AC100 On Campus: JAMARKUS MCFARLAND

On my trip through the state of Texas last week, I had a chance to sit down with half a dozen of the top prospects in the state. It turns out, they are also some of the top prospects in the nation.

First up is the top defensive tackle in the nation: Jamarkus McFarland.

Here is the link to the video...

DT Jamarkus McFarland Video

The biggest thing that stood out to me about big J-Mark was his off the field attitude and mentality. He was very humble and honest. He is student body president. He never misses class, practice or workouts. He lives for Lufkin High School. I asked him if he had any favorite teams or players growing up and he said, "I grew up a Lufkin Panther fan."

He is also incredibly strong. He benched 3-bills as a freshman.

It looks like LSU and Texas are the finalist with LSU having the edge. Les Miles and Co. are cleaning up...

AC100 On Campus: ERIC GORDON

I had a chance to shoot practice and sit down with Hillsboro's Eric Gordon.

here is the link to the video...

ATH Eric Gordon

Gordon does a litte bit of everything for Hillsboro. He will be used as a wideout, a running back, cornerback and safety. He will also return kicks.

He was easily the best athlete on the field when I watched practice. He was also much thicker than I anticipated, particularly in the lower body. He strength should really develop on the next level. Its the mental side of things that he will need the most work on. He reads, progressions and maturity must be improved if he expects to star in a conference like the SEC or ACC.

Team Recruiting Countdown: No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners

No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners (Big 12 No. 1)

2008 Haul: 21 signees, 7 Athlon Consensus 100

Scouting Report:

The first order of business here is to congratulate Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma Sooners on their Big 12 2008 recruiting crown, a position that Stoops has found himself in regularly, considering his five conference titles in eight season as head coach in Norman.

Few teams were hurt by early departures to the NFL draft more so than the Sooners. Defensive back Reggie Smith and wide receiver Malcolm Kelly were expected but linebacker Curtis Lofton’s choice to test the NFL waters was a bit of a surprise to OU fans. This leaves the linebacker position lacking depth, at least by Oklahoma standards.

Stoops addressed the depth issue by landing three, possibly four, linebackers in this class. The group is led by JUCO signee J.R. Bryant (Garden City, Kan.) and sleeper Daniel Franklin (Mt. Airy, Ga.). Bryant brings experience and “ready to play now” ability while Franklin, with some work, could be a tackling machine for the Crimson and Cream. The wild card is Justin Johnson (Gilmer, Texas). Some recruiting sites have him listed as the No. 2 running back prospect in the nation while others see him as a linebacker.

If Johnson stays at running back, the ball carrier position in Norman should be set for years. Standout redshirt freshman DeMarco Murray returns after an explosive freshman year and Johnson is joined by fellow stud recruit Jermie Calhoun (Van, Texas) in his trip north to Oklahoma. Calhoun is the No. 2 ranked running back in nation according to the AC100. He is a complete runner. He can run between the tackles with power, turn the corner with speed, catch passes from out of the backfield and will be a solid blitz pick-up option with some teaching. Calhoun is a special player. 

Stoops was not shocked by Kelly’s early departure, which is evident by the stellar wide receiver class heading to Norman in 2008. Jameel Owens (Muskogee, Okla.) was the top in-state talent in ’08 regardless of position and will be the next big star on the outside in the Big 12. Josh Jarboe (Ellenwood, Ga.) put on a show at the Under Armour Classic in Orlando and Dejuan Miller (Metuchen, N.J.) has the physical (6-6, 210) gifts to be a great deep threat. Lamar Harris (Gilmer, Texas) is likely to end up catching passes in Norman. Look for all of these talented prospects to spend one season learning behind seniors Manuel Johnson and Juaquin Iglesias (as well as the younger Adron Tennell) before their true impact is felt.

Quantity was clearly not Stoops’ main focus for this class. The quality, however, across the board, was astounding. R.J. Washington (Keller, Texas) is likely the most talented player in this class and trails only Clemson’s DaQuan Bowers in the national defensive end ranks. Stephen Good (Paris, Texas) was the top offensive line target from the state of Texas.

Washington, Good and Calhoun were the top-3 players in the state of Texas this season and all three are headed to Norman. Stoops, unsurprisingly, landed 11 total prospects from the talent rich Lone Star State.

To round out an already great class, Stoops added yet another stellar quarterback prospect. Landry Jones (Artesia, N.M.) has all the physical tools to be a ‘franchise’ player for Oklahoma. With Sam Bradford breaking NCAA single season freshman records, however, actually getting on the field is an entirely different matter.

Top Prospect: R.J. Washington – DE – Keller, Texas (6-3, 240) AC100 No. 10

Washington, who many consider the top player in the state of Texas, offers a wonderful blend of size and speed from the defensive end position. He consistently shows the ability to get to the edge and, subsequently, the quarterback. Washington may be the best edge pass rusher in the nation. In addition, he might also have the quickest first step off the line of scrimmage. He has great explosion and burst off the ball.

What makes Washington special is the complete nature of his game. Not only is he a speed rusher, he has the power and strength to dominate blockers. He will hold his point of attack well and with some added weight and bulk could be an absolute machine at the defensive end position.

Washington is simply a great athlete. He has the speed to pursue backside rollouts, the burst to get up field and around a bigger offensive tackle, and the brute force to hold his ground against powerful run blockers.

Best of the Rest:

Jermie Calhoun – RB – Van, Texas (6-0, 210) AC100 No. 8
Stephen Good – OL – Paris, Texas (6-4, 290) AC100 No. 29
Jameel Owens – WR – Muskogee, Okla. (6-3, 210) AC100 No. 45
Josh Jarboe – WR – Ellenwood, Ga. (6-3, 190) AC100 No. 63
Justin Johnson – RB – Gilmer, Texas (6-1, 210) AC100 No. 89
Landry Jones – QB – Artesia, N.M. (6-4, 225) AC100 No. 100
Stacey McGee – DT – Muskogee, Okla. (6-4, 265)
Joseph Ibiloye – DB – Garland, Texas (6-2, 195)
Ben Habern – C – Argyle, Texas (6-3, 270)
DeJuan Miller – WR – Metuchen, N.J. (6-5, 210)

Sleeper: Daniel Franklin – LB – Mt. Airy, Ga. (6-2, 215)

Blessed with a great frame, Franklin will add 15-20 pounds of strength and be a solid player for the Sooners. He is at his best when he is attacking the line of scrimmage. He does an excellent job of taking on blockers and getting through to the football. He shows nice speed and agility in pass defense but will need work in this area before he becomes a complete player.

A Big Day for Oklahoma

Muskogee High School in Muskogee, OK has a pair of very talented prospects on its roster. Wide receiver Jameel Owens and defensive tackle Stacey McGee are both considered top level prospects and are arguably the top two players coming out of the state of Oklahoma this year.

Tuesday, both prospects committed to Oklahoma.

Jameel Owens is the real gem, however. He is an exact clone of Oklahoma State's Adarius Bowman. Almost 6-4 and nearly 215 pounds, this kid has the physical make-up to easily beat press coverage. Owens has the power and strength to play like his NFL namesake Terrell, in that, he cannot be jammed at the line of scrimmage and is difficult to tackle in the open field.

In fact, the younger Owens probably has better hands than T.O. His aggressiveness makes him a great deep target. He does a great job of attacking the football when it comes his way. Its this mentality that turns a good wide receiver into a great wide receiver.

Owens is ranked No. 40 in the Athlon Consensus 100. Ranks as of 01.01.08:

Rivals: #46 overall
Scout: #71
ESPN: #73
PrepStar: 41

I have him at #15. With the departure of standout receiver Malcolm Kelly to the NFL, Owens and fellow commit Josh Jarboe really add depth to a position that still has names like Adron Tennell and Juaquin "Julio" Iglesias.

Stacey McGee is no small consolation prize, literally. At 6-4, 280 pounds, McGee could add twenty pounds and be at an ideal size for the defensive tackle position. He has nice strength and will end up being a nice player for Bob Stoops and Co.

Photo by Athlon Sports

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.

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

Joe Montana QB Finalists

The first annual Joe Montana Quarterback of the Year Award has its seven finalists. Hall of Famer Joe Montana and QB coaching expert Steve Clarkson, along with the DeBartolo Sports University, will be giving this award to "the nation's best quarterback."

The Finalist:

Dayne Crist - Sherman Oaks, CA (Notre Dame)
EJ Manuel - Bayside, VA (Florida St)
Matt Scott - Corona, CA (Arizona)
Braden Hansen - Charlotte, NC (North Carolina)
Landry Jones - Artesia, NM (Oklahoma)
John Wienke - Tuscola, IL (Iowa)
Matt Barkley - Santa Ana, CA (USC lean-2009)

Matt Barkley is arguably the best prospect in the entire nation next season. USC should have him wrapped-up soon.

E.J. Manuel is the best prospect of the group. He is the most mentally ready quarterback of the group. He is already a leader. Crist and Barkley are the next best prospects not only on this list but in the entire nation.

Landry Jones is a great looking player but when will he get to play?

The interesting thing is that all of these kids are dramatically better passers than Terrelle Pryor. Is that why Pryor does not show up on this list?

If it is about who throws the ball better then sure leave Pryor off, but if the claim is "the nation's best quarterback," how is Pryor not on this list? He is not only the best prospect but also the best athlete and he led his team to a state title breaking records along the way. What does he need to do to get on this list?

With all due respect to Hall of Famers and gurus, Pryor belongs on this list.

The award will be announced on January 1, 2008 during the first half of the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla.

Decommitment Party Coming to a Town Near You

Working for Rivals.com, one realizes that a 'verbal commitment' is just that. A spoken agreement between two parties. In the past a 'commitment' meant more. Realistically, roughly 90% of commitments stick and hold true.

Its seems recently that with all the major coaching moves, the word 'decommitted' has come up more and more often....

It all started with Nebraska and Bill Callahan getting axed...
Blaine Gabbert - QB (Ballwin, MO) Nebraska --> Missouri
Jonas Gray - RB (Detroit, MI) Nebraska --> Notre Dame
Trevor Robinson - OL (Elkhorn, NE) Nebraska --> ???
Sean Mohler - LB (Newport Beach, CA) Nebraska --> Colorado
D.J. Woods - WR (Strongville, OH) Nebraska --> West Virginia

This, on the same day that WVU lands another wide receiver named J.D. Woods from Naples, FL. So DJ Woods and JD Woods both wideouts, both commit to same school on the same day? Am I the only one who finds that weird?

Nebraska stopped the bleeding a bit when Bo Pelini hired Barney Cotton...
Ben Cotton - TE (Ames, IA) Louisville --> Nebraska

Then Dennis Franchione got lopped and Oklahoma got lucky...
Markelle Martin - S (Wichita Falls, TX) Texas A&M --> Oklahoma

But then Mike Sherman and the Aggies returned the favor...
Jeff Fuller - WR (McKinney, TX) Oklahoma --> Texas A&M

UCLA, Arkansas, and Georgia Tech have removed their HC's and it cost them...
Kemonte Bateman - WR (Los Angeles, CA) UCLA --> Arizona St
Sean Renfree - QB (Scottsdale, AZ) Georgia Tech --> ???
Jarius Wright - WR (Warren, AR) Arkansas --> ???

Keep an eye on E.J. Woods and Aundre Dean as well as their commitments to UCLA still hang in the balance.

Miami recently lost one of its fine linebacker commits...
Lerentee McCray - LB (Dunnellon, FL) Miami --> ???

This makes the tenuous commitment of Patrick Johnson even that more fragile.

Bret Bielema and Wisconsin have been poaching a bit...
Brandon Kelly - DE (Eden Prairie, MN) Minnesota --> Wisconsin
Anthony Mains - DE (Naples, FL) South Florida --> Wisconsin

A 6-6, 250 lb quarterback was not satisfied with one decommitment, he had to go for two...
D.C. Jefferson - QB (Winterhaven, FL) Rutgers --> LSU --> Rutgers

LSU has lost two QB commits in the last two weeks (Darron Thomas).

Now there is a rumor that Lynn Katoa is uneasy with his commitment to Colorado. Oklahoma looks to be a player.

Just a few more...
London Davis - TE (Cahokia, IL) Missouri --> Illinois
D.J. Marshall - DE (Mesquite, TX) Iowa State --> Kansas
Blair Irvin - DB (Patterson, LA) Auburn --> West Virginia

Jeff Fuller: Turn-a-bout is Fair Play

Shortly after Texas A&M announced that Dennis Franchione would not be retained as head coach, top flight safety prospect Markelle Martin decommitted and pledged to Oklahoma.

What goes around, comes around.

Mike Sherman was named the next head coach at Texas A&M. Offensively this means the Aggies will go from a hybrid wishbone option attack to a pure West Coast game plan. That was exactly what McKinney, TX wide receiver Jeff Fuller needed to hear. The 6-4, 210 lb Boyd High standout switched his commitment from Oklahoma to Texas A&M.

Fuller's father, Jeff Fuller Sr, was a defensive back at Texas A&M in the early 80's and Pro Bowl player for the 49ers. Jeff Sr. had been worried about his son playing wideout in an offensive system like Franchione's. No worries now. How he ranks:

Rivals: #92 overall, #15 wide receiver
Scout: #35 wide receiver
ESPN: #25 wide receiver
Prepstar: #62 overall, #11 wide receiver

Fuller has ideal size for a pass catcher. The great thing about his size is that he is much faster than he seems. He is deceptively fast with better straight line speed and open field agility that perceived. He is good at getting off the line-of-scrimmage and will not get jammed easily. Shows flashes of being a go-to red zone target. He also has the potential to return kicks.

He will need work on his route running and mental acumen. He is great on deep routes and underneath stuff but needs to learn how to work zones and manipulate defenders. That will come with sound coaching.

Being the son of a pro or college athlete can never be underestimated. Just like coaches' sons, players' kids have been around the game of football for most of their lives.

How many team meetings will it take before young Jeff Fuller will have to reenact his father's sweet jam?

Markelle Martin first to jump Aggie ship

According to SoonerScoop.com and ESPN.com, the highly ranked safety prospect Markelle Martin has de-committed from Texas A&M and joined the Oklahoma Sooners. How Martin Ranks:

Rivals: #12 safety in nation
ESPN: #11 safety in nation
Scout: Unranked wide receiver

The Rider High (Wichita Falls, TX) product is listed at 6-2, 190 lbs. Martin plays with reckless abandon. He announces his presence at the ball carrier. He has no regard for his bodily safety. Once he reads run, he is flying past blockers to the ball.

He is very strong at reading the play when sitting back in a zone scheme. He is fundamentally sound when it comes to turning his hips and staying low as he turns to run. He has great ball skills and has no problem going up and fighting for the pass.

This is a kid who uses his superior diagnostic skills to mask the lack of overall speed and athleticism. He is quicker than he is fast.

The real question is how many kids jump ship? Some are nervous and some are excited. The quick coaching turn-around will help continuity. However, new coach Mike Sherman will be building a staff and recruiting kids all while he does this little thing called coaching in the NFL. It will be tough.

Texas A&M only has two out-of-state commits though so it should be easy for Sherman, who is with the Houston Texans, to visit kids and calm their nerves. It will also help if he keeps some of the coaches from Fran's staff. It always helps the recruiting class if former coaches are kept.

Losing Martin is a big hit though. If they lose kids like Sedrick Johnson it will not be pretty. Especially if those kids go to divisional foes.

Jameel Owens to Oklahoma?

At least to the state of Oklahoma. The Muskogee High School (Muskogee, OK) wide receiver is just one of many in the fabulous 2008 WR class. Jameel Owens is listed at roughly 6-3, 215 lbs.

A '08 WR class that has names like DJ Shoemate, AJ Green and Julio Jones it is easy to see how the 6-3, 215 pounder gets lost even at his size. A sidenote: this WR class may be the best crop of pass catchers EVER.

Owens is a big powerful target. He rarely goes down at first hit and is very allusive in the open field using not only his quick feet but also his raw power to shake tacklers. His speed is legit. He has the ability to run away from corners on a regular basis. Owens also plays safety. Now, the Muskogee product will be playing offense but he is a technically sound tackler in the open field. He is fundamentally sound which illustrates coach-ability. It means that if there is something wrong with his game, it can be fixed easily.

Jameel Owens has narrowed his list to LSU, Texas Tech, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Owens as well as his head coach are saying that they would both be "shocked" if he went far from home.

So that narrows it down to Boomer Sooner and Okie State. The young wideout will announce his school of choice at the 8th Annual Army All-American game on January 5th. Owens has stated openly that he would like to be involved in the offense early.

Both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have interesting situations. Six players caught touchdown passes in 2007 at the WR position for Oklahoma. All six have the option to return. Most likely Juaquin Iglesias returns but Malcolm Kelly could see the dollar signs and bolt for the League. Either way he will not see a lot of balls thrown his way as a true freshman. Adron Tennell will step in and fill Kelly's shoes very nicely. This does not include young TE Jermaine Gresham and RB DeMarco Murray, who both will be major parts of the offense for at least the next two seasons.

Oklahoma State loses its best WR in Adarius Bowman. The depth is much more appealing at OSU as only three WR caught more than 9 passes. The major issue here is that true frosh Dez Bryant had a nice first season and will likely be the number one target at least for one season if not two.

So if it really is about playing time then Oklahoma St has more to offer.

The only other issue to consider is how long does the staff stay in place in Stillwater? Gundy's priceless temper tantrum does not bode well for a coach losing five games a season at best.

Just a hunch here (that and I have friends *cough* at SoonerScoop.com *cough*) but I say Oklahoma is the team to beat.

Just in case,

Team Recruiting Rankings

As we near the end of the actual football season, we begin to head into the heart of another type of season. The recruiting season. The bowl season, for those teams not practicing for such historic bowl titles as the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, means hitting the recruiting trail. I have searched high and low to bring you the first ever Unofficial Visitor team recruiting rankings. With a little help of course...

Rivals and Scout are both completely computerized awarding points for quality and quantity. Hence Ohio St and USC are lower. ESPN is completely objective (Its just some guy ranking classes).

I will be the BCS of recruiting rankings. It will be two parts computer and two parts human poll. I will input my rankings and come up with "The Unofficial Team Rankings:"

Darrell Scott update

Darrell Scott has begun his cross country tour of campuses (or is that campii?). Arguably the best running back prospect in the nation, possibly the best player at any postion, visited Colorado for the beat down Mizzou put on the Buffs. But no worries CU fans. The St. Bonaventure HS (Ventura, CA) star loved Boulder.

According to the Daily (Co.) Camera, the 6-1, 210 lb running back says that Colorado is firmly in the lead for his services. Apparently his uncle, Josh Smith, is a freshman WR at CU and Scott would love to play with him. The math is a little fuzzy on that one but whatever.

Now before you go jumping into some Dan Hawkins Lotus pose, keep in mind that this kid just got back from his visit in Austin, TX (one of the many cities I have lived). He will be soon visiting LSU, Florida, UCLA and of course USC. This process is far from over. However, it is very difficult to see him not getting ALOT of playing time VERY early at Colorado.

Keep in mind that this kid was born in FLA, lived in Texas and now resides in Cali. Not bad football played in any of those states.

If you have not had the pleasure...