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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 4.00
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| A year ago Florida State announced that it was back as a
national power in recruiting when the Seminoles solidified their
coaching staff and got commitments from three 5-Star prospects after the
2009 season had ended. Florida State picked up right where it left off
and is poised to finish with the No. 1 recruiting class on Scout for the
first time. Texas had held the top spot for the last six months, but a
strong January showing by some of Florida State's early commitments
including 5-Star safety Karlos Williams (6'2/210) and 5-Star offensive
lineman Bobby
Hart (6'5/298) along with additions like tight end Nick
O'Leary and receiver Kelvin
Benjamin have pushed the 'Noles to the top of the recruiting world.
If there's a concern in this class, it may be at the quarterback
position. It's not a strong year in the south in general for
quarterbacks, but Florida State has gotten a commitment from 3-Star Jacob
Coker. Coker has nice size at 6'5 and 210 pounds, but he is
considered a developmental prospect. A Signing Day decision by 5-Star
defensive tackle Tim
Jernigan (6'2/275) of Lake City, Fla. may have sealed the No. 1 spot
for the Seminoles. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.90
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| For the second consecutive season Auburn's highest
ranked commitment comes from the state of Arkansas. In 2010 it was
running back Michael
Dyer, a key cog in the Tigers' BCS Championship run. For the Class
of 2011 it's quarterback Kiehl Frazier (6'3/215) of Springdale, Ark.
Auburn has done a magnificent job of capitalizing on its big season and
carried its momentum in to January and should continue right through
signing day. Since the calendar flipped to 2011, Auburn has added eight
commitments to date, all but one of which a member of the Scout 300.
Athletic cornerback Jonathan
Rose (6'2/180) could be an early contributor on the Auburn defense
next year and running backs Quan
Bray (5'11/175) and Tre
Mason (5'9/185) should be in the mix to help Dyer carry the load at
running back. It's been a big Signing Day for Auburn garnering decisions
by 4-Star defensive backs Jermaine
Whitehead (6'0/183) and Erique
Florence (6'2/185). Auburn added another 4-Star prospect on Signing
Day with a decision from defensive tackle Gabe
Wright (6'4/300). The nation's No. 1 offensive tackle Cyrus
Kouandjio (6'7/295) committed to Auburn on Signing Day, but held off
from signing his Letter of Intent. Three days later, Kouandjio sent his
papers to the University of Alabama, costing Auburn the No. 1 spot in
Scout's Team Recruiting Rankings. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.90
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| Ohio State has quietly become the USC of the Midwest: a
national power who has left its regional counterparts behind. The
Buckeyes aren't so much recruiting players in the Midwest as they are
selecting them. With traditional powers Michigan, Penn State, and Notre
Dame struggling, Ohio State has found new opposition from Wisconsin and
Michigan State, but no one in the North has been able to win as
consistently as Ohio State. The Buckeyes have the most wins and the best
winning percentage of any BCS school in the country over the course of
the last six years. The Buckeyes have enough talent on hand to survive
early season suspensions by some of its key players including
quarterback Terrelle
Pryor, but those suspensions may give Ohio State the chance to
showcase Braxton Miller (6'2/195). Miller is a significantly better
passer than Pryor and is a very good runner in his own right. Ohio
State's class is well balanced, even without a running back commitment.
The Bucks have already addressed that need with two Top 100 running
backs for the Class of 2012. Ohio State got a pledge from 5-Star
linebacker Curtis
Grant (6'3/215) on Signing Day to solidify a Top 5 class for the
Buckeyes. |
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Avg. Star Rating of Top 20 Commits - 3.95
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| Because Texas fills its class so early (18 of Texas' 22
commitments committed before April of last year) the Longhorns are
almost mortal locks to hold the No. 1 recruiting spot for a good portion
of the year. It looked like Texas wasn't going to be caught this year
though, but a late defection from Scout's No. 1 offensive guard Christian
Westerman to Auburn made Texas vulnerable. Still, the Longhorns are
mere percentage points behind Florida State for the top class and if
they are able to add even one player, something they haven't done since
August, Texas could finish with the No. 1 Class. With Texas struggling
on the field as well as losing both coordinators in the offseason, this
may be Mack
Brown's best recruiting job to date. In addition, Texas is getting
the big time running back that has been missing in years past in Malcolm
Brown (6'1/220). |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.80
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| "I thought these guys were on probation."
That's a frequent comment on the Scout community message boards when
taking a look at the massive numbers that USC is likely to sign for the
Class of 2011. While the total amount of commitments may surprise many
(25 and counting), there is an explanation for the perceived disconnect
with USC's probation and Class of 2011, the scholarship sanctions
haven't kicked in yet (Working
the numbers). 5-Star wide receiver George
Farmer (6'3/210) is a 10.5 100 meter sprinter at over 200 pounds as
a wide receiver. Physically speaking, Farmer has the best potential of
any receiver in the country. USC got a much needed commitment last week
from interior lineman Cyrus
Hobbi (6'3/285) of Scottsdale, Ariz. USC has made a lot of noise
early on the East Coast on Signing Day getting signees from Ohio's Aundrey
Walker (6'6/355) and Kentucky's Lamar
Dawson (6'2/230) and then again late pulling offensive tackle Torian
White (6'6/280) off of UCLA's commitment list and adding 4-Star
safety Marqise
Lee (6'1/185). USC's Class of 2012 could be historically small if
the Trojans get no relief from the scholarship reductions they are
appealing, but there's no doubt the Class of 2011 is full of promise. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.95
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| The beat goes on for Alabama as the Crimson Tide keeps
stacking Blue-Chip prospects like cordwood. Alabama has had its share of
the game's greats, especially on defense, and safety Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix
(6'2/195) and linebacker Trey
DePriest (6'2/230) have the chance to be special players at Alabama.
Each is ranked number one at his respective position, and more
significantly as top 10 prospects in the country regardless of position.
It's not just about defense in this class of Alabama. The Tide is has
commitments from four wide receivers headlined by Marvin
Shinn (6'4/195) and Danny
Woodson (6'2/198). The most versatile weapon on offense could be
Clinton-Dix's high school teammate Dee
Hart (5'9/190). Hart is not just a good receiver for a running back,
he's a good receiver period. Hart will offer the Tide a lot of
versatility on offense, unless, he's needed on the defensive side of the
ball. Hart is a multi-talented athlete to say the least. Big athlete Brent
Calloway (6'3/225) came back on board with Alabama on Signing Day
after a brief hiatus in January to join Auburn's commitment list.
Alabama prevails in the end with Callaway's signature. The big prize in
Alabama's class came after Signing Day. Scout's No. 2 player overall,
offensive tackle Cyrus
Kouandjio (6'7/295) signed with Alabama three days after Signing
Day, after making a national televised commitment to Auburn on Signing
Day. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.80
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| The Georgia Bulldogs are taking advantage of a bumper
crop of top prospects from within its own state borders. Of Georgia's 23
commitments to date, 18 of them hail from the Peach State including the
Bulldogs' most recent and highest rated commitment Ray Drew (6'5/248).
Drew has the size to put his hand down and play end in Georgia's 3-4
defense, but he also has the speed to be a big outside linebacker in the
same system. Fans should not forget about quarterback Christian
LeMay (6'2/188) of Charlotte, N.C. LeMay would have pushed for the
No. 1 quarterback spot had he not missed his senior season. As expected,
Scout's No. 1 running back Isaiah
Crowell (6'0/210) made a Signing Day decision by sticking with the
home state Bulldogs. Crowell has the type of talent to see the field
right away for Georgia. Georgia got a post Signing Day signature from
big John
Jenkins (6'4/330), a junior college nose guard that fits ideally
into Georgia's 3-4 defense. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.65
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| Notre Dame finished 50th amongst in total defense last
year. If the class of 2011 lives up to its advanced billing, Head Coach
Brian Kelly may be known more for defense in the near future than as the
offensive specialist he earned a reputation for in previous seasons. The
Irish are bringing in three of Scout's top 10 defensive ends, each of
which is rated 5-Stars. Aaron Lynch (6'6/255), Ishaq
Williams (6'5/230), and Stephon
Tuitt (6'5/250) are each difference makers in his own right.
Together, they could be just plain scary. Getting all three of them on
the field at once might not be a problem as Williams has discussed
playing outside linebacker. The phrase "SEC Speed" gets thrown
around loosely by the mainstream media, but it refers to defensive
linemen like Notre Dame is bringing in. Quarterback Everett
Golson (5'11/170) is a much different quarterback than who is
currently on the roster at Notre Dame. Golson has a live arm and great
mobility, but he's considerably smaller than what Kelly is used to
working with at Notre Dame. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.55
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| Scout's first full year of ranking recruiting classes
was the Class of 2003. Since that time, LSU has finished outside of the
Top 10 in recruiting just once: in 2005 when the Tigers had just 13
signees. LSU enjoys one of the best homefield advantages in college
football, and not just under the lights in Death Valley. Louisiana is a
Top 10 talent producing state, and the Tigers face little to no in state
competition for a wealth of talent in the Bayou State. The Class of 2011
is deeper and more talented than most years, even by Louisiana
standards, and LSU is reaping the benefits including three home grown
5-Stars: defensive tackle Anthony Johnson (6'2/300), offensive tackle
Lael Collins (6'5/205), and Jarvis
Landry (5'11/200). Each of these players has what it takes to
contribute at LSU next year but Landry especially. Landry may be the
most college ready receiver in the nation with his combination of
strength, hands, and route running ability. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.70
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| While Oregon Head Coach Chip
Kelly's comments about getting it done with 1-Star and 2-Star
players earlier this season was a bit of an exaggeration if not a bit
self-serving (18 of Oregon's 98 signees the last four years have been
below 3-Stars), there's no doubt that Oregon is recruiting on a level
that could bring the best recruiting class of all time to Oregon. The
Class of 2007 finished ninth. While Kelly and Oregon are known for their
fast-paced offense, the two headliners in the Ducks class are defensive
players. Anthony
Wallace (6'0/220) is a run stuffing middle linebacker that makes
excellent reads and relishes attacking the line of scrimmage. Colt
Lyerla is a big athlete that projects best as an outside linebacker.
Lyerla can be a difference maker for Oregon when he arrives on campus. Oregon
pulled off the coup of the day by garnering a signature from the
nation's best athlete. DeAnthony
Thomas (5'10/175) of Los Angeles, Calif. is a legit 5-Star prospect
at four different positions. He's been listed as a cornerback because
with his size, long term that's likely his future. But his size isn't as
much of a concern in a spread offense. Thinking of the Black Mamba
playing running back in Oregon's fast break offense will keep defensive
coordinators up at night. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.45
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| Tennessee's recovery from the mess that was Lane
Kiffen's departure to USC continues with another solid class for the
Volunteers. Wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett (6'0/170) of Saginaw, Mich.
is as good as any receiver in the country at getting separation with his
route running. He'll need to spend some time in the weight room, but he
has a skill set that will compliment bigger receivers from the Class of
2010 nicely. Defensive tackle Maurice Crouch (6'2/295) of Garden City
Community College is being counted on to add depth to the defensive line
right away. Tennessee has made a late push towards the Top 10 with
commitments from 4-Stars Cameron
Clear (6'6/260) and Curt
Maggitt (6'3/210). |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.45
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| With former Tiger C.J.
Spiller, Clemson was known as an explosive offense capable of making
a big play at any given moment. With the speed that Clemson is signing
on offense in the Class of 2011, that reputation should only grow.
5-Star wide receiver Sammy Watkins (6'1/180) has quickness, speed, body
control and good route running ability. Charone Peake (6'3/175) is the
second Top 10 receiver in Clemson's class. He is more of an outside
receiver, which will open up the middle of the dangerous Watkins.
Running back Mike
Bellamy (5'10/190) is a nightmare in the open field and excels in a
wide open set. Linebacker Tony
Steward (6'1/215) is as good as any player in the country when he's
healthy. Should he recover from an injury at 100%, Clemson will be known
for more than just explosive offensive plays. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.35
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| Alshon
Jeffery and Marcus
Lattimore helped send a message to the state of South Carolina,
"If you want to play SEC Ball, there's no reason to leave the
state". Those two players were a key component in helping South
Carolina win the SEC East for the first time, and they helped change the
atmosphere in the state by offering an in state alternative to Clemson.
The success of Lattimore, Jeffrey and the Gamecocks have helped lead one
of the two Palmetto State 5-Stars to Columbia in offensive tackle
Brandon Shell (6'7/310). But the real prize could be coming in Scout's
No. 1 prospect overall in defensive end Jadaveon Clowney (6'5/245).
Clowney is a DaQuan Bowers redux, but the fans of the Gamecocks, who
watched Bowers dominate at Clemson, are hoping Clowney decides to go in
the same direction as Jeffery and Lattimore. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.45
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| While USC is still recruiting at a high level, the
Trojans have not been the unstoppable force on the recruiting trail that
they've been much of the last decade. The team that has taken best
advantage of USC's pending sanctions has been Cal. Cal has gone into
Southern California to get commitments from 4-Star defensive linemen Mustafa
Jalil (6'4/300) and Todd
Barr (6'3/265), and taken care of business close to home by securing
a commitment from man-child Viliami "Tiny" Moala (6'3/340) of
Sacramento. If I were to pick a player most likely headed to the NFL it
would be Moala; he has size, athleticism, strength, and a high motor. Of
Cal's nine commitments rated 4-Star or better, six of them are on the
defensive side of the ball. |
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Avg. Star Rating for 18 Commits - 3.67
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| Oklahoma is the only team in the Top 20 with less than
20 commitments, but what the Sooners lack in quantity, they make up for
in quality. The Sooners have a commitment from Scout's No. 1 receiver
Trey Metoyer (6'2/185) as well as 5-Star running back Brandon
Williams (6'0/190) of Pattison, Texas. It's not all about offense at
Oklahoma though as the Sooners' other two 5-Star recruits are on the
defensive line. Nathan
Hughes (6'5/260) showed at the Under Armour All-American Bowl that
when he's healthy, he's as good a prospect as there is in the country. Jordan
Phillips (6'5/300) of Towanda, Kan. is Mr. Inside to Hughes' Mr.
Outside. Together they form a potent duo on the defensive line. Oklahoma
is bringing in two quarterbacks in this class with very different skill
sets. Kendal
Thompson (6'1/180) is an efficient passer with good mobility, and Archie
Bradley (6'3/220) is a bigger pocket passer that fits the mold of
what Oklahoma has been more accustomed to over the last decade. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.40
Headliner: #6 OT Brey
Cook - - Springdale, Ark.
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| Arkansas is taking advantage of its first BCS Bowl game
appearance with a huge class (29 commitments) to help the Razorbacks
sustain the type of success they saw on the field this year. Offensive
tackle Brey Cook (6'7/310) has the size and skill to play early and
often for the Razorbacks, and eventually he should team with Mitch
Smothers (6'5/290) to form bookend tackles to provide the foundation
of Petrino's high octane offense. Quarterback Brandon
Allen (6'2/185) has the makeup and physical talent to be a star in
Petrino's offense, and he should have no shortage of options as Arkansas
has commitments from five receivers including 4-Stars Quinta
Funderburk (6'3/200) and Keante
Minor (6'2/195). Arkansas added help on the offensive line with a
Signing Day decision by Andrew
Peterson (6'5/255) of Seagoville, Texas who is rated 4-Stars by
Scout. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.45
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| The NCAA may have put a damper on what was supposed to
be a special season for the Tar Heels, but with an 8-5 season including
a bowl win over Tennessee along with a strong Class of 2011, the best
days of North Carolina football are still on the horizon. The Tar Heels
have commitments from three players ranked in the Top 10 at their
respective positions: offensive tackle Kiaro Holts (6'5/270), offensive
guard Landon
Turner (6'4/300), and linebacker Travis
Hughes (6'1/220). Quarterback Marquis
Williams (6'3/215) is a talented dual threat passer who will benefit
from having two of the nation's best offensive linemen in front of him.
A Signing Day coup for the Heels included fast rising defensive tackle Delvon
Simmons (6'5/262) of McKeesport, Pa. Simmons was elevated to 5-Stars
after showing promise as a senior, then dominating the week of the U.S.
Army All-American Bowl. |
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Avg. Star Rating for 19 Commits - 3.53
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| As badly as Florida struggled at the quarterback
position this year, it's not a stretch to say that Scout's No. 1
quarterback Jeff Driskel (6'4/220) would have started for the Gators this
year. Driskel has a powerful right arm, a frame like a linebacker,
excellent speed and strength. If any of this sounds familiar, it should;
Driskel has the physical attributes of a right handed Tim
Tebow, right down to the loop in his throwing motion. Driskel is
more mechanically sound than Tebow was at this stage of his career, but
lacks the experience that Tebow acquired in a high profile prep career.
Driskel was a perfect fit for what Urban
Meyer did at Florida, but Charlie
Weis' offense is a different system. Driskel has the tools to excel
long term, but the learning curve under Weis may be a little longer than
what it would have been under Meyer. Florida ends up winning the
sweepstakes for 4-Star safety Marcus
Roberson who had committed to Texas Tech and Auburn in the last
week. Florida was another team busy after Signing Day. The Gators added
Scout's No. 9 quarterback Jacoby
Brissett (6'4/225) of Palm Beach Gardens. Driskel and Brissett all
but guarantee that Florida's quarterback troubles of 2010 will be a
distant memory in the near future. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.35
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| Long known for producing NFL running backs dating back
to his days as a head coach at Ole Miss, Head Coach Tommy Tuberville has
secured commitments from three 4-Star backs in Kenny
Williams (5'10/206), Deandre
Washington (5'9/180) and Bradley Marquez (5'11/185). Williams offers
a different skill set from Marquez and Washington. Williams runs with
more power, while Washington and Marquez have better open field moves.
The Red Raiders have had a solid Signing Day with four new
commitments/signatures from defensive ends Leon
Mackey (6'5/260) and Cooper
Washington (6'4/225), tight end Desimon
Green (6'5/220), and linebacker Branden
Jackson (6'4/225). |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.35
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| It was an unusually deep year for running backs in the
State of Texas this year with four rated 5-Stars, and Oklahoma State
made sure to dip into the Lone Star State for Herschel Sims (5'9/200) of
Abilene. Sims is a compact, powerful back with excellent feet. He's a
good receiver out of the backfield and could help replace Kendall
Hunter's 63 career catches as Hunter heads to the NFL. Quarterback J.W.
Walsh (6'2/200) of Denton, Texas is a run/pass threat that fits into
the Cowboy system like a glove. Looking to shore up the defense,
Oklahoma State has commitments from five defensive linemen including
tackle James
Castleman (6'4/280) of Amarillo, Texas and Jimmy
Bean (6'5/220) of Denton, Texas. If there seems to be a trend here,
there is; 19 of Oklahoma State's 25 commitments are from Texas. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.37
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| The easiest way to describe how Stanford has arrived on
the recruiting scene is that the Cardinal fans are probably a little
disappointed with a spot at the back end of the Top 25 right now. After
holding a place in the Top 10 for much of the season, Stanford has gone
backwards since it lost Jim
Harbaugh to the NFL. Stanford is still bringing in a solid class,
especially on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker James Vaughters
(6'2/232) and Wayne
Lyons (6'1/190) are national recruits. Running back Kelsey
Young (5'10/190) is a home run threat with the ball in his hands.
Easily Stanford's biggest recruit was bringing back probable No. 1
overall draft pick quarterback Andrew
Luck. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.35
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| It feels strange to write that Nebraska has the second
best class in the Big Ten, but Nebraska has the second best class in the
Big Ten. While Nebraska may not spend as much time recruiting the state
of Texas in their new conference, the Cornhuskers still found the time
to go down and get 5-Star running back Aaron
Green (5'11/185) out of San Antonio and Scout's No. 2 cornerback Charles
Jackson (5'10/175) of Klein. Athlete Jamal
Turner (6'1/170) of Arlington, Texas is Scout's No. 7 quarterback,
but he is also a standout receiver prospect should prize baseball
prospect Bubba
Starling (6'5/190), Scout's No. 10 quarterback, decide to give the
gridiron a shot in college. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.35
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| If LSU's Jarvis Landry isn't the nation's most college
ready receiver, Kasen Williams (6'3/215) is. Williams and Landry are
carbon copies of one another, but Williams is considerably bigger.
Williams fights for the ball as if his very life depends on it, and he
plays the game with linebacker strength. Big Austin
Seferian-Jenkins (6'6/260) has offensive tackle size with wide
receiver skill. Sefarian-Jenkins is as good a big athlete as there is in
the country this year, if some of Williams' tenacity can rub off on him,
the Husky offense will have two potent weapons in this class. The state
of Washington doesn't produce talent high numbers, but Steve Sarkisian
and his staff have done what must be done to sustain success in the
Northwest, wall off the borders. Washington has commitments from all
four of the state's players ranked 4-Stars or better by Scout. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.25
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| Houston
Nutt has made a habit of closing strong in his first few years at
Ole Miss, and the Class of 2011 is no different. The prize of the Rebel
class so far is former Mississippi State commitment C.J.
Johnson (6'2/235). The switcharoo was big on several levels. First,
Johnson is an outstanding player capable of playing at an All-Conference
level, and second, it helped stave off some of the momentum of
Mississippi State's big 2010 season on the field. Ole Miss isn't looking
towards the future though, the Rebels are looking at the now with eight
junior college signees. Nutt is gearing up to get back to his 10 win
seasons and out of the cellar of the meat grinder that is the SEC West. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.15
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| Virginia is making a move back into the Top 25 on
Signing Day with a big commitment from athlete Darius
Jennings (5'11/175). Jennings lined up as a quarterback for his
Gilman team in Baltimore, Md., but he projects as either a cornerback or
wide receiver on the college level. Future teammate Demetrious
Nicholson (5-11/175) fits the same mold as Jennings in that he is an
athlete that could play multiple positions. The Cavs are looking for an
infusion of speed as they are bringing in six wide receivers in this
class, not counting Nicholson, who is listed as a corner but it dynamite
with the ball in his hands. |