Recruiting Watch

Checking in on the nation's top 10 prospects as Signing Day nears

By Jamie Newberg, TheInsiders.com

The New Year is almost upon us and not many of the nation's five-star prospects have committed. With Signing Day only five weeks away, let's take a look at the nation's top 10 prospects and where they stand in the recruiting process.

1. Jeff Byers, C,  Ft. Collins (Colo.) -- Byers committed to the Trojans back at the end of October, and since he has been actively recruiting other prospects for Pete Carroll and USC. Byers had a sensational senior season on both sides of the ball, leading his team to a state championship. Offensively, they don't track stats, but in one game they did count 34 pancake blocks. The coaches estimated that Byers averaged one pancake block every four running plays they ran the entire season. His defensive stats are even better. Byers, now 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, also played defensive tackle. He racked up 203 tackles (97 solo, 106 assists), 56 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, 14 caused fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. Amazing! He was recently named the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

2. Adrian Peterson, RB, Palestine (Texas) -- Despite being a marked man every Friday night, Peterson had a banner season, rushing 240 times for 2,315 yards and 32 touchdowns. Peterson, who is 6-1 1/2 and 205 pounds, already has taken his five official visits -- UCLA, Arkansas, Oklahoma, USC, and Miami. Peterson has been leaning to the Sooners for some time, but watch out for Southern Cal and Miami.

3. Willie Williams, LB, Miami (Fla.) Carol City -- Williams had a roller-coaster senior season. At first he wasn't eligible because he played in an all-star game as a junior. (In Florida, you are automatically ineligible for football once you play in an all-star game.) Williams transferred schools, appealed the decision and won, but missed the start of the season. After battling some nagging injuries and getting adjusted to new teammates, Williams came on strong, especially in the playoffs. He led Carol City to the state championship, was named MVP of the game and had one of the best performances in recent memory (11 solo tackles, seven tackles for a loss, two sacks and two caused fumbles). Miami and Florida State are the big-time front-runners for Williams, who likely will wait until National Signing Day before he makes his decision. Auburn, N.C. State, Oklahoma and others are fighting hard for a visit. But it may not matter because in the end, he will be a 'Cane or a 'Nole.

4. Dan Connor, LB/FB, Wallingford (Penn.) -- Connor committed to Penn State early in the fall and will enroll next month. He's a super linebacker prospect who could play on the outside or inside. Connor is perhaps the nation's best fullback as well. His senior year stats are impressive. He rushed the ball 231 times for 1,807 yards and 28 touchdowns. Defensively, Connor recorded 141 tackles, 11 sacks and three interceptions. For his career, Connor started in 59 straight games and was 56-3. He finished with 591 carries for 4,531 yards and 77 rushing touchdowns. On defense, Connor amassed 461 tackles, 38 sacks and 19 interceptions.

5. Brandon Miller, LB/DE, Colquitt (Ga.) Miller County -- The versatile Miller played running back, fullback, tight end, wide receiver, defensive end and linebacker this season, and he proved why he's one of the nation's elite college football prospects. Miller, now 6-3 1/2 and 235 pounds, runs in the 4.5 range and likely will put his hand down and be a defensive end at the next level. He took his first official visit to Georgia Tech a few weeks ago and will visit Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Georgia in January. Miller doesn't say much about recruiting but it appears that FSU and UGA could be his final two. The Dawgs get his last visit on the last weekend in January.

6. Rhett Bomar, QB, Grand Prairie (Texas) -- Bomar committed to Oklahoma in the summer, and it has been reported recently that the quarterback is wavering a little because Sooner QB Jason White decided to come back. But he's now solid once again with the Sooners. Bomar had a great senior year considering things that were out of his control. Over the first few weeks of the season, he lost his top three wide receivers to injury, transfer and team violations. Then, in his eighth game, Bomar fractured his throwing hand diving in the endzone on a long touchdown run. He didn't play quarterback again. Bomar finished the season with 550 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns and 1,300 passing yards, 15 scores and only six interceptions.

7. Ted Ginn, Jr., CB, Cleveland Glenville -- Ginn could be the national player of the year with the season he had. He's the nation's best cornerback, and did everything for his team. In one game, he scored five different ways ? passing, rushing, receiving, interception and kick return. Ginn threw for more than 1,000 yards, rushed for 1,000 yards, scored 40 total touchdowns, had eight interceptions and returned five for scores. And he's also a potential Olympian in the 100 and 200 meters. Ohio State leads Southern Cal, and he should announce this coming weekend in the national all-star game in San Antonio, Texas.

8. Early Doucet, WR, St. Martinville (La.) -- The thing about this top 10 list is all of these players are superior athletes. Having said that, Doucet is spectacular. He's the most exciting prospect from Louisiana since Kevin Faulk (Carencro). Doucet mainly played quarterback in high school but will switch to wide receiver at the next level. He played that position at Miami's summer football camp and was voted the camp MVP. Doucet has narrowed things down to LSU and Miami. LSU will be tough to beat, but remember that the Hurricanes recruit the Bayou very well.

9. Xavier Carter, WR, Melbourne (Fla.) Palm Bay -- Like Ginn, Carter is a future Olympian in the 200 and/or 400 meters. Aside from being one of the nation's best football prospects, he's the No.1 high school track athlete. Carter already has visited LSU and Miami, and will visit FSU and Florida in January. Look for this to come down to the Gators and Tigers and Florida could be tough to beat, as it has signed many blue-chip Palm Bay standouts in the past. Last season, it was Reggie Nelson and Joe Cohen.

10. Kyle Williams, LB, Bolingbrook (Ill.) -- In a class that is linebacker heavy at the top, Williams is one of the best. He committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes, but is still taking visits. He toured Purdue in early December, and he will visit Oregon in January. Williams had a big senior season on both sides of the ball, recording 87 tackles and seven interceptions and rushing for 1,149 yards and 12 scores.

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