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Rutgers taps Florida pipeline
Updated: Saturday April 07, 2001 12:53 AM
This week, we continue our review of 2001 Signing Day with classes 41-50, many of which still include some of the highest-profile prospects in the country. For more detailed information on these and other players, visit www.superprep.com. 41) RUTGERS (21 signees) Seven from Florida and 13 from New Jersey make up the majority of the 21 new Scarlet Knights. Not one of the Floridians was recognized by SuperPrep as an All-America or All-Regional pick, but you can be sure some speed exists within the group. The real story is with the New Jersey guys. The new sheriff in town, Greg Schiano, held a town meeting and proclaimed the territory, "The State of Rutgers." Several big-time in-staters listened to the pitch, most notably RB Rikki Cook and DL Davon Clark, both SuperPrep All-Americas. It was Cook who originally got the ball rolling for Schiano when Cook decommitted from VIRGINIA following George Welsh's retirement. A total of eight in-state All-Regionals inked on, led by LBs Piana Lukabu and Brad Cunningham. A major catch is SuperPrep All-America QB Ryan Cubit, who decommitted from CLEM and will be able to play for his father, Bill, the new RUT offensive coordinator/QB coach.
42) ALABAMA (21) QB Brodie Croyle and OL Von Ewing (GEORGIA decommit) and LB Freddie Roach are all in-state All-Americas. Croyle, a SuperPrep Elite 50 choice, whose father played for Bear Bryant, missed his senior year with an ACL injury and is already enrolled and participating in spring ball. Mississippi PK Mike McLaughlin scored 234 career points in high school, third highest nationally for a kicker. New coach Dennis Franchione concentrated primarily on in-state talent and OL Mark Sanders, TE Clint Johnson, WR Bryan Bass and WR Brandon Brooks are all well-regarded. He succeeded out-of-state with Texas DB Charlie Peprah, a SuperPrep All-Regional pick and possibly with Mississippi RB Marquez Dupree, son of former OKLAHOMA star Marcus Dupree. However, for such a marquee name, Dupree didn't attract much attention. Jucos OL Atlas Herrion (No. 17, already enrolled) and TE Donald Clark (No. 26) were both highly ranked in SuperPrep's Juco 100. 43) INDIANA (22) Hoosier fans should notice an immediate upgrade in their secondary with the addition of Antonio Watson (No. 7) and Willie Northern (No. 18), both high-ranking members of the SuperPrep Juco 100 and named as two the nation's top three juco DBs ( D.J. Coote signed with OREGON ST). Juco DL Courtney Young (SuperPrep Juco No. 43), from the amazing San Francisco CC program, turned away SOUTHERN CAL, OREGON and N.C. STATE in favor of Bloomington. With only four signees from Indiana (NOTRE DAME only signed one), Cam Cameron was forced to primarily rely on the kindness of other states to supply his needs and he came away with several big-name recruits including SuperPrep All-America RB Jason Sullivan from New York, Florida LB Ted Pace, FB Kyle Koester, LB Carlos Tipton (10.8 100m) and DB William Lumpkin -- all from Ohio, Michigan DL Brandon Hatcher, Texas RB Yamar Washington and one of Canada's top LBs, Martin Lapostelle. In-state skill position signees DB Buster Larkins, WR Courtney Roby and RB Courtney Clency are all SuperPrep All-Regional picks. 44) PITTSBURGH (24) An astonishing seven RBs signed to play for Walt Harris, including SuperPrep All-Regional picks Marcus Furman (said no to NOTRE DAME) and Mike Jemison (already enrolled). Five DL newcomers are led by SuperPrep All-America Craig Akins from New York, in-stater Troy Banner and Maryland's Thomas Smith. The Panthers were the fortunate beneficiary of negative fallout associated with the KENTUCKY's NCAA investigation when SuperPrep All-America LB Joe Dipre decided to decommit from the Wildcats and signed with Harris. This large class is boosted with three Florida preps and eleven in-state signees, including SuperPrep All-Regionals Monroe Weekley and his Aliquippa teammate DB Josh Lay (a PENN ST decommit), as well as TE Erik Gill and LB Tyre Young. Although there is no QB among this signing group, it is otherwise well-balanced. 45) MICHIGAN ST (22) This is one of those classes that confuses you before it sneaks up on you. Weakened by some academic question marks, it is bolstered by the late signing of DL Kevin Vickerson and the addition of giant OL/DL Alphonso Townsend (6-6, 310). Townsend, a year removed from the 2000 SuperPrep All-America team, signed with OHIO ST, spent a year at Fork Union, and is now a Spartan. Bobby Williams located SuperPrep honorees all over the country: LB Seth Mitchell (Md.), QB Aaron Alexander (Va.), LB Michael Bazemore (Pa.), Brandon McKinney (Ohio), WR Ben Steckler (Ind.), DL Matthias Askew (Fla.) and SuperPrep Juco 100 pick WR Julian Lovett (SuperPrep's No. 2 WR, from Florida). The best in-staters are OLs Christopher Morris and Gordon Niebylski, TE Jason Randall and LB Ronald Stanley. 46) IOWA (22) The two big guns here are in-state OL Blake Larsen and Florida WR Darius Butler. Larsen committed ages ago, then took his senior season to rethink his position and came back into the fold, at least partially influenced by the Hawks' improved outlook. Butler, still hoping to qualify, had over 120 career receptions for almost 2000 yards. Other Floridians who jumped on the band wagon are SuperPrep All-Regionals DL Fabian Dodd and LB Abdul Hodge as well as WR C.J. Jones who spent the last two years at Garden City CC (Kan.) and is a SuperPrep Juco 100 pick. Double-threat Juco QB Brad Banks (already enrolled) also made the team. In-state All-Regional signees include TE Ben Gates, OL Ben Cronin, DB Mike Follett and TE C.J. Barkema. Illinois furnished LB/DL Matt Roth and WR De'Von Clark, both well-regarded. DB Ed Hinkel from Pennsylvania and Michigan WR Kahari Stewart also captured SuperPrep All-Regional honors. 47) MISSISSIPPI ST (24) Two in-state SuperPrep All-Americas (DB Clarence McDougal and OL Chris McNeil ) dominate this large class which is spotlighted with numerous juco signees (13). Four of those juco signees were named to the SuperPrep Juco 100 team: DB Korey Banks (No. 25, already enrolled), DB Demetric Wright (No. 27) and LB Corey Brown (No. 97). Tragically, Texas juco DL Paul Broussard (No. 4), from Blinn College, was shot and killed on March 6. Although MISSISSIPPI won the battle for best of the in-state signees (OL Chris Spencer, WR Mike Espy and LB Jeremy Ruffin all signed with the Rebels), Jackie Sherrill also accounted nicely for himself by signing heavily recruited FB Coco Hodge and DB Rico Bennett. Eleven signees are set for the trenches, led by McNeil, with no RBs and relatively unheralded but productive (31 senior TDs) Texas QB Kyle York. This class is yet another example of Sherrill's high-wire recruiting act, mixing preps, many jucos and a some academic question marks into a talented mixture. 48) COLORADO (17)
OL Drew Shader (The lone SuperPrep All-America on this signing list), QB/ATH Russell Lovett (undergoing ACL/MCL rehab), WR Daric Wilhite, DL Jahi Green and OL Gary Moore stand out as the frontrunners in a group containing six DLs and nine SuperPrep All-Regional picks. In-state DL James Garee, a SuperPrep all-Regional pick from Colorado Springs, had 13 sacks last season and blocked three kicks. Garee (6-5, 230) runs well and looks like he'll be a superior pass rusher. Three Texas signees are headed to Boulder, headlined by LB Lee Foliaki and OL Clinton O'Neal. Gary Barnett signed some well-regarded juco assistance as well. DL DeAndre Fluellen and QB Robert Hodge (already enrolled) both garnered SuperPrep Juco 100 recognition. Although only 5-11, 180, Hodge is a prolific thrower who tossed 49 TDs the last two years and ran for eight more. Fluellen originally signed with OKLAHOMA ST and had 23 tackles for loss, including eight QB sacks, for NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA A&M last year. Juco DB Omar Stewart also looks promising but prized Texas CB Bobby Walker signed with KANSAS ST after originally committing to Barnett. 49) KANSAS (26) Nine juco signees will be expected to fill gaps quickly and four are members of the SuperPrep Juco 100 team: OL John Harvey (No. 45), LB Charlie Dennis (No. 79), DB Remuise Johnson (No. 80) and LB Leo Etienne (No. 84). Hutchinson (Kan.) CC LB Greg Cole, who prepped in Florida and was the district champ in the 200 meters, as well as three O-liners who already weigh 290-330 pounds are other reasons to be optimistic about the immediate benefits of this large juco class. Prep RB Marshell Chiles from Oklahoma has Jayhawks coaches enthusiastic about his possibilities. The 5-10, 205 pounder rushed for 4,326 career yards and 54 TDs. Versatile in-state ATH Greg Heaggans, another SuperPrep All-Regional pick who figures to play WR while in Lawrence, has excellent size (6-1, 185) and speed (rushed for 64 career TDs as a QB). In-state DB Banks Floodman, Missouri LB Anthony Brown and DB Johnny Watkins, Oklahoma OL Joey Guzman and Texas DL Tim Allen are other SuperPrep All-Regionals who give this class balance amidst an emphasis on LBs (6), OLs (5), DBs (4) and RBs (3). RB/LB Derrick Ming, would have been a nice, unheralded addition to this class, but he decommitted and signed with MISSOURI. 50) SYRACUSE (17) Ten SuperPrep All-America or All-Regional picks join Paul Pasqualoni's team, highlighted by the arrival of New York DB Steve Gregory, New Jersey OL Jason Greene and Pennsylvania QB Cecil Howard. Although not prolific as a passer, Howard rushed for 3,329 career yards and 40 scores. Pasqualoni focused his efforts on the northeast -- Massachusetts DE Ryan LaCasse (2,609 career rushing yards and 45 TDs) and New Hampshire DL Tim Carignan (22 career sacks) are both SuperPrep All-Regional choices. Yet, only two of the signees are from the less than abundant recruiting grounds of New York, Gregory and the DE James Wyche, ranked as the state's 13th best prospect. Three of the newcomers are from Connecticut, including O-liners Jared Pierce and Kader Drame, both well-regarded. This class looks particularly strong on defense, with four LBs and four DLs. No prep RBs or WRs signed on. Four signees are already enrolled, including promising Connecticut DE Julian Pollard, who re-signed.
For more from SuperPrep, click here.
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