2009 Spotlight: Matt Barkley

When recruiting websites and media outlets sat down over the past few months to decide on how to rank the 2009 crop of football players, one name likely came up first: Matt Barkley. In fact, the conversation was likely very short. The Santa Ana, Calif. quarterback has separated himself as the clear No. 1 prospect in the nation.

Barkley is a 6'3" 225-pound monster behind the line of scrimmage. He is the complete package. Standing tall in the pocket, showing poise and maturity way beyond his teenage years, Barkley sprays the football all over the field. He has a great arm and can make every throw on the field. He has great footwork, balance, vision and can throw on the run. His mechanics are already developed ahead of schedule.

But it is not just about throwing the football, it is about how he throws it. He will stand confident and tall in the pocket while 280-pound defenders bear down on him and will calmly drop a 45-yard fade route right into his receivers waiting arms. His toughness and leadership will carry him a long way on a football field.

This poise is what sets him apart from most high school athletes. Of course, it comes with the territory. As a four-year starter for Mater Dei High School, young Barkley has grown very accustomed to the spotlight. Recent college greats Matt Leinart and Colt Brennan have both walked the halls and locker rooms of Mater Dei. The Southern California high school power is also one of only two high schools in America to boast two Heisman trophy winners (Leinart and John Huarte-Notre Dame). The other is Woodrow Wilson High in Texas (Davey O'Brien-TCU and Tim Brown-Notre Dame).

So pressure is certainly a part of the job description. Barkley relishes it.

The young signal caller was named the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year for 2007. He is the only junior to ever win the award. He also earned the 1st annual Joe Montana Quarterback of the Year award as well. He was the only junior nominated. He threw for an Orange County record 3,560 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading his team to a Southern California Pac-5 Division quarterfinal game in '07.

Sounds like a nice resume for a junior in high school. But wait there is more.

Barkley, a devout Christian, is the leader of a program named 'Monarchs for Marines' (M4M). The Mater Dei Monarchs dedicated the 2007 season to the troops stationed at Camp Pendleton. Hundreds of players, coaches and family members showed up at the base to help landscape and renovate the grounds. M4M has raised roughly $100,000 for fallen and wounded soldiers.

So who gets this young prodigy? Shockingly, Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans already have a verbal commitment from the quarterback. If there was any doubt, Les Barkley - Matt's father - was an All-American water polo player for USC in the 70's.

Talent. Genetics. Intelligence. Maturity. Focus. Humility. Mr. Barkley has it all, except the thing he craves the most. A CIF state championship. It was that loss in the quarterfinals that drives the quarterback. He works every week with future teammates - wide receiver Morrell Pressley - and quarterback gurus - Steve Clarkson - in order to be constantly improving. Needless to say, a state championship is his goal for 2008. Hell, its the only thing the kid doesn't have!

This does not bode well for guys named Mitch Mustain and Aaron Corp.

Top 25 Prospects to Watch for 2009

The 2008 class is in the books, at least for the most part, and coaching staffs everywhere have already turned their attention to their 2009 classes. Some schools already have strong starts on the recruiting trails.

USC already has ten committed prospects for the ’09 class – eight of which are top-100 type players. Quarterback Matt Barkley (Santa Ana, Calif.) is considered by many as the top signal-caller in this class, and he is already committed to the Trojans. He is also the early favorite for the No. 1 spot on the 2009 Athlon Consensus 100.

Florida State has six commits thus far but the quality is astounding. Five of the six have the potential to be top-100 players. Taking care of the local markets and keeping kids at home is essential for FSU in a year where the Tallahassee area is well-stocked. Wide receiver Willie Downs, corner JaJuan Harley, end Brandon Jenkins and linebacker C.J. Mizell all hail from Tallahassee, Fla.

Ohio State already has eight verbal pledges, three of which are almost locks for the AC100. John Simon (Youngstown, Ohio) led his team to the Ohio high school state title game last season only to lose by a single point to Coldwater. Rest assured he will be fired up for his senior season. Chris Fields (Painesville, Ohio) is eerily similar to return specialist Ted Ginn Jr. Fields will be a much better wide receiver and should impact the return game as well.

Texas, however, is off to arguably the best start of anyone for 2009. They already have 15 commitments. Garrett Gilbert (Austin, Texas) is an incredibly productive high school passer. He threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 52 touchdowns in his junior campaign. Chris Whaley (Madisonville, Texas) looks exactly like Super Bowl champ Brandon Jacobs when he runs through tacklers with his 6-3, 225-pound frame. Mack Brown has once again pushed the recruiting calendar to the limits.

North Carolina and Butch Davis are also off to a great start with a solid group of local talents. Michigan State, Stanford and LSU are also off to great starts for ’09.

A few mid-major programs are making waves as well. BYU and TCU are two of the top non-BCS programs in the nation and it is showing in this recruiting season.

2008 saw maybe the most talented collection ever of wide receiver prospects in one class. This season quarterback and defensive tackle are the two positions that really stand out so far. Both are premium positions and normally very scarce. Not in 2009, both are loaded with talent.

Also, look to the Midwest for extra talent this year. The state of Wisconsin is poised to have its most talented class of seniors in two decades. Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois are also stacked with talent for the 2009 class.

The state of Louisiana also boasts an above average class, with possibly five or six AC100 members.

It is very early but here are some names that will become household very early in the recruiting process:

Matt Barkley - QB - Santa Ana, Calif. (6-3, 225) USC
Shevodrick Beaver - QB - Wichita Falls, Texas (6-3, 190)
Dorian Bell - LB - Monroeville, Pa. (6-1, 220)
Bryce Brown - RB - Wichita, Kan. (6-0, 215) Miami
Marlon Brown - WR - Memphis, Tenn (6-5, 208)
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Corona, Calif. (6-2, 230) USC
William Campbell - DL - Detroit, Mich. (6-4, 320) Mich
Chris Davenport - DT - Mansfield, La. (6-3, 315)
D.J. Fluker - DT - Foley, Ala. (6-7, 325) Alabama
Garrett Gilbert - QB - Austin, Texas (6-3, 190) Texas
Kevin Graf - OL - Agoura, Calif. (6-6, 305) USC
Devon Kennard - DE - Phoenix, Ariz. (6-4, 240)
Dre Kirkpatrick - DB - Gadsden, Ala. (6-2, 185)
Jacobbi McDaniel - DT - Greenville, Fla. (6-0, 285) FSU
Jamarkus McFarland - DT - Lufkin, Texas (6-3, 290)
Lamar Miller - RB - Miami, Fla. (5-11, 208)
Rueben Randle - WR - Bastrop, La. (6-3, 200)
Tyrik Rollison - QB - Sulpher Springs, Texas (6-2, 195)
Tom Savage - QB - Philadelphia, Pa. (6-3, 230)
Russell Shepard - QB - Houston, Texas (6-2, 195) LSU
John Simon - DT - Youngstown, Ohio (6-3, 280) Ohio St
Frankie Telfort - LB - Miami, Fla. (5-11, 195)
Manti Te'o - LB - Honolulu, Hawaii (6-2, 230)
Chris Whaley - RB - Madisonville, Texas (6-3, 225) Texas
Cierre Wood - RB - Oxnard, Calif. (6-0, 195)

2009 Classes to Watch: Southern Cal

The USC Trojans finished 5th in the Athlon Sports national recruiting rankings for 2008. Fans of the Troy must have been very disappointed to have not finished No. 1 after three straight recruiting National Championships (04-06). Pete Carroll has made his early claim for regaining that recruiting throne in 2009 - although Mack Brown and Texas are making a strong case for No. 1 at the moment. The Longhorns have 15 commits to USC's measly 10 pledges.

The Horns have the edge in quantity but the Trojans are once again, second to none in quality: of the current 10 commitments, 8 are top-100 and all ten are potential Athlon Consensus members. Two names in particular stand out, however.

This 2009 class starts with the early favorite for No. 1 player in the nation title: Mater Dei's big-arm quarterback Matt Barkley.

Matt Barkley - QB - Santa Ana, Calif. (6-3, 225)

Barkley is likely to be the No. 1 prospect on the 2009 Athlon Consensus 100. He has all the tools. He is big, physical and tough. He stands in the pocket and doesn't mind taking the hit if he can deliver the ball. Which he can do with great efficiency. He has a huge arm and can make every throw on the field. More important than his physical gifts is his mental make-up. He is a natural leader. He has wonderful pocket presence and poise under pressure. It is almost as if he was genetically designed to play quarterback. He also was awarded the first annual Joe Montana Quarterback of the Year award. How he won over the top prospect in the nation, Terrelle Pryor, who not only set records but won a state title is beyond me - but I digress. Barkley was the only 2009 prospect to be a finalist.

Vontaze Burfict - LB - Corona, Calif. (6-2, 235)

This kid is the next in a line of stellar linebackers for the men of Troy. Burfict should be considered as the top linebacker in the nation, or at least in the conversation with names like Manti Te'o (Honalulu, Hawaii), Dorian Bell (Monroeville, Pa.) and Frankie Telfort (Miami, Fla.). Burfict absolutely destroys ball carriers. He is great on the attack, flying through and around blockers in order to get to his target.

Here is a taste of what Mr. Barkley can do on the field...take note of the solid play-action fakes and the great arm strength on those deep out routes.

Team Recruiting Countdown: No. 5 USC Trojans

No. 5 USC Trojans (Pac-10 No. 1)

2008 Haul: 19 signees, 8 Athlon Consensus 100

Scouting Report:

The only reason this class is not No. 1 or 2 is the quantity. Of course, having the top recruiting class in the nation three of the last four years will create a crowded depth chart to say the least. The Trojans only signed 19 prospects in this class but likely had the highest level of quality per recruit in the entire nation – websites refer to this as ‘average star rating.’ Nearly half of this class was ranked in the AC100.

With ridiculously good running back and quarterback classes the last two seasons, those positions were largely ignored this season. Instead, on offense Pete Carroll focused on the offensive line and the pass catchers.
 
The 2008 Trojan O-line class may be the best group of blockers to ever head to a single school. Three – Matt Kalil (Anaheim, Calif.), Tyron Smith (Moreno Valley, Calif.), Matt Meyer (Stockton, Calif.) – are ranked in the top 83 prospects in the nation. Kalil, younger brother of current Carolina Panther Ryan Kalil, is the highest rated and has the most ideal build and talents for left tackle. Smith is the most athletic and Meyer may have the most upside. All three will be stalwarts along the offensive line. Add two massive guard prospects in Khaled Holmes (Santa Ana, Calif.) and Daniel Campbell (Aldine, Texas) and the Trojans boast the top O-line class in the nation.

Senior tight end standout Fred Davis has graduated and star recruits Patrick Turner and Vidal Hazelton have yet to pan out. So Carroll went out and addressed the outside of his offense with arguably the top tight end prospect in the nation – Blake Ayles (Orange, Calif.) – and two stellar wide receivers. D.J. Shoemate (Anaheim, Calif.) is Kalil’s teammate at Servite High and is a bigger, thicker version of Florida’s version of Percy Harvin. He can be used in the backfield as well as a pure wideout. He may end up as the best prospect in this class. Brice Butler (Norcross, Ga.) travels a long distance to get to Southern Cal. He is not as physically gifted as some other elite wide receivers but has wonderful intangibles and a great natural feel for the wide receiver position.

As impressive as the offensive class is, the defensive side of the ball may be even better. Five defensive line prospects head to Los Angeles in this class and after two of the top D-lineman in the nation graduated (Sedrick Ellis, Lawrence Jackson), the timing could not be better. Nick Perry (Detroit, Mich.) leaves the Wolverine state with the state’s single season sack record — an astonishing 36 his senior year. The 6-6, 250-pound Wes Horton (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) may have the most physical ability of all the ends. At the tackle spot, Armond Armstead (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Jurrell Casey (Long Beach, Calif.) are to big bodies that will add depth to the interior defensive line.

T.J. Bryant (Tallahassee, Fla.), a prospect that was yanked from Florida State’s grasp, anchors the small defensive back class. Former BYU pledge, Uona Kavienga (Los Angeles, Calif.) is the most talented linebacker of this class.

USC is at the top of a very short list of division one programs that have the ability to recruit nationally. Three AC100 members, one each from Georgia, Michigan and Florida, head many miles from home to play at the western powerhouse. Campbell is not an AC100 member but is still highly rated and he hails from Texas.

Top Prospect: Matt Kalil – OL – Anaheim, Calif. (6-7, 290) AC100 No. 18

Kalil, the younger brother of Ryan Kalil, former USC Trojan and NFL rookie center, is a complete tackle prospect. What made the undersized Ryan so good was his technically sound brand of football. He was as fundamentally sound as a college center could have been. If Matt is capable of being as sound in his discipline as his older brother he could be great. This is because Matt is much bigger than Ryan.

At the moment, Matt’s pass blocking is easily his strength. He does show good technique in getting his drops and shooting his hands. His good balance and quick, decisive feet allow him to mirror pass rushers very well. In the run game, knee bend and leverage will be areas of focus once Kalil gets to Southern Cal.

Best of the Rest:

Blake Ayles – TE – Orange, Calif. (6-4, 240) AC100 No. 15
Tyron Smith – OL – Moreno Valley, Calif. (6-5, 275) AC100 No. 27
T.J. Bryant – CB – Tallahassee, Fla. (6-0, 185) AC100 No. 28
D.J. Shoemate – WR – Anaheim, Calif. (6-1, 218) AC100 No. 34
Brice Butler – WR – Norcross, Ga. (6-1, 185) AC100 No. 48
Matt Meyer – OL – Stockton, Calif. (6-6, 295) AC100 No. 83
Nick Perry – DE – Detroit, Mich. (6-4, 240) AC100 No. 95
Uona Kavienga – LB – Los Angeles, Calif. (6-0, 228)
Armond Armstead – DT – Elk Grove, Calif. (6-4, 290)
Wes Horton – DE – Sherman Oaks, Calif. (6-6, 250)

Sleeper: Drew McAllister – ATH – Alamo, Calif. (6-1, 190)

It is impossible to pick a sleeper in a class full of national recruiting prospects but McAllister fits the bill. He is as polished a passer on the high school level as there is in this class. His footwork and technique are second to none. The depth chart, 2009 stud Matt Barkley, McAllister’s lack of arm strength and great athleticism will likely push him to any number of other positions, however. He is an intelligent, well-coached football player, so he will make an impact no matter where he plays.

Signing Day Watch List:

There will be fans of every school in America wasting many man (or woman) hours at the office Wednesday.

That is because tomorrow is college football’s National Signing Day. It is the first opportunity for head coaches to officially claim players as their own. It is also the first time head coaches can publicly comment on recruits.

Needless to say, it is an exciting time for everyone involved. Fans, coaches, players and recruiting junkies everywhere will be glued to a medium of choice waiting for those faxed letters of intent to come in.

This season, more so than in recent years, the names left yet to commit are extraordinarily talented. The top quarterback, running back and wide receiver have yet to pick a school. The 2008 recruiting national championship, very much so, still hangs in the balance.

The big three are obvious:

Terrelle Pryor - QB - Jeannette, PA
Finalists: OSU, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, LSU, PSU
Prediction: if it happens tomorrow...OHIO STATE

Julio Jones - WR - Foley, AL
Finalists: Alabama, FSU, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas Tech
Prediction: ALABAMA

Darrell Scott - RB - Ventura, CA
Finalists: Colorado, Texas
Prediction: COLORADO

Pryor is set to announce on ESPNU at 12:05 pm ET. Pryor has hinted at taking a visit to Oregon this upcoming weekend, which would push back his announcement past Signing Day. Jones is set to announce at 12:30 pm ET on ESPNU. Scott is set to announce at 12:50 pm ET on ESPNU.

Here is a list of some of the other big names announcing Wednesday, my prediction is in bold:

E.J. Abrams-Ward - ATH - Thomasville, NC
Finalists: Tennessee, North Carolina

Aaron Boyd - WR - Lexington, KY (10:30 am)
Finalists: Kentucky, Oregon

T.J. Bryant - CB - Tallahassee, FL
Finalists: USC, FSU, Miami, Florida, Alabama, LSU

Quinton Coples - DE - Chatham, VA (10:45 am)
Finalists: North Carolina, Tenn, NC St, FSU

Enrique Davis - RB - Chatham, VA
Finalists: Maryland, Oregon, Auburn, Ole Miss, Tenn

Roderick Davis - DT - Aldine, TX
Finalists: Texas A&M, Texas, Florida

J.B. Fitzgerald - LB - Princeton Junction, NJ
Finalists: Michigan, Rutgers

Jarmon Fortson - ATH - Columbus, GA (12:45 pm)
Finalists: Florida St, Auburn

Jamie Harper - RB - Jacksonville, FL (12:20 pm)
Finalists: Clemson, FSU, Florida, Miami

Brandon Harris - CB - Miami, FL
Finalists: Florida, Miami, Ohio State

Jerrell Harris - LB - Gadsden, AL (3 pm)
Finalists: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Tenn, USC

Josh Jenkins - G - Vienna, WV (9 am)
Finalists: Ohio St, WVU, Florida State

Ben Jones - OL - Miami, FL
Finalists: Clemson, Miami

Datone Jones - DE - Compton, CA
Finalists: Oregon, UCLA

T.J. Lawrence - WR - Lakeland, FL
Finalists: S. Car, Va. Tech, Florida, Michigan

Antoine McClain - OL - Anniston, AL
Finalists: Tenn, LSU, Clemson

Charles Mitchell - S - Clarksdale, MS
Finalists: Southern Miss, Nebraska, Miss St

Nick Perry - DE - Detroit, MI (3 pm)
Finalists: Michigan, USC, Mich St, Miami

Robert Quinn - DE - North Charleston, SC (10:30 am)
Finalists: Auburn, Alabama, North Carolina

Hamani Stevens - C - Hemet, CA (3 pm)
Finalists: UCLA, BYU, Oregon

Tommy Streeter - WR - Miami, FL
Finalists: Miami, Oregon, S. Car, USF

Note: Time = Player's expected announcement. All times Eastern.

Athlon Sports National Recruiting Blitz

This week's edition of the Athlon Sports National Recruiting Blitz is listed up on the site on the Athlon Sports Podcasts page.

Or you can click here to listen:

AS National Recruiting Blitz

Mitch and I break down the top-20 prospects in the Athlon Consensus 100.

The Gators are the hottest team in the nation and are pushing for the No. 1 spot.
David Cutcliffe and Duke got their QB of the future.
Can Texas Tech salvages their class.
Clemson is closing strong.
Houston Nutt and Ole Miss is looking in familiar places for talent.
USC is still waiting on some really talented kids.

We also break down all the coverage Athlon will be providing during Signing Day Week 2008. Included is a LIVE CHAT AT ATHLONSPORTS.com from 1-2 pm ET on Signing Day.

All this and more on the Athlon Sports National Recruiting Blitz.

Don't forget about Athlon's free recruiting forum. Sign up is free and I am there everyday talking recruiting.

Athlon Sports Recruiting Message Board

Athlon Sports Recruiting Blitz:

This week's edition of the National Recruiting Blitz is up on the site.

Mitch and I break down twenty more prospects from the Athlon Consensus 100.

The overall success of the PAC-10 during this 2008 recruiting class, Florida's controversial recruiting tactics and updates on Terrelle Pryor, Darrell Scott and Julio Jones all highlight this week's edition of the National Recruiting Blitz.

National Recruiting Blitz: 01.23.08

Athlon Sports Podcasts

Every time Athlon releases 10 more names on the AC100, I look a little deeper into those ten names...

Deeper Look: No. 21-30 Notre Dame and the offensive tackle position are very well represented in this group...

Mountain Brook's Tyler Love is just one of the names I break down in this release.

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: 71-80

The third release of the Athlon Consensus 100 has hit the presses...

71. Chris Tolliver - WR - Rayville, LA (LSU)
72. Matt Meyer - OT - Stockton, CA (USC)
73. Lynn Katoa - LB - Salt Lake City, UT (Colo)
74. Brandon Barnes - ATH - Bunn, NC (NC St)
75. Antoine McClain - OL - Anniston, AL (und.)
76. Josh Jenkins - OG - Vienna, WV (und.)
77. Mark Barron - WR - Mobile, AL (Bama)
78. Jordan Futch - S - Hollywood, FL (Mia)
79. Mike Glennon - QB - Centreville, VA (NC St)
80. Gerell Robinson - WR - Chandler, AZ (ASU)

This is a tremndously versatile group of prospects. Futch could play LB but wants to play safety. Barnes, Tolliver, Barron and Robinson could all end up at wide receiver. But then again, three of them could be playing safety as Tolliver is the only pure pass catcher of the group. McClain and Meyer could end up at guard or tackle.

It is startling to me that it took almost thirty names to get to our first QB. And he is a good one. Mike Glennon is one of the best pure pocket passers in this class. He will never wow anyone with his mobility but once he gets on a roll in the passing game, he is very tough to stop.

Stay Tuned to Athlon Sports as we release ten names every Monday and Thursday.



The Athlon Consensus 100

Deeper Look: 71-80
Deeper Look: 81-90
Deeper Look: 91-100

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.

New Year's Decommitments: Hunter/Johnson

Two major names celebrated their New Year's with two not-so-surprising resolutions. Both of these kids have had rumors swirling around their recruitment for some time now. They both just made it official this week.

Buford, GA defensive tackle prospect Omar Hunter has decommitted from Notre Dame and Ely High (Fla.) standout Patrick Johnson broke off his ties with Miami. Neither is a shock. Johnson has been rumored to have been decommitted for a long time and stories about Hunter had surfaced a few weeks ago.

Both of these players are considered top-100 type players. Both will be featured soon on the Athlon Consensus 100.

The Hunter loss hurts Notre Dame just a bit more however. Notre Dame's top priority this season in recruiting was defensive and offensive line play. Charlie Weis has done a great job of addressing those issues with names like Trevor Robinson, Ethan Johnson and many others. Hunter was a linchpin of the D-Line class though. With the new 3-4 scheme, it is imperitive that a big, versitile tackle can play head-up on the center. It is just a tough task to find guys like that and Hunter is one of them.

Miami is still loaded on the defensive side of the ball in this class. The-U has the best linebacking class in the nation and recently added top-flight safety and former FSU commit C.J. Holton. Plus, I think Patrick Johnson was a bit overrated. When a kid brings this much turmoil upon himself so early in his career, I back off.

Hunter's finalists: Auburn, Florida, USC (my guess is Auburn)
Johnson's finalists: Florida, Florida St, LSU (my guess is Florida)

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.

Trouble in Paradise?

The USC Trojans have dominated the recruiting world for nearly half of a decade. Is their grasp slipping?

Recently, East Valley all-purpose standout Chris Polk (Redlands, CA) switched to Washington this week. A Washington program that is flying high on the recruiting trail right now with names like Kavario Middleton and Jermaine Kearse as well as national record setting wide receiver Cody Bruns.

Although USC is not at a loss for superior game-breakers, losing Polk will hurt. It obviously means much more to a very unpopular Ty Willingham than Petey The Poodle but it still stings to lose a top target to a conference foe.

To compound that, stellar do-it-all athlete from Little Rock (Ark.) Joe Adams has stated that he loves the Bobby Petrino hire and is very interested in Arkansas. This would again be much more important to Arky than USC. Arkansas is a state that USC has done very well in with Mitch Mustain, Damien Williams, Broderick Green and now Adams. Keep an eye on Adams who is still technically committed to USC

So, is USC's grasp on recruiting slipping?

The answer is a resounding NO.

Pete Carroll is on the verge of stealing the hard working Derrick Coleman, a big running back from Fullerton, CA, away from crosstown rival UCLA. Top linebacker prospect Arthur Brown is set to announce in a week or so and USC got the last visit. I personally believe its down to Miami and USC. Brown wants to be in a big city. My money is on USC.

Also, if UCLA does not make a coaching hire soon, expecially if that hire does not involve Dwayne Walker, UCLA will lose a large number of their top recruits. Aundre Dean, E.J. Woods, Coleman and others have stated that they would leave if Walker is not some sort of hold over. Petey will be waiting with open arms.

Wait there is more. The Rivals100 has already been released for 2009 and there are eight kids committed nationally. USC has FOUR of them. USC landed #96 prospect T.J. McDonald a week ago to go along with Randall Carroll (#65-WR), Morrell Presley (#78-TE) and Kevin Graf (#88-OL).

I think USC is doing just fine.

And Then There Were Five

High School All-American linebacker Arthur Brown has sent Kansas State to the chopping block.

The Wichita East star has eliminated Ron Prince and the Wildcats from contention. This leaves these five fan bases still teetering on the edge of their seats: LSU, USC, North Carolina, Miami and Florida.

Rivals: #24 overall, #2 inside LB
Scout: #11 overall, #1 strongside LB
ESPN: #6 overall, #1 outside LB

So, clearly even the experts cannot decide where 6-1, 214 pound prospect will end up. His long-term NFL ability is that of an outside linebacker, most likely at the weak side. He has great speed and in that league, the weak side backer is the guy making all the plays down the line-of-scrimmage.

However, in college he can play inside. He flies to the football and he lets you know that he has arrived. He is an absolute rock when he flies through traffic. His explosiveness is his most appealing attribute. Brown's short range burst is incredible and not just straight ahead but laterally as well.

Once he decides to go he explodes but his reads, can at times, be slow and incorrect. He can take himself out of the play because he is SO explosive. These issues, and a needed improvement in technique, can be improved through solid coaching.

Photo by Larry W. Smith/The New York Times

No Shocker: Khaled Holmes to USC

Mater Dei high school in Santa Ana, CA is no stranger to talent. The football powerhouse has the Rivals #1 prospect in the nation for 2009 playing quarterback - Matt Barkley. Apparently they got some big uglies too. 6-5, 300 lb offensive guard Khaled Holmes has finally committed to USC. He picks the Trojans over the crosstown rival UCLA Bruins. How he ranks:

Rivals: #5 offensive guard in the nation
Scout: #15 offensive guard in the nation
ESPN: #5 offensive guard in the nation

Khaled Holmes' older brother Alex Holmes played at USC.

The commitment from the top flight offensive guard is the sixth O-line commit for the Trojans. This is the best offensive line class in the nation.

Matt Kalil 6-7, 281 Servite HS (Anaheim, CA)
Tyrone Smith 6-5, 270 Rancho Verde HS (Morreno Valley, CA)
Armond Armstead 6-4, 290 Pleasant Grove HS (Elk Grove, CA)
Matt Meyer 6-7, 295 Lincoln HS (Stockton, CA)
Daniel Campbell 6-5, 320 Aldine HS (Aldine, TX)
Khaled Holmes 6-5, 300 Mater Dei HS (Santa Ana, CA)

Aside from Daniel Campbell, all of these giants are from the state of California. All of them are ranked in the state's top-16. (2,3,9,11,16) This is California, not Wyoming.

It is absolutely sick what Pete Carroll has been able to accomplish.

Crespi-Servite Overtime Thriller!

One California Pac-5 division semi-final could not have offered more excitement. Anaheim-Servite lost to Encino-Crespi 13-10 in overtime this weekend. The other Pac-5 final was not quite as exciting as Long Beach Poly beat Orange Lutheran 2-0. Yes, thats right. A safety to nothing.

Crespi-Servite featured five high-level stars.

Crespi sports three of them. UCLA commit EJ Woods, huge OL Joseph Fauria is committed to Notre Dame and quarterback Kevin Prince is liking headed to Washington.

Servite features two future USC Trojans: athlete D.J. Shoemate and offensive tackle Matt Kalil.

Woods, who has said he is going to look around even though he is committed to UCLA, scored a two-yard touchdown in overtime to win the game. Crespi handed him the ball on almost every play in overtime.

DJ Shoemate, a player that should be ranked in the top-5 nationally, scored Servite's only touchdown late in the game as he tied the score 7-7. Shoemate is Percy Harvin plus 3 inches and 30 pounds.

Long Beach Poly used two key defensive stands inside their own five yard line to win the shootout with Orange Lutheran.

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:

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:"

DJ Shoemate makes me happy...

Now that I have gotten that out of the way. I want to get started with the stuff I actually care about: RECRUITING.

There is no better place for me to start than to start spewing about who I think should be the No. 1 player in the nation for the class of 2008. Yes, Terrelle Pryor is a freakin stud. 6-6 230 lbs QB who glides when he runs? Vince Young you say? Just hold on a minute. Vince Young has a cannon. He does not always know how to use it properly, but a very strong arm. Pryor's arm is not nearly as strong as VY's. Yes, he he looks like Vince when he runs and I love Pryor but maybe my favorite player in the nation this season is from Cali baby. (Ok, maybe Shoemate is No. 2 this season)

DJ Shoemate - Athlete, Servite High School (Anaheim, Ca)
Depending on who you talk to: 6-1, 218 lbs (USC commit)

To give you a break down on where he ranks with the big boyz:
Rivals: #22 overall
Scout: #41 overall
PrepStar: #12 overall
ESPN: #56 overall

Now, these rankings are low due to one thing and one thing only. Shoemate did not play his Jr. season due to injury (broken foot in the first game of the year). Sometimes, the kid is just too good. Ask the Chargers about Antonio Cromartie who just picked off Peyton Manning three times and he did not play a down of his last year at FSU. Injuries create doubt. Fo Sho.

I have none about DJ.

First, let me tell you that the most difficult area to evaluate about a 17-year old, pimply-faced kid is his mental maturity, whether that is leadership, intelligence or work ethic. Shoemate is the leader of his football team. He is well-spoken and worked hard off the field in the classroom during his injury to make sure he got into school.

On the field, he is Percy Harvin plus 3 inches and 30 pounds. His straight line speed may not be that of Harvins, but it is close. He is just as versatile. Is a game against Orange Lutheran DJ carried the ball 36 times for 242 yards and 3 scores. He also registered a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery (check out the video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=V-H1hjZQjUk ). Did I mention that he is listed as a wide receiver?

He has great ball skills, is not afraid to go over the middle, and can be used out of the backfield much like Percy Harvin is used. The difference? Percy just sat out the South Carolina game because he is injured. DJ is much bigger and thicker. The size-speed combo is unreal.

Percy was No. 1 in the nation by Rivals.com in 2006.