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Class of 2010: Top Prospects Without Offers - RBs
Jim StefaniApr 3, 2009
Here are some top running backs who have no reported early offers. Some may have academic issues. Others may have offers that have not yet been reported. And some simply have yet to be discovered by college coaches. Colleges should really take a close look at some of these fine prospects.
| Devon Wright | |
| 2010 | |
| RB | |
| 6′0 | |
| 200 | |
| 4.49 | |
| Coral Springs Taravella | |
| Florida | |
| x | |
| 31 | |
| 5 | |
| 2-Juniors-Broward County (Blustein; February 2009); 1-FSWA-6A-AS (UT-OFF); 1-South Florida Sun Sentinel-Broward County-6A-5A-4A (RB); 36-Juniors-Florida (SSF; NOV 08) | |
| 2-South Florida Sun-Sentinel-6A-5A-4A-Area (RB) | |
| http://www.sun-sentinel.com/video/?clipId=3018704&clipFormat=wmv&topVideoCatNo=83216 | |
| One of the top overall junior prospects in Florida…………As a junior, he led Broward County in rushing with 1,650 yards and 22 touchdowns…………………As a junior starter at RB and safety, through early November he had 215 carries for 1,483 yards (7.0ypc) and 21 TDs………… 1-South Florida Sun Sentinel-Broward County-6A-5A-4A: “Devon Wright Taravella, RB Ht./Wt.: 6-1, 185; Year: Jr. Comment: Finished regularseason as Broward’s leading rusher with 1,650 yards and leading scorer with 22 TDs”………………..Early in his junior season he was leading Broward County in rushing………………As a sophomore starter at RB on a 2-7 6A team, he had 185 carries for 900 yards (4.9 ypc) and 6 TDs. He also had 7 receptions for 160 yards (22.9 avg.) and 1 TD. It was his first year of football…………………….He reminds some scouts of Eddie George. He has a great frame, quick feet and runs with great vision. Once he gets stronger he could be special. At safety, he has great coverage skills and is a hard hitter…………11.58 100 meters…………Impressive at the 2008 Miami Dolphins Academy 7-on-7 Tournament…………..As of November he liked Florida, Miami, FSU, Michigan, Wisconsin, LSU, and USF. |
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| Devontae Butler | |
| 2010 | |
| RB | |
| 5′11 | |
| 180 | |
| Sacramento Grant | |
| California | |
| x | |
| 50 | |
| 5 | |
| 2-MaxPreps-Junior-AA (RB) | |
| 1-MaxPreps-Division 1-AS (RB); 1-CalHiSports.com-Junior-AS (RB); 1-GoldenStatePreps.com-Junior-AS (RB); 1-Sacramento Bee–Metro (RB) | |
| One of the top RBs in California………….2-MaxPreps-Junior-AA: “RB Devontae Butler, Grant (Sacramento, Calif.), 5-11, 180 One of the main cogs to the Pacers’ explosive offense, Butler rushed for 37 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 yards as Grant ran the table, beating Long Beach Poly in the Open Division bowl match-up”…………….1-MaxPreps-Division 1-AS: “RB – Devontae Butler, Grant (Sacramento), 5-11, 180, Jr With a host of fantastic running backs, Grant coach Mike Alberghini finally decided on Butler about game 3. The talented junior responded in a big way and led the Pacers all the way the pinnacle, a CIF State Open Division Bowl Game victory over heavily favored Long Beach Poly. Butler had 104 yards and a key touchdown in that one and 1,954 yards and 37 TDs on 197 carries”………………..1-Sacramento Bee–Metro: “Devontae Booker (sic Butler) Grant, Jr. – RB All-Metro Conference pick rushed for 1,850 yards and 36 TDs and averaged 10.6 yards a carry, despite playing just half the game in many of the Pacers’ one-sided wins”…………..Junior starter at RB for a powerful program and he had 175 carries for 1,850 yards (10.57ypc) and 36 TDs and 17 tackles as a LB |
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| James Gillum | |
| 2010 | |
| RB | |
| 5′11 | |
| 175 | |
| 4.49 | |
| Pearl River | |
| Louisiana | |
| x | |
| 53 | |
| 5 | |
| 18-Juniors-Louisiana (February 2009; Dandy Don); 1-LSWA-4A-AS (RB); 1-New Orleans Times-Picayune-Metro-Large Schools (RB); 1-New Orleans Times Picayune-PS-Large Schools-Metro | |
| 1-New Orleans Times Picayune-Large Schools-Metro (RB); 1-District 9-4A (RB) | |
| One of the top juniors in Louisiana……………18-Juniors-Louisiana (February 2009; Dandy Don): “18. James Gillum (RB), 5′11″, 186, 4.4, Pearl River. According to Guillum’s veteran high school coach, Joseph Harris, Gillum is the best he has ever coached. Gillum is a great inside runner and is fast enough to get outside. Gillum’s running style is very similar to Keiland Williams’”………………..1-New Orleans Times-Picayune-Metro-Large Schools: “JAMES GILLUM Pearl River Running back 5-11, 185 Jr. Returning all-metro selection picked up 1,251 yards and 17 touchdowns in regular season …………..As a junior he rushed for over 1,400 yards and 20 TDs”………………32 carries, while Gillum had 1,224 yards and 17 TDs on 170 carries for PRHS……………..As a junior, through 10 games he had 170 carries for 1,251 yards and 18 TDs……….As a sophomore, he had 229 carries for 2,213 yards and 24 touchdowns………….1-New Orleans Times Picayune-Large Schools-Metro: JAMES GILLUM Pearl River Running back 5-10, 180 So. One of state’s top statistical rushers with 2,206 yards and 24 touchdowns in the regular season……………..Through 7 games of his sophomore season he was leading the state in rushing with 168 carries for 1,638 yards and 21 TDs……………Returning sophomore starter at RB on a 3-7 3A team………..A natural RB who is very elusive and speedy……….230 bench, 330 squat………2.9 GPA……..May have grade and other issues per one source…………As of January he was primarily hearing from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, LSU (fave) and Oregon |
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| Jerry Stone | |
| 2010 | |
| RB | |
| 5′11 | |
| 200 | |
| Lakewood | |
| California | |
| x | |
| 58 | |
| 5 | |
| One of the top junior RBs in California………….Junior starter at RB and enjoying an outstanding season. Through 4 games he had carried the ball 74 times for 615 yards (8.31ypc) and 10 TDs and had 6 receptions for 119 ards……….One of 6 sophomores on a 7-4 team and he had no stats…………As a junior, in a playoff win against Mission Viejo he rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns…………….He has great speed, power, balance, vision, toughness and great hands out of the backfield……………Probably the best of several BCS prospects at Lakewood, but acadmeic issues are keeping D-I schools from offering early |
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| Demont Buice | |
| 2010 | |
| RB/LB | |
| 6′2 | |
| 210 | |
| 4.40 | |
| Gadsden Gaston | |
| Alabama | |
| x | |
| 63 | |
| 5 | |
| 1-ASWA-1A-AS (RB); 1-Gadsden Times-RB (OFF PoY); 1-Etowah County (PoY; RB); 1-VSM-PS-AS (RB); 1-RB-AL (VSM); 12-Underclassmen-AL (VSM, Summer 2008) | |
| 1-ASWA-1A-AS (RB); 1-KFC-TV24-East Alabama Area (RB) | |
| One of the top junior RBs in Alabama……….Missed three games as a junior with an injury…………As a sophomore RB on a 1A team, he had 204 carries for 2,263 yards and 42 TDs…………………As a freshman starter at DE he led northeast Alabama with 18 sacks……A unique combination of power and speed. Breaks tackles and then runs away from people. Runs with great vision……….In a sophomore season game against Collinsville he tied a state record by scoring eight touchdowns on 16 carries for 338 yards………………As of October he favors Alabama, then Florida, then Auburn (schildhood fave). |
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| Exavier Edwards | |
| 2010 | |
| RB/DB | |
| 5′8 | |
| 185 | |
| Orange Lutheran | |
| California | |
| x | |
| 72 | |
| 5 | |
| 6-38-RB-Southern Section (Los Angeles Times; August 2008); Top 35 Orange County Underclassmen (Orange County Register) | |
| 2-CalHiSports-Soph-AS (RB); 2-Trinity League (RB) | |
| One of the top junior RBs in California………….Junior starter at RB…………As a sophomore on a powerful 10-2 team he had 69 carries for 476 yards (6.90 ypc) and 4 TDs, 16 receptions for 122 yards (7.63 avg.) and 1 TD and 4 kick returns for a 48.00 average…………..Very impressive at the April 2008 Los Angeles Nike camp (the top underclass RB)…………..He has excellent footwork and quickness and a smooth stride. Runs with great balance…………….Projected sophomore starting PR and KR on a powerful 14-1 team……….Impressive at the January 2009 B2G Instinct Training in Los Angeles. |
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| Ladarius Norris | |
| 2010 | |
| RB/LB | |
| 6′1 | |
| 210 | |
| 4.46 | |
| Anderson T.L. Hanna | |
| South Carolina | |
| x | |
| 73 | |
| 5 | |
| 2-SCVarsity.com-PS-Junior-AS (RB) | |
| HM-Anderson Independent Mail-Upstate (FB) | |
| http://www.athletevault.com/Videos/LadariusNorrisAV.html | |
| One of the top juniors in South Carolina…………..As a sophomore, despite splitting time with a senior and missing almost 4 games with an ankle injury, he carried the ball 121 times for 900 yards and 13 TDs………….Great combination of size and speed……………………235 bench, 415 squat………As of April 2008 he was hearing from the likes of North Carolina State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and South Carolina. |
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| Chris Parr | |
| 2010 | |
| RB | |
| 5′10 | |
| 181 | |
| 4.40 | |
| Waco La Vega | |
| Texas | |
| 75 | |
| 5 | |
| 44 Texas Sophomores to Watch (THSF, August 2007) | |
| 1-District 17-3A (OFF co-Newcomer of Year; RB) | |
| He was one of the top overall junior prospects in Texas, but he was arrested for armed robbery in August 2009. I am including him here (he would have been ranked even higher) just to show that there are some outstanding talents who just mess up. This should be a lesson to all the young prospects out there. Work hard, study hard and use good judgement! …………A tremendous talent who has serious off-the-field issues……………As a sophomore RB on a 3A team, he carried the ball 215 times for 1,749 yards (8.1ypc) and 19 TDs and had 18 receptions for 306 yards (17.0 avg.) and 3 TDs despite missing a few games early in the season………………………As a freshman, he had 175 carries for 1,193 yards (6.8 ypc) and 24 TDs………….Runs with good power and excellent speed…………The top underclass SPARQ performers at the March 2008 Dallas Nike |
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| D.J. Vinson | |
| 2010 | |
| RB/WR | |
| 5′9 | |
| 169 | |
| 4.84 | |
| Pinson Clay-Chalkville | |
| Alabama | |
| x | |
| 76 | |
| 5 | |
| 100 Juniors to Watch (MaxPreps; August 2008); 31-Sophs-Nation (FV Sports, March 1, 2008) | |
| 2-VSM-PS-AS (RB); 2-RB-AL (VSM); 8-Underclassmen-AL (VSM, Summer 2008); 1-Birmingham News-PS-Metro | |
| One of the top juniors in Alabama………………..As a sophomore he carried the ball 134 times for 674 yards and caught 36 passes for 324 yards and 2 TDs…………..Tremendous speed, great vision and excellent footwork. Needs to get stronger. Could project as a slot in college…………Should be one of the most highly recruited backs in the south by the time he is a senior……….Expected to receive offers in September 2008………..Very, very impressive at the 2008 Auburn summer camp…………240 bench……..Very impressive at the April 2008 Under Armour/Scout.com Southeast Elite camp |
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| Patrone Wood | RB | 5′11 | 260 | Concord Ygnacio Valley | California | 77 | 5 | x | 2010 |
| Eric Watson | RB | 5′10 | 205 | Memphis Melrose | Tennessee | 80 | 5 | x | 2010 | ||
| Princeton Collins | RB | 5′11 | 183 | 4.44 | Austin Round Rock Westwood | Texas | 81 | 5 | x | 2010 |
| James Sims | RB | 5′11 | 190 | 4.50 | Irving MacArthur | Texas | 87 | 5 | x | 2010 |
They Control the NBA This Summer ✍️
