100. Eugene Lewis Leaves Penn State as Best WR in School History
Lewis pledged to the Fighting Paterno's program in August and is one of the top WR prospects in the nation. I think he leaves Happy Valley with many of the receiving records.
99. Malcom Brown Signs with Texas and Says He's the 2nd Coming of Warren Sapp
Brown is a 6'2", 280-pound DT who has a skill set for the 3-technique spot in a 40 front. He's very quick off the ball and is in the mold of a young Sapp.
Watch him sign his LOI with Texas, then say he will be a Sapp clone in Austin.
98. Payton Winds Up Back in Troy
If you've followed the recruitment of 4-star WR prospect Jordan Payton, then you know he's committed to USC.
But you also know it looks like Payton may not ever suit up for the Trojans.
On NSD in 2012, after de-committing from USC in the middle stages of his recruitment, Payton will surprise everyone, re-committing and signing with the Trojans.
97. Landon Collins Challenges Ragland, McNeil, Edwards, Alexander and Lewis
Collins is a 6'0", 210-pound DS/OLB who lays the wood on ball-carriers.
At some point he will get fed up with wondering who's the hardest hitter in the nation, and will challenge ReggIe Ragland, LaDarrell McNeil, Mario Edwards, Kwon Alexander and Jaiwan Lewis to a hitting contest.
96. Speaking of LaDarrell McNeil...
With Tennessee losing Janzen Jackson on the back-end, permanently now, the Vols will be looking for safety to come in and solidify their deep middle in coverage.
McNeil goes to Knoxville and starts on the back-end as a true freshman.
95. Durron Neal Winds Up with as Good a Career as Dorial Green-Beckham
You ever see a player who's really good, but doesn't seem to get as much hype as another guy?
Yeah, it's called being "underrated."
I think Neal may be in store for that type of career. He'll put up stellar numbers for Oklahoma, as good as DGB's will be, but will still be underrated by most.
94. John Theus Starts for Georgia as a True Freshman
Theus is one of the best overall players in the country, and the 6'6", 295-pounder can play both LT or RT.
I think he's a RT and will start in Athens from the jump.
93. Brian Kimbrow Becomes Vandy's Best Player...ever
Brian Kimbrow is one of the top 100 overall players in the country. He's a speedy RB/ATH who has elite quickness and playmaking ability.
And he's going to Vanderbilt.
He may be the best player on the team as soon as he steps on campus, and leaves as the school's all-time greatest.
92. Auburn Gets a Visit from Geno Smith
Geno Smith committed to Alabama earlier this month after a back-and-forth between the Tide and Auburn.
He's solid to Alabama, but I predict he may take one final visit to Auburn just to be sure.
91. Evan Boehm Becomes the Best OL in Missouri School History
Boehm is the No. 1 center in the country, according to Scout.com.
He's headed to Missouri, and I think once he leaves for the NFL, he leaves as the top OL to ever play for the Tigers.
90. Travis Blanks Changes His Mind About His True Position
Blanks has stated a couple times that he feels he is best suited for CB, while others have said he is a safety through and through.
At some point, before he winds up at Clemson, he firmly entrenches himself to becoming the best safety he can be.
89. Michigan Finishes with a Top-3 Recruiting Class
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Brady Hoke isn't playing around. He's coaching Big Blue hard and has the team focused on playing fundamental football.
On the recruiting front, Hoke and the Wolverines are pounding the trail and already have a Top-10 right now for 2012.
Hoke will have Michigan somewhere in the Top 10 recruiting class rankings next February—and maybe even the Top Three.
88. Alex Ross Says He and Brandon Williams Will Be Better Than Ronnie and 'Lac
Alex Ross is headed to Oklahoma, who signed 5-star RB Brandon Williams last year.
Watch for Ross to claim he and Williams will make for a better tandem than Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams were at Auburn.
87. Dorial Green-Beckham Starts at 2-Guard in College
We all know what a great prospect DGB is as a WR—he's also a terrific basketball player.
Aside from starting as a WR in college, before he leaves for the NFL, look for the 6'6" Green-Beckham to start at the two-spot on the hardwood.
86. Darreus Rogers Sees Depth Chart at WR for USC, De-Commits
Rogers is a 6'2", 195-pound WR prospect with a wealth of deep speed for WR.
But USC has a ton of talented pass-catchers, and now with the emergence of Marqise Lee, that makes things more crowded.
I don't think Rogers winds up in Troy.
85. Connor Brewer Tells People He Isn't Worried About David Ash
Reports have said David Ash has looked really good in Texas' camp and was in the mix to win the starting job as a true freshman.
Connor Brewer is one of the premier QB prospects in the 2012 class and will be in Austin next fall. People will ask Brewer if he is worried about beating out Ash down the line, to which he will reply "No."
84. Jabari Ruffin Proclaims Himself as the Best LB in the Nation
You have your Reggie Ragland's, Kwon Alexander's and such, but many really dig USC commit Jabari Ruffin.
Ruffin stands at 6'3" and 230 pounds, and is a fine athletic prospect. At some point during a big senior year, Ruffin will say he's the best second-level defender in the country.
83. Saban Goes off at NSD Presser About Oversigning Accusations
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Saban is one of the best football coaches of all time, and he likely is the best college coach in the game today. Alabama has been a recruiting juggernaut under his direction, and he and his staff do a thorough job of evaluating prospects.
Yet, the Tide have also heard whispers and accusations about how they purposely over-sign recruiting classes to ensure they have roster spots filled while some recruits fail to qualify.
Other schools do it, but it seems Alabama has drawn much of the criticism. Saban is going to be asked about it and will go off on a rant defending his recruiting efforts.
82. Ricky Parks Says, "Hold Your Horses" as a TE
Parks is a 6'4", 230-pound specimen who has great athleticism. He plays some QB for his high school squad, but Auburn will move him to TE.
I think Parks may start to believe he should stay at QB and demand to be given a chance there at first.
81. Matt Jones Says He's the Next Steven Jackson
With Matt Jones being such a big RB at 6'3" and 210 pounds, the Steven Jackson comparisons have come around.
Not a help that Jones also has dreads.
The Florida commit will openly compare himself to the Rams' RB during a NSD interview.
80. Mauk Talks About His Numbers
Maty Mauk has put up some gaudy passing numbers in his high school career. He's headed for Missouri to play in the Tigers' spread offense and could throw for 5,000 yards this year.
After he does, he will sign with Mizzou and will say he will toss more than 5,000 yards at least once for Gary Pinkel.
79. Chris Casher Leaves FSU in the Same Class as Kamerion Wimbley
Kamerion Wimbley is one of the best pass-rushers Florida State has had on campus. Chris Casher is one of the best DEs to play prep ball in Alabama.
Casher heads to Tallahassee, enjoys a great career and hears fans put him in the same class as Wimbley, easily.
78. Avery Johnson Claims His Brother Can't Cover Him
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Johnson is the younger brother of former LSU CB, Patrick Peterson.
Confident, the WR will tell people at some point that in a man-to-man coverage situation, Patrick wouldn't be able to hang.
Not sure if that's true though.
77. Pender Averages More Than 15 Yards a Carry His Senior Season
Pender averaged more than 13 yards a carry last season.
There's no way he averages that this year, right? Right—because Pender will average more than 15 yards a pop this year and then will head to Florida State.
76. Arik Armstead Opens Up About Playing OT
Both ESPNU and Scout.com list Arik Armstead as an OT prospect, while he feels he likes DE more.
At 6'8" and 280 pounds, Armstead will soften his hardened stance on playing LT.
75. Marvin Bracy Challenges Keith Marshall and Dorial Green-Beckham to a Race
Keith Marshall claims a 4.3 40-yard dash time, as does Dorial Green-Beckham.
Yet, Marvin Bracy is viewed as the fastest player in the country.
Bracy will challenge Marshall and DGB to a race if all three show up at the same postseason All-Star game to finally see who's the fastest.
74. Zeke Pike Says He's Better Than Winston and Kiel
Pike is a confident fellow.
If I were 6'6" and had a cannon for an arm, I'd have some potent confidence on the field too.
Pike, at some point, will pull a Ryan Mallet and say he's better than Winston Kiel, as Mallet claimed he was better than Jimmy Clausen in 2007.
73. Zach Banner Will Play RT
Banner is a 6'9", 305-pound oak tree. Yet I just feel he's best-suited as a right tackle than a left tackle.
I think he'll play the RT spot in college and not on the blind-side.
73. Ole Miss Beats Mississippi State in Recruiting Rankings
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For some reason, Ole Miss got the top four recruits in the state last year—even though they lost to Mississippi State, which is seen as the "hotter" program right now.
The Rebels signed top prospects like C.J. Johnson and Tobias Singleton, among others, over the Bulldogs.
I predict the Bulldogs are going to handle the Rebels on the field again, but Houston Nutt will work his recruiting magic in-state yet again in 2012 recruiting.
72. Isaac Seumalo Starts for Oregon State...as a True Freshman...as a DT
At 6'3" and 275 pounds, Isaac Seumalo is one the top recruits on the West Coast. He's the headliner for the 2012 Oregon State class, and Scout.com has him down as an OG.
I predict Seumalo will play DT in Corvalis.
71. Thomas Johnson Has a Better Career Than Cayleb Jones
Jones gets all the hype since he's a 5-star recruit, per Scout.com.
It would be nuts to think Johnson has a better career than Jones at Texas...or is it?
70. Josh Harvey Clemons Becomes a 2-Way Starter at Both WR and OLB
Harvey-Clemons is a great athlete. Period. That's a fact.
That's why many people can't seem to decide if he's to play WR or LB in college.
How about he plays both?
69. Chris Black Becmes Better Than Marquise Maze at Alabama
Black went back and forth between Florida State and Alabama for months. Then he chose Alabama.
When he leaves Tuscaloosa, fans will claim he's better than Maze was.
68. Josh Garnett Plays DT in College
Wow. Even I'm not sure about this one.
But this is supposed to be a fun, light-hearted piece, right?
Garnett loves to play defense, but realizes his future as an OL. But maybe one team gives him the shot to play DT, and he takes it.
67. Jarron Jones Takes a Trip to Penn State Just to Be Sure
Jarron Jones is a 5-star DT recruit who stands 6'5", 290 pounds and gave a "soft" verbal commitment to Penn State.
Now he is committed to Notre Dame.
Jones was a wanted man by just about every program in the country, but is settled on the Irish. He takes one last visit to Penn State in the home stretch to be sure of his ND commit.
66. Dante Fowler Signs with Florida
Fowler is a top-notch DE prospect, that is committed to Florida State.
However, he has spoken to Florida a lot, as the Gators want him bad. Fowler could sign with the Gators and add fuel to the UF-FSU rivalry.
65. Kyle Kalis Takes a Trip to Ohio State
Kalis was once-pledged to the Buckeyes, but de-committed and is now a Michigan pledge. He's from Ohio and committed to OSU as a junior, so you know he has love for cats in Columbus.
I think before he signs with Big Blue, the OSU staff convinces him to at least come meet with them on an official visit.
64. Keivarae Russell Turns Down Dream Offer
Russell picked up his dream offer from USC at the start of August. He's a 5'11", 170-pound scat back who can scoot anywhere.
Yet I think he turns down USC to play at either Cal or Washington since the Trojans already have Amir Carlisle.
63. Cayleb Jones Re-Opens Himself Back Up
Cayleb Jones recently took a trip to Texas A&M, but still remains pledged to Texas. I think his flirting with the Aggies revs up, forcing him to open his recruitment back up.
But he still ends up in Austin.
62. Thompson Faces Pressure
The best safety prospect in the country, Shaq Thompson committed to Cal earlier this spring, as we all expected, but within a week he announced he was re-opening himself back up.
Thompson goes to Grant High School in Northern California, which is a powerhouse, but also a well-known Cal pipeline. His brother is former Cal and current Bronco, DB Syd Thompson.
Shaq is going to fall in love with another school and want to go there, but similar to Brent Calloway facing local pressure to sign with Alabama, Shaq will indeed sign with the Bears.
61. Gunner Kiel Forces His Brother to Transfer
Dusty Kiel is already a QB on the Indiana roster, where his brother Gunner will join him next year. Many hold Gunner as the top QB prospect in America, and fans will want him on the field immediately.
After Gunner beats out his brother, look for Dusty to transfer to an FBS school.
60. Notre Dame Thinks Hard About Playing Darby on Offense
Nitro Darby is one of the quickest and fastest players in the country. Yet, he is likely to play CB at Notre Dame.
At some point, Notre Dame will wonder if they should play Darby on the offensive side of the ball.
59. Greyson Lambert, or Justin Bieber?
Lambert is the top QB prospect from Georgia and a 4-star signal-caller. At 6'5" and 195 pounds, Lambert has 10 offers right now and more are on the way.
Whoever he signs with, Lambert is going to make the program happy to have him.
But on NSD in 2012, I think a few fans and teenage girls are going to see him on TV and think Justin Bieber is retiring from music to play college sports like Lil Romeo.
58. Eddie Williams Finally Demands Scout.com Give Him a 5th Star
Ranked No. 57 overall and only (only) 4 stars by Scout.com, Eddie Williams is a 5-star-caliber talent to many people.
He's going to demand Scout.com give him his deserved fifth star soon enough.
57. Elijah Shumate Grows into an OLB
Shumate is already 6'1" and 205 pounds, and plays safety. He hits like a truck and plays the run well.
He's going to grow into in an OLB in college eventually.
56. Warren Ball Has a Better Career Than Brionte Dunn
Dunn is a big back at 6'1" and 215 pounds, and is also a strong runner.
But he's a straight-liner and lacks wiggle.
I think the 6'2", 200-pound Ball is more of a complete player and leaves Ohio State with the higher regard.
55. Rutgers Lands All Four of the Don Bosco Quartet
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Leonte Carroo is committed. Darius Hamilton says they lead. Elijah Shumate likes them. And Yuri Wright is monitoring their recruitment of him.
When all is said and done, Rutgers will land all four star players from Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey.
54. Nelson Thinks He Can Play Everything
On signing day in 2012, Nelson Agholor will sign with a school and make them extremely happy to have him. At 6'2" and 180 pounds, he's one of the best athletes in the country and can play an array of positions.
Some say he can play receiver in college; others say safety, or running back, or cornerback or quarterback...you get the point.
I predict that when asked what position he's going to play in college on NSD 2012, the versatile Agholor will confidently say, "Everything."
53. Mississippi State Signs Both Nick James and Quay Evans
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James and Evans are two huge men who play DT for high schools in the state of Mississippi. James is already pledged to MSU, while Evans told Scout.com in the spring the Bulldogs led.
Dan Mullen will sign both of them.
52. Rushel Shell Signs with Pitt, Runs for 1,000 Yards as a True Freshman
Shell is said to be making his announcement next month, and Pitt is considered the favorite by people around him.
I think he signs with the Panthers, starts as a true freshman and totes the rock for 1,000 yards in 2012.
51. Washington Is a Small Forward, Not a DE
Adolphus Washington is one of the best defensive end prospects in the country—but he's also one of the best basketball prospects in the country as well.
At 6'6" and 240 pounds, Washington could likely play both sports in college, and be a standout on the hardwood and gridiron as a No. 3 on the hoops team and pass-rusher on the football squad.
He has not committed anywhere, but I think Ohio State is thick in the race for his services. On NSD, when they announce his signing, his position is going to say "small forward" due to a mishap.
50. USC Gets Back into the Kwon Alexander Race, Gets a Trip
Alexander has narrowed his list down to Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Florida State and Oregon.
I think somehow the Trojans, who see him as a bigger Frankie Telfort, get back in the race and get him to take a trip to Hollywood.
49. Tommy Schutt Leaves Happy Valley with More Fame Than Jared Ordrick
Jared Ordrick became a great player at Penn State and saw himself drafted high by the Miami Dolphins.
Tommy Schutt comes to Happy Valley as a big-time DT recruit and develops into a better player than the Dolphins DE.
48. Ragland Gurantees a Butkus in Tuscaloosa
Reggie Ragland is the top MLB prospect in the country, and the 6'4", 245-pounder is headed to Alabama.
I think it would be wild, but Ragland will guarantee he'll win the Butkus before he leaves 'Bama for the NFL.
47. Herby Sounds off on ESPN Again
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Doesn't it seem every year on NSD, you turn on the ESPN coverage and Kirk Herbstreit complains about the way recruits pick their schools with hats and other tricks?
Well, it's going to happen again this year, and maybe even worse.
Some prime recruit is going to do that hat thing, and Herby is going to sound off. Done deal.
46. Miami Keeps Their Class Intact, Finishes in the Top 10 for Recruiting
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
The situation at Miami is pretty bad, and it's going to get worse.
Yet, I believe Al Golden keeps his class intact and gets Miami into the Top 10 overall recruiting rankings for 2012.
45. A&M Announces Their Move to the SEC, the SEC Responds With, "Huh?"
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Texas A&M is trying to leave the Big 12 after this year, and they are making themselves available to the SEC.
Only thing is, they better have a backup plan since it's not 100 percent that the SEC will take them.
We all know the Aggies want to go to the SEC. But will the SEC want to expand?
44. At Least 4 Coaches Blast the Star System on Signing Day
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College coaches claim they don't look at Scout.com, Rivals, ESPNU or anything else, and that the star-rating system is flawed.
At least four coaches will blast the star system at their NSD presser in 2012.
43. Kent Taylor Commits to Penn State
Taylor is a TE prospect from Florida who says he grew up a Penn State fan.
I think he winds up in Happy Valley over Gainesville.
42. Best OL Class in History
The quality of elite OL prospects in this 2012 recruiting cycle is amazing. There are several players who, when I watch on tape, I see an NFL ceiling of potential in their skill set along the offensive trenches.
Andrus Peat, Jordan Simmons, John Theus, D.J. Humphries, Jess Dunker and Dan Voltz are just the tip of the iceberg of offensive linemen who are top 100 overall players.
By the time we get to NSD next February, the consensus will be this is the best group of OL recruits we've had since recruiting has been a complete industry.
41. Dalvon Stuckey Realizes His Potential at Florida State
Stuckey is a 6'3", 300-pounder who has a great skill set to be a starting DT in college.
Yet, he has the "lazy" tag attached to his name.
He'll try to play like he is now, get driven into the dirt by a powerful OL, then realize FSU is not high school ball, en route to fulfilling his potential.
40. Davis Gets Announced as a WR, Not a QB?
Matt Davis gave the Aggies a pledge this spring, and he is listed as QB. At 6'1" and 200 pounds, Davis is one of the best athletes in Texas, and now there is talk he could change spots in college.
One of the prime positions being mentioned around Davis, should he switch positions, is receiver, and I think there is a chance he could play there in College Station.
When announcing his recruiting class on NSD, Mike Sherman will announce Davis as a WR and not a QB.
39. Bart Houston Starts for Wisconsin in 2012
Russell Wilson is gone after this one lone year at Camp Randall, and the Badgers' QB unit is always hurt.
Houston starts for Brett Bielema as a true freshman.
38. Sideline Reporter Asks Recruit About Doo-Rags, They Mention LBJ's Hairline
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
At some postseason All-Star game, a sideline reporter is going to ask a player, "What's up with so many of these kids wearing rags under their helmets?"
The kid will answer, "Well, a lot of dudes have that LeBron James hairline, so they're trying to hide it."
37. Golden Uses DJ Khaled to Spark Up Miami Home Games
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
During his 2012 NSD press conference, Al Golden is going to proudly announce the newest members of the Miami Hurricanes football team. There will be a press conference, and the recruits will be talked about.
Then, at the closing of his press conference, Golden will make a big (or subtle) announcement that DJ Khaled will be the new stadium announcer for all Miami home games.
We the best.
36. Derek Dooley Stops the LaDarrell McNeil/Eric Berry Comparisons
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
McNeil is still not in Berry's class.
Seriously folks, Berry was special in high school, and after one series, you saw it.
McNeil is good, but he's no Berry, and Derek Dooley will put an end to the comparisons on NSD.
35. Greg Garmon Grows into a Fullback
Garmon is already 6'2" and more than 200 pounds. Chances are he's going to be more than 230 pounds in three years.
Can you say fullback? Maybe.
34. Devin Fuller Says He's Just as Athletic, If Not Better, Than Nelson Agholor
Devin Fuller is a super-athletic dual-threat QB from New Jersey who stands at 6'0" and 185 pounds. He's so athletically gifted that some teams want him for positions other than QB.
At some point he will get tired of the Nelson Agholor talk and put himself well into the "most athletic player in the nation" talk.
33. Mike Davis Demands His Respect
Davis feels he is underrated, vastly, and gets no respect in the recruiting community.
Soon enough, he will do an interview and finally just blast the recruiting sites for undervaluing him.
32. Players in Sin City Demand More Respect for Las Vegas Football
For years, Las Vegas football has not gotten the respect they deserve. Ronnie Stanley is the top player from Vegas this year, and there are other players colleges are hot after.
This year, you will see more players from Sin City speak out against people underestimating the caliber of play in Clark County.
31. Brionte Dunn Signs with Michigan
Brionte Dunn is one the top big back prospects in the country at 6'1" and 225 pounds. He's a 5-star RB who is committed to Ohio State.
A few weeks ago, Dunn made a shocking visit to, of all places, Ann Arbor, Mich. He says he's still committed to Ohio State, but is weighing his options.
I boldly predict Dunn will sign with Michigan; however, that leads to the next slide...
30. Urban Meyer Takes the Ohio State Job, Gets a Top-15 Class
Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
Now this is bold.
Yes, I'm going there.
I think this is Luke Fickell's only year at Ohio State, and the opening will be coveted by every coach in the country. But I think Urban Meyer, an Ohio native, will be the next Buckeyes head coach in the end.
And in his first, albeit rushed, recruiting class for the Buckeyes, Meyer will work them back into the Top 15 recruiting rankings.
29. Alphonse Taylor Approaches Walter Jones Status
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Walter Jones possibly may be the best football player I ever saw. He's in the same class as Ray Lewis, Chad Johnson and few others I graded very highly in my days in New York.
Taylor could leave FSU almost as good as Big Walter was.
28. Zach Kline Starts at Cal as a True Freshman
Kline is a 6'2", 205-pound QB committed to Cal with a cannon for an arm and good moxie.
He's better than the QBs Jeff Tedford has now, and starts in 2012.
27. Aaron Porter Becomes UCLA's Defensive Captain as a Sophomore
Porter is maybe the best player in the current 2012 UCLA class and is a decorated defender in SoCal. He'll become the starting MLB in Westwood by his second year, when we will also see him be the defensive captain of the Bruins team.
26. Sark Hypes Up Lindquist to Locker
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Steve Sarkisian loves him some Jake Locker, we all know that.
But he also has Jeff Lindquist coming to Seattle, and I think Sark will liken Lindquist to the Husky legend.
25. Tyler Orlovsky Becomes an All-American OG at WVU
Orlovsky is a 6'4", 290-pound OG who has a great work ethic, awesome strength and is a fierce blocker.
He'll be an All-American in Morgantown.
24. Trevor Knight Transfers from Oklahoma
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Knight, I fear, may not be able to beat out Blake Bell down the road and may not want to be a No. 2 QB. He could finish his college career at another FBS school.
23. Avery Young Forgets to Sign His LOI, Goes Fishing to Celebrate
Avery Young is one of the top OL prospects in the nation, and the 5-star tackle is a hot name on the recruiting trail. At 6'6" and 270 pounds, he has a slew of offers from the likes of Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama and Miami, among others.
A devout and avid fisherman, Young says he spends his time either punishing defenders or fishing. He once caught an oversized hammerhead shark and spent hours reeling it in.
To celebrate on NSD next February, I think Young will go fishing, but will be so stoked that he's done with recruiting and about to go fishing that he forgets to sign and fax his LOI.
22. Bryce Treggs Becomes Better at Cal Than DeSean Jackson Was
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Treggs and Jackson are similar players. Both are in the 5'10" range and weigh about 170 pounds.
But Treggs leaves Berkley with superior numbers than Jackson had.
21. Keith Marshall Says He and Crowell Are Better Than Gray and Brown
Last year, Mack Brown signed the nation's top running back in Malcolm Brown. This year, Mack Brown has a commitment from 2012's top running back in Johnathan Gray.
Last year, Georgia signed perhaps the second-best running back in Isaiah Crowell. This year, they are the rumored favorite to sign Keith Marshall, the second-best running back on my board for 2012.
In December, Marshall will enroll at Georgia and tell people he and Crowell will be a better college duo than Brown and Gray.
20. Indiana Gives Kiel the Kyle Boller Treatment
I remember as a kid, Kyle Boller had offers from Florida State, UCLA, USC, Cal, Oregon and more. He chose to go to Cal, and people in Berkley had a saying that he was "Jesus in cleats."
Hoosier fans will bestow the same praise on Gunner Kiel next year.
Bow your heads.
19. John Gray Runs for 4,000 Yards in His Senior Season
With more than 6,000 yards and 109 TDs in just the past two seasons alone, I boldly predict Gray will run for more than 4,000 yards this year and just go off something sick so he can rewrite the Texas and U.S. high school football record books before he gets to Texas.
18. Mack Brown Says This Is the Best Longhorn Recruiting Class Ever (over 2002)
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
The 2002 Texas class was ridiculously loaded. Vince Young was the headliner among many, many other big-name recruits.
Mack Brown will announce on NSD that this 2012 class is better on paper than that class.
17. Marvin Bracy Goes Pro...in Track
Hands down the fastest player in the country, Marvin Bracy has the potential to be a track and field Olympian. He runs in the 10.2 range for the 100-meter dash and is also an elite-tier 200-meter sprinter.
Bracy is also a top-caliber receiver and has a ton offers from top programs around the country.
When it's time for him to sign his LOI next February, Bracy may or may not sign with a school, but he will announce he's going to pursue a serious track and field career.
16. Jessamen Dunker Plays for Both Will Muschamp and Billy Donovan
Jessamen Dunker was thought to be a a hoops player, then he got on the football field and wowed people with his potential as a 6'6", 315-pound LT prospect.
Committed to Florida, Dunker will get the hoops itch and go out for the basketball team while in Gainesville at some point.
15. Eli Harold Becomes Better Than Ahmad Brooks Was
Ahmad Brooks was good, but he really didn't get to complete and fulfill his potential while at Virginia.
Eli Harold will use his 6'3", 230-pound frame, athleticism and explosiveness to fulfill his for Mike London and have a better career than Brooks did for Al Groh.
14. Yuri Wright Compares Himself to Darrelle Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Wright is a New Yorker, so we know he's not short on confidence.
I think soon enough someone is going to ask Wright about his game, and he's going to say, "Yeah, I'm like a cross between Nnamdi Asomugha and Darrelle Revis."
13. Mike Starts Becomes a Big 12 DT
Starts can play both DT and OL, but Scout lists him as an OG.
However, Starts says he is en route to Lubbock to play DT. The 6'5", 275-pound Starts will be an All-Big 12 DT for Texas Tech in three years.
12. Aziz Shittu Re-Commits to Stanford on NSD
Shittu was committed to play on The Farm earlier this spring, but de-committed and opened things up.
I think the 6'3", 275-pounder will take his trips, go through the process and signs with Stanford on NSD.
11. Justin Shanks Becomes FSU's Ndamukong Suh
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
At 6'4" and 320 pounds, Justin Shanks is a great-looking DT prospect who is headed to Alabama.
He gets better each week, and I think he goes to FSU, lights up the competition, outshines Dalvon Stuckey and gets some comparisons to the Lions' All-Pro DT.
10. Mike Sherman Says This Is the Best Aggie Class in History
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
The Aggies have a great recruiting class, as they'll likely find themselves inside the Top 10 come next February. With Matt Davis, Corey Thompson and Trey Williams, among many others, Texas A&M has a slew of talent coming.
Sherman will claim this is the best class in school history.
9. Dorial Green-Beckham Becomes His Team's No. 1 WR as a True Freshman
Green-Beckham, to me, has the makings of a three-and-out player, as he should be a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He's just too big, too strong and too fast.
He'll be his team's No. 1 go-to WR by the middle of his true freshman season.
8. Kwon Alexander Doesn't Want to Make Anyone Mad
Reggie Ragland is trying to get Alexander to join him in Tuscaloosa. Chris Casher and Jameis Winston want him at Florida State. Cassanova McKinzy is on him about Auburn.
Alexander has friends in high places who all want him to join them in college. Yet, he doesn't want to make anyone mad—which is why he will leave the south and go to Oregon.
7. P.J. Williams Signs with FSU, Says He and Karlos Williams Are the Future
Karlos Williams was one of my favorite players last year, and the big safety signed with FSU in 2011. P.J. Williams is committed to FSU for 2012.
When he signs with FSU next February, Williams will say he's to play FS while Karlos will be the SS, and the pair "are the future" of FSU DBs.
6. Joe Mauer 2.0 for Florida State
Before Joe Mauer was winning MVPs and batting titles for the Twins, he was also the top QB prospect in the country during the early part of last decade. Mauer was a baller not only on the diamond, but also as an elite signal-caller and a hoops star.
He went with Florida State, but a few months later the Twins took him with the No. 1 pick in the MLB draft.
Next February, Jameis Winston—the nation's top dual-threat QB—will sign with the Seminoles, then a few months later will be a high pick in the MLB draft and choose baseball over tossing touchdowns in Tallahassee.
5. 24-7 Helmet Cam Turned Kiel off from Notre Dame
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
A new tool in coaching quarterbacks has emerged this offseason in the helmet cam. Coaches can pop in film post-practice and see what their QBs see on the field.
USC has used it with Matt Barkley this spring, but it came to fame when Brian Kelly and Notre Dame implemented it on Tommy Rees and Dayne Crist in the midst of a QB battle.
Gunner Kiel is the top QB in the country for 2012 and is the nephew of former Irish QB Blair Kiel. Kiel is an Indiana commit and has eliminated the Irish.
I predict that when asked on NSD why he spurned the Golden Domers, Kiel will say that because the Irish wanted him to wear the helmet cam 24-7: in the locker room, in class, on dates—everywhere.
4. Barry Sanders Jr. Signs with Oklahoma State, Fans Think Barry Sr. Is Back
Barry Sanders Jr. is a running back, like his father. At 5'9" and 180 pounds, his size and running style remind you of his dad when you watch him on film. Barry Jr. is very quick, elusive, instinctive and runs with good balance.
He holds offers from many of the top schools, and Oklahoma State is one of them.
I predict the young Sanders will sign with the Pokes like his dad, but late reading fans who don't follow recruiting closely will mistake it for the notion of his dad coming back out of retirement.
3. Jadeveon Clowney 2.0?
The top recruit in the country by most, Dorial Green-Beckham is a 6'6", 220-pound WR with 4.43 speed, and a player I compare to a cross between Calvin Johnson and Plaxico Burress.
DGB rarely gives interviews and is said to not like the recruiting process due to the scrutiny and increased attention. It's tough to get a read on which schools Green-Beckham likes or has serious interest in.
I think on NSD, he does exactly what last year's No.1 overall recruit Jadeveon Clowney did—waits a few weeks after to sign with a school.
2. Texas Is Done with 2013 Recruiting
Eric Francis/Getty Images
We all know Texas basically recruits a year ahead of everyone else, and they get a bulk of their recruiting done before their spring practices start.
At his press conferences, it's not uncommon for Mack Brown to announce his current year's recruiting class while already holding a couple of commitments for the next year's class.
Next NSD in 2012, look for Brown to announce his 2012 class, then toward the end of his presser he will already make the announcement that the Longhorns are already done with 2013 recruiting and already hold a couple 2014 commitments.
1. Fisher Says Florida State Is, "BACK!!!"
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Now entering his third recruiting cycle as head man for Florida State, Jimbo Fisher has made his mark on the trail. He finished with a Top-Five class in 2010, had a pretty consensus No. 1 class in 2011 and is off to a good start in 2012 recruiting.
I predict that at his 2012 NSD presser, after hearing whispers the Noles are once again among the elite in recruiting—and after winning the ACC in 2011—Fisher will make the statement of Florida State football being "back."
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