
College Football 2011 Predictions: Which State Produces the Most Top Recruits?
One basic discussion that never goes away in gridiron circles is what state produces the best football talent.
Guys from Texas will tell you itโs the Lone Star State, Buckeyes will tell you that itโs Ohio and Californians, Pennsylvanians and Floridians will all claim their state is the best.ย
Really, regardless of where you are from, if you are a football person, you have pride in your stateโs athletic prowess.ย Yes, even if you have no actual facts to back yourself up, you may just be persuaded to argue your home stateโs status as a โrecruiting hot bedโ.
So which states really do rank at the top of the heap in terms of turning out the best football talent?
The following slideshow attempts to answer this question by presenting the results of a sweeping statistical analysis of the past five years' college recruiting results.
Utilizing the ESPN Top 150 Recruit Rankings from 2007-2011, the states (plus the District of Columbia)ย are ranked in three categories: the total number of top 150 recruits coming from each state, the average overall rank (from one to 150) among the yearly 150 and the average rating of each individual player (from one to 100).
All in all, the geographic origins, ratings and rankings of the top 750 recruits from the past five years have been analyzed to produce a definitive answer (at least a recent one) to the ageless state vs. state recruiting argument.
39. The Bottom 11 States
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Out of the 750 top recruits identified over the past five years, none have come from the following 11 states.
Mostย of theseย won't surprise anyone, but honestly, seeing West Virginia listed is a bit of a shock.
Alaska |
Idaho |
Maine |
Massachusetts |
Montana |
New Hampshire |
North Dakota |
Rhode Island |
South Dakota |
Vermont |
West Virginia |
Wyoming |
38b. Delaware
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years: One
Average Player Rank:ย 138
Average Player Rating:ย 79
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
Photo: OT Devon Still, the No. 138 ranked player in 2007, from Howard H.S. of Technology in Delaware, signed with Penn State.
38a. Kentucky
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย One
Average Player Rank:ย 138
Average Player Rating:ย 80
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
ATH Jon Davis, ranked No. 138 overall in 2011, from Eastern H.S. in Kentucky, signed with Illinois.
37. Hawaii
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย One
Average Player Rank:ย Two
Average Player Rating:ย 93
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย One
In 2009, OLB Manti Te'o of the Punahou Schoolย inย Hawaiiย was the No. 2 ranked player in the nation. He signed with Notre Dame.
Photo of Manti Te'o, No. 2 ranked player in 2009.
36. Iowa
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Two
Average Player Rank:ย 93
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
OT David Barrent from Valley H.S. in Iowa, ranked No. 69 overall in 2009. He signed with Michigan State.
35. New Mexico
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Two
Average Player Rank:ย 79
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
OT Matthew Hegarty of Aztec H.S. in New Mexico, No. 36 ranked player in 2011, signed with Notre Dame.ย
34. Nevada
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Two
Average Player Rank:ย 66
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
TE Xavier Grimble of Bishop Gorman H.S. in Nevada, No. 31 ranked player in 2010, signed with USC.
33. District of Columbia
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Two
Average Player Rank:ย 14
Average Player Rating:ย 85
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย One
In 2007, DT Marvin Austin of Ballou Senior H.S. in D.C. was the No. 10 rated recruit in the nation. He ultimately signed with North Carolina.
Photo of Marvin Austin, No. 10 ranked player in 2007.
32. Wisconsin
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Three
Average Player Rank:ย 95
Average Player Rating:ย 81
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
OT Josh Oblesby of St. Francis H.S. in Wisconsin, No. 28 ranked player in 2007, signed with Wisconsin.
33. Connecticut
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Three
Average Player Rank:ย 85
Average Player Rating:ย 81
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
TE Aaron Hernandez of Bristol Central H.S. in Connecticut, ranked No. 49 overall in 2007, signed with Florida and now plays for the New England Patriots.
30. Washington
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Three
Average Player Rank:ย 95
Average Player Rating:ย 81
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
WR Kasen Williams, ranked No. 70 overall in 2011, signed with Washington.
29. New York
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Three
Average Player Rank:ย 64
Average Player Rating:ย 83
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย One
In 2010, DT Dominique Easley of Curtis HS in New York was the No. 3 ranked recruit nationally. He eventually signed with Florida.
Photo of 2010 No. 3 ranked Dominique Easley.
28. Oregon
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Three
Average Player Rank:ย 58
Average Player Rating:ย 83
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa from David Douglas H.S. in Oregon, No. 17 ranked in 2010, signed with UCLA.
26b. Nebraska
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Four
Average Player Rank:ย 114
Average Player Rating:ย 81
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
OG Harland Gunn, No. 63 ranked player in 2007, from Omaha Central H.S. in Nebraska, signed with Miami (FL).
26a. Missouri
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Four
Average Player Rank:ย 96
Average Player Rating:ย 80
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
ย QB Logan Gray of Rock Bridge H.S. in Missouri, ranked No. 40 overall in 2007, signed with Georgia.
25. Utah
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Four
Average Player Rank:ย 90
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
OG John Martinez of Cottonwood H.S. in Utah, ranked No. 41 overall in 2009, signed with USC.
24. Minnesota
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Four
Average Player Rank:ย 60
Average Player Rating:ย 83
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย One
In 2010, OT Seantrel Henderson of Cretin-Derham H.S. in Minnesota was the No. 8 ranked player in the nation; he eventually signed with Miami (FL).
Photo of Seantrel Henderson, No. 8 ranked player in 2010.
23. Colorado
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Five
Average Player Rank:ย 88
Average Player Rating:ย 81
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
OT Ryan Miller from Columbine Senior H.S. in Colorado, ranked No. 71 overall in 2007, signed with Colorado.
22. Maryland
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Seven
Average Player Rank:ย 77
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Two
Maryland'sย top ranked recruits include 2009's No. 9 player OLB Jelani Jenkins from Good Counsel H.S. (signed with Florida) and 2011's No. 3 ranked player OT Cyrus Kouandjio from DeMathata Catholic H.S. (signed with Alabama).
Photo is of 2009's No. 9 ranked Jelani Jenkins.
21. Arkansas
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Seven
Average Player Rank:ย 46
Average Player Rating:ย 83
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย One
Arkansas' top-10 recruit came in 2010 when RB Michael Dyer from Little Rock Christian Academy was ranked No. 5 overall. Dyer signed with Auburn.
Photo of Michael Dyer, the No. 5 ranked player in 2010.
20. Indiana
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Nine
Average Player Rank:ย 105
Average Player Rating:ย 81
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
S Jerimy Finch from Warren Central H.S. in Indiana, No. 69 overall in 2007, signed with Florida.
19. Kansas
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย Nine
Average Player Rank:ย 90
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Two
Kansas' top-10 recruits include OLB Arthur Brown from East H.S. in Kansas, the No. 6 player overall in 2008ย (signed with Miami FL) and RB Bryce Brown, also from East H.S., the No. 8 player in 2009 (signed with Tennessee).
Photo of Bryce Brown, the No. 8 ranked player in 2009.
18. Oklahoma
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 10
Average Player Rank:ย 72
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
ATH Demarco Cobbs from Tulsa Central H.S. in Oklahoma, No. 18 ranked in 2010, signed with Texas.
16b. Mississippi
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 12
Average Player Rank:ย 84
Average Player Rating:ย 81
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
WR DeAndre Brown from Ocean Springs H.S. in Mississippi, theย No. 23 ranked recruit in 2008, signed with Southern Mississippi.
16a. Tennessee
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 12
Average Player Rank:ย 81
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
WR Golden Tate from Pope John Paul II H.S. in Tennessee, rankedย the No. 11 recruit in 2007, signed with Notre Dame and now plays for the Seattle Seahawks.
14b. New Jersey
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 12
Average Player Rank:ย 77
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย One
New Jersey's last top-10 recruit was back in 2008, when S Will Hill from Saint Peter's H.S. was ranked No. 3 nationally. He signed with Florida.
Photo of Will Hill, the No. 3 ranked recruit in 2008.
14a. Arizona
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 12
Average Player Rank:ย 77
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย One
OT Christian Westerman from Hamilton H.S. in Arizona was the No. 6 ranked recruit in 2011; he signed with Auburn.
DE Devon Kennard of Desert Vista H.S. in Arizona, ranked No. 14 overall in 2009, signed with USC.
13. Illinois
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 14
Average Player Rank:ย 90
Average Player Rating:ย 81
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย One
The No. 5 ranked recruit in 2007 was DE Martez Wilson from Simeon H.S. in Illinois. He signed with the Fighting Illini.
Photo of Martez Wilson.
12. Michigan
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 16
Average Player Rank:ย 100
Average Player Rating:ย 81
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
WR Ronald Johnson of Muskegon H.S. in Michigan, ranked No. 47 in 2007, signed with USC.
11. Ohio
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 21
Average Player Rank:ย 85
Average Player Rating:ย 81
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย One
Ohio produced OLB Jordan Hicks (from Lakota H.S.), who was the No. 4 ranked recruit in 2010.ย Hicks signed with Texas.
Photo of Jordan Hicks
10. Pennsylvania
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 23
Average Player Rank:ย 92
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย One
Pennsylvania's highest ranked recruit in the past five years was QB Terrelle Pryor from Jeannette H.S., who was the No. 4 ranked recruit in 2008.ย Pryor signed with Ohio State.
Photo of Terrelle Pryor.
9. Louisiana
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 22
Average Player Rank:ย 71
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Four
Top 10 recruits for Louisiana include the No. 1 ranked player in 2007, RB Joe McKnight from John Curtis Christian H.S. (signed with USC); the No. 10 ranked player in 2009, WR Rueben Randle from Bastrop H.S. (signed with LSU); the No.ย 2 ranked player in 2011, DT Anthony Johnson from O. Perry Walker H.S. (signed with LSU) and the No. 8 ranked player in 2011, OT La'El Collins from Redemptorist H.S. (signed with LSU).
Photo of the No. 10 ranked player in 2009, WR Rueben Randle.
8. Virginia
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 24
Average Player Rank:ย 83
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
QB Tyrod Taylor of Hampton H.S. in Virginia, the No. 16 overall recruit in 2007, signed with Virginia Tech.
7. North Carolina
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 24
Average Player Rank:ย 74
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Zero
DE Kerry Neal of Bunn H.S. in North Carolina, the No. 26 ranked recruit in 2007, signed with Notre Dame.
6. South Carolina
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 33
Average Player Rank:ย 61
Average Player Rating:ย 83
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Three
South Carolina's top-10 recruits include 2008's No. 1 ranked DE Da'Quan Bowers from Bamberg-Ehrhardt H.S. (signed with Clemson) and No. 5 ranked WR A.J. Green from Summerville H.S. (signed with Georgia).
In 2011 South Carolina produced anotherย No. 1 ranked recruitย in DEย Jadeveon Clowney of South Pointe H.S. (signed with South Carolina).
South Carolina ties California with two No. 1ย ranked playersย each over the past five recruiting classes.
Photo of A.J. Green.
5. Alabama
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 34
Average Player Rank:ย 68
Average Player Rating:ย 83
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Four
The state of Alabama's top-10 recruits include the following:
2007: No. 9 ranked Michael McNeil (S)ย from Davidson H.S. (signed with Auburn).
2008: No. 2 ranked Julio Jones (WR)ย from Foley H.S. (signed with Alabama) and No. 10 ranked Dee Finley (S) from Auburn H.S. (signed with Florida).
2009: No. 4 ranked Dre Kirkpatrick (CB)ย from Gladsen H.S. (signed with Alabama).
Photo of Julio Jones, the No. 2 recruit in 2008.
4. Georgia
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 74
Average Player Rank:ย 72
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Two
Georgia's top-10 recruits include theย 2007 No. 4 overall recruit CB Eric Berry from Creekside H.S. (signed with Tennessee) and the No. 4 ranked recruit RB Isaiah Crowell from Carver H.S. (signed with Georgia) this year.
Photo of the No. 4 recruit in 2007, Eric Berry.
3. California
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 73
Average Player Rank:ย 55
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย Seven
The state of California's top-10 recruits include the following:
2007: No. 2 ranked recruit ILB Chris Galippo from Servite H.S. (signed with USC), No. 3 ranked recruitย RB Marc Tyler from Oaks Christian H.S. (signed with USC), and the No. 8 ranked recruit QB Jimmy Clausen, also from Oaks Christian H.S. (signed with Notre Dame).
2008: No. 9 ranked RB Darrell Scott from Saint Bonaventure H.S. (signed with Colorado).
2009: No. 1 ranked QB Matt Barkley from Mater Dei H.S. (signed with USC).
2010: No. 1 ranked ATH Ronald Powell from Rancho Verde H.S. (signed with Florida) and No. 7 ranked WR Robert Woods from Junipero Serra H.S. (signed with USC).
Photo of Matt Barkley, No. 1 overall recruit in 2009.
2. Texas
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 107
Average Player Rank:ย 75
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits: Six
The Lone Star state's top-10 recruits include the following:
2007: No. 7 ranked Terrance Toliver (WR)ย from Hempstead H.S. (signed with LSU).
2008: No. 7 ranked Jermie Calhoun (RB)ย from Van H.S. (signed with Oklahoma).
2009: No. 3 ranked Russell Shepard (ATH)ย from Cypress Ridge H.S. (signed with LSU) and No. 7 ranked Craig Loston (S)ย from Dwight D. Eisenhower High (also signed with LSU).
2010: No. 2 ranked Jackson Jeffcoat (DE)ย from Plano West H.S. (signed with Texas).
2011: No. 7 ranked Malcolm Brown (RB)ย from Byron M. Steele H.S. (signed with Texas).
Photo of the 2007 No. 7 ranked recruit, Terrance Toliver.
1. Florida
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Total Number of Top 150 Recruits in the Past Five Years:ย 147
Average Player Rank:ย 71
Average Player Rating:ย 82
Total Top 10 Recruits:ย 10
Florida is far and away the best state at producing football talent (at least recently) and has accounted for a full 20 percent of the top 150 recruits over the past five years.ย
Top 10 recruits from the Sunshine State include the following:
2007: No. 6 ranked Noel Devine (RB)ย from North Fort Myers H.S. (signed with West Virginia).
2008: No. 8 rankedย Patrick Peterson (CB)ย from Ely H.S. (signed with LSU).
2009: No. 5 ranked Jacobbi McDaniel (DT)ย from Madison County High (signed with Florida State) and No. 6 ranked Trent Richardson (RB)ย from Escambia H.S. (signed with Alabama).
2010: No. 6 ranked Lamarcus Joynerย (CB)ย from Saint Thomas Aquinas School (signed with Florida State), No. 9 ranked Matt Elam (ATH)ย from Dwyer H.S. (signed with Florida) and the No. 10 ranked Jonathan Dowling (S)ย from Southeast H.S. (signed with Florida).
2011: No. 5 ranked Karlos Williams (S)ย from Ridge Community H.S. (signed with Florida State), the No. 9 ranked Tony Stewart (ILB)ย from Pedro Menendez H.S. (signed with Clemson) and the No. 10 ranked Jeff Driskel (QB)ย from Paul J. Hagerty H.S. (signed with Florida).
Photo of Patrick Peterson, the No. 8 ranked recruit from 2008.




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