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Top QB Croyle announces choice

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Brodie Croyle, (6-3, 204, 4.65) from Rainbow City Westbrook Christian, Ala and the best QB prospect entering the season, is staying home as he announced Thursday he was going to attend ALABAMA.

The Crimson Tide came from behind to get the nod over FLORIDA STATE, which had been in the lead for a long time, and LSU.

As a junior, Croyle threw for 2,838 yards and 35 TDs with only seven picks. In the first quarter of this season's first game, he tore his left ACL and had surgery on Sept. 4, missing the season. He's been off crutches since Sept 14.

He is still regarded as a truly elite signal caller and his injury has not affected his stature. Before the season, this looked like strictly an ALABAMA-FLORIDA STATE contest. His father. John, was an All-America DE for the Crimson Tide, while his mom went to AUBURN. "We were always kind of a mixed family," said Croyle.

Brodie Croyle surprised many by staying close to home and going to Alabama. SuperPrep

Croyle had considered Alabama a longshot before meeting with new head coach Dennis Franchione, but those discussions were enough to sway him to stay at home.

Now, an update on some recruits around the country. For more detailed information on these and other players, visit www.superprep.com.

Mid-Atlantic

Russell Bonham, OL, 6-4, 339, 5.1, Winston-Salem Carver, N.C.

"People can't handle guys my size," said Bonham, who has benched 450. "I'm also pretty quick for a big guy. I need to work on my pulling."

Bonham favors VIRGINIA TECH (recruiting the hardest, Jan. 6 official trip, "I've been following them for awhile," he said. "They have a good QB in [Michael] Vick and they told me I could play as a freshman. He's gonna be getting a lot of attention but when they see him, they'll also see me.") over N.C. STATE (Jan. 26, "They have good academics."), VIRGINIA (Jan. 19), WAKE FOREST ("They are only eight minutes away and I think that would be good if I were around but I'm still trying to decide if I want to stay in state. I think it's a longshot and it's kind of a backup. I wasn't going to consider them because of the coaching situation. Firing a coach isn't good and it doesn't look good for the rest of the staff. That's why I'm no longer considering MARYLAND. I just like WAKE FOREST and NORTH CAROLINA more.") and NORTH CAROLINA.

Michael Robinson, QB/FS, 6-3, 216, 4.5, Richmond Varina, Va.

Won the Top Gun Challenge at the MICHIGAN camp this summer, compiling the best score in a test of skills including hitting targets, throwing for distance and throwing on the run. Most recruiters are promising him a shot at QB, although he also shows promise as a DB.

Robinson, a SuperPrep preseason All-America, favors VIRGINIA TECH (Dec. 1 official trip -- host Kevin Lewis -- "I like the overall environment," Robinson said. "I felt very much at home. I liked talking with coach [Frank] Beamer and they seem to really want me and think I could play early.") slightly over PENN STATE (Nov. 18, "I am the No. 1 QB they are recruiting. It's a good situation for me to go into. They pretty much told me I am the guy they want and that if they don't get me, they may not get a QB this year. As far as I know, they haven't offered any other QB and I think they are only taking one."), MICHIGAN STATE ("They said I was No. 1 on their list. They have a lot of down-to-earth players and I really like their fans."), GEORGIA TECH (Jan. 5) and TENNESSEE (Jan. 12).

"I'll decide near signing day," he said. Final 13-game (11-2) stats: 1,250 yards rushing, 17 TDs; 1,150 yards passing, 15 TDs, three picks.

Midlands

Mike Wilson, LB, 6-2, 200, 4.55, Tulsa Washington, Okla. This centerfielder also has offers from TEXAS and OKLAHOMA for baseball. "I definitely plan on playing both baseball and football in college," Wilson said. "Most schools are interested in me for both sports." Last season he wound up hitting .530 with 11 home runs and 50 RBI.

Wilson favors OKLAHOMA (offer, parental preference -- two hours away, "They are really successful now and are still a young team and have a good future ahead of them," he said, 80 percent chance) solid over TEXAS (offer), LSU, TCU (offer, Jan. 12) and NEBRASKA (offer).

Final 13-game (11-2) stats: 120 tackles.

Gabriel Toomey, LB, 6-3, 220, 4.7, West Des Moines Valley, Iowa

"I have good speed and a nose for the ball," said Toomey. "I'm also a hard-hitter and very coachable. I'm an overall good kid. I need to get stronger [benches 270.]"

Toomey, who looks very aggressive on film, favors WISCONSIN (Dec. 1 official trip -- "It was just awesome," he said. "I loved my trip. The guys there are all very cool and seem to relate well together and focus well on football but also know how to have fun," 80 percent chance, recruiting the hardest, mom's preference) solid over TEXAS A&M (Nov. 17 -- "They are all pretty laid back. College Station is a really unique college town. It's a very tight town with players and fans interacting with each other."), OKLAHOMA (Jan. 12), IOWA (Jan. 15) and IOWA ST (Dec. 8).

"NEBRASKA never offered me," Toomey said. "I canceled my trips to ILLINOIS and MICHIGAN ST because I wasn't really excited about them. I couldn't see myself at either of those. It was just an instinct I had."

Final 11-game (9-2) stats: 120 tackles, two picks.

Midwest

Rahshan Johnson, QB/FS, 6-1, 190, 4.6, Middleburg Heights Midpark, Ohio

This SuperPrep preseason All-America is a playmaker with an accurate, strong arm. He needs to work on release quickness and throwing the out pattern. Final 11-game (6-5) stats: 1,800 yards passing/17 TDs; 500 yards rushing/11 TDs.

Johnson favors GEORGIA TECH (recruiting the hardest, Jan. 5 official trip, great engineering degree, up-and-coming program, coach Paul Ferrara in home Dec. 5 -- "They really like my arm strength and quickness and that I can create in the pocket," he said. "They've been after me the longest and have been the most consistent. They said I was their number one QB recruit along with some other guy from Georgia. They said they have a list of five QBs but are taking two.", 80 per cent chance) solid over LSU ( "Nick Saban is gonna turn the program around and they seem to do well in preparing guys for the NFL. I'm their number one QB recruit.") and MICHIGAN ST. ("They are the only school recruiting me for defense at free safety.")

Otis Washington, LB, 6-0, 225, 4.6, Saginaw, Mich.

13-game (12-1) stats: 177 carries, 1,385 yards, 23 TDs; 65 solos, 80 assists; 6 picks, 10 sacks.

Washington favors NOTRE DAME (Jan. 19 official visit, "They have great academics and tradition. It's an excellent school and well respected in every category.", 60 per cent chance) solid over IOWA (12/8, "They seem like an up-and-coming team and said that I could come in and play right away.") and VANDY (12/1, "I really like how honest they seemed with me and how tight the team unity was.").

Northeast

Marcus Wilson, DB/RB, 5-10, 175, 4.4, Brooklyn Poly Prep, N.Y.

"I'm aggressive on 'D' and I have good speed," said Wilson. "I need to work on my change of direction." Final nine-game (9-0) stats: 1,712 yards, 25 TDs; 60 tackles, 4 picks.

Wilson, who prefers offense, favors MICHIGAN ST. (DB, recruiting the hardest, "I really like the campus and they treat me well," he said. "They seem very honest and act like they want me the most. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland was in my house last Friday. He seemed very honest and like he wanted to know a lot about me and not just as a football player," 30 percent chance) slightly over NORTHWESTERN (RB, Jan. 8 official trip, mom's preference -- likes academics, "They had a great year and play some good competition. They have a good balance of academics and football," in-home Dec. 11), PENN ST. (RB, Dec. 9), MIAMI and MARYLAND (RB, Dec. 15).

Mike Dollman, OLB/DE, 6-4, 218, 4.7, Penn Hills, Pa.

Dollman moves well, shows good technique and quickness. Eleven-game (6-4-1) stats: 17 sacks, 60 tackles.

His academics (2.3 core/790 SAT) may be a problem, however. "Most schools said they'd send me to a prep school in Massachusetts or other places and have me sit out a year," he said. "All the schools have a different plan for me if I don't qualify."

He favors VIRGINIA (childhood favorite, Dec. 8 official trip, "There's nothing about them I don't like," he said. "The campus is great and they have top-notch facilities," 70 percent chance) big over BOSTON COLLEGE (Jan. 12, "They've been after me the longest and I've got a good relationship with the coaches now and feel like I know them, even though I've never been there."), CINCINNATI, SYRACUSE (coaches in-home 12/6) and TEMPLE (12/15).

Southeast

Quick, agile, great cover speed. "He's one of the top 10 athletes in the state and one of the top 100 in the country," said one recruiting coordinator. "He reminds you of Deion Sanders. Really special. Very talented."

Final 11-game (6-5) stats: 86 tackles, three picks, one punt return for a score; four receptions, 160 yards, 1 TD.

Rolle favors MIAMI (recruiting the hardest, Dec. 15, "I love the city," he said. "I'm the most familiar with them and know all the coaches and players really well. My mom is scared of flying and she always comes to my games.") solid over NOTRE DAME (Dec. 1 -- host Grant Earl -- "They have great team unity and really depend on each other. The thing that got me the most were the speeches about tradition and unity."), OHIO ST. (only fave never visited, Dec. 8), FLORIDA and FLORIDA ST.

"I'm a city guy and I don't think I could handle it at NEBRASKA," said this SuperPrep preseason All-America.

D.J. Shockley, QB, 6-1, 190, 4.55, Atlanta N. Clayton, Ga. Final ten game (4-6) stats: 1,846 yards, 11 TDs; 800 yards rushing, 7 TDs.

"I make everyone on my team better," said Shockley. "I've got a great combo of speed and power. I'm a team leader and I handle situations well. I need to work on getting into my drops quicker."

Despite the dismissal of head coach Jim Donnan, D.J. still favors GEORGIA (60-70 percent chance) solid over GEORGIA TECH (1/5, coach David Kelly in-home 11/28, "I have a pretty good relationship with them. I hadn't heard from them as much as the others, so I thought they weren't that interested. But the coaches assured me they still want me and that I could play early."), NORTH CAROLINA (in-home 11/27, "I'm still looking at them and I'm just waiting to see who they name as coach."), CLEMSON (in-home 11/29, 1/19 official trip) and FLORIDA ST.

"GEORGIA still leads solidly. The coaching change has had an effect on me, but a school is still a school. I'm waiting to see what will happen. I won't be taking my trip scheduled for Dec. 8. I'll have to see who the new coach is, then I'll reset it. I'm just curious about what's going to happen. Coach Rodney Garner has been in touch with me and he was shocked too. He told me to be patient and that GEORGIA was still the right school for me to choose."

"I'll decide on signing day. I've already visited all my favorites unofficially."

Southwest

Quick, fast and instinctive. "He's the best linebacker in the state," says Texas recruiting expert Randy Rodgers.

Johnson, a SuperPrep preseason Elite 100 choice, favors TEXAS (recruiting the hardest, parental preference, "They are all really nice guys and have hard working coaches that seem to really put it all on the line for their players," he said, 50 percent chance) solid over TEXAS A&M (coach Shawn Slocum in home Nov. 27, "They want me to play outside linebacker and Slocum really thinks I could play early. He really emphasized the tradition and how many guys they send to the NFL."), FLORIDA STATE (coaches in-home Nov. 29), ARKANSAS (coaches in-home Nov. 30) and OKLAHOMA.

No official visits set. "I'll decide near signing day," he said.

Michael Clayton, WR, 6-4, 195, 4.45, Baton Rouge Christian Life, La.

Great height, speed and quickness off the ball. "I'm strong with the way I use my head," said Clayton, a SuperPrep preseason Elite 50 pick. "I have good vision. It's easy to slip behind people. I communicate well with my QB. I could improve my lower body strength. I have an above average 35" vertical."

Clayton favors LSU (Dec. 1 -- "I'm really impressed with their business program, plus I bonded well with the players," he said. "Most of them I already know from our league and teams we've played. If I had to decide today, I'd commit to LSU.") just slightly over FLORIDA ST. (Sept. 24, Bobby Bowden in home Dec. 5, likes winning tradition, "They have a lot of good athletes and make their players better.").

"I'll probably decide within a week," he said.

Final 10-game (8-2) stats: QB -- 743 yards rushing, 15 TDs; 320 yards passing, three TDs; four receptions, 164 yards; 70 tackles, six picks.

Far West

Jeff Webb, Jr., WR, 6-2, 185, 4.5, La Quinta, Calif.

"The first man will not bring me down," said Webb. "I'm good at breaking tackles and I'm strong [benches 260]. I need a better motor. I should be constantly active."

Thirteen-game (12-1) stats: 60 receptions, 1,300 yards, 10 TDs.

Webb favors MICHIGAN ST. ("I haven't committed to them yet but I will commit to them when I visit there during the second week in January," he said. "I'd say I'm about 110 percent certain I will go there. My teammate, Michael Craven (All-America linebacker) will probably visit with me but he isn't thinking about going there. MICHIGAN STATE just fits me. Their QB, Jeff Smoker, tells me I have a good chance to go in and play as a freshman.") big over OREGON ST. (Dec. 15 official trip), TENNESSEE, SAN DIEGO ST. and OHIO ST.

Tim Day, DE/TE, 6-5, 255, 4.75, Las Vegas Western, Nev.

"I get off the ball well and have good movement for my size," said Day. "I need to improve my overall speed and staying low off the ball."

Day had 79 tackles and one pick this season.

Day favors OREGON ST (offer, DE, 11/18 official trip, "They have a pretty solid tradition and I really like the area up there. It's a football town. You either like OREGON or OREGON ST and they take it very seriously.", 75 percent chance) solid over OREGON (offer, DE/TE, 12/16, strong academics, up-and-coming team), SAN DIEGO ST (DE), COLORADO ST (DE/TE) and UNLV (offer, DE/TE).

For more from SuperPrep, click here.

 

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