01-13-2006, 05:00 PM
[url]http://www.suntimes.com/output/prep/cst-spt-cruit13.html
Taylor Bell had a very favorable paragraph on NIU recruiting. Seems he thinks NIU will have the No.1 class in the MAC
Late signing rush could put Notre Dame on top
January 13, 2006
BY TAYLOR BELL
Everything you need to know about college football recruiting with the national signing date only 19 days away:
*Florida, with three of the nation's top 13 prospects, including top-rated wide receiver Percy Harvin of Virginia Beach, Va., rates ahead of Notre Dame, Texas and USC with the No. 1 class. The Gators also are pursuing the nation's second-best running back, C.J. Spiller of Lake Butler, Fla.
*Despite having no recruit among the top 25, Notre Dame has a deep and talented and diversified class that includes 21 of the top 200 prospects.
*Coach Charlie Weis could move up if he lands quarterback Mitch Mustain of Springdale, Ark., defensive lineman Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma City, Okla., and offensive lineman Sam Young of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. They rank 2-4-10, respectively, among the nation's elite prospects.
*In the Big 10, Penn State leads Michigan and Ohio State. Although Ohio State landed the nation's top-rated running back, Chris Wells of Akron, Ohio, Penn State has recruited its most athletic class in 10 years.
*Michigan recorded the biggest steal of the recruiting season, luring defensive back Jai Eugene of Destrahan, La., away from LSU.
*As usual, look for USC to finish with a flurry. The Trojans could sign the No. 1 class for the third year in a row. They still are in the hunt for Spiller, McCoy, Young, defensive back Jonas Mouton of Venice, Calif., and running back Stafon Johnson of Los Angeles.
*Illinois landed defensive lineman Jerry Brown, one of the top three players in the St. Louis area, giving coach Ron Zook a huge boost. Brown originally committed to Illinois, then said he would switch to Oklahoma or Nebraska. But Zook persuaded him to come back.
The Illini could get another big boost if 6-5, 305-pound offensive lineman Ramone Johnson of Morgan Park chooses Illinois over Tennessee.
*Northwestern, despite its stiff academic requirements, is doing a good job nationally, getting smart, dedicated players who aren't as fast or as big as Michigan and Ohio State recruits but are very productive.
The class features wide receivers Carl Fisher of Bolingbrook and Sidney Stewart of Farmington, Mich.; linebackers Quentin Davie of St. Louis and Nate Williams of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and versatile Brad Phillips of Export, Pa.
*Northern Illinois has recruited Chicago better than any school in the last 20 years. Coach Joe Novak will sign the No. 1 class in the Mid-American Conference. He does a superb job of evaluating talent, landing players such as Garrett Wolfe and Michael Turner whom other schools think are too small.
This year's class is headed by wide receivers Marcus Lewis of Warren and James Jefferies of Mount Carmel, lineman Panan Tense of Fenwick, defensive back John Tranchitella of Driscoll and defensive end Ed Jackson of Cahokia.
**The most bizarre recruiting story involved Mustain. He committed to Arkansas, then said he didn't like the direction of the program and entertained overtures from Notre Dame, Alabama and Tennessee. To try to woo him back, Arkansas hired his high school coach as offensive coordinator.
*The next best non-committed player in the nation is McCoy, a 6-5, 300-pounder who likely will choose USC or Oklahoma.
*The leading performer among 550 participants at last weekend's U.S. Army combine in San Antonio was running back Caleb King of Lilburn, Ga. One of the top 10 juniors in the nation, King is expected to choose Georgia, Alabama, Notre Dame or another SEC school.
*The most impressive local products were running back/linebacker Robert Hughes of Hubbard and running back Aaron Nagel of Lemont. Nagel, who weighed in at 212 pounds, impressed with his speed and strength.
*Others who made names for themselves were linebackers Matt Klein of Buffalo Grove and Kevin Rouse of Joliet Catholic, offensive lineman Adam Gettis of Lincoln-Way East, running backs Jimmy Potempa and Sean Lees of Carmel, defensive lineman Matt Conrath of St. Rita, tight end Austin Szafranski of St. Viator, running back Michael Bolden of Evanston and 6-5, 340-pound lineman Darius Scott of North Chicago.
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Taylor Bell had a very favorable paragraph on NIU recruiting. Seems he thinks NIU will have the No.1 class in the MAC
Late signing rush could put Notre Dame on top
January 13, 2006
BY TAYLOR BELL
Everything you need to know about college football recruiting with the national signing date only 19 days away:
*Florida, with three of the nation's top 13 prospects, including top-rated wide receiver Percy Harvin of Virginia Beach, Va., rates ahead of Notre Dame, Texas and USC with the No. 1 class. The Gators also are pursuing the nation's second-best running back, C.J. Spiller of Lake Butler, Fla.
*Despite having no recruit among the top 25, Notre Dame has a deep and talented and diversified class that includes 21 of the top 200 prospects.
*Coach Charlie Weis could move up if he lands quarterback Mitch Mustain of Springdale, Ark., defensive lineman Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma City, Okla., and offensive lineman Sam Young of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. They rank 2-4-10, respectively, among the nation's elite prospects.
*In the Big 10, Penn State leads Michigan and Ohio State. Although Ohio State landed the nation's top-rated running back, Chris Wells of Akron, Ohio, Penn State has recruited its most athletic class in 10 years.
*Michigan recorded the biggest steal of the recruiting season, luring defensive back Jai Eugene of Destrahan, La., away from LSU.
*As usual, look for USC to finish with a flurry. The Trojans could sign the No. 1 class for the third year in a row. They still are in the hunt for Spiller, McCoy, Young, defensive back Jonas Mouton of Venice, Calif., and running back Stafon Johnson of Los Angeles.
*Illinois landed defensive lineman Jerry Brown, one of the top three players in the St. Louis area, giving coach Ron Zook a huge boost. Brown originally committed to Illinois, then said he would switch to Oklahoma or Nebraska. But Zook persuaded him to come back.
The Illini could get another big boost if 6-5, 305-pound offensive lineman Ramone Johnson of Morgan Park chooses Illinois over Tennessee.
*Northwestern, despite its stiff academic requirements, is doing a good job nationally, getting smart, dedicated players who aren't as fast or as big as Michigan and Ohio State recruits but are very productive.
The class features wide receivers Carl Fisher of Bolingbrook and Sidney Stewart of Farmington, Mich.; linebackers Quentin Davie of St. Louis and Nate Williams of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and versatile Brad Phillips of Export, Pa.
*Northern Illinois has recruited Chicago better than any school in the last 20 years. Coach Joe Novak will sign the No. 1 class in the Mid-American Conference. He does a superb job of evaluating talent, landing players such as Garrett Wolfe and Michael Turner whom other schools think are too small.
This year's class is headed by wide receivers Marcus Lewis of Warren and James Jefferies of Mount Carmel, lineman Panan Tense of Fenwick, defensive back John Tranchitella of Driscoll and defensive end Ed Jackson of Cahokia.
**The most bizarre recruiting story involved Mustain. He committed to Arkansas, then said he didn't like the direction of the program and entertained overtures from Notre Dame, Alabama and Tennessee. To try to woo him back, Arkansas hired his high school coach as offensive coordinator.
*The next best non-committed player in the nation is McCoy, a 6-5, 300-pounder who likely will choose USC or Oklahoma.
*The leading performer among 550 participants at last weekend's U.S. Army combine in San Antonio was running back Caleb King of Lilburn, Ga. One of the top 10 juniors in the nation, King is expected to choose Georgia, Alabama, Notre Dame or another SEC school.
*The most impressive local products were running back/linebacker Robert Hughes of Hubbard and running back Aaron Nagel of Lemont. Nagel, who weighed in at 212 pounds, impressed with his speed and strength.
*Others who made names for themselves were linebackers Matt Klein of Buffalo Grove and Kevin Rouse of Joliet Catholic, offensive lineman Adam Gettis of Lincoln-Way East, running backs Jimmy Potempa and Sean Lees of Carmel, defensive lineman Matt Conrath of St. Rita, tight end Austin Szafranski of St. Viator, running back Michael Bolden of Evanston and 6-5, 340-pound lineman Darius Scott of North Chicago.
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