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 Texas

Buckner 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 Oklahoma

Owens 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

Class of 2008: Some Elite Defensive Backs (Part II)

A.J. Alexander DB/WR/QB/ATH 5′11 197 4.31 Altoona Pennsylvania

A.J. is one of the nation’s elite DBs……..As a junior, being the team’s best athlete he primarily played QB and received some All-State mention after carrying the ball 121 times for 854 yards and completing 36 of 69 passes for 393 yards, 4 TDs and 4 INTs. He also returned 2 kicks for scores…………An outstanding sprinter who made the state championships in the 100 (10.71), 200 (21.5 best) and relays and is one of the nation’s fastest football players………Not just a track star as he also is solidly built to play football……Due to his outstanding speed he projects at either CB or WR in the college……A combine warrior who tests through the roof, recording marks such as a 4.31 forty, 4.12 shuttle, 9 bench reps and 43-inch vertical as a sophomore……As of early January 2007 he had offers from Penn State, Pittsburgh, Michigan, Louisville and several others.

Rahim Moore DB 6′2 190 4.45 Los Angeles Dorsey California

Moore is possibly the top DB prospect on the West Coast and among the nation’s best……..As a junior, he earned First Team All-Los Angeles and First Team Junior All-State honors after tallying almost 100 tackles and 7 INTs………A rare sophomore starter for a talent-laden Dorsey squad, registering 56 solo tackles, 33 assists and 8 INTs in earning Second Team All-City honors…….A very young Class of 2008 prospect. He won’t turn 18 until after his freshman season of college football. Still has room to get a lot bigger…….He has great football instincts, outstanding range, and is very aggressive. A real defensive playmaker……….Fine speed. As a freshman, he won the Los Angeles freshman-sophomore championship for 400 meters………An outgoing, personable and mature youngster…..By the end of 2006 he had offers from UCLA, Washington and Washington State

Jarred Holley DB/RB 6′0 160 4.40 Easton Pennsylvania

One of the nation’s top CB prospects………..A First Team AP Class AAAA All-State DB selection as a junior after tallying 9 INTs, 5 PBUs, 27 solo tackles and 24 PBUs from his CB spot. As a RB, he had 35 receptions for 549 yards and 8 TDs and carried the ball 127 times for 650 yards and 12 TDs.……Has been a First Team All-Area selection since his freshman year…………In 2006 he was the best defensive player on the best defensive team in the state…….. As a freshman, Holley carried the ball 37 times for 277 yards and a touchdown while backing up Ovid Goulbourne, now at West Virginia. He also caught 10 passes for 233 yards and a TD, and tallied 5 INTs……..Has great recovery speed and outstanding athletic ability as a CB, displaying great hips and a smooth back-peddle. Has nice technique for a youngster…….Really impressed at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine, earning All-Combine honors…….Some compare him to Penn State CB Justin King……..By mid-January 2007 he had reported offers from such schools as Pittsburgh, Penn State, Virginia and Northwestern.

Robert Blanton DB 6′2 175 4.78 Charlotte Butler North Carolina

Blanton is one of the top DB prospects in the nation…..As a junior he earned First Team AP All-State honors and was a Charlotte Observer All-Area selection after helping Butler reach the state 4A semifinals with 147 tackles, 7 INTs and 3 blocked punts……..As a sophomore he was a Second Team All-Mecklenburg selection after registering almost 100 tackles and picking off 6 passes…..Leads a very talented troika of Class of 2008 DBs at Butler……Impressed at the 2006 Michigan summer camp…..Looked very good at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine……..Has the height to play safety once he fills out a bit and the quickness and hips to play CB. A very fluid runner who changes direction well and has good football instincts……On tape, he shows great field awareness, opens his hips and has very good closing speed and ball skills. A gamer……Tested well as a sophomore, including a 4.25 shuttle and 32-inch vertical…….Loads of early offers, about 15 as of mid-January, including Michigan, North Carolina, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, Louisville and Clemson.

Ronnell Grixby DB/RB 5′10 200 4.50 Omaha Central Nebraska

One of the top safety prospects in the nation……It seems as though Ronnell has been a big-time prospect forever, as he already made a name for himself as a freshman starter for in-state power Omaha Central (the school that produced Gale Sayers)……A two-way prep star at RB and safety……As a sophomore he rushed for 1,005 yards and had 370 yards receiving………As a freshman he tallied over 70 tackles on defense……..At RB, he has great vision, hands, burst and power. He’s gotten much bigger and more powerful……….Some feel he could be the best prospect to emerge out of Central in years…….Projects as a free safety in college due to his instincts, physical style of play and hard-hitting nature……..Very gifted athlete who runs well, has surprising strength and had a 34-inch vertical as a freshman. Just lacks ideal height…….Solid bloodlines as he is the younger brother of Nebraska CB Cortney Grixby and former Nebraska RB Deante Grixby…….Also stars in basketball, averaging 14 points and 5 assists per game as a sophomore point guard………….Nebraska was the first school to offer

Class of 2008: Some Elite Offensive Linemen (Part II)

Kyle Long OL/DL 6′7 280 4.80 Charlottesville St. Anne’s-Belfield Virginia

One of the nation’s elite offensive linemen……..Great height and frame with excellent quickness and agility. Has the athleticism to play on either side of the ball in high school, but with his great frame and wingspan is ideally suited for the LT position…..Plays low for a big guy, bending his knees well and showing the quickness to block through the DL and get to the next level of defense. Very effective blocking in open space……He has outstanding bloodlines. His father, Howie Long, is a former All-Pro DT and his older brother, Chris Long, plays DE at Virginia……His sophomore season was his first year of prep football as he was rehabbing his knee as a freshman due to some growth problems……Also a star left-handed pitcher in baseball with a 92 mph fastball. As a sophomore, he had a 6-1 record and an ERA under 2.00. He also hit .481 with 37 RBI and six home runs in leading his team to the state title. He is a major league baseball prospect……2.7 GPA…..Had 15 offers as of early January 2007, including such powers as Oho State, Notre Dame, Florida and Florida State. Also has some Division I offers in baseball.

Stephen Good OL 6′5 265 5.06 Paris Texas

One of the nation’s top linemen and has the versatility and athleticism to ply OG or OT in college, although most like him as a LT…..A First Team AP Class 4A All-Stater as a junior, Good graded out at 93 percent in addition to posting 87 pancakes, and allowing no sacks. In fact, he has not given up a sack since his freshman year…..Also named Offensive Lineman of the Year for his district and First Team All-East Texas……Was already an eight game starter as a freshman…….One of the top players in northeast Texas…………Impressed at Oklahoma (only beaten once in one-on-one pass rushes) and Texas 2006 summer camps……..Very effective both run and pass-blocking. Very physical and a great finisher. Excellent combination of footwork, long arms and strength (425-pound bench press)…….Very imnpressive at the 2006 Texas A&M Nike camp, running a 5.06 40-yard dash and a 4.49 time in the shuttle, in addition to 32 reps on the bench press and a 26-inch vertical…….Was approaching double-digit offers by mid-January 2007, including such top programs as Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas A&M.

Michael Brewster OL 6′6 280 5.10 Orlando Edgewater Florida

Many feel that Mike is the top offensive lineman in Florida……An Orlando Sentinel First Team All-Central Florida selection as a junior…..From a program that has produced some outstanding talent in recent years, including Michigan WR Greg Matthews and Florida pledge Lorenzo Edwards………..Helped lead the way for an outstanding running game in 2006 after transferring into Edgewater from a small private school……..Very impressive at the 2006 Ohio State ad Michigan camps…..Looked very good as a center prospect at the U.S. Army Combine, although many also project him as an outstanding college guard…..He’s very quick off the ball and really plays low and gets effective leverage when blocking defensive linemen….Very athletic, he also plays basketball and lives in the weight room…..Looks very impressive on film. He has a great body with powerful calves, long and powerful arms and very little body fat. Moves very well and is effective getting to the second line of defense. His motor is always running. Nice technique……A great student who is on schedule to graduate from high school in December 2007…..As of mid-January 2007 he had double digit offers, including such programas as Ohio State, Miami, Michigan, Florida , Florida State and Tennessee.

Baker Steinkuhler OL/DL 6′6 270 4.93 Lincoln Southwest Nebraska Nebraska

One of the nation’s top overall linemen and possibly the top prospect in Nebraska…..Two-way star who recorded 94 tackles as a junior in earning consensus First Team All-State honors on the defensive side of the ball…….Has been a starter since his freshman season……Projects on the OL in college……Rare combination of size, speed (4.93 combine forty) and quickness (great shuttle at U.S. Army Combine)……Great bloodlines, as his father, Dean Steinkuhler, was an All-American center at Nebraska…..His coach has had a couple of players go on to the NFL and says that Baker is a superior prospect to both of them…..He committed to Nebraska in September 2006.

Khaled Holmes OL/DL 6′5 285 5.30 Santa Ana Mater Dei California

One of the nation’s elite OL prospects……Khaled is a man-child of a prospect who earned First Team All-Area honors from such publications as the Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register in addition to being named First Team Junior All-State……Plays for a powerful program that regularly produces top-flight talent (only high school school to have two Heisman winners as alumni) and was a rare sophomore starter for Mater Dei……Fine bloodlines, as older brother Alex was a TE at USC and his father, Mike Holmes, was a starting DE for the late Bo Schembechler at Michigan in the mid-1970s. In addition, Pttsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is married to Holmes’ sister………Has great footwork and speed. Also uses his hands very well in pass protection from his LT spot. Tremendous pass blocker and is improving his run blocking. Well coached……..Very intense on the field, showing a nasty streak, and he just loves the game……Also plays some DE…..Already bigger than older brother Alex….3.5 GPA……As of late 2006 he already had early offers from such programs as Nebraska and Mississippi

Class of 2008: Some Elite Tight Ends

Terrelle Pryor TE/ATH/QB 6′6 215 4.50 Jeannette Pennsylvania

Pryor is a special, special prospect and one of the nation’s truly elite athletes. He started as a junior at QB and safety, and wants to play QB in college. He’s talented enough to excel at the position, just as he could also excel at OLB, DE, WR or TE. He’s that sort of athlete. I’m initially ranking him as a TE, and the nation’s best at that!………..Earned First Team All-State as an all-purpose offensive threat as a junior after earning Second Team honors on the other side of the ball after his sophomore season………..Talk about being a dual-threat QB. As a junior, he led his team to the PIAA Class AA title game by passing for 1,720 yards and 15 TDs and running for another 1,703 yards and 23 TDs. As a safety, he had 5 INTs and quite a few sacks heading into the PIAA playoffs…….As a sophomore QB, he completed 53-of-106 passes for 719 yards and 6 TDs, and rushed for 663 yards and 10 TDs. On defense, he started at DE and OLB………Pryor has unusual quickness and speed for a big man (he runs the sprints in track) and possesses a strong arm (can throw the ball 70 yards in the air). His coach compares him to Vince Young with his great size, rocket arm and superb athleticism……As a quarterback, he’s still a bit raw but made tremendous strides between his sophomore and junior years and would be ranked among the nation’s very best (albeit it in a down year for the position)…….I like him best as a receiver due to his great frame, speed, athleticism, hands and ability to go vertical and get the ball……..Also stars in hoops and is one of the nation’s better prospects in that sport as well. He projects as a wing man. He has early offers to play basketball from the likes of Connecticut, Michigan, Clemson, Penn State and Pitt……….As of early January he had offers for football from such programs as Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Florida, Pittsburgh, Clemson, West Virginia and Nebraska…….Wants to play both sports in college, and he’s unique enough to be able to do it…….Had initially committed to play basketball at Pittsburgh back in January 2006, but he recanted a couple of months later…….3.5 GPA through his sophomore year……Will be remembered as one of the best athletes ever produced by Pennsylvania and will be rolling in money sooner rather than later.

Blake Ayles TE/DL 6′4 235 Orange Lutheran California

Blake is one of the top overall prospects in California and among the nation’s elite tight ends……In consecutive years he has been named First Team Sophomore and Junior All-State by CalHiSports.com and 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 a strong team loaded with talent and had the advantage of having USC verbal Aaron Corp throwing him the pigskin……..Was hampered a bit by a shoulder injury his junior season, but still managed to snare 43 passes for 617 yards and 3 TD……As a sophomore, he had 36 receptions for 469 yards and 6 TDs………Has a knack for making big plays at crucial moments against the best competition……Has a good frame with long arms, nice, soft hands and runs well……A real physical blocker, his motor is always running…..He has really started to fill out and should b equally effective catching the ball and blocking at the next level.……By the end of 2006 he had offers from such programs as USC (Aaron Corp and Michael Reardon are teammates headed there), UCLA, Nebraska, Notre Dame (he’s Catholic), Colorado, California and Arizona State.

Chase Clement TE/DL 6′6 240 4.70 Thibodaux E.D. White Catholic Louisiana

Clement is a two-way standout who some analysts consider to be the top prospect in Louisiana……Was an Honorable Mention Class 3A All-State selection as a junior MLB, tallying 79 tackles and 3 sacks. He added 12 receptions for 182 yards and 2 scores from his TE spot……Could play on either side of the ball in college, either at TE or DE…….He has a great frame and the speed and quickness to play effectively in space. In fact, he plays linebacker in high school, pretty unique for an athlete his size……A tough kid who not only has the computer numbers but who also always has his motor running…….Has solid strength, with a 325+ bench, 400+ squat and 285+ clean……31-inch vertical…..As a sophomore, he tallied 65 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 INT…….He was very impressive at the 2006 LSU summer camp……Nice bloodlines as his uncle, the late former LSU lineman Eric Andolsek, played in the NFL……By late 2006 he had already received offers from LSU, Florida and Mississippi.

Austin Holt TE/LB 6′6 220 4.90 South Jordan Bingham Utah

Holt is one of the nation’s very best tight ends……He first became a national name after putting on an impressive display at the 2006 U.S. Army Combine and he followed that up with another outstanding performance at the 2007 combine……….As a junior, he was a consensus First Team All-State selection at TE after hauling in 21 passes for 372 yards and 4 TDs……As a sophomore, he had 3 receptions for 72 yards and a score…….He has an excellent frame that has room to fill out, soft hands and is particularly effective at adjusting his body to the ball in making the catch…….Sophomore year combine results include a 4.90 forty, 4.40 shuttle, 31.5-inch vertical and 18 bench reps……May graduate early and enroll in college in January 2008……3.9 GPA and scored a 20 on the ACT as a sophomore……….As of mid-.anuary 2007 he had early offers from BYU, Utah, Oregon and Stanford:

Kyle Rudolph TE 6′7 220 4.70 Cincinnati Elder Ohio

Rudolph leads a strong contingent of Ohio tight ends and ranks among the nation’s best………..As a junior, he was named Second Team All-Southwest District for Division I in his first year as a starter, hauling in over 40 passes and scoring 8 TDs………His best football is ahead of him as he has great height and a frame with lots and lots of room to fill out. He also has great hops, so he’s especially effective in going up and grabbing lob passes over outmatched DBs……….Very athletic with solid speed……Once he focuses just on football and hits the weight room he should add the additional strength needed to effectively block at the college level…..Runs solid routes and has nice hands………. Stars on the basketball team and was already starting as a freshman in the playoffs. He’s receiving Division I interest in that sport as well…..3.2 GPA…….By the end of 2006 he had offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Boston College, Virginia, Wake Forest and Akron.

Class of 2008: Some Elite Wide Receivers

A.J. Green WR 6′4 184 4.56 Summerville South Carolina Georgia

One of the most highly touted prospects in the Class of 2008 and most productive WRs in the nation…………Some feel he is the top overall prospect in the nation…….Green has been a consensus First Team All-Stater since his freshman season and in 2006 was the only junior named to the USA Today All-American team……..As a junior, he had 60 receptions for 1,203 yards and 14 TDs……..As a sophomore, he caught 75 passes for 1,422 yards (19 yards per catch) and 16 TDs………As a freshman, he had 57 receptions for 1,217 yards and 8 TDs……..An extraordinary playmaker who has the complete package to excel in college and beyond: Nice height, excellent leaping ability, very good speed, quick feet, exceptional hands, outstanding route-running and is physical…….A very polished receiver and has exceptional technique and timing when going up to get the ball……….Extremely competitive and a very fine all-around athlete………Can make the acrobatic catch……Tested well on the 2006 combine circuit, posting marks of 4.56 in the forty, 4.56 in the shuttle, a 32-inch vertical and 10 bench reps…..He committed to Georgia in the spring of 2006 and went public in October over early offers from such programs as Notre Dame, Ohio State, LSU, Clemson, Tennessee, Nebraska, South Carolina and Maryland.

Julio Jones WR 6′3 202 4.56 Foley Alabama

Jones is the top college prospect in Alabama and one of the nation’s very best wide receivers…….He has the complete package: outstanding size, strength (305 bench, 505 squat, 315 power clean as a sophomore), speed (4.49 forty) and athleticism…..Jones was a consensus All-Stater as a junior and was named to the ASWA Super 12 Team…………As a junior, he had 72 receptions for over 1,500 yards and 15 TDs………As a sophomore, he had 51 receptions for 805 yards and 8 TDs in earning First Team Press-Register Region honors…….Also starts at free safety and returns punts and kicks……His sophomore year he won the 6A state championships in the long jump and triple jump and had to scratch in the high jump…….Plays basketball…..A hard worker…..Excellent ball skills…..Really exploded onto the national scene at the 2006 LSU Nike combine, where he dominated in one-on-one drills and tested exceptionally well (4.56 forty, 39-inch vertical, 4.69 shuttle, 13 bench reps)……Very impressive at the 2006 Auburn summer camp…..By the end of 2006 he had offers from the likes of Florida, Miami, Alabama, LSU and Auburn.

Dennis “D.J.” Shoemate WR/DB 6′1 212 4.50 Anaheim Servite California USC

Shoemate is the top receiver in California and among the nation’s top overall prospects……He lacks the great height of most of the other elite national receivers, but he more than makes up for it with his great athleticism, speed, quickness and strength…….He missed virtually all of his junior season after breaking a bone in his foot in the 2006 season-opener…….Was named the California Sophomore Player of the Year by CalHiSports, First Team All-County by the Orange County Register and First Team CIF-Division I in the Southern Section after putting together an outstanding sophomore campaign for one of the area’s top programs (he beat out, among others, teammate Chris Galippo for 2005 Serra League co-MVP honors)…….As a sophomore, he had 46 receptions for 930 yards (20.22 ypc)and 8 TDs. He also carried the ball 71 times for 604 yards (8.51 ypc) and 13 TDs. He registered 22 tackles and 2 sacks on defense. He also scored 4 TDs on blocked punts. He played WR, RB and safety and could play any of those positions in college……He is very explosive off the line of scrimmage and runs with authority. He’s difficult for a defender to jam due to his fine strength. Also runs good routes and has fine hands.…….Looked very impressive against top competition, including an outstanding showing against Long Beach Poly as a sophomore…..Fine student…..Hard worker…..He committed to USC in April 2006, after receiving a quite rare sophomore offer from the Trojans.

Kenny Tate WR/DB 6′4 215 4.50 Hyattsville DeMatha Maryland

Talented WRs abound across the nation in the Class of 2008 and Tate ranks right up there with the best. He challenges A.J. Green as the top receiver in the Atlantic Coast region……….He was a consensus First Team All-State selection and First Team Washington Post All-Metro choice as a junior…..As a sophomore, he was named First Team Big School All-State by AP………..Playing in a balanced offense for one of area’s most powerful programs, as a junior he had 17 receptions for 365 yards and 6 TDs. He also returned 2 punts and 2 kicks for scores…….As a sophomore, he had 24 receptions for 529 yards and 4 TDs……..Also starts at safety and is a big-timer at that position as well….His coach calls him the best prospect to emerge out of DeMatha in quite a few years (since LB Andre Jones went to Notre Dame in 1986)…….Yet another elite WR in the Class of 2008 who possesses excellent height and a great frame……A real playmaker who is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. Can really go up and get the ball, however what really stands out on tape is his agility and ability to juke out defenders together with outstanding straight-line speed (he runs track)…..His coach said he was already good enough to play Division I college ball as a prep sophomore…..Some have called him a taller Derrick Williams……..Also a fine basketball player for the tradition-laden DeMatha team and is receiving college interest as a hoopster…..2.5 GPA…..As of mid-January he had received offers from such programs as Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Florida, Maryland and Virginia Tech.

Aldarius Johnson WR 6′3 195 4.50 Miami Northwestern Florida

Johnson is Florida’s candidate in the great debate as to who the top WR is in the Class of 2008…………Part of the nation’s best collection of Class of 2008 prospects at 6A state champion Miami Northwestern……Transferred to Northwestern from Miami Jackson after his sophomore season……..As a junior, he was named First Team Class 6A All-State and First Team All-Dade County after hauling in 72 passes for 1,361 yards and 19 TDs…….As a sophomore at Jackson, he was named Third Team Class 4A All-State and Second Team All-Dade County after catching 24 passes for 461 yards and 5 TDs……….Johnson has nice height and has the speed and quickness to easily create separation from Dade County’s best DBs. He runs nice routes and has surprising strength. Has the hands and leaping ability to make acrobatic catches on a routine basis…Also a fine punter…..Great work ethic…..3.8 GPA…..One of the nation’s best.

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