Signing Day is here and while teams have been filling out their commitment
lists for months, there is potential for a lot of change in the Top 25. The
teams 15 thru 25 are so tightly grouped that one player, 4-Star wide receiver
Fred Ross, made a switch from Oklahoma State to Mississippi State, and the
teams virtually exchanged spots in the rankings from 15 to 25.
With teams that tightly packed together, expect a lot of shuffling as the
final commitments start rolling in today.
Here is a look at the Top 25 classes as National Signing Day gets
started.
Changes in parenthesis are from Team Rankings on February 5th.
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 4.15
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| Michigan
had the No. 1 class for much of the year for the Class of 2012 but
lacked the staying power to hold on to the top spot, eventually finishing
an impressive fourth. Fast forward to the Class of 2013 and there have
been several changes at the top, but Michigan may have solidified the
No. 1 spot with a commitment from Scout's No. 1 running back Derrick
Green (5-foot-11/220 pounds) of Richmond, Va., on Jan. 26. Green was
Michigan's 19th player rated four stars or better including quarterback Shane
Morris (6-3/205) of Warren, Mich., and safety Dymonte
Thomas (6'1/180) of Alliance, Ohio. The one hole in Michigan's class
may be at receiver, but overall the Wolverines have a strong case for
the nation's No. 1 class. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 4.15
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| Urban
Meyer and Ohio
State took the Big Ten by storm in just a few short months last year
before finishing with the No. 3 class in the country. The Buckeyes
haven't let up and could bring in an even more impressive haul this
year. It's a terrific year for running backs and Ezekiel Elliot
(6-foot/200) of St. Louis, Mo., is ranked ninth but would push for No. 1 in
most years. Linebacker Mike
Mitchell (6-4/225) of Plano, Texas is a name who will have scouts
salivating at the NFL Combine in a few years. He possesses a size/speed
skill set that translates well to the next level. Percy
Harvin did as much damage running the ball as he did catching it for
Urban Meyer at Florida,
and Jalin
Marshall (6-1/190) of Middletown, Ohio, has the ability to play the
Harvin role almost as good as Harvin. (1/31) Ohio State gets 4-Star wide
receiver Corey Smith, moving the Buckeyes up and putting Michigan
squarely in their sights. (2/4) Ohio State inched a little closer to the
No. 1 Class in the nation with a commitment from the nation's No. 10 running
back Dontre
Wilson (5'10/180) of Desoto, Texas. |
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Avg. Star Rating Top 20 Commits - 4.00
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| Notre
Dame may have had a tough go of it at the BCS Championship Game, but
sometimes the obvious gets ignored, they were one of only two teams
playing for the championship. The Fighting Irish have recruited well the
last several years, including the final years under former coach Charlie
Weis, but now the talent is being put in position to win. Recruits
are noticing. Linebacker Jaylon
Smith (6-3/225) of Fort Wayne, Ind., is a home-state product that
happens to be ranked the No. 1 outside linebacker in the country. Smith
is a difference maker on defense who can drop into coverage or attack
the quarterback. Notre Dame has a host of receivers coming in, but
running back Greg
Bryant (5-10/210) of Delray Beach, Fla., is special on offense. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.90
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| Yes Texas
A&M has 33 commitments and counting, but it's not the quantity
of players that have the Aggies in such a lofty position, it's the
quality. Texas A&M has 17 players rated four stars or better, and the
receiver class is the envy of most teams in the country. The Aggies may
be looking to stock the basketball team as well as the football team, as
big receivers such as Ricky
Seals-Jones (6'5/220) of Sealy, Texas, and Derrick
Griffin (6-6/215) of Rosenberg, Texas, are matchup nightmares. With Johnny
Manziel coming off a Heisman Trophy season and having three seasons
of eligibility left, it's no surprise that receivers are flocking to
College Station, but the Aggies also have commitments from two four-star
quarterbacks in Kenny
Hill (6'0/205) of Southlake, Texas, and Kohl
Stewart (6'2/190) of Houston. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.90
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| Urban Meyer and Ohio State got
the national attention last year for putting together a terrific class
in just a few short months, but Jim Mora and UCLA
did the same out west, finishing 12th after being left for dead earlier
in the season. Like Ohio State, UCLA has picked right up where it left
off, taking advantage of a winning season and scholarship limits imposed
on USC. The
pass-happy Pac-12 may have to think twice when facing UCLA, which has
commitments from four defensive backs rated four-stars or better including
five-star cornerback Priest
Willis (6-2/190) of Tempe, Ariz., and versatile safety tandem Tahaan
Goodman (6-2/190) of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Tyler
Foreman (6-2/205) of Encino, Calif. It may not be flashy, but it's
certainly necessary -- the Bruins have commitments from a whopping five
four-star offensive linemen including Poasi
Moala (6-5/265) of Moreno Valley, Calif. (2/5) UCLA got a Signing
Day Eve present with a commitment from former USC commit Kylie
Fitts (6'4/260), a 4-Star defensive end from Redlands, Calif. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.90
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| Going from Nick
Saban to Les
Miles, LSU
has been the most consistent recruiting team in the nation over the last
decade, and over the last decade no BCS program has a better winning
percentage than the LSU Tigers. 2013 is no different as the Tigers look
to lock in another top 10 class. The bulk of the talent LSU is bringing
in is on the defensive side of the ball. Greg
Gilmore (6-5/290) of Hope Mills, N.C., is a five-star defensive tackle
looking to continue LSU's run of talented interior linemen. Defensive
end Frank
Herron (6-5/270) of Memphis, Tenn., is a versatile lineman who can
easily be compared to the giant ends of the recent past, including Marcus
Spears and Marquis Hill. It's not all defense for LSU though as the
Tigers are bringing in a pair of four-star quarterbacks in Hayden
Rettig (6-4/205) of Los Angeles and Anthony
Jennings (6'2/202) of Marietta, Ga. |
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Avg. Star Rating for 20 Commits - 3.80
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| Florida's
pass defense was pretty strong in 2012, and it shouldn't slow down with
the addition of No. 1 cornerback Vernon
Hargreaves III (5-11/181) of Tampa, Fla. Hargreaves is as good in
pass defense as any prospect in a long time. His coverage skills should
free up hard-hitting safety Marcell
Harris (6-2/200) of Orlando, Fla., to do what he does best -- hit
opponents hard. The running game shouldn't miss a beat for the Gators
either with the addition of one of the most prolific high school running
backs in history in Kelvin
Taylor (5-10/205) of Belle Glade, Fla. Ahmad
Fulwood (6'4/200) of Jacksonville, Fla., and Demarcus
Robinson (6'2/195) of Fort Valley, Ga., are two big receiving targets
who should help to open up running lanes. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 4.00
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| Alabama
doesn't so much recruit any more as they select. Winning three of the
last four BCS Championships has its benefits, and reloading with talented
players willing to wait their turn for championship hardware is one of
them. Normally this time of year we talk about Alabama's defensive
stars, but this year, the intriguing players are mostly on offense. The
Crimson Tide isn't getting away from smash-mouth football any time soon,
not with running backs Derrick
Henry (6-3/240) of Yulee, Fla., Altee
Tenpenny (6-foot/205) of North Little Rock, Ark., and Tyren
Jones (5-9/200) of Marietta, Ga., all slated to play for Alabama.
Henry is particularly interesting as the nation's all-time leading high school
rusher in the body of a defensive end. Quarterback Cooper Bateman
(6-3/205) of Salt Lake City, Utah, is a solid passer with 4.5+ speed,
which could give the Tide an option they haven't had in recent years.
Tight end O.J.
Howard (6-5/230) of Prattville, Ala., is as good a pass-catching
tight end as I've scouted in years. (2/5) Alabama began its annual
assault on the No. 1 ranking with a commitment from the nation's No. 1
linebacker Reuben Foster (6'1/240) of Auburn, Ala. (watch
here). |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.65
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| Georgia
was 10 yards from a spot in the BCS Championship Game, and the Bulldogs
aren't going away any time soon. Georgia is bringing in a big class with
several junior college transfers (four), so the Bulldogs are looking to
make a run in 2013 with senior quarterback Aaron
Murray. Wide receiver Jonathon
Rumph (6-4/200) of Holmes Community College can be counted on right
away. The Bulldogs are looking to re-stack the defense with a whopping 18
players committed on the defensive side of the ball, including junior
college safeties Shaquille
Fluker (6-1/205) of East Mississippi and Kennar
Johnson (6-2/185) of Gulf Coast. Quarterback Brice
Ramsey (6-3/200) of Kingsland, Ga., won't be counted on next year,
but he is a terrific passer who could be in line for the starting job in
2014. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top Commits - 3.45
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| Nebraska's
move to the Big Ten generated the question "what will be Nebraska's
recruiting strategy?". I didn't have an answer at the time, and
last year it appeared Nebraska didn't either as the Cornhuskers finished
50th in the nation on Signing Day. Now it looks like Nebraska has
settled in and figured it out. Rather than focus on a specific region,
the Huskers have fanned out across the country and gotten commitments
from 12 states and two countries (Canada). Two of Nebraska's highest-profile recruits come from California in quarterback Johnny
Stanton (6-2/225) of Rancho Santa Margarita and Terrell
Newby (5-10/180) of West Hills. Stanton is a power running option
spread quarterback with a good arm, and Newby is a speed back who
attacks the line of scrimmage like a much bigger back. Newby can provide
the lightning to Katy, Texas, Adam
Taylor's (6-foot/210) thunder. (2/4) Nebraska added commitments
from defensive end Dimarya
Mixon (6'4/265) of Mequite, Texas and junior college transfer
offensive lineman Chongo
Kondolo (6'4/300). |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.45
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| Washington
is putting together another strong class after three straight top 25
classes under head coach Steve Sarkisian. As is typical for teams on the
West
Coast, the bulk of the Huskies' star power comes from California. Of
Washington's nine commitments rated four stars or better, eight of them
hail from the Golden State, including quarterback Troy
Williams (6-3/200) of Harbor City and big receiver Demorea
Stringfellow (6-3/215) of Moreno Valley. Receiver John
Ross (5-11/175) of Long Beach, Calif., may be the most under-appreciated four-star receiver on the West Coast. Generating little buzz
among fans who had their focus on other prospects, Ross seemingly went
under the radar. Ross will change that on the big stage of college
football. He is a dynamic playmaker on offense and as a return man. |
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Avg. Star Rating for 19 Commits - 3.50
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| Who is the surprise team of the
year? That's a common question in this business and never has the answer
been as easy as it is this year: Ole
Miss. The Rebels are knocking on the door of the top 10 with
commitments from national stars such as five-star receiver Laquon
Treadwell (6-3/190) of Crete, Ill., defensive end Elijah
Daniel (6-3/260) of Avon, Ind., tight end Christian Morgan (6-4/255)
of Plano, Texas, and arguably the nation's No. 1 junior college prospect
in defensive lineman Lavon
Hooks (6-4/295) of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Ole Miss
as is typical has signed its share of stars from within the state
borders, including four-star quarterback Ryan
Buchanan (6-4/210) of Jackson and four-star running back Kalio Moore
(5-11/185) of Rosedale. Now comes the fun part. Ole Miss is also in on a
host of other five-star prospects and are considered the favorite to
sign defensive lineman Robert
Nkemdiche (6-4/265) of Loganville, Ga., and safety Antonio
Conner (6-1/205) of Batesville, Miss. (2/4) Ole Miss lost a pair of
commitments in running back Peyton
Barber (5'11/225) of Alpharetta, Ga. and junior college defensive
end Jarran
Reed, but added 4-Star running back Jordan
Wilkins (6'1/210) of Cordova, Tenn. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.40
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| Oklahoma
isn't accustomed to being in the teens on Signing Day, but the Sooners
are bringing in one of the most talented running backs in the country in
Keith Ford (5-11/195) of Cypress, Texas. After having such success going
west to get oversized safety Tony
Jefferson in 2010, the Sooners are trying their luck again with Hatari
Byrd (6-2/210) of Fresno. Byrd is built like an outside linebacker
but runs like a defensive back. The Sooners are looking to get bigger on
the defensive line and have commitments from three defensive tackles,
including junior college product Quincy
Russell (6-4/310) of Trinity Valley who should push for immediate
playing time. (1/31) Oklahoma continues to make a run at the big men
with a commitment from defensive lineman Matthew
Romar (6'2/255) of Port Arthur, Texas. |
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Avg. Star Rating for 11 Commits - 4.45
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| That USC
only has half a class (13 commitments) and still cracks the top 10 as
late as the week before Signing Day is one of the most amazing
developments I've ever seen. USC has more five-star players committed (six)
than any team in the country. With so few scholarships to give, USC put
a premium on early commitments and made each scholarship more valuable.
While the early pressure cooker can cause some headaches in January with
de-commitments, USC is still bringing in the nation's No. 1 quarterback --
Max
Browne (6-5/215) of Sammamish, Wa. -- and the No. 1 safety -- Su'a
Cravens (6-1/205) of Murrieta, Calif. Of USC's commitments, all
of them are rated at least four stars, and 10 of them are ranked in the top
10 at their respective positions. That's an unprecedented level of
success on the recruiting trails in the teeth of harsh NCAA sanctions.
(2/5) Losing 5-Star cornerback Jalen
Ramsey (6'0/190) of Brentwood, Tenn. to Florida State was a blow to
a small, but talented class. The news got worse as 4-Star defensive end Torrodney
Prevot (6'4/205) of Houston, Texas finally went public with his
decommitment while former Trojan pledge Kylie Fitts announced for rival
UCLA. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.30
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| Mississippi
State and Dan Mullen have turned in three straight winning seasons
in Starkville and look to turn in a second consecutive top 25 recruiting
class after finishing 18th in 2012. Without a doubt the highest profile
recruit in this class is defensive end Chris
Jones (6-6/255) of Houston, Miss. Jones comes from a town of roughly
3,500 people and relatively speaking was late to the recruiting scene. A
big senior year followed by an impressive All-American performance at
Under Armour vaulted Jones to the No. 2 defensive end. On the offensive
side of the ball, running back Ashton Shumpert (6-2/210) is a big,
powerful back. The Bulldogs have seven wide receivers on their
commitment list, but lost the most highly rated of them in Corey
Smith to Ohio State the week before Signing Day. (2/6) The Bulldogs
helped get over the loss of Smith by plucking 4-Star receiver Fred
Ross (6'0/180) of Tyler, Texas off of Oklahoma State's commitment
list. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.15
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| Pittsburgh
is looking to shore up a defensive secondary and has five players
committed who project as safeties. Some of those players -- such as Tony
Harper (6-4/200) of Toledo, Ohio -- have the frames to grow into
outside linebackers. It's a safety though in Tyler
Boyd (6-1/175) of Clairton, Pa., who headlines the Panther recruiting
class. The cafeteria could take the biggest hit at Pittsburgh as the
Panthers look to get considerably bigger along the lines of scrimmage.
Pittsburgh has commitments from 13 players at tight end, offensive line,
and defensive line, including four-star offensive tackle Dorian
Johnson (6-6/275) of Belle Vernon, Pa. |
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Avg. Star Rating for 19 Commits - 3.37
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| Jimbo Fisher helped make Florida
State a player on the national recruiting stage again after year of
the Seminoles being THE player on the national stage. Fisher flipped
former Alabama commitment Demarcus
Walker (6'4/250) of Jacksonville, Fla. to Tallahassee a few weeks
ago. On Signing Day eve, the Seminoles got maybe an even more impressive
switch when the nation's No. 2 cornerback Jalen
Ramsey (6'0/190) of Brentwood, Tenn. switched from USC to Florida
State. Ramsey and Walker join a solid nucleus of players including
playmaking running back Ryan
Green (5'10/190) of St. Pete. |
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Avg. Star Rating for 17 Commits - 3.41
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| Oregon's world was turned upside
down recently with the departure of head coach Chip
Kelly to the NFL, but the Ducks seem to be doing a good job of
hanging on to a small but talented group of players. The small class
(15) means there are less targets to lose to poachers, but the loss
feels outsized. One player the Ducks can count on is running back Thomas
Tyner (6-foot/215) of Beaverton, Ore. Tyner is a legitimate track star
in the body of a big running back. Tyner had never had to run through
tackles before, he could simply run by them at his high school, but he
showed more than enough ability to go between the tackles when facing
the tough competition of the Army All-America Bowl. Oregon's high-powered attack will need to stay high powered -- the Ducks have only three
players committed on defense. (1/31) Oregon continues to fill out its
class by adding commitments from athletic quarterbacks including Damion
Hobbs (6'3/225) of Cedar Hill, Texas. (2/5) Oregon lost running back
4-Star Dontre
Wilson to Ohio State, but don't expect much sympathy for the team
bringing in Thomas
Tyner. |
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Avg. Star Rating for 18 Commits - 3.39
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| It seems like ancient history, but it was only roughly
12 months ago that Clemson's defense gave up 70 points to West Virginia.
Not surprisingly the Clemson commitment list is stacked with 12
defensive players of its 18 commitments including 4-Star linebackers Jayron
Kearse (6'4/205) of Fort Myers, Fla., Ben
Boulware (6'1/226) of Anderson, S.C., and Dorian
O'Daniel (6'2/205) of Olney, Md. Even one of Clemson's top targets
on offense, 4-Star running back Wayne
Gallman (6'1/200) of Loganville, Ga. is a spectacular linebacker as
well. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.15
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| In any other year that Ole Miss
isn't crashing the top 10, Vanderbilt
would be considered the surprise team of the year as the Commodores are
looking for their highest finish in recruiting ... ever. It wasn't too
long ago that it was surprising to see Stanford
in the top 25, and now the Cardinal is a perennial top 25 team on the
field as well. Vanderbilt is hoping to have similar success and
solidify the lines of scrimmage with four-star prospects such as
offensive lineman Delando
Crooks (6-4/277) of Atlanta and defensive tackle Jay
Woods (6-2/275) of Jackson, Ga., is a good start. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.25
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| Few teams have experienced the
up and down yo-yo on and off the field like Auburn.
The Tigers' recruiting class was top 10 early in the season, fell out of
the top 25 after the football season, and is currently headed back in
the right direction as we approach Signing Day. Adding weapons at
quarterback in athlete Nick
Marshall (6-3/200) of Garden City Community College and prep star Jeremy
Johnson (6-6/210) of Montgomery, Ala., should help provide the
rudders to steer the Tigers back in the right direction. Auburn is also
looking for immediate help on the defensive line with junior college
transfer Ben
Bradley (6-3/315) of Hutchinson and a pair of highly recruited ends
in Carl Lawson (6-2/255) of Alpharetta, Ga., and Tashawn
Bower (6-5/235) of Somerville, N.J. (2/4) Auburn got big running
back Peyton
Barber to join teammate Lawson. |
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Avg. Star Rating of 14 Commits - 3.67
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| Texas
has always recruited talent consistently, where they become inconsistent
is with the size of their classes, and this year looks to be a smaller
year for the Longhorns after signing 50 players in the last two. Quarterback Tyrone
Swoopes (6-4/220) of Whitewright can throw it a mile and run like a
deer. If he can develop consistency and harness his talent, he can be
special. As is typical for a Longhorn class, every one of Texas'
commitments played high school football in Texas. (2/4) The loss of the
nation's No. 1 defensive tackle A'Shawn
Robinson (6'4/305) hurt Texas in the recruiting rankings, and more
importantly, that's a big hole to fill on the defensive line. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.15
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| Arizona
is bringing in a balanced class of talent led by quarterback Anu
Solomon (6-1/205) of Las Vegas, Nev. Solomon is a mobile passer who
can knock a dime off a tea cup with his accuracy. If he can continue to
develop his talent on the next level, he'll be a dangerous weapon in
Arizona's spread attack. Arizona should be solid on the ground with
running backs Pierre
Cormier (5-11/180) of San Diego and Zachary
Green of Ventura. The California duo complement each other well with
Cormier's speed and open-field ability a good match for Green's between-the-tackles punishing
style. (2/4) Arizona got hopped by Florida State, but jumped over Cal by
getting a commitment from center David
Maka (6'5/330) of Tusin, Calif. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.10
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| It doesn't seem like that long
ago that Cal was flying on top
of the world with several high profile announcements for the Bears at
the Army All-America Bowl on national television. Then poof, none of
those guys actually signed with Cal. A coaching change later and the
Bears are right back in the top 25. Four-star quarterback Jared
Goff (6-4/190) of Kentfield, Calif., has the ability to solidify the
position that has seen its inconsistencies the last several years.
Running back Khalfani
Muhammad (5-7/175) of Sherman Oaks, Calif., is a track star with home
run speed. |
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Avg. Star Rating for Top 20 Commits - 3.15
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| Oklahoma
State has quickly earned a reputation as a haven for skill players
on offense and of the Cowboys' five four-star rated recruits, not
surprisingly two of them are wide receivers. There is a good mix with Marcell
Ateman (6-4/190) of Wylie, Texas, fitting the big role, and Ra'Shaad Samples
(5-10/170) of Dallas fitting into the slot. (2/4) The
Cowboys added a commitment from defensive end Vili
Leveni (6'4/260) of Hurst, Texas. (2/6) the Cowboys were stung
by the loss of their highest rated commitment, receiver Fred
Ross (6'0/180) of Dallas, Texas to Mississippi State on the eve of
Signing Day. |
 Scott began with Scout as the Southeast Regional Manager in 2002. In addition to his recruiting responsibilities, Scott developed and ran the National Scout Combine series from 2005 thru 2008. Scott has been Director of Scouting since 2006 and oversees the Recruiting Rankings for Scout.
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