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Recruiting Watch

A look at the nation's top 10 uncommitted prospects

Posted: Wednesday December 14, 2005 2:20PM; Updated: Thursday December 15, 2005 12:33PM
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By Jamie Newberg, SI.com

With the bowl season almost upon us, blue-chippers from coast to coast are either beginning to make their decisions -- or at least narrowing down their lists. Here are the top 10 uncommitted prospects in the nation, according to Scout.com, and where they may be headed on National Signing Day Feb. 1. 

1. Andre Smith (6-foot-4, 315 pounds) is the nation's top offensive line prospect and the No. 2 overall recruit. Smith, who is from Birmingham (Ala.) Huffman High, has a short list that includes Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami and USC, where he visited earlier this month. The leader for Smith's services is Alabama, but with all of these powers involved, you never know. Smith could wait until Signing Day to make his decision.

2. Percy Harvin (5-11, 182) is this season's Derrick Williams, the most explosive wide receiver in the Class of 2006. Harvin, who is from Virginia Beach, is the nation's No. 1 receiver according to Scout.com. Harvin already has visited Florida, USC and Miami. FSU and Michigan are still in the hunt. Early on the Seminoles were a huge favorite, but now it appears his decision could come down to the Trojans and Gators.

3. Stafon Johnson (6-0, 200) is the No. 2-rated running back in the nation out of Dorsey High in Los Angeles. USC is the leader over Cal, Florida, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee and UCLA. The Trojans will be awfully tough to beat for this prospect.

4. Vidal Hazelton (6-2, 200) is the nation's No. 2 receiver prospect out of Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia. He was leaning toward Miami early, but much has changed. He has visited Miami, Penn State, USC, Virginia Tech and Tennessee. Penn State and USC have crept to the top, but look for Miami and Virginia Tech to make a late push.

5.  Mitch Mustain (6-3, 200), the nation's top quarterback prospect and the Gatorade National Player of the Year from Springdale (Ark.), grabbed headlines last week when he decommitted from Arkansas. Notre Dame, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and the Hogs are on his short list. But Arkansas may have retaken the lead last week when Razorbacks head coach Houston Nutt hired Mustain's high school coach, Gus Malzahn, as the team's offensive coordinator.

It would appear that the Hogs still will be tough to beat for Mustain, but consider the other teams involved and the personalities in play -- Charlie Weis and Steve Spurrier. If Mustain is as wide open as some people think, this could be one of the season's more interesting recruiting sagas. The Irish already have a commitment from the nation's No. 9-rated QB, Zach Frazer (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) If Mustain selects Weis and the Irish what does Frazer do? Mustain's decision could have a ripple effect for this season and next. 

6. Sam Young (6-7, 297) is the nation's No. 2 offensive line prospect out of St. Thomas Aquinas in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He has narrowed his list of schools to Florida, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame and USC, where he will visit this weekend. But the word is the Fighting Irish are the ones to beat for this super offensive tackle. The Gators appear to be a close second, and with his visit out west looming you have to keep an eye on the red-hot Trojans. Young's teammate Daniel Wenger, the nation's top center, recently committed to Notre Dame.

7. Steve Schilling (6-5, 290) is one of many elite offensive line prospects in the Class of 2006. This position is certainly the deepest, especially at the top. Schilling, from Bellevue (Wash.), has already visited Michigan and Cal and he might be at USC this weekend and at Washington in January. The Huskies are the team to beat; Schilling has two former teammates, running back J.R. Hasty and linebacker E.J. Savannah, who signed last season with Washington coach Tyrone Willingham.

8. C.J. Spiller (5-10, 185), who is from Lake Butler (Fla.) Union County, grew up dreaming of playing for Florida State. Logic says that the Seminoles are the team to beat. But USC is recruiting him hard. He visited 'SC last month and loved it. At one point Spiller named the Trojans his leader, but he now says he will choose between Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Miami and USC. Distance could play a factor in his decision. This could very well come down to an in-state battle between the 'Noles, 'Canes and Gators. 

9. Gerald McCoy (6-4, 285) is the No. 2-rated defensive tackle prospect in the country. He has taken official visits to Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, LSU and USC. He is scheduled to visit Miami this weekend for his final visit. McCoy, who attends Oklahoma City Southeast High, is also considering Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

10. Allen Bradford (6-0, 222), the nation's No. 3-rated linebacker out of Colton (Calif.), has narrowed his choices to USC and UCLA. He visited 'SC earlier this month and is planning to visit UCLA this weekend. Going into the UCLA-USC game, there was a feeling that the Bruins were in better position, but that may have changed. And things could change again after his visit this weekend.

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