Numbers 100-51 were notable for how many recruits were still uncommitted.
Not so with Nos. 50-1. Though there's an unusual concentration of uncommitted recruits from 10-1, many of the top 50 players in the country have already given their verbals, or are on the verge.
You'll also notice the slugfest for 2011's top recruiting class borne out by Texas and LSU in this top 50. Louisiana and Texas both have an outstanding crop of in-state players this year, and it makes sense that the best universities in both of those states would clean up within their own borders.
Without further ado, here's part two of the B/R top 100, Nos. 50-1. As is typical of these lists, there's a surprise waiting at No. 1.
No. 50: Jabriel Washington, CB/ATH - Alabama
Since offering, the Crimson Tide held a big lead for Jackson, Tennessee athlete Jabriel Washington and never let go.
He's Scout's ninth-best corner, but he's headed for the top defensive back school in the nation, and he looked like a young Javier Arenas on film.
His coverage skills and closing speed are outstanding, and he also plays some snaps at quarterback, which speaks to his athleticism.
It's hard not to picture him being one of the most successful DBs in the class with the tutelage he's about to receive.
No. 49: Angelo Mangiro, OG
Scout's fourth-best interior lineman is Succasunna, NJ Angelo Mangiro, but Mangiro—the top recruit in New Jersey in another great year—has quality offers that I feel supercede Jordan Walsh's.
The 6'2", 290-lb guard holds offers from the big three of recruiting: Florida, USC and Ohio State, along with Penn State, Pitt, North Carolina and Virginia.
Using proximity to its advantage, Penn State has been in on him early, as has Rutgers. He discusses his visit with the Nittany Lions here.
Ohio State is another name to watch—they'll be restocking their offensive line in anticipation of Justin Boren's graduation.
As for talent, that picture's worth a thousand words. He's a beast.
I see linebacker James Vaughters as an ideal fit in something like Texas' 3-4 scheme, and so did Will Muschamp.
Vaughters, a Tucker, Georgia native who stands 6'2" and weighs 233-lbs, intended to visit the Longhorns and compete for a coveted out-of-state offer, but a family emergency prevented him from making the trip. By the time it had been rescheduled, Texas's flourishing 2011 class had filled up at LB.
Vaughters' five finalists should hardly be considered runners-up. Stanford, Ohio State, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Alabama are outstanding destinations for the top prospect in Atlanta.
His highlight film shows his playing a lot of defensive line, which led to my belief that he'd be a great outside linebacker in a 3-4, but Scout lists him as an inside linebacker.
Watch his video and see where you think he fits best.
No. 47: Quandre Diggs, ATH/CB - Texas
Quandre Diggs is a four-star athlete out of Angleton, Texas that most UT followers believe will play cornerback for the Longhorns.
His junior year statline is incredible: threw for 399 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions; rushed for 1,257 yards and 13 touchdowns; caught one touchdown pass; posted two return touchdowns; intercepted three passes...
Like athlete DeMarco Cobbs in the last class, I can picture Texas's defensive coaches molding Diggs into a great corner or free safety, but he's just as adept at grabbing the edge on offense. For pure talent alone, he's a top 50 player.
No. 46: Brendon Bigelow, RB - Washington
He might not be from Texas, but Brendon Bigelow looks like he has the speed, size and ball skills to match up with any of the feared 2011 Lone Star running backs.
An ACL injury kept the Fresno, CA native off the recruiting radar for a long time (he only recently finished his rehab), and there's a chance he can't recapture the speed and swagger of his junior season, when he ran for 1000 yards and caught 300 more.
If he can, the Washington commit could be a great fit in the Huskies' pro-style attack, catching passes out of the backfield and turning them into big gains.
He's maybe the biggest landing of Steve Sarkisian's tenure so far.
No. 45: Conor Hanratty, OG - Notre Dame,
Together with No. 58, Matt Hegarty, Conor Hanratty comprises one of the best hauls on the offensive line that Notre Dame has had in a long time.
Weis was an accomplished recruiter of firepower, but Kelly is getting back to the basics in his first full class as Notre Dame's head coach.
Scout praised Hanratty's run-blocking ability and mentions that he's a tackle that will move to the interior, so size (6'4", 290) shouldn't be an issue.
Pass protection will be, but in Kelly's pass-heavy system, Hanratty will be able to round out his game as he prepares for the next level. A great get.
Film of him looking downright mean:
No. 44: Nick Waisome, CB
Nick Waisome out of Groveland, FL will remind many of Florida State's true freshman cornerback, LaMarcus Joyner, who committed to the Noles in the 2010 class.
Both lack ideal size but make up for it by sticking to receivers like glue.
In a CB class strong on heavy hitters with poor jamming technique, Waisome flashes true cover corner ability. He can play bump-and-run, keep up with the fastest receivers and has a 35-inch vertical that will be tough to throw over.
Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Miami and Alabama are among the many schools trying to gain an inside track before he makes his first big cut, which could be some time soon.
He's one of those prospects the Gators have been in on since Urban Meyer arrived in Gainesville, but the Noles and Canes have given him something to think about since Meyer has been laid up.
No. 43: Mike Bellamy, RB
There was about a two-year window where speedy scatbacks like Punta Gorda, FL's Mike Bellamy were locks to go Gator.
But times have changed, doors have opened, and other schools have gotten the word about Sunshine State recruits.
Over Florida, Alabama and Georgia, the Clemson Tigers have gotten their foot in the door, and it's no coincidence that Bellamy and former Clemson all-purpose back CJ Spiller have struck up a friendship.
On the strength of that relationship, the Tigers have taken the lead and aren't letting go. Clemson OC Billy Napier dropped by to see Bellamy within the past week.
It's too early to tell whether the lead will persist, but Bellamy's highlight film and his five-star Scout ranking suggest he's worth the wait.
Brian Bobek out of Palatine, Illinois is Scout's No. 1 center in the 2011 class.
The 6'2.5", 278-lb recruit continues the tradition of great Ohio State center commits under Jim Tressel, the other being 2008 five-star Mike Brewster, currently anchoring an All-American line in Columbus.
The Buckeyes were Bobek's first major offer, and he committed after a visit to Michigan State.
As an advocate of parity in every conference, I was happy to see just how good TE Jon Davis is and how he'll be able to provide Kentucky with some serious firepower on offense.
Davis is a tight end in-name-only; he can rush, receive, return, play free safety or take snaps at quarterback.
There's no way of explaining the effect the 6'3", 233-lb Louisville native will have on the Wildcats except to say, watch his highlight film. Then imagine him doing what he does against the rest of the SEC.
No. 40: Sheroid Evans, S - Texas
Sugar Land, Texas safety Sheroid Evans barely gave himself time to celebrate being Scout's No. 1 safety overall (he's now No. 2 behind HaSean Clinton-Dix) before committing to the Texas Longhorns 10 days after national signing day.
The 6'1", 185-lb safety with sub-4.4 speed posted the best national 400 meter hurdle time as a junior. He held offers from Michigan, LSU, Texas Tech and USC before he pulled the trigger at a Texas Junior day.
His highlight film shows a confident deep safety with the speed to close in on any pass route and a talent for baiting QBs into mistakes.
He'll step into Earl Thomas' old spot once he hits Austin.
No. 39: Herschel Sims, RB - Oklahoma State
After waiting on a Texas offer that never arrived, Abilene running back Herschel Sims chose the Oklahoma State Cowboys over TCU, Texas Tech and Oklahoma last month.
Sims is a bruising 5'10", 190-lb back who at full strength will remind some of former Iowa RB and current New York Jet Shonn Greene. He can bowl defenders over on a run out of the I-formation or break containment and do damage on the outside.
The five-star running back is part of a heralded Texas RB class. Top speed is the only concern, but Oklahoma State's revamped offense under Dana Holgersen should give him space to fly.
No. 38: Nick O'Leary, TE
From Dwyer High school, the place that brought us 2010 five-star athlete Matt Elamm, comes five-star tight end Nick O'Leary.
The West Palm Beach native stands 6'4" and weighs 215. He's primarily a receiving threat but has the frame and strength to develop as a great blocker on the line of scrimmage. You can see him deliver a few outside blocks to cornerbacks and safeties in this highlight film.
He holds Miami and the Gators in high esteem, and, as the grandson of golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, is also hearing plenty about the Buckeyes.
A short film about Dwyer:
No. 37: Josh Turner, CB
Oklahoma's top prospects often hail from the Tulsa area, but this year, Oklahoma City boasts the Sooner State's top player, DB Josh Turner.
Turner is a 6'0", 175-lb cover corner who impressed scouts at a Nike Combine on TCU's campus. He had 83 tackles and six interceptions as a junior, very good numbers for a defensive back.
He's also an accomplished wide receiver, and his two-way talents put him among the most impressive athletes in the class.
Turner is deciding between Miami, Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma. A timetable for his decision is not available right now.
Steve Miller out of Canton, Ohio is in the conversation for the top player in Ohio. In a year that also includes Braxton Miller, Trey DePriest and Cardale Jones, that's an honor.
The 6'4", 230-lb recruit is Scout's fourth-best defensive end and a five-star player at the position. He's quick, incredibly reactive and spectacular in run defense while flashing the strength to put pressure on the quarterback.
Ohio State has gotten tons of mileage out of great defensive lines in the past five years (you can chalk up most of their Big Ten dominance, as well as their Rose Bowl win this past year, to something that basic).
Miller, along with DT Michael Bennett and Scout's 11th-best end, Kenny Hayes, puts that dominance on cruise control.
No. 35: DeAnthony Arnett, WR
There's a ton of film of Saginaw, MI wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett out there, but none shows off the variety of moves he has at the line of scrimmage better than the one from the 7-on-7 Showcase.
Watch how Arnett uses his hands and an arsenal of double moves to get open. That's NFL-grade stuff.
Arnett has committed himself to rising to the level of a five-star wide receiver, winning MVP honors at a Nike Camp in Columbus in the process.
He's considering USC, Michigan State and Notre Dame, though I think Michigan still has a shot for him if they show improvement this fall. The Wolverines were his childhood favorite.
If that highlight film isn't enough, check this one out:
No. 34: Stephone Anthony, LB
I haven't been able to track down film of Wadesboro, NC linebacker Stephone Anthony. Even ESPN, reliable but often next-to-worthless in terms of quality, came up short.
I don't like parroting the heavy hitting recruitniks, but I have no reason to suspect this is an elaborate conspiracy to inflate Anthony's hype.
If Florida is pursuing him hard—and it is—and Clemson and UNC fighting back with everything they have—and they are, too—then he's probably that good.
No. 33: Teddy Bridgewater, QB
Early in the recruiting cycle, Miami native Teddy Bridgewater was discussing opting out of playing quarterback and lining up at receiver.
But the overwhelming attention he received from schools who wanted him at QB convinced him otherwise.
Now, the 6'3", 185-lb QB with 4.6 speed is among the top five dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. In 2011, that's really saying something.
Bridgewater attends Northwestern High School, a factory for Miami recruits, and one that produced current Miami QB Jacory Harris, whom Bridgewater succeeded as a sophomore.
That pipeline has led many to chalk Bridgewater as a future Cane, but he's taking a serious look at Florida, LSU and Alabama, and I've heard Auburn might be interested as well.
Wherever he goes, I hope it's a system that shows off his terrific dual-threat ability. He's not called Heisman Bridgewater because it sounds nice:
No. 32: Sammy Watkins, WR
Fort Myers, FL wide receiver Sammy Watkins is a five-star talent and Scout's third-best player at the wideout position.
Beyond a knack for speed, Scout praised his versatility. He's a receiver that can go deep or do damage on short routes. He had 46 receptions for a solid 1192 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior.
What I saw in his film was a great use of hands, not as a receiver, but as a blocker. Watch how he latches on to defensive backs and runs them right out of the play. They say a good run is often sprung by a great block on the outside.
Watkins is the top target not only of spread schemes but of any offense. That explains the range of schools recruiting him, and of his finalists. Miami, Florida and Michigan are the only schools certain to make his next cut.
Sacramento, CA defensive tackle Viliami Moala has gone underground since receiving massive recruiting attention as a junior.
It's an understandable reaction for a 6'2", 326-lb gentle giant who plans on staying close to home.
Moala registered 104 tackles and 15 sacks as the anchor of Grant High School's defense, and also played offensive lineman.
His relations at Cal and USC are keeping the Bears and Trojans in the lead for him. Both schools have already taken DTs, but Moala is a true one-tech DT while Cal's Mustafa Jalil is a three- or five-tech (i.e. Moala can line up over center and take up two blocks, while Jalil plays closer to the tackle or tight end).
Matthews, North Carolina QB Christian LeMay kinda sorta committed to Georgia a few weeks ago, naming the Bulldogs his leader over Clemson and Texas A&M in a ceremony at his church.
He made clear his definition of "leader" was one we recruitniks should take as "the school he intends to commit to", and we've done so—Rivals counts the 6'2", 200-lb QB among Georgia's 2011 haul.
I think he's one of the most technically sound QBs in the class, less of a dual-threat QB and more just an old-school Fran Tarkenton type who can use his legs to buy time and avoid the rush.
He's a few inches underneath the ideal QB height, but he's one of the hardest workers on the circuit, showing up at multiple camps and arranging to enroll early and compete for the starting job at Georgia.
No. 29: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE
Good speed, outstanding hands and the ability to exert his power and strength over smaller defensive backs establishes Austin Seferian-Jenkins as another great pass-catching tight end in the 2011 class.
The Gig Harbor, Washington native, who stands 6'7" and weighs 250 pounds, blew up at a Nike Combine in Oregon, earning MVP honors and justifying the hype over his offers from Florida, Cal and UCLA.
That's when he decided Texas was his best fit and named the Longhorns his leader with an offer pending.
The Longhorns have responded by turning up the heat on him, and I'd anticipate a commitment is on its way.
Whether or not he actually fits in Texas's offense is another story. How many of UT's tight ends are primarily pass-catchers? Or does he want to go to Austin to refine his blocking technique?
If it's that latter, then sure, I agree with him. See if you feel the same:
No. 28: Leroy Scott, CB - Texas
At one time Scout's top cornerback, Pasadena, Texas native Leroy Scott has slipped to No. 3 overall, but I suspect that's because the recruiting services don't like to put committed recruits first if they can help it.
On film, Scott looks like one of the best run-support corners in the 2011 class. He's very quick and reactive and can close well while running sideline to sideline.
Watch his tackle on special teams at the beginning of this film. Scott sees the returner running at him, fans out and doesn't let him by. Very heads-up play.
At 5'10", 190-lbs, Scott already resembles a cornerback's build, with a strong lower body that helps him accelerate through tackles. Some brush-ups on technique and he'll start over fellow 2011 CB Quandre Diggs.
No. 27: Colt Lyerla, DE/TE
I'm not sure what position Hillsboro, OR athlete Colt Lyerla will play at the college level, but where he decides to go could be the deciding factor.
Scout's No. 3 defensive end was also an all-state linebacker as a junior. Oh, and he produced 1,800 rushing yards and 900 receiving yards for a total of 39 touchdowns. He's drawing comparisons to Ndamukong Suh, another native of Oregon.
If he signs up with the in-state Oregon Ducks, it will be hard to resist that level of production on offense. I picture him going old school and playing on defense and offense, and I think enough of Chip Kelly to say that's possible.
Tennessee, Oregon State, UCLA, USC, Cal, Washington and Oklahoma are other suitors to watch for.
Lutcher, Louisiana wide receiver Jarvis Landry is another of LSU's commits to wow me so much on film that I had to rank him higher than the experts (foreshadowing).
He's a far cry from the huge, hulking but questionably fast receivers LSU's offense has been leaning on recently.
After another subpar year, that offense showed it needs an electric player like Landry to give it a kick.
He will. Watch how smoothly he cuts through overpursuing defenders on film. I haven't seen an LSU receiver be that productive in yards after the catch in a long time.
If you don't like that video, there's two more 10 minute highlight reels to consider. As one Rivals headline put it, Jarvis Landry is legit.
No. 25: George Farmer, WR
Gardena, CA wide receiver George Farmer played opposite Scout's No. 1 athlete in 2010, Robert Woods, and looked as good as his teammate on film.
While Woods does bring the speed, Farmer is the total package at receiver. He's heavier than Woods was, is just as fast when he hits all of his gears and has outstanding body control through the air.
He's Scout's No. 2 receiver only because of who No. 1 is. You'll hear about who that is in a moment.
For now, enjoy this clip of Woods and Farmer torching Redondo High School last fall. Farmer wears No. 3:
Nos. 24 & 23: Garrett Greenlea and Christian Westerman, OTs - Texas
Texas is adding 13 feet, 580 lbs to its offensive line by gaining the commitments of Scout's No. 2 and No. 4 tackles, Christian Westerman and Garrett Greenlea, respectively.
Westerman, a native of Chandler, AZ, had the ear of every coach in the country before verballing to Texas right after Easter. He was rumored to be favoring USC before Pete Carroll left, and was also supposed to show up to Nebraska's spring game before the official announcement.
Greenlea also had a decorated offer sheet before committing to Texas at a Junior Day, holding offers from Oklahoma, Michigan, and Notre Dame. Like Westerman, his commitment came as a surprise, as he was lined up to take visits throughout the spring and summer.
Between the two of them, the Longhorns have anchors for both the left and right side as soon as they hit campus. I could see the more nimble Greenlea being a beastly run-blocking right tackle, while Westerman is suited for the blind side.
Greenlea's film can be found here. Westerman's is embedded below:
No. 22: Aaron Green, RB
San Antonio, Texas running back Aaron Green lacks only elite size to compliment speed, durability, fluidity and explosiveness. In any other year, he would coast to the No. 1 ranking as either running back or all-purpose back.
Since ceding ground to the actual No. 1 RB and his likely destination, Green has taken up a lively interest in Nebraska. He caught Nebraska's spring game and welcomed the coaches on an in-home visit a few weeks later.
The Huskers now lead for his services, with Cal asking the inevitable "Are We Still in the Running?" questions.
His highlight film should tell you why giving up hasn't been easy:
No. 21: Desmond Jackson, DT - Texas
Normally a freshman defensive tackle sits out his first year and learns the finer points of defensive line play after using his raw size and strength to dominate in high school.
With Houston, Texas DT Desmond Jackson, the opposite is true. Jackson's technique and use of hands come in for the most praise from Scout, which takes issue with his injury history and lack of size.
Jackson chose Texas over Alabama, Oklahoma, Houston, Stanford and Michigan. The 6'1", 275-pounder is missing an inch or two and at least twenty more pounds, but technique can overshadow those shortcomings. Just watch his burst and swim move in the video below.
As long as he can get and stay healthy, I think he'll be a force for the Longhorns' rush defense for years to come (and a pretty good pass rusher, too).
No. 20: HaSean Clinton-Dix, S - Alabama
Orlando, FL native HaSean Clinton-Dix ascended to the top of the safety heap in a so-so year for the position (he's the only safety Scout deems worthy of five-stars so far).
The 6'2", 190 lb safety packs a punch and has terrific closing speed, though he's a better strong than free safety. He takes good angles in run support and is a punishing tackler.
Alabama will mold him into a Polamalu-type safety and hone his skills at taking drops into coverage. He couldn't have chosen a better school for developing his secondary skills, or for maximizing his ability to disrupt at the point of attack.
No. 19: Isaiah Crowell, RB
An interesting note on Columbus, Georgia running back Isaiah Crowell mentions that he's "never had to carry the load" as an every-down back because he's been part of a talented backfield.
That's the only knock on the 6'0", 210-lb running back's outstanding game, which takes less than a minute to appreciate via film. He has it all as a running back...but for how long?
Crowell was leaning towards the Tide for a long time, but I cautioned overzealous Alabama fans that he's in a wait-and-see mode with Georgia. He wants to know how the Dawgs will bounce back this fall and if there's a better spot on their roster than on Bama's.
Georgia fans should keep cautious, too. A talented backfield would be what was waiting for him in Tuscaloosa. Carrying the load might not be necessary with Mark Ingram moving on and two or three RBs pushing to replace him.
While we wait on the answer, let's watch some of the craziest highlight film of the class:
No. 18: Steve Edmond, LB - Texas
If he hadn't committed to Texas so early, Daingerfield, TX native Steve Edmond would easily be the top linebacker not only in the Lone Star State, but in the class.
Where else can you find kids that record 189 tackles in a single season outside of Texas?
Scout's No. 3 inside linebacker, Edmond is a "man amongst boys" at the high school level. He could use a redshirt year to bulk up, especially if, at 6'3", 225-lbs, he's moving to defensive end as some predict.
No. 17: Kiehl Frazier, QB
I'm sticking to my comparison of Springdale, Arkansas QB Kiehl Frazier to a young Steve McNair.
Frazier, 6'3", 215-lbs, has been carving up defenses with his arm and his legs, passing for 3800 yards and 48 touchdowns and running for 764 yards and 14 more scores as a junior.
He's named Auburn among his leaders; the Tigers were the first to offer him, and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has been unrelenting.
Either Auburn or in-state Arkansas are considered to be the best fits and the likely final choices, but Frazier has been political about not eliminating any schools that shouldn't be eliminated. On the other side of the summer, we should have a top seven or five.
In the right system, I think he could be the most successful QB of the 2011 class.
No. 16: La'El Collins, OT - LSU
Baton Rouge, LA offensive tackle La'El Collins is an all-state tackle with the strength to become one of the best pass-blockers in the class.
His size (6'5", 285 lbs) and raw athleticism have Scout listing him the No. 3 tackle overall and one of the most promising players in the class.
He and fellow LSU commit Jarvis Landry tore up the Nike Camp in Baton Rouge. He's got moves as a pass protector, runs smoothly for a tackle, and will remind many of 2010 OT and Florida commit Ian Silberman.
But his struggles with technique don't bode well for early play (especially for a team that hasn't developed its recruits as well as in past years). He could add on another 15 pounds and be beastly, too.
Considered one of the purest NFL-caliber talents in the class, Rome has speed and size (6'6", 240 lbs), and can split out wide or push the pile as an extra blocker.
The only thing missing is more strength, but he's a very smooth player with the frame to add on 15 more pounds of muscle.
He could follow his father's legacy at Clemson or choose from Alabama, Tennessee, Florida or Georgia, his final five. He'll take all five officials this fall. Film here.
No. 14: Doran Grant, CB
Akron, Ohio cornerback Doran Grant set the SPARQ rating (a measure of raw talent that combines 40 time, shuttle time, power-ball throw and vertical leap) record at a Nike Camp in Massillon, OH and hasn't taken his foot off the pedal since.
He shot up to Scout's No. 2 CB ranking after some more great camp performances and is holding onto offers from a host of elite schools, including Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State and USC.
Grant favors the Buckeyes slightly over Michigan State, for whom his father played receiver. Michigan, Penn State and USC sit just outside his top two. When he plans to make his decision is not clear yet, but it should last until fall to clarify itself.
Film of him (some of it on offense) can be found here. Grant also plays receiver.
Scout's No. 2 defensive tackle is nicknamed "Freak" for his size and strength—he's 6'3" and just shy of 300 lbs—but his techniques and moves deserve a less encouraging nickname.
That said, he just missed taking home Combine MVP honors as a junior, and he should develop into one of 2011's most fearsome defensive line prospects with time and coaching.
Not sure whether a visit to Tuscaloosa should alarm LSU fans or not. Nothing has come of it so far.
It's looking like an old school SEC tug of war for DE Jermauria Rasco, a Shreveport, Louisiana native whom many consider the Bayou's best player.
Since Texas took DE Cedric Reed and filled up their allotment for defensive ends in the 2011 class, the 6'4", 251 lb defensive end is now deciding between Alabama and LSU.
Surprisingly, a poor first step and some questionable technique didn't doom him to a low ranking. On the contrary, he's Scout's No. 2 defensive end.
The recruitniks are confident he'll overcome those limitations with time. He has elite speed and an ability to disengage from a blocker that is vital to good run support.
Here's video of him and several other DL prospects going up against O-linemen in one-on-one drills at a Baton Rouge Nike Camp:
No. 11: Brandon Shell, OT
By choice, Charleston, South Carolina tackle Brandon Shell is flying under the radar.
He's kept his recruiting focus in-state by visiting with Clemson (his likely destination) and South Carolina, with some interest in Florida.
Don't take that as a sign of anything but humility. Shell is Tom Lemming's No. 6 player overall and Scout's No. 6 tackle. He's the nephew of former Oakland Raider Art Shell, so the bloodlines run strong.
The 6'7", 310-pounder could easily be a top-three tackle prospect if he cared, but he's avoiding the limelight. Don't act surprised when he winds up a top ten pick in whichever draft he enters a few years from now.
Scout's No. 1 middle linebacker is Detroit, MI linebacker Lawrence Thomas, possibly the best defensive prospect to emerge from the state of Michigan since fellow Detroiter Brandon Graham.
Thomas is a monstrous 6'4", 232 lbs as a junior, and could add another 10 or 15 pounds to reach his peak weight. He hits like a brick wall and has unreal speed off the edge.
Comparing him to current Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones only captures the speed in the backfield. Thomas also has natural instincts and has started for Detroit Renaissance since his sophomore season.
No. 9: Malcolm Brown, RB
I've used every kind of offensive, overzealous superlative to describe Cibolo, Texas running back Malcolm Brown—the next Adrian Peterson is a personal favorite.
But there's a maturity and completeness in Brown's game that was in Peterson's, too. What helped AP to countless Big 12 freshman rushing records and the highest vote count for a true freshman in history could do the same for Brown if he can dominate the competition like he has in high school.
Provided he does choose Texas over Alabama, Brown will arrive in Austin at the exact time the Texas running game is looking for a feature back. If reporting on recruiting is another way of predicting the weather, I'm calling a perfect storm.
No. 8: Braxton Miller, QB
It's easy to write Braxton Miller off as a lot of things: an Ohio State lock; the next Terrelle Pryor; the fastest QB in the class.
He might be all of those things, but the 6'2", 185-lb quarterback out of Huber Heights, Ohio is also something else: a really, really good passer.
Miller has a wicked strong arm to go with his 4.47 speed. Watch how clean his drop is and how fast his release is in the video below. Pryor didn't look anywhere near that polished in high school.
No wonder Ohio State is throwing everything it has at him. Miller won't need the year-and-change of polish that Pryor needed before putting on his Rose Bowl performance. With a year of tutelage under a senior TP, he could be slinging the ball that well as a redshirt freshman.
No. 7: James Wilder, RB/OLB
James Wilder of Tampa, FL is another recruit so talented that a position switch still places him among the top five players.
Wilder was Scout's No. 1 outside linebacker after notching 136 tackles as a junior, but he's since declared he will play offense in college.
Tabbed by MaxPreps as 2011's top recruit, Wilder is an absurdly talented running back with blue-chip balance, speed and durability.
He's been a Florida lean since forever, but Florida's hesitations to offer him as a running back—and his own curiosities about how the Gators' offense will look after Tim Tebow—have prevented him from pulling the trigger.
Miami and Florida State have also tried to crack him, but I'm not sure Florida will ever be too far out of the running barring a catastrophe.
No. 6: DeAnthony Thomas, RB/CB - USC
To my knowledge, USC's DeAnthony Thomas is the only player to be ranked No. 1 at two different positions by Scout.
Thomas began the season as Scout's No. 1 running back, but the recruiting giant now calls him 2011's top cornerback after a series of combine performances where he was the defensive back MVP.
How the Trojans will deploy him remains to be seen, but he'll be billed as the No. 1 running back because that title and USC have always gone hand-in-hand.
Truth is, Thomas, 5'9", 160 lbs with 4.5 speed, has the option of either adding to USC's depth at RB or assisting in the embattled defensive backfield.
See footage of the Black Mamba below:
No. 5: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT
Hyattsville, Maryland offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio is Scout's No. 1 tackle overall.
He's a 6'7", 322-lb man-mountain with offers from every school with a working printer.
The short version is: wait on Kouandjio's decision until he deliberates through the candidates more himself. Alabama will be a major player until the end. They took his brother, Arie, in last year's class.
No. 4: Jadeveon Clowney, DE
Rock Hill, South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney doesn't top my list of top 100 prospects, but he will for others.
2011's best defensive end plays the weakside position but is as good at rushing the passer as he is at stringing the play out and getting running backs to make unwise cutbacks.
He hits extremely hard for such a thin-looking prospect, and his 6'5" frame is ideal for batting passes down at the line of scrimmage.
At 225 lbs, he'll face some rigorous conditioning before he can get in the mid-to-high 240s, the more ideal weight for his size.
Clowney closed the summer favoring the UNC Tar Heels slightly ahead of Clemson, Alabama and South Carolina. He cited his relationship with DL coach John Blake as the reason for his favoritism.
Given how good UNC's defensive line should be this fall, I like UNC's chances at being at or near the top of his list until a final decision is made. It could come down to where he decides to visit officially, and in what order.
No. 3: Trevon Randle, LB - LSU
He's not the top linebacker in the class, or even the top athlete, but few players impressed me more on film or on the stat sheet than the League City, Texas linebacker.
Check out this production: 176 tackles, five sacks, three picks, four forced fumbles, 14 touchdowns, countless plays on special teams.
On film, Randle is all over the field, breaking up passes, tracking QBs eyes and running down backs behind the line of scrimmage.
Do I think he'll be the most successful linebacker? No. But I feel he's worthy of a top 10 ranking on his upside alone. It's on LSU coaches to make sure they get the most out of him.
No. 2: Tim Jernigan, DT
Lake City, Florida defensive tackle Tim Jernigan registered a jaw-dropping 136 tackles as a junior.
For a DT, that's beyond All-American production. That's straight to the jersey retirement ceremony and the College Football Hall of Fame.
The 6'2", 275 lb tackle has an explosive first step that splits double teams with ease, and his speed enables him to track down running backs from behind.
He's only considering Florida (the presumed leader), Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, LSU, and Southern Cal. He will take officials to a group of five among those six schools.
The Heisman hasn't gone to a wide receiver since Michigan's Desmond Howard, though Larry Fitzgerald probably deserved it (and Michael Crabtree would have landed it had he played for any other BCS team not labeled as a system offense).
I'd stake the legitimacy of this top 100 list on Kasen Williams either winning it or coming damn close.
I've never seen a more complete wide receiver at the high school level. Williams has size, speed, hands, lateral quicks and acceleration. He has It.
He caught 74 passes for 1209 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior, and was an all-state selection for his Sammamish, Washington team.
Watching him take a jailbreak screen the distance reminds me of Crabtree, one of the most exciting players in college history.
It'll be good to get that kind of "it" factor back on the gridiron again.
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