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Two-sport athletes pose challenge
Mid-Atlantic | Midlands | Midwest Gatorade's National Player of the Year winner is quarterback Joe Mauer (6-4, 210, 4.8) from Saint Paul Cretin-Derham, Minn. "He's big-time and comes from a great, athletic family," said one recruiting coordinator. "A real leader, too, who makes smart decisions and plays pretty relaxed." His final 14-game (12-2) stats: 3,022 yards passing, 41 TDs, 4 picks. Career: over 5,500 yards and 73 TDs. Mauer's college plans will be heavily affected by his ability to also play baseball -- he's a catcher with a .576 batting average -- which has hurt his evaluation in the eyes of some recruiters. "He's a very fine QB with a lot of upside and terrific size," said one. "But you also have to consider that he wants to play baseball. That hurts him because as a QB, it helps if your focus is only on football." Mauer favors MINNESOTA (Dec. 15 official trip, recruiting the hardest, parental preference -- campus is 10 minutes away) slightly over FLORIDA STATE (Jan. 26), ARIZONA ("I was all set to go on my trip but they lost their coach," Mauer said. "I need to make sure that [John] Mackovic will let me play baseball. They are assuring me that the only major change will be the head coach and that most of the staff will stay," official visit reset to Jan. 12) and MIAMI (Jan. 19). "I really want to play both baseball and football," explained Mauer. "MINNESOTA is the only school that has offered me for baseball but the four schools I have narrowed it down to will all allow me to play both sports. I'm probably better in baseball and I've played it longer. I expect to take all my trips. I think MICHIGAN and MICHIGAN STATE, schools in my top five for the last few months, were scared of the baseball thing." Now, an update on some recruits around the country. For more detailed information on these and other players, visit www.superprep.com.
Mid-AtlanticMatt Lawrence, OL, 6-5, 275, 5.2, Georgetown Sussex Central, Del.Moves fairly well and shows good toughness. Benches only 275. "For now, I can intimidate guys because I'm so big," said Lawrence. He's a good student: 3.9 core/1,200 SAT. Lawrence now favors WISCONSIN (Dec. 15 official trip, tradition, NFL pipeline for linemen, "They weren't recruiting me a lot until I sent them my game film in October," he said. "Then, they finally offered me in late November," 50 percent chance) solid over PITTSBURGH (January official visit), DUKE (Dec. 8 -- host Christian Mitchell -- "We went to a basketball game and that was really exciting. They are an awesome basketball team."), MARYLAND and GEORGIA TECH. "I'll decide in mid-January. I'll only take three official visits." Jerod Void, RB/DB, 6-1, 185, 4.4, Clinton Surratsville, Md. "I'm a playmaker. I have great speed and can run with the ball. I need to improve my strength [BPs 235]." Ten-game (2-8) stats: 1,500 yards, 10 TDs; three picks. Void favors PURDUE (60 percent chance, recruiting the hardest, Jan. 12, WR/RB, "They are nationally known and have good exposure," he said. "The team seems to be improving each year.") solid over MARSHALL ("They seem to win a lot and are only about six hours away, which isn't bad. I also think I'd have a good shot at playing early there."), MARYLAND (parental preference -- 20 minutes away) and N.C. STATE. (Jan. 19). "NORTHWESTERN told me they had to pull their offer because they got other guys they wanted," Void said.
MidlandsJed Paulsen, OC, 6-2, 272, 5.1, Columbia Hickman, Mo."I'm really powerful and determined," said Paulsen. "I hit hard and have a lot of intensity." Paulsen favors N.C. STATE (recruiting the hardest, Oct. 28 official visit, "I like the situation there," he said. "They have a $100 million renovation going on to the stadium and made it to a bowl game in a rebuilding year.") slightly over KANSAS STATE ("They always go to major bowls and are highly ranked. I didn't think they were interested until a few weeks ago."), KANSAS (Dec. 1) and MISSOURI (Dec. 8), "When they fired coach [Larry] Smith, I really lost a lot of interest and canceled my trip at first. But coach [Gary] Pinkel came to my school and showed he was very interested. Now they are back in it. I like the new coaches. They seem like they are gonna get the job done. He sounded dedicated to turning the program around." "NEBRASKA is no longer recruiting me," Paulsen said. "I may decide before Christmas." Marques Simmons, RB, 5-9, 178, 4.4, Davenport North, Iowa Nine-game (0-9) stats: 1,788 yards, 14 TDs. "I like to hit people and I can overpower guys," said Simmons. "I'm a power runner, not a slasher. I need to improve my footwork and my speed." Simmons favors IOWA (childhood favorite, Dec. 15 or Jan. 19 official trip, "I've been there so many times I've developed a good relationship with everyone and feel comfortable there," he said.) slightly over IOWA STATE (recruiting the hardest, Dec. 8-- "I met some great people there. I really like the running back coach, Tony Alford. He's young and I related well to him.), WISCONSIN (Dec. 1 -- "The atmosphere was nice but I wasn't completely impressed.") and NEBRASKA (Jan. 19).
MidwestO.J. Oshinowo, DL, 6-3, 300, 5.1, Naperville Neuqua Valley, Ill.Good explosion off the ball; good tackler; needs to improve endurance and working against the double-team. Oshinowo favors STANFORD (Dec. 1 official trip -- "You can tell that they are quality people," he said. "The players seem really focused on not only football, but also their family. They want to go to the Rose bowl," 60 percent chance) solid over ILLINOIS (Dec. 8 -- "They have a great engineering program. They offer a great variety of labs and choices. But I think I definitely preferred my STANFORD trip. The mentality of the people is just different."), WISCONSIN (Dec. 15), GEORGIA TECH (Jan. 6) and WISCONSIN (Jan. 15). Superior student: 4.1 core/1,260 SAT/32 ACT. Rashon Powers-Neal, RB/LB, 6-2, 215, 4.6, St. Paul Cretin-Derham, Minn. Final 14-game (12-2) stats: 180 carries, 1,950 yards, 31 TDs; 350 yards receiving, 7 TDs. Favors NOTRE DAME (Dec. 1 official trip -- host Gerome Sapp --"The banquet was pretty cool," he said. "It seems like a great school. Everyone there acted very professional and you could tell that they really loved NOTRE DAME. They really went all out.") slightly over GEORGIA TECH (Jan. 12), NEBRASKA (Dec. 8 -- "It was fun. We actually ate in the press box at the stadium. It was very strange but a lot of fun."), STANFORD and MINNESOTA (Dec. 15). All have offered except STANFORD. Excellent student: 3.4 core/26 ACT.
NortheastRyan Grant, RB, 6-1, 198, 4.4, Ramsey Bosco Prep, N.J."I have good size and speed," said Grant. "The total package. I'm a slasher. My speed and agility are great. I'm an athlete. I need to bulk up [benches 305] and I hope my feet get quicker, too." Grant, a SuperPrep preseason All-American, denies a leader but favors OHIO STATE (Dec. 8 official visit, "They have great tradition and are a big back school," he said. "I feel I could compete early. You get great national exposure. The only negative is maybe academics."), GEORGIA TECH (Dec. 15, "I like their academics and they spread the ball a lot well," he said. "They win ball games and go to bowls."), FLORIDA (Dec. 12, "They send guys to the NFL. They are a serious football program with a lot of history. Coach Spurrier is an amazing coach."), NOTRE DAME (Jan. 19) and VIRGINIA (Jan. 26, only fave visited). Final 12-game (11-1) stats: 1,936 yards, 26 TDs. Ricky Williamson, DB/WR, 5-10, 190, 4.4, State College, Pa. Good speed and quickness. Final 10-game (6-4) stats: 150 carries, 980 yards, 15 TDs; 20 receptions, 380 yards, five TDs. Terrific academics: 4.6/1,300 SAT. Williamson favors STANFORD (offer, WR/RB, "They are in the Pac-10 and have a shot at the Rose Bowl," he said. "Plus, they throw the ball a lot. Also, I've heard a lot of good things about California.") slightly over NORTHWESTERN (WR, "It's a football town. It's their top priority."), OHIO U. (RB, recruiting the hardest, Dec. 8), NOTRE DAME and VIRGINIA. "I want to get away," said Williamson. "Distance is not a factor." "I can move well on the field and I have the ability to make tacklers miss," Williamson said. "I need to work on my leg strength. I'd like to be more powerful when I'm tackling or breaking through tackles."
SoutheastAnthony Mix, WR, 6-4, 223, 4.45, Bay Minette Baldwin County, Ala.Mix, a SuperPrep preseason Elite 100 choice, favors AUBURN (Jan. 12 official trip, "I really like coach Joe Whitt, " he said. "He isn't all about football. He talks to me about academics. He really wants me to study and qualify.") slightly over TENNESSEE (Jan. 26, "It's a great football school. They throw the ball a lot and have a powerful offense."), KENTUCKY and ALABAMA ("I don't know much about the new coaches. At one point I was ready to commit to them but the coaching change turned me off."). "Schools like my size and speed," said Mix. "I'm pretty athletic and they all said I'm the kind of wide out they're looking for." Final 11-game (6-5) stats: 20 receptions, 600 yards, nine TDs. 2.5 core/14 ACT -- "All the schools said I'd have to go to junior college if I don't get my score up," he said. Pierre Brown, LB, 6-1, 218, 4.6, Irondale Shades Valley, Ala. "I hustle a lot and I'm always around the ball.," said Brown. "I'm versatile and strong. I need to improve my pass coverage and footwork." Thirteen-game (8-5) stats: 135 tackles. The SuperPrep All-America linebacker favors ALABAMA (Jan. 12 official visit, recruiting the hardest, tradition, one hour away, "Coach [Dennis] Franchione seems like a good guy and obviously knows how to win. I knew they'd hire a capable coach so I never wrote them off. Brodie Croyle's commitment is not a factor for me.") slightly over AUBURN ("They are beginning to win more and have been recruiting me the longest. They were the first to offer me and I know I'd be able to play early."), TENNESSEE, ARKANSAS (Dec. 8) and MISSISSIPPI (Jan. 19).
SouthwestTimothy Allen, DL, 6-2, 255, 5.2, Dallas Carter, TexasAllen raises pit bulldogs, so he doesn't sound like the kind of guy you would want to mess with either on or off the playing field. He benches 350. Allen favors PURDUE (recruiting the hardest, Jan. 5 official trip, offer, "They have a great vet school," he said. "All the schools have great football, but PURDUE has the best vet program.") slightly over TCU (offer, "They've been recruiting me the longest and have the best tutoring programs."), KANSAS (offer, Dec. 2), LSU and OKLAHOMA. "I'm really aggressive and most coaches like my technique and that I keep my head up," he said. "Both PURDUE and KANSAS said they would send me to a juco for a year so I could pull my grades up." Jonathan Jackson, DE, 6-4, 225, 4.5, Houston North Shore, Texas "I'm a big guy who can run," Jackson said. "I always pressure the QB. I could improve my footwork." Final 13-game (11-2) stats: 80 tackles, seven sacks. Jackson favors TEXAS (Jan. 19, 2.5 hours from home, great TV exposure, "The surroundings are great," he said. "It's a city atmosphere.") slightly over TEXAS A&M (Dec. 15, 1.5 hours away, "The players are close knit. I know some guys there and my family could come see me play."), TENNESSEE (Jan. 26), OKLAHOMA (Jan. 12) and NOTRE DAME (mom's preference -- "She likes their degree and that I could get a good job. But I think she'd rather I stayed closer to home.").
Far WestDarrell Brooks, SS, 6-1, 185, 4.6, Moreno Valley, Calif."I can cover," Brooks said. "I love it. No matter how fast a guy is, I'll still get him." Final 10-game (1-9) stats: 33 receptions, 511 yds, 8 TDs; 109 tackles, seven picks, five fumbles caused. Brooks favors ARIZONA (recruiting the hardest, Jan. 12 official trip, "Coach [John] Mackovic has been in contact with me since he got hired," Brooks said. "At first, I was a little iffy, but because they've communicated with me so much, I feel comfortable with them already.") slightly over COLORADO STATE (Dec. 8, "I really like the Fort Collins area. It was very pretty. I also like their offense and the scheme they run."), STANFORD (Dec. 1, has applied, "I love the closeness of the players and I also really like the campus. I talked to some academic counselors there and the admissions are pretty tough. I don't know if I'll be ending up there because my grades may not be high enough.") and IOWA STATE (Dec. 15). David Boler, CB/WR, 6-1, 190, 4.5, Covina Charter Oak, Calif. "I have good speed and hands," Boler said. "And I jump well. I have a 39-inch vertical. I have good technique and I'm aggressive. I also run good routes. I need to improve my strength [benches only 200, squats only 215]." Boler favors USC ("The firing of coach [Paul] Hackett hasn't affected me at all," he said. "They are close to home and are a very talented team. The coaching staff or the team record is not my main focus. Even if Dennis Thurman, my recruiting coach, does get fired, I'd still have them as my top choice," 85 percent chance) solid over WASHINGTON STATE (recruiting the hardest, WR, "They have a good passing offense. It's a QB school where I could get the ball a lot."), COLORADO, ARIZONA STATE (WR, "All the coaches that are recruiting me are gone. The reason I didn't drop USC is that they are so close to home. ARIZONA STATE is a couple of hours away and all the relationships I made are over.") and OREGON STATE No official visits set. Thirteen-game (11-2) stats: 46 receptions, 1,025 yards, nine TDs; nine picks -- two returned for scores. For more from SuperPrep, click here.
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