands….Good student…..He committed to Georgia in December 2006, turning down offers from Virginia Tech, Mississippi, North Carolina and North Carolina State.
Mario Carter TE 6'6 240 4.80 Charlotte Independence North Carolina Carter is one of the nation’s top TE prospects…..He plays for a team that has won several consecutive state titles and has the nation’s longest current unbeaten streak. They also produce loads of D-I talent, such as graduating Florida QB Chris Leak……..Carter was a rare sophomore starter for Independence and his coach believes that he could be really special…..As a sophomore he was named Second Team All-Mecklenburg by the Charlotte Observer……..He has a great frame, is well-proportioned and has quick feet……One of two talented Class of 2008 tight ends at Independence…..Very high ceiling……Being recruited by the area’s top programs.
Class of 2008: Some Elite Quarterbacks (Part II)
Drew McAllister QB 6'2 188 4.75 Danville Monte Vista California The top QB in northern California and among the nation’s best…..As a junior, he completed 165 of 250 passes (66%) for 2,118 yards, 21 TDs and 11 INTs. He added another 3 TDs rushing……..As a sophomore, he completed 147 of 225 passes for 1,943 yards, 19 TDs and 8 INTs…….Very athletic. Would be starting at WR if he wasn’t such a great QB…….Named First Team Junior All-State in 2006 and First Team Sophomore All-State in 2005…….His coaches believe he could be a better prospect than former Monte Vista QB Kyle Wright (now at Miami), who was the top-rated prep QB in the nation a few years back….On film he shows excellent movement in the pocket and is very effective in running a no-huddle offense and taking command of the offense. He gets nice spin on his throws and is very accurate…..2006 combine marks of 4.75 in the forty, 4.62 shuttle, 10 bench reps and a 31-inch vertical.
Blaine Gabbert QB 6'4 220 4.65 Ballwin Parkway West Missouri Gabbert is your prototypical drop-back quarterback prospect and among the top QBs in the nation….. As a junior, he passed for 1,523 yards, 20 TDs and just 7 INTs while rushing for an additional 458 yards and 7 TDs………..Passed for 1,265 yards and 11 TDs as a sophomore……..He has nice frame, very strong arm and shows good escapability (4.65 combine forty, 4.37 shuttle). Has a quick release and puts a lot of zip on the ball. Can make all the throws…….Very poised in the pocket but needs to overcome a tendency to hold on to the ball too long……..Very impressive at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine, being named Second Team All-Combine…….Looked good at the 2006 Missouri and Miami (Ohio) camps…..As of late January he had offers from Missouri, Miami (Ohio), Clemson and Kansas State.
D.C. Jefferson QB/WR 6'5 237 4.76 Winter Haven Florida
Jefferson is one of the most athletic and talented signal-callers in the nation and is also a potential super at WR or TE……As a junior he was named Second Team All-Area by the Winter Haven News after completing 92 of 200 passes (46%) for 1,148 yards, 9 TDs and 10 INTs in a run-oriented offense. He rushed for about 900 yards and 5 scores……As a sophomore he had 981 passing yards, 185 rushing yards, 7 TD passes and 7 INTs. Really put together well. A tremendous athlete but still quite raw as a QB, as evidenced by his junior numbers throwing th ball…….A dual threat who has a cannon for an arm and can beat you with his feet. He has really quick feet. Reminds some of Vincent Young due to his size and athleticism, but he is much rawer as a QB prospect than Young was at the same stage……Needs to improve his reads and throwing accuracy and put more touch on his passes…….2006 combine marks include a 4.76 forty, 4.41 shuttle, 30-inch vertical and 14 bench reps……Also plays basketball…...If he puts it all together his ceiling could be higher than any QB in the class. If not, he will play WR, TE or DE…..2.0 core GPA a concern…..As of early January he had offers from Tennessee and Mississippi.
Dayne Crist QB/LB 6'5 221 4.66 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame CaliforniaCrist is one of the nation’s top QB prospects......His junior season was his first year as a starter as he backed up USC freshman Garrett Green as a sophomore……He plays for a program that has regularly produced Division I talent in recent years (Justin Fargas, Travis Johnson, etc…)…..As a junior, despite missing four games due to an injury he completed 63 of 119 passes (52.9%) for 1,270 yards, 17 TDs and just 3 INTs. He also rushed for 230 yards and 4 TDs on 48 carries (4.79 average)……He earned First Team Junior All-State honors and Honorable Mention Los Angeles Daily News All-Area honors as a junior…..As a sophomore, he completed 25 of 50 passes for 386 yards, 3 TDs and no INTs. He rushed for 168 yards on 28 carries (6.0 average)…..Has the ideal frame for a drop-back QB but also has surprising mobility and escapability from the pocket. Is a threat carrying the ball as well as throwing it……Has a very strong and accurate arm and can make all the throws. He just needs to get more game experience and shorten his delivery……A tough kid who isn’t afraid to mix it up……Looked pretty good at the 2007 U.S Army Combine after getting off to a slow start.
Nolan Kearney QB 6'4 225 4.70 Downingtown West PennsylvaniaKearney is the top-ranked QB in Pennsylvania and among the nation’s best…….Has excellent size, a very strong arm and outstanding athletic ability…….Also stars in basketball and as a pitcher in baseball……..On film, in running the spread offense this left-hander shows excellent velocity on his throws, stands tall in the pocket and can move around pretty well, even running the option………..As a junior, he completed 99 of 148 passes for 1,500 yards in leading his team to a 10-2 record. Impressive stats for a team that ran much more than it threw the ball……Passed for 1,194 yards as a sophomore….Outstanding character and a real leader.
Class of 2008: Some Elite Running Backs (Part II)
Richard Watson RB/LB 6'1 220 4.50 Tallahassee FAMU Florida One of the nation’s elite RBs………Watson runs with a rare combination of power and speed. He’s an outstanding athlete and one of the top overall prospects in Florida…….As a junior, he named First Team Class 1B All-State (and Player of the Year) and First Team Tallahassee Democrat All-Big Bend after carrying the ball 241 times for 2,140 yards (9.0 ypc) and 34 TDs in helping to lead his team to the state Class 1B championship……..Also starts at LB…….As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,512 yards and 13 TDs and registered 75 tackles, 5 sacks and 12 TFL……..He possesses excellent size and runs with authority, power and speed……..A very hard worker with a strong will to win…..Originally from California…….Ohio State and Alabama were the first schools to offer him back in 2006.
Milton Knox RB/DB 5'9 195 4.50 Lake Balboa Birmingham California It seems as though Knox has been on the recruiting radar forever, but this West Coast star is still just a junior and ranks among the very best RBs in the Class of 2008…….Has been named to all the relevant All-Underclass teams in California the past couple of years and was also a consensus First Team All-Los Angeles Area choice in addition to being named the City Player of the Year………As a junior, he carried the ball 328 times for 2374 yards (7.24 ypc) and 29 TDs and had 14 receptions for 96 yards….Dropped some weight before his junior season to become more elusive…… As a sophomore, he rushed 239 times for 1,606 yards and 26 TDs, while also catching 21 passes for another 336 yards and 3 TDs……..As a freshman, he helped lead Birmingham to the City Section championship by rushing for 505 yards and 6 TDs on 79 carries. He also caught 7 passes for 80 yards…….Knox has excellent quickness, vision and cutting ability. He’s a very instinctive back and has outstanding vision. He also runs low to the ground and with excellent lower body strength and power. His legs keep on churning, a lot like Michigan’s Mike Hart. Like Hart, he lacks breakaway speed……….Looked solid at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine……Following in the steps of Marlon Lucky and C.J. Gable as the City’s next great RB……….Fully qualified…….Good work ethic……..USC., UCLA, Florida State and Mississippi were among the schools to have offered Knox by early January 2007.
Jonas Gray RB 5'9 206 4.53 Birmingham Detroit Country Day Michigan Gray is among the nation’s elite RBs and could be the top overall back in the Midwest………As a junior, he rushed for 1,252 yards and 19 TDs………As a sophomore, he strarted both at RB and NG, rushing for 797 yards and 15 TDs……Was a freshman starter at LB…….He was very impressive at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine and was named to the All-Combine team………..Like Eric Smith and Richard Watson, he’s another powerful back who runs with surprising speed (4.58 forty on a slow track at the Michigan camp, runs track and claims a 10.55 100-meters!) and quickness……..On film, he does a great job of getting quickly to the line of scrimmage and pushing through to the second line of defense……..Was impressive at the 2006 Columbus Nike camp and also at the NMichigan and Michigan State summer camps………Needs to improve on his pass-catching skills……Plays for a private school that has produced a lot of talent both in football and hoops (Chris Webber, Shane Battier) and is arguably the top academic school in the state (has sent several recent football prospects to Northwestern)…….Has a 3.2 GPA…..Michigan State and Colorado already offered him in 2006.
Sam McGuffie RB 5'9 178 4.32 Houston Cy-Fair Texas Sam enjoyed a superlative junior season and is now being mentioned among the nation’s elite running backs………As a junior, he was named First Team Class 5A All-State after rushing for an impressive 3,121 yards and averaging 8.6 yards per carry……..One of the nation’s most improved players between his sophomore and junior seasons……As a sophomore, he earned Second Team All-District honors at RB after rushing for 853 yards (7.4 ypc) and 11 TDs………Speed and quickness are the name of his game, he’ as good as anyone in the prep ranks when in the open field…….At the college level could excel at TB, slotback and as a return man……..Very, very impressive on film, showing the power to easily break arm tackles at the prep level and the athleticism to leap over an opposing defender on a TD run (a popular video on U-Tube)………..Will need to get bigger, but he has been growing rapidly and his father is 6-5, 270…….Really wowed onlookers at a 2006 combine in Houston, earning MVP honors as a sophomore with the following marks: a 4.32 and a 4.35 in the forty, a 3.83 shuttle, a 41.8 vertical and 15 reps on the bench.……….Reportedly ran a sub 4.3 forty at the 2006 UTEP summer camp…..By mid-January he had received offers from Kansas, Texas Tech and Texas A&M.
Kevin Whaley RB/DB 5'10 180 4.45 Virginia Beach Salem Virginia Whaley is the top RB in Virginia and among the nation’s best.........Also a talented DB, many projected him to play in the secondary in college before an outstanding junior season solidified his status as a blue-chip RB………As a junior, he was named First Team AP AAA All-State and the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot Tidewater Area Player of Year after rushing for 1,992 yards and 37 TDs while averaging 7 yards per carry. He was also a First Team All-Beach District performer at DB……..As a sophomore, he was a Second Team All-Tidewater and All-Eastern Region selection while starting at RB & LB and rushing for 1,468 yards……As a freshman, he rushed for over 1,007 yards……He has excellent speed and is tough and physical on both sides of the ball……Old for his class, having turned 18 in November 2006…..A team leader…..Virginia Tech was the first team to offer.
Class of 2008 Top Rated Recruiting Classes: An Early Look
Class of 2008 Top Rated Recruiting Classes (Based on Verbals Only) 1. Georgia: Green a great one. Washington is a 100-meter regional champ, the others are all blue-chippers. Great start! 1 A.J. Green WR 6'4 184 4.56 Summerville South Carolina Georgia
2 Cornelius Washington DL/LB 6'4 220 4.51 Waynesboro Burke County Georgia Georgia
3 Dwayne Allen TE/DL 6'4 235 4.80 Fayetteville Terry Sanford North Carolina Georgia
4 Martin Ward RB 5'11 185 4.55 Jonesboro Mt. Zion Georgia Georgia
5 Tavarres King WR 6'1 154 4.47 Mt. Airy Habersham Central Georgia Georgia
6 Richard Samuel RB 6'0 197 4.47 Cartersville Cass Georgia Georgia
2. USC : Just two verbals but both among the nation's best at their respective positions 1 Dennis "D.J." Shoemate WR/DB 6'1 212 4.50 Anaheim Servite California USC
2 Matt Kalil OL 6'7 262 5.34 Anaheim Servite California USC
3. Tennessee: A nice group of blue-chippers committing early. Quantity and solid quality. 1 Aaron Douglas TE 6'7 240 4.90 Maryville Tennessee Tennessee
2 Austin Johnson LB 6'3 235 4.65 Hickory North Carolina Tennessee
3 Tauren Poole RB 5'10 194 4.65 Toccoa Stephens County Georgia Tennessee (soft)
4 J.T. Floyd DB 5'11 176 4.73 Greenville J.L. Mann South Carolina Tennessee
5 Ben Bartholomew LB/TE/P 6'3 225 Nashville Montgomery Bell Academy Tennessee Tennessee
4. Nebraska: Steinkuhler a super. The other two are also very good. 1 Baker Steinkuhler OL/DL 6'6 270 4.93 Lincoln Southwest Nebraska Nebraska
2 Collins Okafor RB 6'1 205 4.50 Omaha Westside Nebraska Nebraska
3 Dan Hoch OL 6'7 273 Harlan Iowa Nebraska
5. Texas A&M: Square and Johnson among the better prospects in the state. I like Chevalier too. Had a big junior day. 1 Damian Square LB/DL 6'3 230 4.74 Houston Yates Texas Texas A&M
2 Dravannti Johnson LB/DL 6'2 218 4.68 Nederland Texas Texas A&M
3 Leroy Chevalier OL 6'5 315 5.40 Houston Yates Texas Texas A&M
4 Britt Mitchell OL/DL 6'8 300 5.05 Roscoe Texas Texas A&M
5 Brian Thomas OL 6'4 270 5.00 Pearland Texas Texas A&M
6 Kyle Mangan LB 6'2 225 4.85 Brenham Texas Texas A&M
7 Joe Villavisencio OL 6'5 310 5.20 Jacksonville Texas Texas A&M
6. Oklahoma: Washington a super and Franklin is a very good get. 1 R.J. Washington DL/LB 6'4 225 4.62 Keller Fossil Ridge Texas Oklahoma
2 Daniel Franklin LB 6'3 215 4.60 Mt. Airy Habersham Central Georgia Oklahoma
7. Clemson: Bowers could be a super. 1 Daquan Bowers DL/TE 6'6 265 4.70 Bamberg-Ehrhardt South Carolina Clemson
2 Marquan Jones WR 6'0 175 Blythewood South Carolina Clemson
3 Matt Skinner OL/LSN 6'6 220 Jacksonville Bolles Florida Clemson
8. West Virginia: Jenkins among nation's elite. 1 Josh Jenkins OL 6'3 282 5.20 Parkersburg West Virginia West Virginia
2 Jeff Braun DL/OL 6'5 315 5.50 Winters Mill Maryland West Virginia
9. Maryland: Three solid early verbals. 1 A.J. Francis DL/OL 6'4 313 5.99 Washington Gonzaga D.C. Maryland
2 Teddy Dargan DL/TE 6'3 285 Baltimore Milford Mill Academy Maryland Maryland
3 Kevin Dorsey WR/QB 6'0 174 4.55 Forestville Military Academy Maryland Maryland
10. Arizona: One verbal, but a stud athlete/WR. Will it stick? 1 Gerell Robinson WR/DB/QB 6'4 225 4.60 Chandler Hamilton Arizona Arizona
11. Virginia Tech: Taylor is a beast. 1 Bruce Taylor LB/DL 6'3 230 4.65 Myrtle Beach South Carolina Virginia Tech
12. Arkansas: Top junior in the state? 1 Matt Hall OL 6'9 312 5.60 Dardanelle Arkansas Arkansas
13. Georgia Tech: Beat out Florida State for this talented wideout. 1 Chris Jackson WR/DB/RB 6'0 190 4.45 McDonough Henry County Georgia Georgia Tech
14. Mississippi: Solid RB been hampered by injuries. 1 Ken Davis RB/DB 6'1 214 4.71 Tupelo Mississippi Mississippi
15. Texas Tech: Has the skills to excel in Leach's system. 1 Seth Doege QB 6'2 200 4.60 Wolfforth Frenship Texas Texas Tech
Class of 2008: Some Elite Wide Receivers (Part II)
Michael Floyd WR/DB 6'3 190 4.50 St. Paul Cretin-Derham Hall Minnesota Floyd is the midwest’s candidate when talk turns to the top prep receiver in the talent-laden Class of 2008. After a relatively weak in-state Class of 2007, Floyd leads a very strong group of 2008 in-staters and is the rare blue-chip skill athlete to emerge out of Minnesota…………The best player in Minnesota as a junior……A consensus First Team All-State selection as a junior and also named a Second Team All-American by USA Today………..As a junior, he caught 63 passes for 1,240 yards (19.0 average) and scored 16 TDs. He also carried the ball 12 times for 246 yards and 3 scores….…As a sophomore, he had 22 receptions for 665 yards (30.2 ypc) and 6 TDs.……Has the combination of great size and speed that seems to be a common denominator among most of the nation’s elite receivers this year. Yet another receiver who can make the difficult catch looks easy due to his speed, strength and ability to go vertical to catch the ball. Is exceptional when going up for the ball in traffic……..Very physical and athletic……Plays for one of the state’s top programs……The best receiver to emerge from the state since Larry Fitzgerald (with whom he has drawn comparisons) and will be even more heavily recruited………Also a standout basketball player who averaged just under 11 points per game as a sophomore in leading Cretin Derham Hall to a 26-3 record……… As of early January 2007 he had offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Ohio State, UCLA, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Kansas State.
Gerell Robinson WR/DB/QB 6'4 225 4.60 Chandler Hamilton Arizona Arizona Robinson is the Southwest’s candidate for top receiver in the Class of 2008……….His stock shot through the roof after earning Offensive MVP honors while testing at WR at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine. He ran great routes and with his frame and outstanding athleticism it was difficult for the DBs to match up with him in one-on-one drills. Coupled with his fine speed he had no problem in creating separation from some of the nation’s top DB prospects. He also showed off a soft pair of hands, scooping in everything in his vicinity………You see, he was primarily being recruited as a QB/ATH before his splendid camp showing, and although he was drawing comparisons to Vince Young in term’s of his athleticism as a QB it was clear that his throwing mechanics were nowhere near Mr. Young’s…….. He plays for one of the better programs in Arizona after having transferred in for his junior season from Phoenix Desert Vista (where he was drawing comparisons to former Desert Vista star Zach Miller)…..As a junior, he earned Honorable Mention All-State recognition as a DB aafter registering 50 tackles and 8 INTs for the state Class 5A1 champions…………..As a sophomore at Desert Vista, he accounted for 1,200 yards (394 rushing, 812 passing) and 11 TDs passing and running the ball……..3.5 GPA and a hard worker both on and off the field…..Solid character………He committed as a QB prospect to Arizona in October 2006 over offers from Nebraska, Colorado and UTEP.
Dan Buckner WR 6'5 200 4.47 Allen TexasBuckner is the Texas candidate for top WR in the nation. Some, including the turtle-necked one, believe that he is the top nation’s best WR and have compared him to the likes of Randy Moss……..A First Team All District 9-5A pick as a junior……Tall and graceful with fine speed (sub 4.5), he just needs to polish his route-running. He has solid hands and has the height and vertical to really go up and get the ball. A bit more raw than most of the other elite receivers but his ceiling could be the highest of the bunch……As a junior, he had 46 receptions for over 660 yards……As a sophomore, he had 24 receptions for 401 yards and 3 TDs…….He was very, very impressive at the 2006 Notre Dame summer camp…..He plans on starting college in January 2008…….As of early January, he had offers from such schools as Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Boston College, Texas A&M and Baylor.
Jonathan Baldwin WR/LB/TE 6'5 215 4.40 Aliquippa Pennsylvania Baldwin is one of two outstanding versatile receiver/athletes in Pennsylvania (the other being Terrelle Pryor, who is the best prospect in the state and I have as the top TE in the country although h wants to play QB in college) and he ranks up there with the best receivers in the nation……….I project him as a WR due to his fine athleticism, speed (reportedly clocked a 4.31 forty at the 2006 Pittsburgh summer camp) and soft hands, but he could grow into a TE or play OLB in college. Played TE out of necessity as a junior……….Has an excellent frame combined with fine agility, strength (315 bench), hops and quickness. Really excels in picking up yards after the catch…..As a junior, he was named Second Team AP Class AA All-State as a defensive specialist (although he was nominated as a TE) after catching 21 passes for 370 yards from his TE spot and being a force from his DE position. Also named All-Area by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…….Stars in basketball and already has an early offer in that sport from Marquette…….Has played varsity hoops and football since his freshman year…….A very hard worker who keeps at it in the off-season……3.0 GPA…..Baldwin’s father, Jeffrey, played football for Pitt and his cousin is NFL All-Pro and former Michigan CB Ty Law……As of early January he has football offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Maryland, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.
Jameel Owens WR 6'4 200 4.50 Muskogee OklahomaOwens is probably the top overall prospect in Oklahoma and ranks among the nation’s elite receivers.......Was named Second Team All-State by the Daily Oklahoman as a junior after grabbing 24 passes for 537 yards and 9 TDs…..As a sophomore, he earned All-Muskogee area honors after recording 40catches for over 900 yards and 10 TDs……Plays for a team with a lot of talent, and he’s the most highly regarded of the bunch…….Has been a varsity starter since his freshman season…..He has excellent height, hands, ball skills, speed and athleticism. He plays centerfield for the baseball team and runs the 110-meter hurdles and high jumps and long jumps in track……Solid strength (280+ bench, 450+ squat) helps make him an effective blocker as well as difficult to slow down with the bump-and-run……As of early January, he had offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Missouri, Texas Tech, Kansas and Tulsa.
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.
Class of 2008: Some Elite Defensive Linemen (Part II)
Robert Quinn DL/LB 6'5 250 4.78 North Charleston Fort Dorchester South Carolina Quinn is another outstanding talent in the South Carolina Class of 2008 and one of the nation’s top defensive prospects…………Was already a force in the Low Country as a sophomore, earning Second Team All-Area honors from the Charleston Post and Courier after registering 133 tackles, 10 TFL and 7 sacks……As a junior, he posted over 80 tackles, 20 TFL and 11 sacks…..A prep linebacker who probably projects as a DE in college due to his size, although he would prefer to play LB……During the 2006 season he was part of a terrific twosome on defense along with Class of 2007 All-American Carlos Dunlap….. Also an outstanding wrestler who won a state title as a sophomore after placing third as a freshman……Used to run track but will focus on his grades instead during the spring of 2007……Very strong, with a 345 bench as a sophomore…..By mid-January 2007 he had received early offers from the likes of Clemson, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisville, North Carolina and Auburn
Kavario Middleton DL/OL/TE 6'6 250 4.75 Lakewood Lakes Washington Middleton is among the top overall prospects on the West Coast and better defensive linemen in the nation…………A very tall and agile prep TE and DE who projects as a DE in college…….Has a great frame that has yet to fill out………..Has quick feet for a tall kid and moves very well on both sides of the ball. At TE, he shows a nice set of hands…….Very impressive at the 2006 Eugene Nike camp……His coach thinks he could be a better college prospect than another player that he coached, former Washington star WR Reggie Williams……Tested very well at combines in 2006, running a 5.14 forty, 5.07 shutle, benching 11 reps and posting a 26-inch vertical……Very high ceiling, but he will need to put in more hard work an effort to fulfill it…….Received his first offer from Washington in September 2006
Jamar Jarrett DL/OL 6'5 236 5.10 San Marcos Mission Hills California Jarrett is an elite DE prospect who has the frame, skills and athleticism to become a national recruit…….A First Team Sophomore All-State selection who only earned Second Team All-Valley League honors as a junior………..Tested very well on the 2006 combine circuit, running a 65.32 forty, 5.07 shuttle, benching 22 reps and posting a 25-inch vertical…………One of the San Diego area’s very best……Has a very high ceiling………Colorado was the first school to offer him, back in October 2006
Bo Tillman DL/OL 6'7 300 Meadville Franklin County Mississippi One of the nation’s top line prospects…….Received a lot of early ink as he was ranked by the Sporting News as one of five sophomores to watch across the nation……..Great bloodline as his older brother is Mississippi DL Marcus Tillman……..Much bigger than Marcus, with the frame to be an outstanding OT at the next level but showing the athleticism and playmaking ability to be a defensive star as well……As a junior, he earned Second Team All-State honors from the Jackson Clarion-Ledger and First Team Class 3A All-State honors from Mississippi Asscociation of Coaches/MagnoliaPreps.com…..Very impressive at the 2006 Mississippi summer camp......Was offered a scholarship by LSU at their 2005 summer lineman camp after his freshman year. At that time, his brother Marcus was an LSU verbal commitment
Joel Ross DL 6'2 297 4.80 Houma Vandebilt Catholic Louisiana One of the top overall prospects in Louisiana and a definite big-time player….. First Team Class 4A All-State selection as a junior after posting 52 tackles, 10 TFL, 6 sacks and 3 fumble reciveries.... As a sophomore, he was a First Team District 8-4A selection…..Projects as a NG/DT in college…..Especially effective at plugging up the middle against the run….Very strong and powerful. He placed 7th in the state in the shot put as a sophomore…..Surprisingly agile. He gets off the snap very quickly. Also plays basketball…..Hard worker. Has great technique….Named the top defensive player at the 2006 Mississippi summer camp….Earns Bs and Cs in the classroom……350 bench, 600+ squat, 320 power clean…..He received his first offer from Mississippi during their 2006 summer camp
