Quarterbacks beware.
The Class of 2010 is loaded with game changers at the
defensive end position. It's a testament to the position that Notre Dame
commitment Chris Martin (6-4/240), the No. 1 prospect in the East moved up in
the Scout 300 from the No. 6 ranking to the No. 5 ranking, yet dropped from the
No. 1 defensive end in the country to the No. 3 defensive end in the country.
The Midland's No. 1 prospect Jackson Jeffcoat (6-4/233) has been elevated to the
No. 1 defensive end spot (No. 3 overall), and he's followed by the West's No. 1 prospect
(No. 4 overall) Ronald Powell (6-4/250). Corey Lemonier (6-4/225) of Hialeah, Fla. makes four defensive ends in
Scout's Top 10 prospects.
If anyone is up for the challenge of handling the daunting task of slowing down
this group of pass rushers, it's Scout's No. 1 overall prospect offensive tackle
Seantrel Henderson (6-8/301) of Saint Paul, Minn.. This is Scout.com's eighth
full year of ranking college prospects and many on the Scout team feel Henderson
joins and may even surpass former Outland Trophy winner Andre Smith as the best
offensive line prospect we've ever seen.
Henderson is not alone in Scout's Top 10 on the offensive line. Andrew Norwell
(6-6/260) of Cincinnati, Ohio is the No. 2 ranked offensive tackle by Scout (No.
9 overall). While Henderson's college decision will likely go down to the wire
(and hopefully not beyond as with former No. 1s), Norwell has already made a
commitment to Ohio State.
The preview of battles on the edge of the lines of scrimmage is not just limited
to the Top 10 though, as the Scout 300 shows almost perfect symmetry of four and
five star players with 36 defensive ends and 35 offensive tackles.
Arguably the deepest position in the country this year is wide receiver. 46
players from coast to coast made the Scout 300. While it may be a long time
before any class of receivers is as deep at the top of the Class of 2008 which
included Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Deandre Brown, and Michael Floyd, it may be a
long time before we see this much talent in the Top 100 receivers. If your team
is in need of receivers, it's a good year to be getting them.
Robert Woods
|
|
Robert Woods (6-1/190) of Gardena, Calif. is the No. 1 ranked receiver in the
country after a strong summer camp season that followed his championship spring
in track and his big junior year performance.
At 6-5 and 205 pounds, Kyle Prater of Hillside, Ill. is a different type of
target than Woods. With his size and athleticism, he's a mismatch against
smaller defensive backs.
BYU commitment Jake Heaps (6-2/205) of Issaquah, Wash. holds onto his No. 1 spot
at the quarterback position. Heaps is a fundamentally sounds quarterback with a
strong, accurate arm that could make an early impact on the next level.
Running back Marcus Lattimore (6-0/207) of Duncan, S.C. remains the South's No.1
prospect and No.1 player at his position. Lache Seastrunk (5-10/185) of Temple,
Texas holds at No. 2 but moves up a spot to the No. 7 player overall.
One of the more intriguing prospects in the country is Athlete Justin McCay
6-4/200 of Shawnee Mission, Kansas. McCay is a Top 100 player at wide receiver,
but he's a Top 10 type of talent at linebacker. He has his heart set on playing
wide receiver, so he's been recruited to play that position by all comers,
including Oklahoma where he recently made a commitment.
He remains ranked at the linebacker position by Scout. As a team, we feel it's
his best position, and we have the luxury of not having to recruit him. Anyone
telling him linebacker would have immediately been eliminated from contention.
He can be a solid wide receiver in college, but he's a difference maker at
linebacker. It should be interesting to see what his future holds.
While there is a big debate about McCay and his intention to play linebacker,
there's no question about Jeff Luc (6-1/240) of Port Saint Lucie, Fla.. Luc is
Scout's No. 1 middle linebacker prospect and is as impressive a player at the
position since Ernie Sims came out in the Class of 2003. Luc posseses plus size,
plus agility, and a nasty disposition.
Scout's No. 1 defensive tackle Garrison Smith (6-4/260) of Atlanta, Ga. is
another player with some options in front of him. He's an end in high school,
but he's destined to be a defensive tackle at Georgia where he has committed.
Versatility is a common theme for many of the top defensive players this year.
Scout's No. 1 corner, Alabama commitment Demarcus Milliner (6-1/185) of
Millbrook, Ala. is a hard hitting safety and running back for his high school
team, and he could play either corner or safety on the college level.
Demarcus Milliner
|
|
Right behind Milliner in the rankings is Lamarcus Joyner (5-9/165) of Fort
Lauderdale, Fla.. Milliner is another player that Scout could simply throw the
"athlete" tag on and call it a day, because he's equally dynamic with
the ball in his hands as he is locking down receivers. As a team, we feel his
best position is corner (ranked No. 2 ), but don't be surprised to see Joyner
get some action either on offense or special teams in college.
While the corner position is strong at the top, it can't match the depth of the
safety position for the Class of 2010. Florida commitment Matt Elam (6-1/205) of
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. and Georgia commitment Alec Ogletree (6-3/215) of
Newnan, Ga. headline a safety class that goes nearly as deep as the wide
receivers for the Class of 2010.
The Scout 300 represents the 5-Star and 4-Star high school prospects in the
country. Scout will continue to flush out its position rankings throughout the
week until roughly 2000 position players, by far the most of any media service,
are given positional rankings. Scout continues to evaluate prospects for the
Class of 2010 until Signing Day.
If you'd like to discuss the Scout 300 with the Scout Recruiting Team, please
join us in the Recruiting
Forum.
The
Scout 300