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

Athlon Consensus 100

If you have read this blog at all on a regular basis, you know that I am the Athlon Sports Recruiting Editor. We have developed a recruiting ranking that will be the first of its kind.

The Athlon Consensus 100 begins its release tomorrow morning at AthlonSports.com.

Every Monday and Thursday leading up until Signing Day, Athlon Sports will release ten names. Monday December 31st will be the first release. 91-100 will be published.

HOW IT WORKS:

I have compiled the rankings of four expert recruiting rankings (Rivals, Scout, ESPN, PrepStar) and input them into a very simple computer program and the result is the Athlon Consensus 100. All rankings are considered equally. The top 150 prospects are analyzed mathematically and then spit out into a ranking based on points. It will be the BCS of recruiting rankings. I know what you are thinking, the BCS is terrible. True. BUT...

How much better is the BCS than the original bowl system? Was it improved 10-fold? Twenty?

That is what we are doing at Athlon Sports. We have taken the experts ranks and improved on them.

CHECK IT OUT AT AthlonSports.com

USA Today All-American 1st Team

The first team looks pretty predictable. Offense:

QB - Terrelle Pryor
RB - Darrell Scott
RB - Bryce Brown (2009 class)
WR - Julio Jones
WR - Michael Floyd
TE - Kyle Rudolph
OL - Matt Patchan
OL - Mike Adams
OL - Michael Brewster
OL - Trevor Robinson
OL - Josh Jenkins
K - Blair Walsh

Not to many surprises here. I would have liked to see Kavario Middleton (Wash.) as the first team TE. I think he is just a touch better than Rudolph. But that is splitting hairs, Rudolph is deserving also. One call that I love is Mike Floyd over A.J. Green. Green is not the second best WR in this class. A top-25 player? Yes. Not top five. I actually like D.J. Shoemate and Jameel Owens more. The Trevor Robinson pick in interesting. Matt Kalil, Tyler Love and Tyron Smith are names that are better prospects. Kalil obviously not deserving due to his season.

Bryce Brown will be sick. He is the only 2009 prospect on the first team.

Notre Dame landed three of these first teamers (Floyd, Robinson, Rudolph). OSU would get three with Terrelle Pryor and two first team hog-mollies in Brewster and Adams.

The Defense:

DL - Nick Perry
DL - Marcus Fortson
DL - DeAngelo Tyson
LB - Shayne Hale
LB - Nigel Bradham
LB - Arthur Brown
LB - Brendan Beal
DB - Patrick Johnson
DB - Nolan Brewster
DB - TJ Bryant
DB - Will Hill

Again, not many surprises. I have only been covering recruiting since about 2000 but I cannot remember two brothers on the either side of the ball on the USA Today AA First Team. Bryce is Arthur's little brother. The Perry and Brewster picks are interesting. I would have liked to see E.J. Woods or maybe Rahim Moore in there instead. Maybe DaQuan Bowers on the line.

Miami has three of these defensive AA's (Fortson, Johnson, Brown). Who knows, it could be more.

All in all, two pretty predictable teams. Can you imagine the the speed of this linebacker group with Shayne Hale bringing pressure? What about Scott, Pryor and Brown out of the back field? Its spelled S.P.R.E.A.D.

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.

FSU-Mia: The Battle Continues

JUCO signing day began last Wednesday, December 19th. Florida St has arguably the best JUCO class in the nation. With names like Tavares Pressley and Corey Surrency, FSU will be bringing in a solid core of skill position players next season. Pressley is the real deal and might compete for playing time immediately in the backfield. He is very similar to Darren McFadden, 6'1" - 215 with blinding speed.

On Dec. 19th, however, FSU lost one of its prized JUCO recruits. LaGarrett Blount signed instead with Oregon. The East Miss CC prospect would have been a nice compliment to the speedy Pressley. Blount is roughly 6'2" - 230 lbs. He would have been the thunder to Pressley's lightning. Now he is headed to Oregon. A nice pick-up for the Ducks as Blount is much in the mold of Jonathan Stewart, although not quite as fast.

Late last week FSU took another hit. And I don't mean of the peace pipe. That was the 34 suspended players. Actually it was academics not drugs that got them suspended, but they had to have been smoking something...I digress...

Crawfordville defensive back C.J. Holton decommitted from the local Seminoles and instead pledged to play for Miami.

Holton is much in the mold of a Miami safety. Names like Brandon Merriweather, Kenny Phillips and the late Sean Taylor have made The-U an attractive place for safeties to come. Holton has a very similar game to that of Merriweather and Phillips. Holton possesses the speed and agility to cover like Merriweather and Phillips but can also come up and fill lanes against the run.

Holton is comfortable in all situations making him a very versatile player for coordinators. Randy Shannon will be able to drop him into the box when needed, play him in a 2-deep zone or blitz everyone and stick him in a man-to-man situation on the outside. The 6-2, 200 lb safety will be a solid player for Miami.

To a defensive class that might already be the best in the nation, Miami added another stud. Arthur Brown and Co. make the LB class tops in the nation. Now with Holton and Patrick Johnson (at least for now), the DB class is up there as well.

If Miami can add Tommy Streeter, Ben Jones, Brandon Harris and Matt Patchan they will be pushing for the top class in the nation. They would need to keep Johnson as well but that looks like a long shot. (FLA Gators)

How he ranks:

Rivals: #6 safety, #124 overall
Scout: #11 safety, #153 overall
ESPN: #6 safety, #104 overall

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.