2009 Spotlight: Dorian Bell

The Ohio State University's 2009 recruiting class will be hard pressed to equal that of 2008. They finished behind only Alabama in the Athlon Sports top-25 recruiting classes.

Jim Tressell and staff are doing their best, however.

The Buckeyes 2009 haul, so far at least, is once again in the top-5 nationally, along with other schools like Texas, LSU and USC. Georgia, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Florida State are nipping at their heels.

With nine potential AC100 members out of 11 total commits, the Bucks should again finish atop the Big Ten recruiting rankings. Storm Klein could play almost anywhere on the field. John Simon is aiming to lead his team back to the OSHAA state title game. Jordan Hall will fit perfectly in a zone-read scheme with former teammate Terrelle Pryor. Chris Fields is a more polished version of Ted Ginn Jr.

But the top rated player in this class, thus far, is Gateway High School's Dorian Bell. The Monroeville, Pa., linebacker is a tackling machine. Pittsburgh fans certainly know who Bell is. 2008 AC100 defensive end Shayne Hale - and future Panther star - played on the same defensive unit. Scouts say that Bell is further along at his age then Hale was when he was a junior.

A very bold statement.

Bell holds roughly 40 offers and was expected to hold out longer on his decision. But after falling in love with OSU on a visit to Columbus, he surprised everyone by calling a press conference the very next day - April 21st - and picking the Buckeyes.

Like Hale, Bell is a tremendous closer. Once he reads the play, he gets to where he is going as fast as anyone in the nation. His speed, agilty and raw athleticism are fantastic. His size, although only listed at 6'1" and 210 pounds, is more than adequate. In fact, he might be closer to 220 at this point. He also has a long, rangy frame that will allow for him to put on muscle.

His change-of-direction and lateral quickness give Bell the ability to play sideline to sideline. This makes it incredibly difficult to run outside on him. He is obviously great when on the attack not only just in the run game but also within blitz packages. He will be a force coming off the edge and up the gut on pass blitzes.

Bell is the complete player, though. He is far superior to Hale when it comes to pass coverage. His fluid hips and agility allow defensive coordinators to match him up in man-to-man situations if needed. His pass drops are technically sound and very solid.

As mentioned, he will need to add weight to his frame. Taking on 6'7" 300-pound Big Ten linemen will always be an issue for Bell. The only other area of concern is his recognition skills. They are not poor by any means, but could use some honing. Each come with time in a division-1 football program.

Very simply put, there are very few weaknesses in Dorian Bell's game.

Terrelle Pryor is Finally a Buckeye

The most memorable recruitment process in recent memory has finally come to an end.

Terrelle Pryor, a native of Jeannette, Pa., announced yesterday – six weeks after National Signing Day – that he will be playing his college football for Ohio State.

It seems only yesterday that I was standing in the Rivals.com film room when the first film of this mythical playmaker showed up. A dozen or so employees crowded around one small computer screen, giddy with excitement. I have never seen grown men coo over a football player. The 6-5, 230-pound red, white and blue streak was the talk of the office, causing adults to gossip like schoolgirls.

Now, nearly two years later, Ohio State fans are the ones smiling.

The trip from recruiting junkie message board fodder to starting quarterback in the ‘Shoe is a long one. In the fall of 2006, Pryor wrapped up his junior year with 1,732 yards passing and 15 touchdowns with 1,676 yards rushing and an additional 13 trips to paydirt. He was already sporting half-a-dozen offers, maybe more.

Fans and scouts should have known what was in store in 2007 when he started his senior campaign with a 57-yard touchdown run on his team’s first play from scrimmage. He stepped off the high school gridiron for the last time as a PIAA 2A state champion. In his final game against Dunmore, Pryor threw one touchdown, ran for three and caught yet another score. Jeannette High was never challenged in the 49-21 win – or in any other game for that matter.

Pryor finished his senior season with a statistical symmetry that I have never seen: 1,889 yards passing and 1,889 yards rushing – and 58 touchdowns. He also became the first player in WPIAL history to pass and rush for over 4,000 yards, finishing with 4,250 yards passing and 4,249 yards rushing.

One state championship was not enough for Pryor, however. The dynamic athlete is also a top-rated basketball recruit. He led Jeannette High School to a 76-72 overtime win over Strawberry Mansion in the 2A state title game, scoring 23 points and snagging eight rebounds. Those totals are actually quite paltry compared to some of his other games, where the very rare quadruple-double was not to far out of reach on a number of occasions.

With basketball finally behind him, the pressure to make a decision was certainly mounting. Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon and Michigan sat waiting for the young quarterback.

What is interesting is why they were waiting. In a Signing Day announcement – which was ironically to announce that he wasn’t signing – Pryor claimed that he needed more time to take visits. Oregon and Penn State were the likely beneficiaries. Yet, as Pryor finally announced on Wednesday that he was heading to Columbus, he still had not visited Oregon or Penn State, at least not officially. So why then did Pryor delay his announcement? He has been involved in the recruiting process for at least two full years. What did he not know on Signing Day? One thing is for sure: many different people were pulling him in many different directions.

It is likely that we will never know the truth. And Ohio State fans could not care less.

“I feel bad because I said no to Michigan, because I had so much of a bond with Coach (Rich) Rodriguez,” Pryor said at his press conference. “They had their hopes on me and I let them down but I am going with Coach Tress.”

It goes to show that there is no second place when it comes to recruiting.

There is one area of concern, albeit very minor. Pryor has made it apparent that the NFL is his ultimate goal. No one has the right to tell him otherwise, but what is worrisome is his obsession with the league.

“The night before I talked with a lot of NFL coaches and scouts to see what they thought I should do,” he said.

It is reasonable to solicit advice but to depend on it is unwise.

At Ohio State, he needs to be himself in order to be successful and win games like Buckeye fans are accustomed to. That means running the football and using his superior athletic ability to make plays. If he is too focused on his draft stock during his final year(s) and presses himself into being a pocket passer, it could be detrimental to the team.

Other than that, Buckeye fans have good reason to be excited. He is a dynamic athlete who immediately upgrades the depth at quarterback. Fans of the Scarlet and Gray should not have to wait long to see Pryor in action. Look for Jim Tressell to work him into the rotation much like Tim Tebow was used at Florida as a freshman. Buckeye fans do not need to be reminded of what happened Tebow’s freshman year.

It is a perfect situation for Pryor. He will get snaps in packages and situations that he is comfortable with. Tressell will allow him to enter the game and make plays with his legs first. Not only does this give Pryor some experience, but it also gives Todd Boeckman some rest. In addition, opposing defenses will have to gameplan for a completely different style of quarterback.

If he is half the player we all saw on film that first day two years ago, Ohio State fans – not SEC fans – will be the ones celebrating a national championship.

Team Recruiting Countdown: No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes

No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten No. 1)

2008 Haul: 19 signees, 9 Athlon Consensus 100

Scouting Report:

Ohio State, much like USC, was all about quality rather than quantity. Ohio State had the highest number of AC100 members, nine – which would have been 10 but Devoe Torrence’s offer was pulled due to academic ineligibility the week leading up to Signing Day. The Buckeyes had virtually no lower ranked prospects (minus those that kick footballs).

And yet, this class is still not entirely finished. The twentieth and easily most important signees, is likely to be Terrelle Pryor. Pryor (Jeannette, Pa.) is the top player in the nation and a Vince Young clone. He is the most dynamic high school football player in the nation. He was set to sign with OSU on Signing Day but overtures by his father on behalf of Penn State has kept him from signing, even today. Pryor has, technically, until March 31st to sign his letter of intent. In theory, however, he could walk onto any campus in America come August and fall classes, sign scholarship papers and be on the football roster.

There is no telling how much longer this thing will drag out. No matter what happens, however, Ohio State looks to be the place the Pryor will end up.

Even without Pryor, this is one of the top recruiting hauls in the nation. Excepting USC, the offensive line class for OSU is tops in the nation. Mike Adams (Dublin, Ohio) is possibly the top left tackle prospect in the nation and has NFL written all over him. Group him with the massive J.B. Shugarts (Klein, Texas) and Michael Brewster (Orlando, Fla.) and the Bucks boast a formidable front line.

Jim Tressell did a great job of addressing needs one year in advance for this class. Most fans likely did not expect the entire linebacking corp to return intact. They will all be heading into their final year of eligibility and so depth was needed. Etienne Sabino (Miami, Fla.) is on par with names like Nigel Bradham (FSU) and Arthur Brown (Miami) when it comes to the top linebackers in this class. Andrew Sweat (Washington, Pa.) will also add needed depth.

The wide receiver spot is in a very similar situation as the backers. The Brians, Robiskie and Hartline, both will be seniors in 2008. Tressell will certainly have options on the outside now. DeVier Posey (Cincinnati, Ohio) is Chad Johnson’s personal protégé and is consequently very polished for his age. Lamaar Thomas (Fort Washington, Md.) is a Percy Harvin type athlete who can be used in the backfield as well as on the outside. Both are top-50 type players nationally. Jake Stoneburner (Dublin, Ohio), who just sounds like he should play tight end, will give Ohio State a new dynamic from the tight end spot. He may be the most athletic, fastest tight end prospect in the nation. His blocking skills need some work.
Losing Vernon Gholston to the draft was not a surprise to Tressell and staff. They addressed the defensive line with full force in ’08. Willie Mobley (Eden Prairie, Minn.) was second only to ND’s Mike Floyd, in terms of talent in the Gopher State. Garrett Goebel (Lombard, Ill.) is a massive prospect with tremendous football IQ. Both could end up at tackle but Mobley is likely to be an end as well as Nathan Williams (Washington Court House, Ohio) and Keith Wells (Gainesville, Ga.)

The defensive backfield, once again, is expected to lose a lot of talent after the ’08 season. Travis Howard (Miami, Fla.), who was Sabino’s teammate at Dr. Krop High, is as ready to play as any corner prospect in the nation. Great size and speed make him an option for nickel packages early in his career. Orhlan Johnson (Gulfport, Fla.) and Zach Domicone (Xenia, Ohio) will add plenty of depth to the safety position.

It is no surprise that roughly half of this class is from the state of Ohio. The rest of the nation was kind to the Buckeyes as well. Top players from Minnesota, Florida, Texas, Maryland, Illinois and Pennsylvania head to the banks of the Olentangy.
 
Top Prospect: Mike Adams – OL – Dublin, Ohio (6-7, 300) AC100 No. 25

This obviously changes immediately to Pryor, if and when he signs with Ohio State. But for now, Buckeye fans will have to settle for the top offensive lineman in the nation.

It is a thing of beauty to watch a 6-7, 310-pound tackle play with consistent pad level. Normally a player of his height will lack leverage; Adams has great leverage. He shows great footwork and hand technique. He shoots his hands high and hard, engages the defender and then proceeds to take him for a ride.

His amazing athleticism and quick feet allow him to get out into space and block comfortably. He gets great body positioning, using excellent knee bend and foot speed to keep himself in front of the defender. There are just not many guys his size that move around as well as he does.
 
In head-to-head battles with Shayne Hale (Pitt) at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl practice, Adams performed very well, pinning Hale on occasion. He also dominated Hargrave’s Quinton Coples (UNC).

Best of the Rest:

Michael Brewster – OL – Orlando, Fla. (6-6, 300) AC100 No. 12
Etienne Sabino – LB – Miami, Fla. (6-3, 225) AC100 No. 33
DeVier Posey – WR – Cincinnati, Ohio (6-2, 190) AC100 No. 39
J.B. Shugarts – OL – Klein, Texas (6-7, 300) AC100 No. 56
Lamaar Thomas – ATH – Fort Washington, Md. (5-11, 185) AC100 No. 68
Jake Stoneburner – TE – Dublin, Ohio (6-6, 230) AC100 No. 80
Garrett Goebel – DT – Lombard, Ill. (6-5, 270) AC100 No. 82
Andrew Sweat – LB – Washington, Pa. (6-2, 225) AC100 No. 84
Willie Mobley – DL – Eden Prairie, Minn. (6-2, 265)
Travis Howard – CB – Miami, Fla. (6-0, 180)

Sleeper: Zach Domicone – ATH – Xenia, Ohio (6-2, 210)

Domicone was an excellent duel-threat quarterback in high school and is projected as a defensive player. He is likely to start out as a safety but could add bulk and become an outside linebacker. He is a solid athlete for a kid his size and does not mind playing a physical brand of football. This strength in run support puts him at strong safety, at least at first.

2009 Classes to Watch: Ohio State

I realize this is shocking news, but THE Ohio State University is off to a great start for the 2009 recruiting class. Right now in the ridiculously early 2009 team ranks they sit at #3.

All eight prospects are on the ESPN 150 to Watch list. Two of which, really stand out.

John Simon - DT - Youngstown, Ohio (6-3, 265)

Simon is a bit undersized at the moment but he has plenty of space to fill out. At 6-3, 290 he would be a force up the middle. He anchors a defensive line that was dealt a devastating one-point state championship loss to Coldwater last season. Look for Simon to have a great season in the fall.

Chris Fields - ATH - Ohio (6-0, 180)

Ted Ginn Jr. Let the comparisons start here at least, because either way, they will be coming. Fields glides through the open field with ease. The running style is similar to that of Ginn's. He will be dangerous immediately in the return game and the MASSIVE Jim Tressell trick play repertoire. If he can develop and refine his receiving skills faster than Ginn (no offense, but it wouldn't take much), he could press for time as a freshman.

The linebacker class is very strong as well. Jordan Whiting (Louisville, Ky.), although not huge, has adequate size. He could end up being the best of the current group. Maybe the most intriguing option, and easily the best name, of the group is Storm Klein (Newark, Ohio). At 6-2, 220 pounds and potential 4.5-6 speed, he has a lot of possibilities. Linebacker is certainly one of them. He has a little Brian Leonard in his game, though, and could be fun to watch on offense as a fullback/h-back hybrid. Adam Homan is no slouch either.

C.J. Barnett (Clayton, Ohio) and Jamie Wood (Pickerington, Ohio) are a really solid beginning to what could be a great defensive back class.

The midwest - Minnesota and Wisconsin in particular - is dramatically more talent laden than usual. Illinois and Michigan are also well stocked in 2009. Of course, having said all of that, I will venture a guess that Buckeye fans are likely more worried about a 2008 recruit at the moment. No worries Buckeye fans, Terrelle Pryor will be headed to the banks' of the Olentangy.

Terrelle Pryor: Ohio St, Penn St, Michigan

I will be very happy when Terrelle Pryor finally ends this nonsense that has been his recruitment process. Yes, it is the most important decision he will likely make in his life but it is time to end the suspense.

There is only one thing that really matters: where will Terrelle Pryor go to college?

Two words: Ohio State.

The Buckeyes have been the leading candidate for Mr. Pryor since day one. Not only that but it is a perfect fit. He will be used in exactly the same fashion as Timmy Tebow was used his freshman year in Gainesville. Expect Pryor to get 75-100 snaps next season as Todd Boeckman finishes his career at OSU in Chris Leak like fashion. The Buckeyes kept some very talented defensive players from leaving early and will be loaded on defense, much like the Gators of two years ago. He will have a chance at a national title in year No. 1.

Lets consider the hoops angle. Yes, he says basketball will not even be an option. But you know, just in case, a recent No. 1 overall pick and national championship appearance isn't bad to have in your back pocket.

Not to mention Mike Adams, one of the best offensive line prospects in the nation, said during a Signing Day interview that Pryor will be headed to Columbus. The quarterback's coach at Jeannette High has too, in fact, given his "endorsement" of The Ohio State.

National title chance. Top-flight hoops program. Great rushing attack to back you up. OSU has been the leader since the beginning. His coach says its the Buckeyes. His friends and fellow recruit say OSU.

Terrelle Pryor is going to play football at The Ohio State University.

I would personally like to see him at Oregon - for a variety of reasons, some of which will remain unspoken - but it will not happen. Unfortunately, he would have been a blast to watch play in that Chip Kelly offense, but its not likely.

Terrelle, I have already figured it out. You can go ahead and sign now, lets end this thing and make it official.

Having said all of that, something is up. That fact that a father and son had not sat down one time in the last two years and compared college choices is unfathomable. You mean to tell me, the first time the No. 1 prospect in the nation and his father ever spoke about where they wanted him to go was the night before Signing Day? Something isn't right. I have no proof of anything; I have no inside information. But the logical train of thought is pretty clear. We will have to wait and see.

Hey, THE Reggie Bush just lost a settlement case with a former financier. He had to pay him back his money.

Ohio State Pulls Torrence's Offer

Do everything athlete from Massillon, OH Devoe Torrence has been committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes for quite a while now. Apparently, Jim Tressell and Co. have decided to pull his scholarship offer. There has been some growing concern about Torrence's off-the-field issues. Namely his grades.

Most schools would kill for a chance at a kid like Torrence but the Buckeyes have a top-10 recruiting class and, I guess, have the luxury of being able to basically cut him.

Torrence is ranked No. 57 in the Athlon Consensuc 100.

Torrence played running back, wide receiver and linebacker in high school, so needless to say he is a versatile prospect. He is even being recruited as a tight end by some schools. He is most ready to play the running back position, though. He is a bigger back who runs with great physicality that makes him difficult to tackle in one-on-one situations. He runs downhill and rarely loses yards. His power, strength and size will keep him durable on the next level. The most noticeable weakness on film is his ball-carrying technique. He will have to learn to tuck the ball better is he expects to play running back in the Big Ten.

At linebacker, he shows excellent physical tools and solid tackling ability. His reaction time is slow and his diagnostic skills seem to be lacking. When he does find the right lane, though, he attacks it well and generally gets the job done. In the open field, he can play too upright at times. Coverage skills will be a huge question mark.

He is just another athlete in Columbus but will be a major player for any of the smaller programs chasing his talents. Torrence's finalists prior to committing to OSU were:

Akron, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State and Cincinnati

If I am Brian Kelly and the Bearcats I go after Torrence with full force and I make sure he gets into school. He could really give a boost to a mediocre Cincy class.

Photo by Athlon Sports

Terrelle Pryor heading to LSU?

Life for the top prospect in the nation is hectic to say the least.

The Oregon Ducks paid the young QB a visit a few weeks ago and they ended up on his short list of favorites. Then RichRod took the Michigan job and the Wolverines took the place of the West Virginia Mountaineers on his favorites list. Texas then got kicked to the curb. Tennessee followed when offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe left for Duke.

Then Pryor showed the nation at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl why he is the No. 1 prospect in the nation. He dominated the game winning the MVP for the game as well as the U.S. Army National Player of the Year award.

There is no doubt that he is inundated with phone calls, text messages and visitors.

Pryor, however, can only visit five schools officially. He visited Columbus and the Buckeyes on Nov. 2nd. He is slated to be at Michigan this weekend - he was supposed to be at Penn St but instead is headed to Ann Arbor. That is not a good sign for JoePa.

That leaves three more officials. PSU, Oregon, Florida and maybe even Duke might get a visit. Oregon and Florida are my prediction. He has been to Penn St so many times they may not get an official visit. So that leaves one more visit date.

Who gets it? There is a new player in the Pryor sweepstakes.

Les Miles and the LSU Tigers might end up with one of those visits. The main reason Pryor is interested in Oregon is the style of offense that they run. Gary Crowton was the OC in Eugene and worked with Dennis Dixon. Crowton is now at LSU. They have been supposedly pitching Pryor on the implementation of the zone-read offense in Baton Rouge. Music to young Mr. Pryor's ears.

Will Pryor end up at or even visit LSU? Who knows. All I know is that when a player visits the Bayou, they don't forget it. It is a fabulous place to hang out in and certainly an unforgettable football experience.

The question about LSU is the QB situation. It is the most clogged of all the favorites. The controversial Ryan Perrilloux and young Jarrett Lee both would be ahead of Pryor on the depth chart.

Pryor is on record as stating that playing time is not necessarily the important issue so LSU's depth chart may not matter. Either way, LSU is a very easy sell. Great culture, great football, great women, great weather, defending National Champs and a newly designed offensive system put in place just for him.

It sounds pretty tantalizing to me. The Bayou Bengals may have something to say about this thing before its all said and done.

What about Pittsburgh? In a word, no.

The young Western PA quarterback has developed a friendship and mentor in Pittsburgh Steelers QB Charlie Batch. He was seen with Batch at the Pitt-GTown basketball game recently. Rumors about Pitt's chances at Pryor are unfounded and ridiculous. He is not headed to Pitt. The Stache has done a great job on the recruiting trail, however.

NEWLY UPDATED TERRELLE PRYOR PERCENTAGES:

Mich: 35%
OSU: 35%
Oregon: 10%
Florida: 10%
LSU: 10%
Duke: 0%
Pitt: 0%
PSU: 0%

Athlon Sports National Recruiting Blitz: 01.16.08

The latest edition of Athlon Sports' National Recruiting Blitz is now up on the site. AthlonSports.com

Mitch and I break down twenty more names from the Athlon Consensus 100. (51-70)

Team rankings, positional rankings and Oklahoma's recent success highlight this week's edition.

Pre-Signing Day Team Recruiting Rankings:

In the middle of November, the first edition of The UV's Unofficial Team Recruiting Rankings debuted. Notre Dame was the best class in the nation after the first unofficial rankings. Things have changed a bit since then.

Athlon's ranks were USC-1, UGA-2, OSU-3, ALA-4, MIA-5. Our rankings only act as one-fourth of the overall team rankings. Much in the same way that the Athlon Consensus 100 works, these team rankings are compiled using four expert sources. ESPN, Rivals, Scout and Athlon.



Rivals and Scout use a computer system that calculates a point total based on individual rankings and quantities. ESPN's list is a subjective group put together based on one man's opinion. Athlon's rankings are obviously subjective as well. This gives The Unofficial Team Recruiting Rankings equal parts computer and human.

Georgia's consistency at No. 2 across the board gave the Bulldogs enough to overcome Notre Dame's two No. 1's. USC and OSU have the best bang for their buck with the highest level of quality. But schools like Miami and Alabama have put together much bigger classes at the moment so they got the nod in most rankings.

Texas has the top running back class with five nice prospects. They would have one of the best classes at the position in history if land Ventura (Cali.) running back Darrell Scott, whom they seem to be leading for after Longhorn tailback Jamaal Charles declared for the draft. Scott is the No. 1 running back prospect in the nation. If the Gators were to add Jacksonville star Jamie Harper and DeSoto (Tx.) product Cyrus Gray, they might be able to challenge. If the experts want to count USC transfer Emmanuel Moody, Florida might be leading.

USC is pulling off the same feat along the offensive line with six outstanding prospects. Ohio State could challenge if they were to land a kid like Josh Jenkins and Notre Dame might have something to say if they could snag Kenneth Page from the southeast.

The depth of this wide receiver class is special and there is still a lot of work to be done. With names like Muskogee's (Okla.) Jameel Owens and Foley's (Al.) Julio Jones still hanging in the balance, any number of teams could claim the title.

Florida would certainly clinch this position if they can somehow pull the upset and land Jones. Carl Moore, Omarius Hines and Frankie Hammonds round out a very well-balanced class for the Gators.

USC's class is special. D.J. Shoemate is Percy Harvin plus two inches and 30 pounds. Brice Butler might be the most polished wideout in the entire class. Oklahoma would challenge if they land Owens - which seems likely. Notre Dame recently pulled Deion Walker off the east coast and Michael Floyd is a very special player. Miami could join the action if the 6-6 Tommy Streeter gives The U a clean sweep of the Northwestern-7. (Ben Jones would have to commit as well...work with me here)

Spain Park defensive end William Green would give Alabama the best defensive line class. Miami boasts the best interior group led by Marcus Fortson, Texas A&M leads on the edge with six commits. Georgia has the second best overall class. Clemson and Oklahoma bring in the best two defensive line prospects in DaQuan Bowers and R.J. Washington respectively.

Miami has the linebacker class locked up. This class is so deep that the Canes might have five starters in the group: three linebackers, one safety and one defensive end. Michigan and Virginia Tech both have great depth in the linebacker corp. If the Buffaloes can hang onto Lynn Katoa, Colorado will have a dynamite group at linebacker.

LSU is atop the list of defensive back classes, led by Ely's (Fl.) Patrick Johnson. If Rick Nueheisel can hang onto Rahim Moore, E.J. Woods and company, UCLA might get my nod, however. It just seems so unlikely that will happen. The Gators claim the top safety group with New Jersey product Will Hill and Auburn High's Dee Finley.

The final team rankings will be released post-signing day.

US Army All-American Announcements:

Every year the US Army AA game affords plenty of action for recruiting fans. It pits top flight talent versus top flight talent allowing evaluators to really get a look at prospects with the lights on. It gives football fans a taste of the future. And then there are the announcements.

This year there are plenty of big names making their picks on Saturday...

Predictions:

Shayne Hale - Ohio State
Young Hollywood Johnson - Florida (LSU is major player)
Solomon Koehler - Arizona
Ryan Williams - Va. Tech
MarQueis Gray - Minnesota
Brandon Smith - Michigan

Covaughn Deboskie was supposed to announce as well but it has leaked out that he chose the Cal Golden Bears. He is a nice pick-up for Jeff Tedford and Co.

The US Army All-American Game airs Saturday, Jan 5th at 2pm EST on NBC

Athlon Sports National Recruiting Blitz

Athlon Sports Sr. Ed. Mitch Light sits down to grill me about the Athlon Consensus 100. We break down the first twenty names to roll of the press.

We touch on some other topics as well...Iowa, Cincy, Kansas and Missouri all came up.

You can listen to the Athlon Sports National Recruiting Blitz at Athlon Sports Podcasts.

Here is my Deeper Look at 81-90.

Athlon Consensus 100: 81-90

The latest ten names of the Athlon Consensus 100 have been released.

81. Lamaar Thomas - ATH - Friendly, MD (OSU)
82. Garrett Goebel - DT - Lombard, IL (OSU)
83. DeSean Hales - ATH - Klein, TX (Texas)
84. D.J. Monroe - CB - Angleton, TX (Texas)
85. E.J. Woods - S - Culver City, CA (UCLA)
86. Brandon Thompson - DT - Thomasville, GA (und.)
87. Jerrell Harris - LB - Gadsden, AL (und.)
88. Nick Perry - DE - Detroit, MI (und.)
89. Josh Jarboe - WR - Ellenwood, GA (und.)
90. Joe Adams - ATH - Little Rock, AR (USC)

This is a very athletic group. Thomas, Hales and Adams will all find themselves on offense although Adams could be used in both defensive and offensive capacities. Woods and Harris play like missiles and can really hit.

The state of Georgia is off to a great start with five players in the first 20 names. Cali and Texas both have three.

Corner and the mysterious 'athlete' position each have four prospects. However, this might be a bit misleading as at least Thomas and Hales will be playing WR, which has two players. WR might be the deepest position in the AC100.

Ohio State and UCLA each have three prospects committed. Texas and UGA have two.

The Big Ten and Pac-10 each have four commits. The SEC and Big XII have three each.

MOST UNDERRATED: Lamaar Thomas, this kids is a bigger version of Percy Harvin. Expect him to get the ball out of the backfield (maybe in a few sets as QB), as a wide receiver and especially a return man. He is a game-changer.

MOST OVERRATED: Goebel/Thompson. Now, they both could end being good. Goebel needs what Thompson has and Thompson needs what Goebel has. Goebel is very technically sound and plays very smart football but lacks burst and raw athleticism. Thompson has great explosion and athletic ability but lacks fundamentals and technique. Both could be good though. I actually like all ten of these kids but these two seem to have the most work to do.

Stay tuned to AthlonSports.com every Monday and Thursday as we release ten more names each day until Signing Day on Feb. 6th.

Athlon Consensus 100: 91-100

The first release of the AC100 went live this morning...

91. Justin Johnson - RB - Gilmer, TX (Okla)
92. Charles Whitlock - CB - Chester, SC (S. Car)
93. Andrew Sweat - LB - Washington, PA (OSU)
94. Brandon Smith - ATH - New Brunswick, NJ (und.)
95. A.J. Harmon - OG - Louisville, GA (Clem)
96t. Toby Jackson - DE - Griffin, GA (UGA)
97t. Aaron Hester - CB - Compton, CA (UCLA)
98. Tavarres King - WR - Mt. Airy, GA (UGA)
99. Anthony Dye - CB - Corona, CA (UCLA)
100. Trevor Robinson - OG - Elkhorn, NE (ND)

Right off the bat, Georgia and California take an early lead in state race, with Ga, already with three prospects.

Two corners and two offensive guards are in this first ten as well. Do not expect too many more guards. Corners there will be plenty of.

UCLA and UGA each have two kids committed. The UCLA ones we will have to wait and see about. Now that they finally have a new coach.

The SEC jumps out ahead of the other big leagues with three commits already. The Pac-10 and Big Ten/ND both have two each.

Three names really stand out to me. Tavarres King, Aaron Hester and Andrew Sweat. But not all for the same reason.

Andrew Sweat is limited in his top end speed and can be too aggressive. He needs to work on his control and discipline. He will be a solid player but should not be in the top-100.

King and Hester are much different. Tavarres King will be a star. In the open field, he is unstoppable. He will need to get stronger and thicker but has a chance to be great. Aaron Hester is just a really smooth defensive back. He plays wonderful trail technique and shows a burst when the ball is in the air. Both of these kids should be ranked in the 50-60 range.

Athlon Consensus 100

USA Today...Today...Today Today Today

Offensive/Defensive Players's of the Year along with the annual USA Today High SChool All-American Teams were released today.

Shocking. Terrelle Pryor was named Off. POY while current Miami-FL commit and Florida Gator lean Patrick Johnson was given Def. POY honors.

They interviewed both. Pryor's best answer was to the question, 'Who is in your five?' He responded with "Mom, Dad, friends Jason and Ted, coach Ray Reitz and coach Roy Hall."

1, 2, 3, 4...yeah that is definitely six people. For Pyror's academic tutor's sake, I hope someone is sharing a line.

He also said "Someone tried to land a helicopter on our field."

Hmmmm? Jim Tressel and his championship teams and his fancy sweater vest? Maybe. How about the guy who jet-sets in the offseason with Bill Belichick? Nah, not Urban Meyer. There are just so many logical candidates: Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban, Pete Carroll, Bobby Petrino. Who is my guess though?

Rich Rodriguez. He has not only got the clout but also the balls to do it. The brashness helps too.

Terrelle Pryor Update and more...

I just got off the phone with my contacts in Ann Arbor and he gave me his thoughts on the new hire and Michigan's chances at Terrelle Pryor.

My unnamed source at TheWolverine.com first told me that there is more energy around the Michigan program in one day under Rich Rod than in the past five years combined. This is not shocking.

First things first, Terrelle Pryor has officially added Michigan to his list of schools. And they move right to the top. My contact tells me that the % chance Terrelle Pryor goes to Michigan is at 50%. West Virginia, Tennessee and Texas have all bit the dust in the last few weeks. Florida is on its death bed. That leaves Michigan, Ohio St and Oregon.

So, hypothetically, if Pryor goes to Michigan that raises intersting questions about the current depth chart. Pryor has told Michigan that he does not have to play right away. Redshirting is an option or use him like Florida used Timmy Teabags when he was behind Chris Leak on the depth chart: get some time under center in special circumstances.

So this leaves me with one burning question. What happens to Ryan Mallet? Well, apparently he is a jerk. That is a quote that has been cleaned up for children. Will he transfer? Will he stick it out? What about Ga. Tech transfer/recruit Steve Threet? Only time will tell.

The 50% number would mean that Michigan is leading and I do not believe that...yet. I would guess its closer to...

Michigan 40%
Ohio St 40%
Oregon 20%

We shall see what happens.

Also, huge commitments coming today from Arthur Brown and Chris Harper today from Wichita, KS. I have been saying Brown to USC but rumors are swirling about North Carolina.

Terrelle Pryor headed to Oregon?

Good friend Mike Farrell of Rivals.com, is reporting that Terrelle Pryor has added the Oregon Ducks to his list of suitors. Apparently Mike Bellotti and Dennis Dixon paid him a bit of a visit when traveling to New York for an awards ceremony.

I have been saying since day one that his decision will come down to what type of offense he will be running. West Virginia and Florida would fit his desired style the best. However, no matter how good Terrelle Pryor is, he will never be more popular than Timmy Teabags in Gainesville.

Ohio State has proven that it can adapt. But is Tressell to conservative?

Was Michael Robinson's season enough for Penn St to prove that JoePa has not let the game pass him by?

Tennessee. Manning? Claussen? Ainge? That is twelve years of no chance.

With Dennis Dixon's play this season and no quarterback in sight on that campus, Eugene becomes an interesting option for Mr. Pryor. If it is the system he wants, there might be no better option than Oregon and Chip Kelly's offense.

Prior to Dixon's injury, West Virginia and Oregon were the two most explosive and most difficult to stop offenses of the 2007 season. Would love to see him go to Oregon.

Additionally, Pryor eliminated Texas. Shocking. They were never a serious player.

Photo by Pittsburgh Post Gazette

US Army AA Player of the Year Finalist

The US Army All-American Bowl is easily the best national "all-star" event for high school prospects each season. In conjunction with that game, finalist for National Player of the Year have been announced. This list is not necessarily the best six players.

Nigel Bradham LB 6-2, 225 (Wakulla High School, Crawford, Fla.)
Arthur Brown LB 6-1, 215 (East High School, Wichita, Kan.)
Dayne Crist QB 6-4, 225 (Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks, Calif.)
Patrick Johnson DB 6-1, 190 (Blanche Ely High School, Pompano Beach, Fla.)
Terrelle Pryor QB 6-5, 230 (Jeanette High School, Jeanette, Pa.)
Darrell Scott RB 6-0, 205 (St. Bonaventure High School, Ventura, Calif.

Technically Patrick Johnson is committed to Miami...technically. He has a wandering eye. Dayne Crist is committed to Notre Dame. I wonder if Charlie Weis pulls a Joe Theismann and adds an H? Nigel Bradham is headed to Florida State. Darrell Scott is supposedly silently committed to Colorado.

Arthur Brown narrowed his list to UNC, Fla, Mia, USC and LSU this week.

The man to beat is Terrell Pryor though. Whose 421 total yard, 7 td performance against Aliquippa a few weeks back was raising question amongst local coaches if he was better than Tony Dorsett. Dorsett is consider to be the best high school football player in the state of PA, ever.

I still say Pryor ends up in Columbus.

The US Army All-American Bowl is on NBC, Jan. 5th, 1 pm EST.

Willie Mobley is FINALLY a Buckeye

The Eden Prairie (Eden Prairie, MN) defensive end has finally made his choice and it was no surprise. Willie Mobley, 6-2, 270 lbs, committed to Ohio St. He goes with OSU over Minnesota, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Tennessee.

It has been rumored for nearly a month since his official visit that Mobley would be a Buckeye. How is ranked:

Rivals: #9 Strongside DE
Scout: #19 DE
ESPN: #14 DE

Ohio State continues to rake in top notch talent from all over the country as they dip into Minnesota and take the second best prospect in that state (#1-Michael Floyd).

Willie Mobley is an interesting prospect. He will enter school as a defensive end but if he can add some weight to his frame he will play inside. He has good enough power and explosion at the point of attack that he can be a threat as a pass-rusher possibly even from the tackle position. Mobley has a strong motor and will be a good tackler at the next level.

When he fires off the ball low he is very difficult to stop but he needs to stay focused on keeping his pads low. If he ends up at tackle he will also need to rely more on going through blockers not around them, albeit he does have a quick swim move. He does have the ability to collapse the pocket using his strength and power.

Mobley is the 15th commit for the Bucks as Jim Tressell is putting together a top-5 class. Especially if they land Terrelle Pryor, who many people think will end up in Columbus.

Big Weekend in Ohio

Florida, Texas and California - in that order - are the top three talent producing states in the nation. This is not really a surprise. Ranking states from there gets tricky. Georgia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Louisiana, Virginia and even New Jersey have legit claims to be in the top-5. Per-capita, Mississippi might be the most talent producing state in the country!

I lean towards the state of Ohio. It is already has the Cradle of Coaches so why not give it the unofficial crown for 4th best recruiting state. That being said, if you are in the Canton/Massillon area this weekend I recommend getting to one of these two stadiums for one of six state championship games. These six games feature plenty of high level D-1 talent, especially in the 2009 class.

Maria Stein Marion Local v. Youngstown Ursuline
Fri. 11 am, Massillon Paul Brown Stadium, Division V

Ursuline is led along the offensive line by big Harold Coates. They also have two stellar '09 prospects. Darrell Mason is a tremendous athlete, maybe the best in the state of Ohio in 2009. Cornerback Dale Peterman is also getting plenty of looks right now. Keep your eyes on these two kids.

Sunbury Big Walnut v. Newark Licking Valley
Fri. 3 pm, Canton Fawcett Stadium, Division III

Make sure to watch SR. running back Josh Bailey who won the game last week for Licking Valley with a 65-yd run with less than :30 left on the clock breaking a 21-all tie. Two more 2009 kids will do battle in this contest too. Licking Valley's Storm Klein is a versitle athlete at 6-2, 220. He is already committed to Jim Tressell and the Buckeyes. Look for Big Walnut linebacker Will Studlein to answer the bell for his squad.

Cincinnati Anderson v. Louisville
Fri. 7 pm, Massillon Paul Brown Stadium, Divison II

Although not loaded with high level prospects, this game should have plenty of fireworks. Louisville starts four wide receivers as they like to spread it out and have only had one close game during the entire playoffs. Anderson RB Elijah Storey has broken the 200 yard barrier in four of his last five games including a 201-yd, 3 touchdown performance over Ashland in the state semis.

Bascom Hopewell-Loudon v. Newark Catholic
Sat. 11 am, Canton Fawcett Stadium, Division VI

Newark Catholic is playing in its 13th state title game. They have won seven championships. Bascom head coach Brian Colatruglio, in his 4th season, has only lost four games as head coach (49-4).

Coldwater v. Youngstown Cardinal Mooney
Sat. 3 pm, Massillon Paul Brown Stadium, Division IV

Current Buckeye Ross Homan will be watching his little brother, Adam Homan, play for Coldwater. Cardinal Mooney is LOADED. Linebackers Taylor Hill (OU), Mike Zordich (PSU) and standout '09 defensive tackle John Simon lead the way on defense as YCM tries to defend their state title. Simon already has offers from Notre Dame, Illinois, Nebraska, Pitt and Ohio St. Penn St commit Brandon Beachum will be on display as he has rushed for 1569 yards and 17 TD's on the season.

Cincinnati St. Xavier v. Mentor
Sat. 7 pm, Canton Fawcett Stadium, Division I

The grand finale. The top level of competition in arguabely the fourth most talented state in the nation features a dynamic running back in St. X's Darius Ashley. The underrated Louisville commit has carried his team all season long. Also, keep an eye on St. X linebacker Fred Craig (Stan). Mentor will be hungry after losing the first ever state title (Division I) to go to overtime last season to Hilliard Davidson.

Top players for 2009 released

Rivals.com released its top-100 prospects for 2009 today. It is the earliest release of a top-100 for the website ever. Who is the early favorite for No. 1 player in the nation? A 6-3, 225 lb quarterback from the football powerhouse Mater Dei high school (Santa Ana, CA) Matt Barkley gets the nod as Rivals' top prospect.

Back on October 4th, I had the pleasure of watching a truly epic battle between the #1 team in the state of California - Mater Dei - and the #2 ranked team Centennial (Corona, CA).

In a nationally televised showdown, Matt Barkley and Mater Dei took Centennial's best shot and won a shootout 51-37.

Barkley was very impressive. Not only does he show the arm strength to make all the throws but his intangibles are off the charts. His poise and toughness are what won him that game. He stood tall in the pocket and delivered the football in the face a potent Centennial blitz. A blitz that involves the #17 player in 2009, the hard-hitting linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Barkley has great downfield vision as he had the patience to work through his progressions even in the face of pressure. If Barkley does not choose USC it would be a shock to everyone.

Rivals top-10:
1. Matt Barkley - QB Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
2. Jamarkus McFarland - DT Lufkin (Lufkin, TX)
3. Cierre Wood - RB Santa Clara (Oxnard, CA)
4. Russell Shepard - ATH Cypress Ridge (Houston, TX)
5. Dre Kirkpatrick - DB Gadsden City (Gadsden, AL)
6. Manti Te'o - LB Punahou (Honolulu, HI)
7. Rueben Randle - WR Bastrop (Bastrop, LA)
8. Devon Kennard - DE Desert Vista (Phoenix, AZ)
9. Jacobbi McDaniel - DT Madison (Greenville, FL)
10. Bryce Brown - RB Wichita East (Wichita, KS)

That last name might look familiar as Bryce Brown is the younger and more talented brother of 2008 star LB Arthur Brown.

7 of the top-100 are already committed. Go figure, USC has three of them.

#35 DJ Fluker - DT (Alabama)
#52 Jordan Whiting - LB (Ohio St)
#55 William Campbell - DT (Michigan)
#65 Randall Carroll - WR (USC)
#78 Morrell Presley - TE (USC)
#86 Marlon Pollard - DB (UCLA)
#88 Kevin Graf - OL (USC)

The aforementioned #1 versus #2 battle: