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Top 25 Recruiting Classes
Posted: Tuesday February 1, 2005 7:19PM; Updated: Wednesday February 2, 2005 10:33PM
SI.com/Scout.com Top 25 Recruiting Classes FINAL RANKINGS - Feb. 2, 10:30 p.m.- Click on a team for analysis. 1. Tennessee 6. Oklahoma 11. Florida 16. Alabama 21. Clemson 2. Michigan 7. Ohio State 12. Miami (Fla.) 17. Texas A&M 22. Auburn 3. USC 8. Iowa 13. Texas 18. Virginia Tech 23. N.C. State 4. Florida State 9. California 14. Arizona 19. So. Carolina 24. UCLA 5. Georgia 10. Nebraska 15. Virginia 20. LSU 25. Maryland Click here for complete, team-by-team commit lists. Top 25 Recruiting Classes of 2005 (continued) Rank Team (Click on team name for full commit list) 6 
HEAD OF THE CLASS:
DeMarcus Granger
DT DeMarcus Granger (1), S Reggie Smith (2)
NEWBERG'S ANALYSIS: Once again, Bob Stoops has a top-five class headed to Norman. Matt Clapp (Phoenix, Az.) is one of the nation's top FBs and he can run, catch and block. The Sooners needed WRs for their QBs of the future and they landed a quartet led by No. 6-ranked Malcolm Kelly (Longview, Texas), No. 11-ranked Eric Huggins (Conway, S.C.) and Manual Johnson (Gilmer, Texas). OU signed a good group of OLs: Jon Cooper (Fort Collins, Colo.), Jesse White (Denver), Ben Barresi (Edmond, Okla.) and juco standout Brandon Keith (Miami, Okla.). Defense is where the strength of this Oklahoma class is, especially at LB with Ryan Reynolds (Las Vegas, Nev.), Curtis Lofton (Kingfisher, Okla.), Lamont Robinson (Salem, N.J.) and Antonio Clay (Jeffersonville, Ga.). The DL group is solid across the board, led by the nation's top DT, Granger (Dallas). The Sooners landed Smith, the country's second-ranked safety, on Signing Day to go along with Keenan Clayton, a DB star out of Texas, but lost LB Antonio Clay (Jeffersonville, Ga.) to Clemson.
BIG FISH THAT GOT AWAY: DT Roy Miller (Killeen, Texas) -- Texas7 
HEAD OF THE CLASS:
Tony Boone
OT Alex Boone (2), DB Jamario O'Neal (3)
NEWBERG'S ANALYSIS: The Buckeyes started strong in recruiting this season but have limited scholarships available. Offensively, OSU got a little of everything: a strong-armed QB in Rob Schoenhoft (Cincinnati), a lightning-quick RB in Maurice Wells (Jacksonville, Fla.), and two solid WRs with good size in Brian Hartline (Canton, Ohio) and Andre Amos (Middletown, Ohio). The Buckeyes only landed two OLs, but they are both excellent recruits. Boone (Lakewood, Ohio) is a mammoth OT prospect who should be the next great lineman in Columbus. Jim Cordle (Lancaster, Ohio) is an OG with good upside. Todd Denlinger (Troy, Ohio) is the sleeper of this group. At approximately 270 pounds, he played middle linebacker in high school. He has a non-stop motor and the Buckeye fans are going to love him. The two gems of this defensive unit are Doug Worthington (Athol Springs, N.Y.) and O'Neal (Cleveland). Worthington is an athletic DE while O'Neal is a super DB who could excel at either CB or FS. Keep an eye on Anderson Russell (Atlanta) and Freddie Lenix (Cleveland). Anderson is a S who could be a steal from the Peach State, while Lenix is a terrific athlete who could play LB, S or RB.
BIG FISH THAT GOT AWAY: LB Rico McCoy (Washington D.C.) -- Tennessee8 
HEAD OF THE CLASS:
Tony Moeaki
TE Tony Moeaki (1), OT Dace Richardson (4)
NEWBERG'S ANALYSIS: It's not a surprise to see Iowa in the top 20 of these rankings, but it is to see them in the top 10. Kirk Ferentz is quickly establishing himself as one of the nation's best coaches and recruiters. The Hawkeyes' OL class is hands-down the best in the country. Richardson (Wheaton, Ill.), Dan Doering (Barrington, Ill.) and Rafael Eubanks (St. Paul, Minn.) are all rated among the top 13 OLs in the country. Tyler Blum (Walnut, Iowa) projects as an OT and has as much upside as any Hawkeye commitment. QB Jake Christensen (Lockport, Ill.) is a southpaw with a strong arm and RB/FB Kalvin Bailey (Seffner, Fla.) could be the steal of the class. Another steal is WR Trey Stross (Avon Lake, Ohio). Stross is a 6-foot-11 high jumper and he's as steady as they come. Moeaki (Wheaton, Ill.) has emerged as the nation's top TE. He has soft hands and shows great athleticism. On defense, Alex Kanellis (Iowa City) and Ryan Bain (Bolingbrook, Ill.) are two DTs who should provide a solid inside presence for the future. This class is more than just good, especially on the offensive side. Look out Big Ten. Iowa is on the rise.
BIG FISH THAT GOT AWAY: DE Raymond Henderson (Oak Creek, Wis.) -- Tennessee9 
HEAD OF THE CLASS:
Lavelle Hawkins
WR DeSean Jackson (4), QB Kyle Reed (6)
NEWBERG'S ANALYSIS: The commitment of Jackson (Long Beach, Calif.), the No. 4-ranked receiver, late on Signing Day pushed the Bears into the top 10. Jackson joins WRs Lavelle Hawkins (San Francisco) and Jesse Canada (Monrovia, Calif.) both of whom are super talents. QB Reed (Oakland) is one of the top signal-callers in the nation and he should have a chance to really blossom under Jeff Tedford. LB Anthony Felder (Seattle) is one of the best from the West Coast, while Zack Follett (Clovis, Calif.) is highly rated as well. DB Syd'Quan Thompson (Sacramento, Calif.) is one of the premier athletes from California. Keep an eye on DE Cody Jones (Tuscon, Ariz.) as well. He could be a steal from the state of Arizona.
BIG FISH THAT GOT AWAY: S Will Harris (Covina, Calif.) -- USC10 
HEAD OF THE CLASS:
Marlon Lucky
RB Marlon Lucky (2), DT Ndamukong Suh (9)
NEWBERG'S ANALYSIS: What a difference a year makes. Last season, new head coach Bill Callahan struggled with his first recruiting class. This season the Husker staff was able to use the full year and they made Nebraska one of the big winners in recruiting. They went looking for athletes to fit the West Coast offense and went to 14 different states to get them. They found a QB early in Harrison Beck (Clearwater, Fla.). They needed a home-run RB and got two in Lucky (North Hollywood, Calif.) and Leon Jackson (Pasco, Wash.). Lucky is so versatile and explosive while Jackson could help the Huskers at several positions like RB, WR or DB. Chris Brooks (St. Louis), Wallace Franklin (Beaumont, Texas) and Brodrick Hunter (Humble, Texas) are three WRs who could see playing time early. Craig Roark (Ada, Okla.) and Rodney Picou (Moreno Valley, Calif.) lead NU's OL class while Suh (Portland, Or.) could star on either side of the ball at OG or DT. Nebraska stole DE Barry Turner (Brentwood, Tenn.) from the Volunteers. LB Phillip Dillard (Jenks, Okla.) and DE Zach Potter (Omaha, Neb.) lead the defensive recruits. Nebraska also went the juco route and will sign 12 transfers.
BIG FISH THAT GOT AWAY: WR Nyan Boateng (Brooklyn, N.Y.) -- Florida11 
HEAD OF THE CLASS:
Josh Portis
QB Josh Portis (4), CB Avery Atkins (4)
NEWBERG'S ANALYSIS: A first-year coach rarely ever cracks the top 10 in the recruiting rankings, but Urban Meyer is dispelling that myth. QB Portis (Woodland Hills, Calif.) committed to Meyer while he was at Utah and then followed him to Gainesville. Portis is a versatile signal-caller who fits Meyer's offense, and he is already on campus. RBs Tony Wright (Fort Valley, Ga.) and Kestahn Moore (Arlington, Texas) are very talented, although Wright may first start out at a juco or prep school. David Nelson (Witchita Falls, Texas), Nyan Boateng (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Eric Sledge (Apopka, Fla.) and Louis Murphy (St. Petersburg, Fla.) are all good-sized WRs. OLs Ronnie Wilson (Pompano Beach, Fla.) and Eddie Haupt (Merritt Island, Fla.) are two quality linemen and are both already enrolled. The Gators only have four scholarship LBs, so this was a critical need area. Kalvin Baker (Columbus, Ga.) and Ryan Stamper (Jacksonville, Fla.) may be pressed into action whether they are ready for SEC ball or not. Atkins (Daytona Beach, Fla.) and safety Dorian Munroe (Miami) are two of the country's finest DBs.
BIG FISH THAT GOT AWAY: WR Derrick Williams (Greenbelt, Md.) -- Penn State12 
The HEAD OF THE CLASS:
DajLeon Farr
S Kenneth Phillips (1), OT Reggie Youngblood (3)
NEWBERG'S ANALYSIS: The 'Canes landed Phillips, the nation's top safety, on Signing Day and climbed up the rankings. Miami does not have a large class this season, however. With only three QBs on campus, that position became a priority. Coach Larry Coker thought he had his guy in Derek Shaw (Oceanside, Calif.), but he backed out of his commitment and it looks like the 'Canes will not sign a QB. They did land one of the country's top TEs in DajLeon Farr (Galena Park, Texas). Farr is a freakishly big athlete who has a chance to become another great TE for the Hurricanes. The OL is led by Youngblood (Houston, Texas), another standout from Texas. Youngblood is a prototype OT with a great frame and footwork. Another OL standout is A.J. Trump (Clearwater, Fla.). Courtney Harris (Jupiter, Fla.) is your typical Miami DE -- fast, quick and athletic off the edge -- while Adkins (Naples, Fla.) is one of the most explosive LB prospects in the country. CB Bruce Johnson (Live Oak, Fla.) is a gem from North Florida.
BIG FISH THAT GOT AWAY: QB Derek Shaw (Oceanside, Calif.) -- Arizona State13 
HEAD OF THE CLASS:
Roy Miller
DT Roy Miller (8), DE Christopher Brown (9)
NEWBERG'S ANALYSIS: Once again, Mack Brown finds his Longhorns in the top 10. Scout.com National Player of the Year Ryan Perrilloux would have been the crown jewel of this class, but he opted for LSU on Signing Day after originally committing to the 'Horns. Texas still has quarterback Colt McCoy (Tuscola, Texas), however, who is a talent in his own right. The Longhorns are bringing in a trio of RBs -- Jamaal Charles (Port Arthur, Texas), Michael Houston (Denver) and Jerrell Wilkerson (San Antonio). Charles is a shifty back with excellent quickness, Houston has the power and Wilkerson brings the speed. Jermichael Finley (Diboll, Texas) is a specimen and has some of the best hands in the nation. He is a "tweener" who could play either WR or TE. Texas' defensive line recruits rival anyone in the country. Miller (Killeen, Texas) is a Warren Sapp-type DT who should be an inside force in Austin. Aaron Lewis (Albuquerque, N.M.) could play DE or DT and has surprising speed. Brown (Texarkana, Texas) and Henry Melton (Grapevine, Texas) are outstanding DE prospects. Roddrick Muckelroy (Hallsville, Texas) is a very talented LB.
BIG FISH THAT GOT AWAY: QB Ryan Perrilloux -- LSU14 
HEAD OF THE CLASS:
Brandon Tatum
QB Willie Tuitama (10), RB Xavier Smith (13)
NEWBERG'S ANALYSIS: Mike Stoops has done a brilliant job of recruiting in year two for Arizona. And you have to love his strategy: recruit the states of Arizona, Texas and California. All but three of the Wildcats' commitments are from those three states. They went to California to land one of that state's top QBs in Tuitama (Stockton), top OLs in Eben Britton (Burbank), and top DEs in Michael Shelton (Compton). Arizona also scored big in the Lone Star State with prospects like WR Michael Thomas (Desoto), OL Blake Kerley (Garland), DT Donald Horton (Desota), LB Xavier Kelly (Denton) and safeties Brandon Tatum (Dallas) and Corey Hall (Desoto). They also controlled their home state, landing three of Arizona's top four prospects in running backs Smith (Tuscon) and Terry Longbons (Peoria) and OT Daniel Borg (Tuscon). The Wildcats also did well with the jucos. WR B.J. Vickers (Santa Monica, Calif.), OL Adam Hawes (Maryville, Calif.), DT Byron Smith (Kilgore, Texas) and S Michael Johnson (Tyler, Texas) all have a chance to all make an early impact. LB Adrian McCovey (Lakewood, Calif.) was a big Signing Day commitment.
BIG FISH THAT GOT AWAY: TE/WR Jermichael Finley (Diboll, Texas) -- Texas15 
HEAD OF THE CLASS:
Eugene Monroe
OT Eugene Monroe (1), CB Mike Brown (12)
NEWBERG'S ANALYSIS: Virginia got off to the best start of any team and already had a balanced class of 20 verbal commitments last fall. They are bringing in two QBs -- Vic Hall (Gretna, Va.) and Jameel Sewell (Richmond, Va.). The Cavs recruited thunder and lightning at RB with Mikell Simpson (Harrisburg, Pa.) and Rashawn Jackson (Jersey City, N.J.), respectively. UVA is bringing in a trio of receivers as well. The OL is led by the nation's top road-grader -- Monroe (Plainfield, N.J.). Barring major injury, he'll play on Sundays. Monroe is already massive at 6-7 and he will only get bigger and stronger. Virginia is bringing in five DLs and a good group of LBs led by Antonio Appleby (Virginia Beach, Va.). Brown (Jersey City, N.J.) is one of the nation's top cover corners.
BIG FISH THAT GOT AWAY: LB Lamont Robinson (Salem, N.J.) -- Oklahoma
CLICK TO VIEW TEAMS 16-25
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